Garden Design vs ‘Just Landscaping’ in Bolton – What’s the Real Difference?
When you start researching ideas for your garden, you’ll see lots of companies in Bolton offering landscaping – and a smaller number talking about garden design. On the surface they sound similar, but there’s a big difference in how your project is planned, built and ultimately how it feels to live in.
At Harris Garden Design, we offer a design-led garden design and build service across Bolton and the surrounding areas. Here’s what that really means, and how it compares to “just landscaping”.
What is “just landscaping”?
Many landscapers are brilliant at installing:
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Patios and paths
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Lawns and artificial grass
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Sleeper beds and retaining walls
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Fencing, pergolas and features
You might show them a few photos from Pinterest, they give a price, and then they install those items as requested. There’s usually no full plan, no scaled drawings and no real consideration of how the space will work as a whole.
You’ll end up with individual elements that look nice – but they may not make the best use of the space, and things like views, privacy, orientation, sun, drainage and planting can be an afterthought.
What is professional garden design?
Garden design starts long before a spade goes into the ground.
A designer will:
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Talk to you about how you live – kids, pets, entertaining, quiet time, future plans
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Survey the garden, levels, sun, shade and existing features
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Create a scaled design that shows layout, zones and flow
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Choose materials, colours and planting that suit your home and style
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Plan lighting, access, screening and focal points
The result is a cohesive, thought-through garden that works in every season – not just a patio and some turf.
Practical benefits for a Bolton garden design
In and around Bolton, we see:
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Sloping plots and tricky levels
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New-build gardens that are compact but overlooked
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Older properties where drainage and access can be a challenge
A proper garden design tackles these issues on paper first, so when our landscaping team starts on site, everyone knows exactly what’s happening and why. That usually means:
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Better use of every square metre
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Fewer changes and surprises during the build
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A garden that feels bigger, calmer and easier to live with
So which do you actually need?
If you just want a small patio replacing like-for-like, a basic landscaping job might be enough.
But if you’re investing in a full garden transformation in Bolton or the surrounding areas, professional garden design will:
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Maximise your budget
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Avoid costly mistakes
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Create a space that genuinely fits your family and lifestyle
At Harris Garden Design, we combine bespoke garden design with expert landscaping to deliver complete, design-led gardens from first sketch to final plant.
If you’re ready to move beyond “just landscaping” and want a garden that’s properly designed around you, we’d love to chat.
