Planting Plan Cost in Ireland
If you are considering a professional planting plan, cost is understandably one of the first questions.
However, planting design is not priced like a product. It is structured professional work shaped by scale, complexity and site conditions.
The cost of a planting plan in Ireland depends on what your garden requires and not simply its size.
What it costs
Every garden is assessed individually, so I cannot give you a fixed figure without seeing the space. What I can give you is a realistic starting point.
Most planting plans and garden designs start at around €1,750. Where a project sits above that depends on the size of the garden, how much of the layout is being reconsidered and how much detail the plan requires. The five factors below are what move the figure.
Every project begins with a consultation, and the fee comes off the design work that follows.
Online consultation, anywhere in Ireland. €295, deducted from the design work.
On-site consultation, Cork and surrounding areas. €480 plus VAT, deducted from any further design work.
After the consultation I set out what the garden needs, what I propose to deliver, what it excludes and what it costs, before any design work begins.
Why Planting Design Is Priced This Way.
A professional planting plan is not a list of plants. It is made up of many design decisions that require understanding how plants behave over time, how tall they grow, how wide they spread, how they perform in Irish soil and Irish weather, how they interact with each other structurally and seasonally, and how they will look and function not just in year one but in year five and year ten.
Getting this right requires knowing which plant thrives on a north-facing Cork hillside and which one struggles. Which performs in heavy clay in Monaghan and which needs drainage. Which gives year-round structure and which collapses in an Irish winter. This is knowledge that comes from thirty years of working with Irish gardens, not from a database or a template.
The cost of a poorly planned garden, plants in the wrong place, wrong soil, wrong scale, wrong sequence, is almost always higher than the cost of getting it right from the start.
Corrective planting, replacing failed plants, starting again with a different approach. These are common and costly outcomes of planting without a proper plan.
My fees reflect the time, experience and judgement required to give advice that is specific, accurate and grounded in real Irish growing conditions. Not general tips that could apply anywhere in the world. The right answer for your garden, your soil, your aspect and your budget.
What Influences the Cost of a Planting Plan?
Several factors determine scope and therefore cost.
1. Garden Size
A compact urban courtyard requires different detailing to a large rural garden.
2. Site Conditions
Wind exposure, soil type, drainage and orientation significantly affect structural decisions.
3. Level of Structural Planning
Some gardens require simple bed restructuring.
Others require full canopy establishment, screening layers and long-term phasing.
4. Existing Layout
If the hard landscaping is sound, planting alone may transform the space.
If layout adjustments are needed, scope increases.
5. Detail Required
Scaled layout drawings, plant quantities, spacing, seasonal continuity and long-term maintenance planning all influence professional time.
Why Planting Plan Pricing Varies So Widely
Planting design is not a matter of listing plants.
It involves:
• Structural layering
• Mature size planning
• Proportion and balance
• Seasonal succession
• Wind and soil response
• Long-term growth forecasting
Two gardens of similar size can require completely different levels of structural thinking.
That is why planting plan pricing cannot be reduced to a fixed square-metre formula.
For a detailed explanation of how layered planting works, see our guide to Planting Design & Garden Structure.
Is a Planting Plan Worth the Investment?
A structured planting plan often prevents:
• Overbuying
• Poor spacing
• Future removal
• Loss of privacy
• Seasonal imbalance
• Structural weakness
Correct planting reduces long-term corrective work.
In many cases, the cost of rectifying poorly planned planting exceeds the cost of getting it right at the outset.
When a Consultation Comes First
Because gardens vary, the first step is often a consultation.
An Online Garden Consultation allows us to assess:
• Photographs
• Measurements
• Site exposure
• Objectives
• Existing structure
From there, it becomes clear whether:
• A planting plan alone is appropriate
• Wider design work is required
• Phased implementation is sensible
For Cork-based gardens requiring on-site assessment you can learn more here
If a planting plan alone is what your garden needs, Planting by Numbers explains what the plan contains and how it is put together.
Common questions about cost
What does a planting plan cost in Ireland?
Plans start at around €1,750. Where a project sits above that depends on the size of the garden, how much of the layout is being reconsidered and the level of detail required. The fee is confirmed after the consultation, before any design work begins.
What affects the cost?
Garden size, site conditions, structural complexity, existing layout and the level of detail required. Exposure, soil type and long-term planning all influence scope. Two gardens of similar size can require very different levels of structural thinking.
Why can you not give a fixed price?
Planting design is not priced like a product. Until I have seen the garden I do not know how much of it is being decided. After the consultation I set out what the garden needs, what I propose to deliver, what it excludes and what it costs.
Does the consultation fee come off the design work?
Yes. An online consultation is €295 and an on-site consultation in Cork and the surrounding area is €480 plus VAT. Either fee is deducted from the design work that follows, so it is a first step rather than an extra cost.
Next Step
If you want a figure for your own garden rather than a range, tell me about it.
Send your location and a short description of what you are hoping to achieve, and I will tell you what the garden needs and what it is likely to cost before you commit to anything.