Living with a tired Brighton garden can become frustrating. The patio may rock underfoot, the fence can lean after bad weather, the lawn turns to mud each winter and the side return remains wasted space. You want one reliable firm to sort it properly in 2026, but searching for the best landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove brings up a mix of directories, basic contractor websites and thin listings that reveal little about which provider suits a particular job.
Our top pick is Royal Gardens for homeowners who want an owner-led team to handle a complete garden project, from hard landscaping such as paving, driveways, fencing and decking through to planting, turf and even an insulated garden office. Run hands-on by owner Joe, the firm offers a free on-site consultation and written quote, Checkatrade membership with strong reviews and the flexibility to build to your designer’s plans or design the garden for you. For homeowners seeking a fully planned scheme with a strong design focus, Brunswick Landscapes is the leading alternative, offering an in-house design-and-build approach across Brighton & Hove and the South Downs. For projects that combine hardscaping with tree surgery or a broader range of garden services, Kingdom Landscapes is another strong option, with more than 20 years of experience and an extensive service list.
This guide is written for homeowners, along with some business owners, across Brighton, Hove and wider Sussex who are comparing quotes for 2026. We assessed local presence, the range of hard and soft landscaping services, available evidence of quality and reliability, the clarity of consultation and quote processes and suitability for different project types. The ranked list of five below covers a range of budgets and briefs, from full transformations to planting-led makeovers.
At a glance: who suits which project
| Provider | Best for | Key strength |
| Royal Gardens | A single hands-on team covering the complete garden project | Owner-led full hard and soft landscaping plus garden offices, with free on-site consultation and written quote |
| Brunswick Landscapes | Design-led courtyard and South Downs plot projects | Complete in-house design-and-build from concept to planting |
| Kingdom Landscapes | Fencing, decking and hard landscaping with tree work included | 20 plus years of experience and a very broad service list |
| Lilybud Gardens by Design | Planting-led garden makeovers across Sussex | Portfolio of more than 300 completed gardens with a design focus |
| David Dickson Garden Developments | Long-experience bespoke Hove garden transformations | More than 30 years of experience from a trusted two-person team |
What to look for
Choosing between landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove is easier when you apply the same checks to each firm. Start with a verified local trading presence in Brighton, Hove or wider Sussex, as local experience can help when planning work for the area’s varied plots and access arrangements. Compare the range of hard and soft landscaping services so you know whether one provider can handle paving and decking alongside fencing and planting, or whether other trades may be required. Consider evidence of quality and reliability, including verified reviews and trade memberships, and ask for a clear consultation and written quote instead of relying on a vague estimate. The final choice should also match your project type, whether you are planning a courtyard redesign, a family garden, a driveway and front garden or a garden office with landscaping around it.
The 5 best landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove for 2026
Each of the following Sussex landscaping companies was assessed against those points and selected for a distinct reason. You may need a team to manage every part of a garden transformation, a design-led build for a courtyard or a specialist with decades of Hove experience. Our number one is the main recommendation for most full garden projects because it combines hard and soft landscaping within an owner-led service.
#1. Royal Gardens – best for a single hands-on team covering the complete garden project
An owner-led Brighton and Hove team that takes on the whole garden, from groundworks and structures to planting and finishing, under one project brief.
Royal Gardens is led personally by owner Joe, who remains hands-on across projects for homeowners and businesses in Brighton, Hove and wider Sussex. That continuity is one reason Royal Gardens earns the top place for clients who want paving, driveways and hard standings, fencing, decking, planting, turf and insulated garden offices covered within the same project. The firm can build to your garden designer’s plans or design the garden with you, making it suitable both for clients who already have drawings and those who want guidance from the beginning.
The process is clearly set out for 2026 enquiries. You can book a free on-site consultation in Brighton or Hove, discuss practical points such as access, levels, drainage, materials, exposure and maintenance, and then receive a written quote. The company has strong verified reviews and Checkatrade membership, providing an independent place to check recent customer feedback. For projects with restricted access, changes in level or several connected elements, using a team that covers both hard and soft landscaping can make planning more straightforward.
No firm suits every brief, and availability is an important point to confirm directly. As an owner-led operation, project dates will depend on the existing schedule, so it is sensible to ask about likely lead times when arranging the consultation. There is no publicly listed pricing, which is common for bespoke landscaping, and a site visit is needed before the firm can provide a meaningful written figure.
Pros
- Owner-led service covering hard and soft landscaping within the same project
- Broad scope, including fencing and planting as well as paving, decking, driveways and insulated garden offices
- Free on-site consultation and written quote across Brighton, Hove and wider Sussex
- Checkatrade member with strong verified reviews
- Flexible approach, either building to a designer’s plans or providing design as part of the service
Cons
- Availability and project lead times need to be confirmed when you enquire
- No pricing is published online, so a consultation is required for a meaningful figure
- Suitability for very large or multi-phase commercial schemes should be discussed directly
- Clients needing only light planting or routine maintenance may not require the firm’s full range of design-and-build services
Who it is best for: Homeowners and small businesses seeking an owner-led Brighton and Hove team to design and build a complete garden, including structures and planting, with a clear written quote.
#2. Brunswick Landscapes – best for design-led courtyard and South Downs plot projects
A complete design-and-build practice for clients who want a coherent design vision carried through to the final planting.
Brunswick Landscapes offers garden design and landscaping in Brighton as an integrated service, taking a project from the initial concept through construction and on to planting. The company describes its work as being delivered by its own dedicated team, which can help maintain consistent detailing when a small courtyard or a larger South Downs plot requires structural work and considered soft landscaping. Its focus is on careful hard and soft landscaping, including structural stonework combined with planting schemes suited to the setting.
That approach is well suited to Brighton and Hove gardens where space is limited and each level change, wall, step and bed needs to be planned carefully. Courtyards and enclosed town gardens can benefit from a drawn scheme before construction begins, particularly when several elements must fit within a compact area. Further out towards Lewes, Hassocks and surrounding South Downs villages, an in-house design-and-build service can help carry the original concept from the planning stage through to the completed garden.
The trade-off is limited public information about practical details. There is no pricing or budget guidance in the information reviewed for this guide, and no trade membership or review platform was identified, so you should ask directly for recent examples, references and expected timescales. The firm’s capacity for larger builds is also not confirmed by the available information and should be discussed before commissioning detailed plans.
Pros
- Integrated design-and-build service with one team from concept to completion
- Covers structural hard landscaping and planting in-house for a consistent result
- Works in South Downs villages as well as Brighton and Hove
- Dedicated team model supports continuity throughout the project
Cons
- No pricing or budget guidance was available from the information reviewed
- No trade membership or review platform was identified
- Team size is not confirmed, so capacity for larger projects needs to be checked
- Garden offices, driveways and outbuildings are not listed in the available service information
Who it is best for: Homeowners who want a designed scheme followed by a carefully managed build, especially for courtyards and plots on the South Downs fringe.
#3. Kingdom Landscapes – best for fencing, decking and hard landscaping with tree work included
A long-established Brighton and Hove contractor with one of the widest practical service lists for domestic gardens.
Kingdom Landscapes brings more than 20 years of local experience and has a team of around eight people. Its services include hardscaping, fencing, decking, pergolas, driveways, patios and paving, along with turf laying and lawn care, garden maintenance, garden clearance, hedge cutting and tree surgery. This allows clients to enquire about tree work and standard landscaping services through the same contractor rather than automatically approaching separate providers.
For many Brighton and Hove briefs, that breadth can simplify the planning stage. A project may combine a new patio or path with replacement fencing, a deck or pergola, tree work and a new lawn. Gardens that need both clearance and construction may also benefit from a contractor able to quote for several stages of the job. With a team of around eight, Kingdom Landscapes is larger than the two-person providers in this list, although availability and the number of projects handled at once should still be confirmed directly.
The emphasis appears to be practical delivery rather than a stated garden design specialism. There is no specific design-and-build concept service described in the information reviewed, while trade membership, a review platform and pricing details were not identified. Clients with design-led briefs should therefore ask how layouts, planting plans, materials and changes in level will be agreed before work starts. Its breadth is a clear strength, but experience in the particular service central to your project should still be checked.
Pros
- Broad service list covering patios, driveways, clearance, lawn care and maintenance
- More than 20 years of local experience
- Tree surgery and hedge cutting are available alongside landscaping work
- Suitable for full transformations as well as smaller additions
- Team of around eight people, making it one of the larger providers listed here
Cons
- No specific design-led or design-and-build specialism is stated in the available information
- No trade membership or review platform was identified
- No public pricing information was available
- With such a wide service range, relevant examples of the work you need should be requested
Who it is best for: Homeowners who want hardscaping, fencing and decking combined with tree work, clearance or ongoing garden care from one Brighton and Hove contractor.
#4. Lilybud Gardens by Design – best for planting-led garden makeovers across Sussex
A Brighton based design practice with a substantial portfolio of completed gardens and a clear emphasis on planting.
Lilybud Gardens by Design operates from Waldegrave Road in Brighton and focuses on garden design and landscaping, with particular attention given to the finished design. Its headline credential is a portfolio of more than 300 completed gardens across Sussex, providing an established body of work for homeowners to review. As a two-person team, the practice offers a smaller-scale service than some of the broader landscaping contractors included in this guide.
This is a natural fit for garden makeover briefs where planting is central to the planned change. It may suit tired borders that need a clearer structure, small town gardens requiring a more coherent layout or suburban plots where the existing hard surfaces remain usable but the overall design needs attention. Clients interested in colour, texture, seasonal development and manageable planting can review the portfolio to see whether the firm’s style matches their own preferences. Its Sussex-wide coverage is also useful for homeowners based outside Brighton itself.
Heavy construction is the main area to check before proceeding. A specialist hard landscaping service covering driveways, patios or fencing is not confirmed by the information reviewed, and clients with large or complex builds should discuss the team’s capacity and delivery arrangements. No trade membership, review platform or public pricing information was identified, so ask for relevant recent projects and a clear staged quote covering the agreed scope.
Pros
- Portfolio of more than 300 completed gardens across Sussex
- Design-led approach focused on a considered and cohesive finished garden
- Brighton based, with coverage across Sussex
- Two-person team offering a smaller-scale service and direct communication
Cons
- Capacity for large or complex builds needs to be confirmed
- No specific hard landscaping specialism is stated in the available information
- No trade membership or review platform was identified
- No pricing information is available without making an enquiry
Who it is best for: Homeowners whose priority is a well-designed, planting-led garden makeover rather than a project dominated by heavy construction.
#5. David Dickson Garden Developments – best for long-experience bespoke Hove garden transformations
A Hove based two-person team offering bespoke transformations backed by decades of hands-on landscaping work.
David Dickson Garden Developments offers more than 30 years of garden landscaping experience, giving it one of the longest track records among the local operators in this list. The service is described as providing bespoke designs and tailored garden transformations with reliable local delivery. Its Hove base also makes it a convenient option for homeowners seeking a nearby provider for a project that requires an individual rather than standardised approach.
The appeal lies partly in the scale of the business. With a two-person team, clients looking for a personal working relationship may prefer this structure to that of a larger contractor with several teams. It should allow ideas and practical decisions to be discussed directly, although the precise division of responsibilities and level of principal involvement should be confirmed during the initial enquiry. The bespoke approach is likely to appeal most to homeowners who want the plans and work adapted to their particular garden.
Scale is also the main consideration. A two-person team may need a different programme from a larger contractor for substantial projects, so availability and expected timescales should be agreed in writing rather than assumed. No detailed service list, trade membership, review platform or public pricing is confirmed in the information reviewed. Be specific about scope, materials, responsibilities and aftercare when requesting a quote.
Pros
- More than 30 years of experience, giving the business notable longevity
- Bespoke, tailored approach rather than a standard package
- Hove based, making it a particularly local choice for Hove homeowners
- Two-person team suited to clients looking for direct communication
Cons
- Capacity and speed on larger projects need to be discussed in advance
- No detailed services list is confirmed beyond tailored garden transformations
- No trade membership or review platform was identified
- No pricing information is available without an enquiry
Who it is best for: Hove homeowners who value experience, continuity and personal service when planning a bespoke garden transformation.
Frequently asked questions about the best landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove
Should I choose an hourly rate or a fixed written quote for landscaping in Brighton & Hove?
Choose a fixed written quote for clearly defined landscaping work. Hourly rates can suit small repairs or ongoing gardening, but patios, fencing, decking, driveways and planting schemes involve labour, materials, waste removal and groundworks that can be difficult to compare by the hour. Ask each of the best landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove for a site visit and a written document covering the scope, materials, programme and payment stages, then compare the quotes on a like-for-like basis.
Is a full garden makeover worth it in 2026 and what should I budget for UK landscaping costs?
A full makeover may be worthwhile if the layout, levels, drainage or structures are failing, as a series of partial fixes can prove less practical over time. UK costs vary considerably according to access, garden size, materials, retaining requirements and whether an outbuilding is included, so there is no single reliable average for Brighton and Hove. Obtain two or three fixed quotes following site visits and allow for the possibility that previously hidden ground conditions may affect the final scope.
Should I hire a general gardener or a landscape gardener for my Brighton garden project?
Hire a general gardener for routine work such as mowing, pruning, weeding and seasonal tidying. A landscape gardener is the more appropriate choice for construction and transformation, including paving, decking, fencing, driveways, turfing, substantial planting, changes in level, drainage and garden offices. Some Brighton projects will need both services in sequence, with a landscaper completing the main installation before a gardener takes responsibility for routine maintenance.
Should I use Checkatrade, reviews or recommendations to find reliable landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove?
Use several sources rather than relying on one signal. Verified review platforms such as Checkatrade can help you examine recent feedback, photographs and trading history for landscape gardeners in Brighton & Hove, while personal recommendations may provide useful context about communication and aftercare. Shortlist two or three firms, read full reviews rather than looking only at star ratings, request relevant local examples and confirm insurance and written contract terms before work begins.
Should I expect my Brighton landscaper to handle garden design as well as the build?
Many firms do, but the exact service varies. Some provide an in-house design-and-build process from concept to planting, others develop the garden with you less formally and some prefer to work from an independent designer’s plans. If you already have drawings, ask whether the landscaper can quote from them directly. Otherwise, confirm who will produce the layout, planting plan and levels, and whether any design fees are charged separately.
Should I check trade memberships, insurance and past work before hiring a Sussex landscaping company?
Yes. Trade memberships and verified reviews can be useful trust signals, although they do not replace your own checks. Ask a Sussex landscaping company for evidence of public liability insurance, a written quote detailing the scope and materials, a realistic programme, waste disposal arrangements and recent relevant projects. For structural work, retaining walls, drainage and electrics, establish who is responsible for each element before signing a contract.
Is it worth asking a Brighton landscape gardener to build a garden office or outbuilding?
It can make sense if you want the building and surrounding garden planned together. An insulated garden office requires a suitable base, access, drainage, power and data arrangements, along with any steps, paths, planting or screening included in the wider design. Not every landscaper offers this service. Check specific experience with outbuildings, ask about insulation, ventilation, guarantees and planning or permitted development responsibilities, and ensure the complete scope appears in the written quote.
Should I plan for weeks or months for my Brighton & Hove landscaping project?
Allow for both the time spent on site and the lead time before work can begin. The programme will depend on the project’s size, access, materials, groundworks and the range of services involved, while larger schemes will generally require more planning than a single patio, fence or planting update. Seasonal demand may also affect availability. Ask each firm to provide a proposed start date and written programme based on your actual scope instead of relying on a general estimate.
Making the right choice for your Brighton & Hove garden
The right firm depends on the work required rather than price alone. An owner-led team suits a complete transformation, while a design-and-build practice may be the better choice for a courtyard requiring a clear concept. A broad contractor can cover hardscaping with tree work, a planting-led studio suits a design makeover and a long-established small team may appeal to clients seeking a personal Hove service. Compare two or three fixed written quotes, review recent relevant work and use the initial consultation to assess communication before committing.