About Fertile Ground Design ⋅ Our Story

Founded in 2009 by Chris King, Fertile Ground has grown over 15 years from a small local business into an established landscaping company serving Hertfordshire homeowners. Our journey began in St Albans where we still maintain our headquarters, expanding to cover Harpenden, Watford, and select areas of North London as our reputation for quality and craftsmanship grew.

Our Philosophy & Approach

I remember a client in Harpenden who seemed genuinely surprised when we spent our first meeting just chatting about their family life and barely mentioned plants or patios. “Shouldn’t we be discussing designs?” she asked. But that’s exactly how Chris has always worked since founding the company – get to know the people first, then worry about the garden plan. We often bring biscuits to that initial chat (Chris has a weakness for chocolate digestives), and yes, we’ll eventually talk about your ideas and budget, but only after understanding who’ll be using the garden and how. One client’s kids renamed us “the garden detectives” because of all our questions about their outdoor habits!

Where does the evening sun hit? How do you imagine using this space in five years? This approach takes a bit longer, but the results speak for themselves: Gardens that feel right from day one and get better with time.

Our Commitment to Transparency

Let’s face it – having strangers dig up your garden is a big deal. We get that. Back in 2018, Mrs. Thompson from St Albans called us in a panic because her previous landscaper had disappeared halfway through the job, leaving her with what she called “a mud pit disaster.” It took us weeks to fix the mess, but that experience reinforced something Chris has believed since day one: clear communication matters more than clever designs. That’s why we’re happy to put you in touch with Jenny in Harpenden or the Patels in Watford – clients who’ve been through the whole process with us. They won’t sugarcoat their experience (trust me, Jenny will tell you about the week we fell behind schedule due to that surprise cold snap last winter). Feel free to contact us for references.

The Team Behind Your Project

You won’t see strangers showing up at your gate wearing different company logos each day. That’s not how we work. Dave’s been our paving expert for almost 9 years now—started as an apprentice straight out of college. Sarah, who’ll likely help design your planting scheme, actually trained at Kew before joining us in 2016. And yes, that’s probably Chris (the boss) you’ll spot carrying plants alongside everyone else on planting day.

We’ve had Christmas parties together, celebrated weddings, and even survived that disastrous camping trip to Wales where it rained for five solid days. That might sound irrelevant, but it’s actually why your project runs smoothly—we’re genuinely friends who know how each other works. I remember Mrs. Bedford in Harpenden laughing when she realized our “construction manager” and “plant specialist” were discussing her tricky slope issue over sandwiches they were sharing on her garden wall. “It’s like watching a family decide where the sofa should go,” she said. And she was right—there’s no formal handover between departments because there are no departments. Just a dedicated team that’s built hundreds of gardens together.

Where We Work

Our Creative Process

Over the years, we’ve refined a collaborative approach that balances creativity with practicality. We begin with an in-depth conversation to understand how you currently use your outdoor space and how you envision its transformation. This initial dialogue forms the foundation of everything that follows.

For larger projects, we create detailed scale drawings that help you visualize the completed space before work begins. These technical plans are complemented by mood boards and material samples that bring the concept to life, allowing you to experience textures and colors firsthand.

Our approach to planting design is equally thoughtful. Rather than simply selecting visually appealing combinations, we consider factors like seasonal interest, maintenance requirements, and local growing conditions to create sustainable schemes that evolve beautifully over time.

From the initial concept through to the final planting, we maintain open communication, ensuring you’re involved in key decisions while benefiting from our technical expertise and creative guidance. Get in touch to start your project discussion.

Our Technical Expertise

Beyond creative design, our experienced team brings specialized knowledge across various landscaping disciplines. This technical foundation ensures your garden is not just beautiful, but built to last: