Landscaping
Landscaping in Southport
New lawns, artificial grass, levelling, ponds, patios and driveways. We are groundworkers, so the heavy part of landscaping is our trade: digging out, getting the levels right, sorting the drainage and taking the soil away.
Garden landscaping we do
This is hard landscaping: the ground, the levels and the surfaces. Turfing, artificial grass, patios and driveways each have their own page with more detail.
Turfing and new lawns
Old lawn stripped, the ground levelled and prepared, fresh topsoil, and new turf laid tight.
Artificial grass
Laid on a compacted, free draining base so it stays flat and does not hold puddles.
Lawn and garden levelling
Bumps, dips and slopes taken out with a digger, so you get a flat garden you can use.
Garden ponds
Dug, shaped and lined. Wildlife ponds and deeper fish ponds.
Patios
Porcelain, Indian sandstone, limestone and slate, with steps and raised patios too.
Driveways
Block paving, tarmac, resin, imprinted concrete and gravel, often done with the garden as one job.
Why the ground matters more than the grass
New turf on bumpy, wet ground stays bumpy and wet. Artificial grass on a poor base dips and holds puddles. A patio laid on soft soil sinks. Most gardens that go wrong have failed underneath.
Around Southport and the coast the ground is mostly sand, which drains well but moves if it is not compacted. Inland towards Ormskirk and Wigan there is more clay, which holds water. We get the levels and the drainage right first, then lay the finish on top.
Lawn always waterlogged?
If the lawn stays soggy for days after rain or keeps going to moss, the water has nowhere to go. A land drain or french drain under the lawn usually sorts it, before any new turf goes down.
Land drainage and french drainsLawn and garden levelling
Small bumps: you can do it yourself
If the lawn is a bit uneven, with dips of a couple of centimetres, you do not need us. Spreading a thin layer of sandy top dressing over the low spots in spring or autumn and letting the grass grow through it a little at a time will even it out.
Slopes and big dips: that is a job for a digger
When the garden slopes, has deep hollows, or you want a flat area for a lawn, patio or garden room, the ground needs to be regraded. That means moving soil from the high side to the low side, or bringing more in, and compacting it in layers so it does not settle later.
How we level a garden
- 1Old lawn and anything in the way stripped off
- 2Levels set out, with a gentle fall away from the house so rain does not run towards the walls
- 3Soil cut from the high side and filled into the low side, compacted in layers
- 4Spare soil taken away, or extra brought in if the garden needs building up
- 5Topsoil spread and raked level, ready for turf, artificial grass or a patio
Where a garden drops a long way, making it all flat may mean steps or a wall to hold the soil back. We will talk you through the options when we see it.
Real turf or artificial grass?
We lay both. A quick guide, and we will talk it through when we see the garden.
| Real turf | Artificial grass | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks and feel | Real grass, cool underfoot | Green all year, can get hot in strong sun |
| Upkeep | Mowing, feeding, watering in dry spells | Brushing and rinsing, no mowing |
| Shady or wet corners | Can struggle and go to moss | Copes, as long as the base drains |
| Dogs | Wear and brown patches | Hard wearing, needs rinsing |
| Wildlife | Good for insects and birds | None |
| Cost to lay | Lower | Higher |
Garden ponds
Digging a pond by hand is days of hard work and a skip full of soil. With a micro digger the hole is dug in hours and the soil goes on the grab lorry. Tell us what kind of pond you want and we will dig, shape and line it.
Wildlife ponds
No fish, filled and topped up with rainwater. The key is a gently sloping edge, like a beach, so frogs, newts and birds can get in and out, with a deeper middle so it does not freeze solid or dry out in summer. They look after themselves once the plants are in.
Fish ponds
Deeper, with steeper sides so herons cannot wade in, and a pump and filter to keep the water clean for the fish. Koi need the most depth and the most filtering. The bigger and deeper the pond, the more stable the water.
Before you dig
- Keep it clear of drains, pipes and cables. We check before we dig.
- Away from big trees, whose roots and leaves cause problems.
- Somewhere you can see it from the house, with some sun.
- With young children about, think about a cover or a fence, or wait a few years.
How a landscaping job runs
- 1
We look at the garden
The levels, the soil, where the water goes, and how we get a machine in.
- 2
Written quote
What we will do, what it costs, and how long it will take, before we start.
- 3
Dig and level
Old lawn, slabs and soil dug out and taken away on our grab lorries. The ground levelled and compacted.
- 4
Finish and clear up
Turf, artificial grass, patio or pond finished, and the garden left tidy.
Where we do landscaping
From our yard on Upper Aughton Road in Southport we cover 30 miles, and further for larger jobs:
Southport, Birkdale, Ainsdale, Formby, Ormskirk, Burscough, Crosby, Maghull, Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Wigan, Preston, Chorley, Cheshire.
Every area we coverQuestions people ask
Can you get a digger into my back garden?
Usually, yes. Our smallest machine is a 1 tonne micro digger, narrow enough for most side gates and passageways. If there is no way round the side, tell us and we will work out another way when we look at the job.
What happens to the soil you dig out?
If it is good soil we can often use it to level another part of the garden. What is left over we take away on our grab lorries. We are an Environment Agency upper-tier waste carrier, so it is taken away legally.
Should I have real turf or artificial grass?
Real turf costs less to lay and is better for wildlife, but it needs mowing and watering. Artificial grass costs more to start with but stays green with no mowing, and it copes with shade and dogs. Both need the ground underneath prepared properly. See the table above, and we will talk it through with you.
Why is my lawn always soggy?
Usually the water has nowhere to go. Clay ground, a compacted lawn or a low spot in the garden all hold water. New turf will not fix that on its own. A land drain or french drain under the lawn often will. See our land drainage page.
Do I need planning permission to level my garden?
Normal levelling and landscaping in a back garden does not need planning permission. Raising the ground a lot, or building a raised area or platform more than 30 cm above the ground, can need permission, and so can work at a listed building. We will tell you if your job might when we look at it.
What affects the price of landscaping?
The size of the garden, how easy it is to get a machine in, how much soil comes out or goes in, and what you are putting down: turf, artificial grass, paving or a pond. We give you a written quote after seeing the garden.
Do you give a written quote?
Yes. We come and look at the garden first, then give you a written quote so you know what is being done and what it costs before we start.
Also worth a look
Send us a photo of your garden
Phone lines open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm. WhatsApp a photo of the job any time.