How to renovate an existing garden

Renovating isn't starting from scratch

Most garden guides assume you're working with a blank canvas. Reality is different: you already have a garden. Maybe a neglected one, with rampant leylandii and wonky paving, but something's there. The skill is keeping what works and replacing what doesn't. It saves a heap of money and muscle.

Tools like GardenWorld let you visualise your garden after a renovation. Upload a photo of your current garden and explore possibilities before you dig anything up.

Step 1: Audit what you have

Walk your garden and make three lists:

Keep:

• Mature trees and large shrubs that are healthy
• Paving that's still level and looks acceptable
• Elements with sentimental value

Improve:

• Borders that are sparse or messy
• A lawn with bare patches or heavy moss
• Fences that work but look tired

Remove:

• Dead or diseased plants
• Overgrown conifers blocking light
• Cracked or uneven paving

Be honest but not ruthless. A mature tree is 20+ years old — you can't simply swap it out. Visit RHS partner gardens for advice on assessing existing plant health.

Step 2: Set priorities

You can't do everything at once (unless your budget is unlimited, and then you're probably not reading this). Rank your needs:

1. Safety: uneven paving, dead branches, wobbly fencing
2. Function: patio too small, no path to the shed, poor drainage
3. Aesthetics: ugly planting, dated materials, no cohesion

Tackle safety first, then function, then beauty. Boring advice, but it stops you building a gorgeous border next to a patio that's an ankle trap.

Step 3: Groundwork

Repair or replace paving?

If less than 30% of your paving is damaged, repair. Replace loose or cracked slabs, re-point joints and fix drainage falls. Over 30% damage? Full replacement is often cheaper than endless patching.

Refresh borders

The quickest transformation: remove everything dead or invasive, dig in compost and replant. Keep structural plants that still perform — a mature hydrangea or crab apple is worth its weight in gold. Fill gaps with perennials and grasses for instant volume.

Step 4: Add new features

A renovation is the perfect time to introduce something new:

• Garden lighting: transforms the mood, relatively cheap
• A raised border: adds depth to a flat garden
• A new path: connects zones that currently feel disconnected
• A pergola: makes the patio more usable

Limit yourself to two new features per renovation phase. Otherwise the project balloons.

Step 5: Seasonal planning

Not every job suits every season:

Plan groundwork for spring and planting for autumn. That gives plants all winter to root in.

Smart budget split

A rule of thumb for garden renovation:

• 40% paving and groundwork
• 30% planting
• 20% extras (lighting, fencing, accessories)
• 10% contingency (trust me, there's always something unexpected)

The beauty of renovation over a complete new build: you can phase it. This year the patio, next year the borders, the year after the back zone.

Curious what your garden could look like after a renovation? Upload your photo on GardenWorld and get a custom design within a minute.