Led by the landscape. Designed for living.
Based in Hampshire, we design gardens across Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Southdowns, creating thoughtful outdoor spaces shaped around the way you live.
Led by the landscape.
Designed for living.
Based in Hampshire, we design gardens across Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Southdowns, creating thoughtful outdoor spaces shaped around the way you live.
Gardens shaped around
how you live
Your garden should feel like a natural extension of your home.
A place for morning coffee in the sunshine. Long lunches with family. Evenings with friends. A quiet corner to read, relax and escape the pace of everyday life.
We create thoughtful, beautifully considered garden designs across Hampshire and the South Coast, helping homeowners create outdoor spaces that feel personal, purposeful and a joy to spend time in.
Your garden has the potential to become so much more
Perhaps you’re looking out at a space that feels disconnected from your home.
Maybe you’d like more privacy. A better place to entertain. Somewhere to unwind after a busy day. Or perhaps you know your garden could be so much more, but you’re not quite sure where to start.
The most successful gardens begin with understanding the people who will use them, and the landscape they belong to.
By understanding how you want to use your garden, what matters to you and how you want the space to feel, we create gardens that support everyday life and become somewhere you genuinely want to spend time.
Designed around the moments that matter
Every garden is different.
It might be a productive garden filled with vegetables, herbs and fruit. A sun-soaked spot for evening drinks. A reading nook tucked amongst cool shady planting. A scented pathway that draws you into the garden, and beyond.
Whatever your dream, the aim is the same: creating a garden that feels uniquely yours.
Ways we can work together
Garden Design Services
Garden
Consultation
‘I need some help to get started.’
Perfect if you’re unsure where to start, or need help unlocking the potential of your garden.
An in-depth consultation designed to give you ideas, inspiration and the confidence to move forward, without costly mistakes or guesswork.
Garden Design
for Self-Build
‘I need a design to work towards.’
For homeowners who want a professional design to work towards themselves, or alongside their chosen contractors.
A realistic and carefully considered layout plan that gives you a clear vision for your garden and how it can evolve over time.
Full Garden
Design & Delivery
‘I want someone to guide the whole journey.’
For those looking for support from first ideas through to the finished garden.
We’ll guide the process, coordinate the details and help bring your garden to life, allowing you to enjoy the journey with confidence.
Ways we can work together
Garden Design Services
Garden
Consultation
‘I need some help to get started.’
Perfect if you’re unsure where to start, or need help unlocking the potential of your garden.
An in-depth consultation designed to give you ideas, inspiration and the confidence to move forward, without costly mistakes or guesswork.
Garden Design
for Self-Build
‘I need a design to work towards.’
For homeowners who want a professional design to work towards themselves, or alongside their chosen contractors.
A realistic and carefully considered layout plan that gives you a clear vision for your garden and how it can evolve over time.
Full Garden
Design & Delivery
‘I want someone to guide the whole journey.’
For those looking for support from first ideas through to the finished garden.
We’ll guide the process, coordinate the details and help bring your garden to life, allowing you to enjoy the journey with confidence.
Ways we can work together
Garden Design Services
Garden
Consultation
‘I need some help to get started.’
Perfect if you’re unsure where to start, or need help unlocking the potential of your garden.
An in-depth consultation designed to give you ideas, inspiration and the confidence to move forward, without costly mistakes or guesswork.
Garden Design
for Self-Build
‘I need a design to work towards.’
For homeowners who want a professional design to work towards themselves, or alongside their chosen contractors.
A realistic and carefully considered layout plan that gives you a clear vision for your garden and how it can evolve over time.
Full Garden
Design & Delivery
‘I want someone to guide the whole journey.’
For those looking for support from first ideas through to the finished garden.
We’ll guide the process, coordinate the details and help bring your garden to life, allowing you to enjoy the journey with confidence.
Our design process
Every project begins with listening. Asking questions. Understanding how you live and how you’d like to use your garden.
We take time to understand how you live, how you’d like to spend time outdoors, what’s working well and what you’d like to change.
From there, we’ll explore ideas together, uncover possibilities you may not have considered and shape a design that feels both exciting and achievable.
Throughout the process, you’ll have clear guidance, open communication and the reassurance that every decision is moving you closer to a garden you’ll love for years to come
From the Journal
Before Summer memories fade: Start planning your dream garden for 2027
Now is the perfect time to reflect on what worked in your garden this summer and start shaping your plans for a beautiful, considered outdoor space in 2027.
About Vicky Lincoln Garden Design
Every garden begins with understanding.
Understanding how you live, what matters to you and how you’d like to use the space.
With a background in complex project leadership and a passion for people-centred garden design, we combine creative vision, carefully honed garden design skills, practical experience and clear communication to help you create a garden you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
A professional garden design service is about much more than producing a beautiful plan. It’s a collaborative process that helps you create an outdoor space that’s tailored to your home, your lifestyle and the way you want to use your garden.
Every project I undertake starts with listening. During our initial conversations I’ll ask lots of questions about how you use your home and garden now, what’s not working and what you’d love it to become – for you – for example, whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat, a space for entertaining, somewhere for children to play, or a garden that’s easier to maintain, the design starts with you. I’ll want to get to know you a bit better – what you enjoy, how you like to spend your time, even places that you’ve been that have great memories or sparked a flash of joy in you.
You don’t need to know exactly what you want – I am here to help work that out. My experience in garden design, but also research, means I will pick up on cues from you, and your landscape, you may not even be conscious of.
From there, I’ll carry out a detailed site analysis – that includes a site survey and soil and environment assessments.
Once I have got under the skin of what you and your garden really need and want, I develop a concept design that explores the layout, character and flow of your garden. Once we’ve refined the ideas together, I’ll prepare detailed plans, planting designs and, where needed, technical drawings that provide everything required for the landscaping and planting stages.
Throughout the process, I’ll guide you to make informed decisions about materials, planting, features and – importantly – budget priorities. My aim is to give you a clear, well-considered design that not only looks beautiful but functions brilliantly and can be enjoyed for years to come.
Whilst great design is essential – one of the most important things I can do for you, whichever level of design service you choose – is guide you on how to get the most from your budget. i.e., where to invest more, and where you can save.
Most garden makeovers don’t require planning permission, but there are some situations where additional approvals may be needed.
For example, significant changes to ground levels that might impact neighbours, large walls or fences and garden buildings that exceed the permitted development rules, listed properties or homes within conservation areas can all have planning implications. There may also be restrictions relating to protected trees or other local planning policies.
Part of my role is to identify any potential issues early in the design process so there are no unexpected surprises later on. If planning permission or other consents are needed, I’ll advise you on what’s required and can prepare the drawings needed to support an application. Where appropriate, I’ll also work alongside architects, planning consultants or structural engineers to ensure everything progresses smoothly.
By considering these requirements from the outset, we can design a garden that’s both beautiful and practical while meeting any necessary regulations.
This can also save you from the cost and stress of finding out ‘at the last minute’ that you need a permission and either have to pause your project, or worse still, undo work you have already had done.
One of the questions I’m asked most often is whether there’s a “right” time to redesign a garden?. The good news is that the design phase of a garden transformation can begin at almost any time of year.
When it comes to creating your garden, hard landscaping tasks such as building patios, walls and pergola’s can be undertaken all year round – though very cold or very wet weather can cause small delays. However, when it comes to planting your garden, there are better ‘preferable’ times of year for planting trees and shrubs, and for planting herbaceous perennials; these are mainly to ensure these plants all establish successfully.
In recent years, planting of new gardens has had to all but stop in many regions over the hotter summer months, as hosepipe bans make it very difficult to care for new plantings.
I prefer to plant new gardens in the Autumn and then Spring, because the soil is warmer and we can expect to have more rainfall helping us.
When it comes to finding the right designer and/ or landscaper for your project, you also must consider when they have availability. Few will be immediately available, so you could be waiting a few months before they are ready to actually start work your project.
The best time to start is often when you’re ready. If you’re already thinking about improving your garden, beginning the design process now gives us time to carefully consider your options, develop the best solution and have everything in place for the build when the timing is right.
As with any home improvement project, good planning is far more important than the season itself.
A thoughtfully designed garden can certainly add value to a property, but I think its greatest value lies in how it improves the way you live every day.
For many buyers, the garden is no longer simply an outdoor space—it’s an extension of the home. A well-designed garden can create additional areas for relaxing, entertaining and family life, making a property more attractive and easier to sell.
Research consistently shows that good-quality landscaping can positively influence property values by 10-15%, particularly when the garden complements the house and is well maintained. Features such as attractive planting, high-quality paving, outdoor lighting and clearly defined spaces all help create a positive first impression.
That said, I never design a garden purely to increase resale value. My priority is always to create a space that’s right for you and your lifestyle. If you love spending time in your garden, that’s an investment you’ll enjoy every single day—and it’s often something future buyers appreciate too.
It’s true that first impressions do count: My one tip if you are trying to sell your home is to ensure the front garden is neat, fresh and you have used strategically- placed plants or features to present the house well, (and obscure any less attractive views). It is amazing the difference a couple of carefully chosen specimen shrubs can make to the proportions and focus of a house; helping to secure quality buyers.
Professional Garden Designers use different pricing structures depending on the type and scale of the project. Some charge fixed fees for each stage of the design process, while others charge hourly for consultations or smaller pieces of work.
My approach is to provide a clear proposal that explains exactly what’s included, so you know what to expect before we begin. Every project is unique, so rather than offering a one-size-fits-all package, I tailor my service to the size and complexity of your garden, but my pricing is based on guidance originally published by the industry body, the Society for Garden & Landscape Designers.
A professional garden design involves much more than producing a plan. It includes understanding how you want to live in your garden, analysing the site, solving practical challenges, selecting materials, developing planting schemes and creating detailed drawings that guide the build: all with the intent of creating a garden that stands the test of time.
Good design takes time and careful thought, but it gives you a clear roadmap for the entire project. In my experience, that upfront investment often saves clients money during construction by reducing changes on site and helping the project run more smoothly.
Typically, design fees for the first design phase, where we conduct our site analysis and create the layout design for your garden, range from £2000-£3500. A complete design and project delivery-oversight package will range from £6000-£15000.
Yes, absolutely. In fact, having a clear design can be even more valuable when you’re working to a budget.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a professionally designed garden has to be built all at once. In reality, I often help clients create a masterplan that can be completed in carefully planned phases over several months or even years.
This approach means you can invest in the elements that will make the biggest difference first, while knowing that everything you add in the future will fit into the overall vision.
Having a design to work toward can also prevent you from making costly spur-of-the-moment purchases in garden centers and homeware stores, that you later regret.
I’m also keen to retain existing features wherever it makes sense. Mature trees, established shrubs or good-quality paving can often be incorporated into a new design, helping to reduce costs while preserving the character of the garden.
Good design isn’t about spending more money – it’s about making informed decisions so every pound works as hard as possible.
Choosing a garden designer is about much more than finding someone whose work you admire. It’s about finding someone you trust and enjoy working with.
I’d always recommend looking at a designer’s website and other social media channels to get a sense of their general style and personality, and at their portfolio to see whether their projects have a consistent quality rather than a single recognisable style. A good designer should create gardens that reflect their clients at a personal level, and the character of the property and surrounding areas, not simply repeat the same ideas from one project to the next.
It’s also worth reading reviews from their other clients, and asking themabout the design process and finding out how involved they’ll be throughout the project. Communication is incredibly important because you’ll be working together over several weeks or months.
Perhaps most importantly, arrange an initial conversation. You’ll quickly get a feel for whether the designer listens to your ideas, asks thoughtful questions and understands what you’re hoping to achieve.
Generally, after a first proper conversation about you and your garden, you will have a good sense of whether you are going to connect well with your designer. This isn’t about whether you could be friends with them, but it is about whether you feel you could communicate – openly – with them, whether you feel you could trust them, whether you think they will be able to get to know you well enough to do a great job for you.
As a designer, I tend to find that within a couple of conversations, I know whether I am going to be able to work well with a potential client, and whether we’re both going to enjoy the process together – even the challenging bits. Creating gardens, which are at the mercy of nature, will always have some challenging moments, and a good working relationship and open communication are essential to a good outcome with minimal stress.
I believe the best projects are built on collaboration. My role isn’t to impose my own style but to guide you through the design process and create a garden that’s uniquely yours.
If you’re not sure about a designer you have met, speak to one or two others, and make sure you find the right fit for you.
