Legal
Terms &
conditions
Last updated: 21 September 2026
The short version
Quotes are fixed for 30 days and changes are agreed in writing.
Deposits book your date; stage payments follow finished work.
Plants carry a 12-month guarantee when the care plan is followed.
These terms apply to all quotes, designs and work provided by Fernwood Garden Design & Landscaping (“Fernwood”, “we”, “us”) to you, the client. By accepting a quote or booking a visit, you agree to these terms. They do not affect your statutory rights.
1. Site visits and consultations
Initial consultations and site visits are free and carry no obligation. If you need to cancel or move a visit, please give us at least 24 hours’ notice so we can offer the slot to someone else.
2. Quotes
Quotes are written, itemised and valid for 30 days from the date issued. The quoted price is fixed for the work described. It does not cover work outside the agreed scope, or conditions that could not reasonably be seen at the survey, such as buried rubble, hidden services or unstable ground.
3. Changes to the work
If you ask for changes, or we discover something that means the work must change, we will explain the effect on price and timing and agree it with you in writing before carrying it out.
4. Design work
Design fees include the survey, a scaled layout and planting plan, and two rounds of revisions. Further revisions are charged at our standard hourly design rate. Copyright in drawings stays with Fernwood, and you may use them for your own garden.
5. Deposits and payment
Build projects need a 20% deposit to confirm your start date and order materials. The balance is invoiced in stages as work is completed, with a final invoice on handover. Invoices are payable within 14 days. Maintenance plans are billed monthly in advance.
6. Cancellations
You may cancel within 14 days of accepting a quote for a full refund of your deposit, unless you asked us to start within that period or bespoke materials have already been ordered. After that, we may keep the cost of materials ordered and work already done.
7. Scheduling and weather
We give you a start date and an estimated duration. Weather, ground conditions and material deliveries can cause delays; we will keep you informed, and delays never change your fixed price.
8. Access and your responsibilities
Please give us clear access to the garden, a water supply and an electricity supply where needed, and tell us about any underground services, boundary disputes, protected trees or planning restrictions you know of.
9. Guarantees
Our workmanship on hard landscaping is guaranteed for 10 years. Plants we supply and plant are guaranteed for 12 months, provided the care schedule we give you is followed. Guarantees do not cover damage from extreme weather, pests, animals, neglect or alterations by others.
10. Liability and insurance
We hold public liability and employer’s liability insurance, with certificates available on request. We take reasonable care of your property, but are not responsible for damage to unmarked underground services that you did not tell us about.
11. Complaints
If you are unhappy with any part of our work, tell your project lead or email hello@fernwood.com. We will respond within 5 working days and aim to put things right quickly.
12. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the state in which the work is carried out. We may update these terms from time to time; the version in force when you accept your quote applies to your project.