How AI Has Changed SEO and What It Means for Garden Designers & Landscapers

A New Kind of Search

AI-powered search and AIO answers have completely changed how people discover garden designers and landscapers. Instead of scrolling through endless results, users now get quick, direct answers. But if your website doesn’t offer real value, it’s simply skipped. That’s the reality, but it’s also a huge opportunity if you know how to use it.

AI Isn’t Rewarding Generic Content Anymore

Because LLMs can churn out generic articles in seconds, generic “Top 10 Garden Trends” style posts are no longer valuable. Search engines know this and they’re pushing them down. What rises to the top now is real experience: your projects, your process, and your perspective.

This is especially important for garden designers and landscapers, because your work is tactile, visual, and personal. No AI can replace the story behind a planting scheme or the thinking behind a layout. That’s exactly the kind of content Google wants.

Real Stories Create Real Authority

If you want to stand out in an AI-heavy search world, your projects become your proof. Before-and-after stories, planting explanations, breakdowns of materials, tricky site challenges you solved these are the things an algorithm can’t fake. The more you share your reasoning and experience, the more trustworthy you become in the eyes of both humans and AI.

Search Is Now About Intent, Not Just Keywords

People are typing real questions into search now:

“shady garden ideas”, “low-maintenance borders”, “how to work with a garden designer”.

AI overviews are built to answer these directly, so your content needs to as well.

This means writing blog posts and pages that speak to the actual intent behind the search. Clear headings, simple explanations, and helpful answers are more important than ever. Think of your blog as a library of “how” and “why” content that your ideal clients will thank you for.

Technical SEO Still Matters (Maybe More Than Ever)

Even though AI handles the summaries, Google still cares about how your website feels to use. A fast site, smooth mobile experience, clear navigation, and strong internal linking all make a measurable difference. When I build websites for garden designers and landscapers, this foundation is always part of the process because it signals quality to both users and search engines.

Your Portfolio Is Doing Heavy SEO Lifting

One of the biggest advantages garden designers and landscapers have is their project portfolio. Every single project has the potential to rank for its location, the style of garden, the materials used, the planting approach, and the problems you solved.

A detailed case study about a “small shady courtyard garden in Nottingham” is SEO gold. When structured properly, your portfolio becomes one of your most powerful traffic drivers.

Authority Is the New Ranking Factor

AI search favours experts. Not the loudest voices, but the most trustworthy ones. The more you talk about why you choose certain materials, how you source sustainably, how your process works, and how you collaborate with clients, the stronger your authority becomes.

This is where garden designers and landscapers naturally shine. You’re working with living materials, long-term thinking, and specialised knowledge. AI can’t replicate that — but it can reward you for showcasing it.

The Bottom Line

AI hasn’t killed SEO. It has just eliminated shortcuts. For garden designers, landscapers, and outdoor-focused brands, this shift is genuinely positive. If you’re doing good work and telling real stories, you’re already ahead.

In a world flooded with AI-generated content, authenticity from real professionals stands out more than ever. And that’s exactly where Dan Hoye Design helps you shine.