Soft Landscaping in Downham that makes your garden feel established, tidy and easy to maintain. From fresh lawns and border planting to trees, hedging and irrigation, we build gardens that thrive in BR1.
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Whether you’re refreshing a tired lawn or starting from bare soil, we deliver planting-led gardens that look great year-round. We regularly work around Downham Fields and the surrounding BR1 streets, creating neat borders, healthy turf and structured hedging. Our soft landscaping packages cover everything from topsoil and mulching to tree and shrub planting. The result is a garden that settles in quickly and keeps improving with each season.
Downham’s established residential estate includes 1920s cottage estates, 1930s semis and post-war housing, often with practical rear gardens and defined boundaries. We design planting schemes that suit these proportions, adding privacy where needed and keeping maintenance realistic. If your garden is shaded by neighbouring trees or fences, we’ll choose plants that cope well and still provide colour and texture. For homeowners near Grove Park or Catford, we also plan layouts that work with family use and pets.
We start with a site visit to assess soil condition, drainage, light levels and access, then propose a clear planting and installation plan. Every job is scheduled carefully, with tidy working practices and straightforward communication from start to finish. We source quality turf, topsoil and nursery stock, then install and water-in correctly to reduce failures. Local homeowners trust us because we deliver consistent results, backed by a written 10-year warranty.
We understand the practicalities of soft landscaping in London Borough of Lewisham, including access through side passages and parking constraints on residential roads. Many Downham gardens need soil improvement before planting, so we factor in topsoil, compost and mulching from day one. Where drainage is slow, we adjust levels and planting choices to avoid waterlogging. We also plan tree and hedge positions with boundaries and neighbouring light in mind.
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Costs vary with garden size, access and the planting specification. As a guide, lawn installation often starts from around £700–£1,800 for small to medium areas, while border planting with shrubs and perennials commonly ranges from £900–£3,500 depending on density and plant sizes. Tree planting is typically £250–£900 per tree installed. Adding topsoil, mulching and irrigation can increase the total, but improves long-term results.
Most soft landscaping projects in Downham take 1–3 days for a straightforward lawn and border refresh. Larger gardens, heavier soil preparation, multiple trees/hedges, or irrigation installation can extend this to 4–10 days. Timescales also depend on weather, curing time for seeded areas, and whether we’re removing old turf or improving poor soil first. We’ll provide a clear programme before work begins and keep disruption minimal.
In most cases, soft landscaping such as lawns, planting beds, shrubs, hedging and mulching is permitted and doesn’t require planning permission. However, there can be restrictions if you’re in a conservation area, if a tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order, or if work affects shared boundaries. We’ll flag any likely issues during the survey and can advise on checks with Lewisham Council before planting or tree works proceed.
Yes. Fine Landscaping provides a written 10-year warranty on workmanship for installed elements, covering issues caused by incorrect installation. For plants, we use reputable nurseries and follow best practice for planting, staking and watering-in; living materials are affected by weather and aftercare, so we’ll explain what’s covered and how to maximise success. We also provide practical guidance on watering, feeding and pruning to help your garden establish well.
We tailor options to your garden’s light, soil and how you use the space. Popular choices include premium turf or seed, evergreen structure with hedging, mixed shrub borders, pollinator-friendly perennials and ornamental grasses, plus small trees for height and privacy. We can also add topsoil improvement, mulching for moisture retention and weed suppression, and irrigation for consistent watering. We’ll bring plant suggestions and layout ideas so you can choose confidently.
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