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Average cost for backyard landscaping


Average Prices And Cost Per Square Foot – Forbes Home

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Landscaping your yard can boost your home’s curb appeal and increase its overall value. Plus, beautiful landscaping is a wonderful mood-booster. Landscaping costs differ based on the size and scope of the job. Prices for smaller jobs, like basic lawn care, can be as low as $50, while more labor-tensive jobs requiring complex landscape design work can cost up to $7,000. The average landscaping cost is about $700.

Average Cost$700
Highest Cost$7000
Lowest Cost$50

Landscaping Cost Per Square Foot

Landscaping costs $4 to $12 per square foot, on average, for basic and intermediate services. A full makeover including landscaping design and remodeling can cost up to $40 per square foot.

Basic and intermediate services may include planting grass or flowers, lawn care and thatching. Remodeling involves a complete exterior design along with demolition and regrading the area.

Landscaping Cost Per Hour

Labor makes up about 80% of the total landscaping cost. Landscapers charge between $50 and $100 per hour for a crew of two. As the manpower required increases, so will the cost. Additional crew members will cost $25 to $50 per hour extra.

Landscape designers are more advanced than typical landscapers, often charging at least $200 an hour to plan and design your yard. While you won’t need to work with a designer for routine landscaping work, you will need to hire one if you’re looking to install something unique from scratch.

Get at least three quotes from different landscapers before starting work to find one that works with your budget.

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Landscaping Cost Per Project

Landscaping costs start at $50 for small projects and can reach upwards of $7,000 for complex tasks. Popular landscaping projects include lawn seeding, landscape curbing, lawn mowing, tree trimming and lawn grading.

Lawn Seeding$400 - $1,500
Landscape Curbing$750 - $2,000
Lawn Mowing$50 - $200
Tree Trimming$75 - $1,500
Lawn Grading$1,000 - $3,000
Mulching$100 - $300
Pond Installation$1,300 - $6,000
Water Fountain Installation$1,000 - $5,000
Sod Installation$1,000 - $3,000
Landscape Design$2,000 - $7,000
Retaining Wall Installation$1,500 - $6,000
Lawn Aeration$75 - $250
Gravel Installation$180 - $1,800

The final cost will ultimately depend on the size of your property.

Material Costs

Some landscaping materials cost more than others. Landscape gravel, for example, typically costs more per square foot than turf. Some materials are more difficult to source or require more labor to install, which makes them more expensive. If you’re landscaping on a budget, this list of common landscaping materials will help you determine which materials will work best for you.

Landscape Boulders$150 per ton
Landscape Gravel$20 - $30 per square foot
Lawn Turf$5 - $20 per square foot
Lawn Replacement$1 - $2 per square foot
Retaining Wall$15 - $20 per square foot

Landscaping Rocks

Rock is a very common landscaping material. The average cost of landscaping rocks is between $3 and $6 per square foot, but the cost will ultimately depend on the type of rock used.

Crushed Stone$1 - $2 per square foot
Crushed Granite$1 - $3 per square foot
Stone Steps$100 - $300 per step
Granite Pavers$6 per square foot
River Rocks$100 - $800 per ton
Lava Rocks$75 per ton
Boulders$100 - $600 per ton

Landscaping Cost by Type

There are three main types of landscaping: hardscaping, softscaping and xeriscaping. Softscaping refers to the plant elements of a landscape and often involves flowers, shrubs and trees that require services like weed management, planting and mowing. Xeriscaping is a landscaping process that works to conserve water and eliminate the need for irrigation, while hardscaping involves non-plant materials (paths, decks, retaining walls, etc.).

Many homeowners incorporate all of these types into their overall landscaping. Each type differs in cost, but ranges from $900 to $30,000.

Average Cost$2,000 - $30,000
Highest Cost$900 - $3,000
Lowest Cost$15,000 - $20,000

Landscaping Maintenance

Most landscaping you have done will require regular upkeep. Monthly landscape maintenance costs range from $50 to $300 based on the size of your yard and the work required. Routine lawn care services (mowing, fertilization and weed control) done by a professional landscaper will cost a homeowner $150 per month on average.

You may be able to hire a handyman or independent contractor to do some of this work, but a professional landscaping company will be the most experienced and accommodating. Remember to get multiple quotes before settling on a company you like.

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How much does landscaping cost?

(Image credit: Rob Cardillo Photography)

The number of us researching backyard landscaping cost has rocketed in the past year – with an 80 percent increase in Google searches for 'backyard landscaping ideas on a budget' alone.

Whether it's planting flower beds, installing hardscaping, or getting a handle on the weeds in the garden, it seems we all want to make the most of out backyard landscaping ideas.

While some projects are DIY friendly, others will require the help of a pro. 

'DIY lawn care is feasible, but it depends on the type of lawn you have. Cutting your own grass, racking any rocks in the yard, and even seeding certain areas is probably doable for a homeowner,' says Gabe Pinchev, CEO and founder of FieldPulse , a software that helps field service professionals, like landscapers, manage their businesses. 'However, larger projects like sod installation, water features, wall/fencing installation, and things like tree trimming should be left to the professionals to avoid bigger costs down the road or damage to the property.'

This all leads to the imperative question: how much does backyard landscaping cost?

How much does landscaping cost?

The answer, of course, is far from simple – but here, we attempt to breakdown the costs of landscaping so that you can make a judgement on where to spend and where to save in your landscaping. Our experts suggest that landscaping can cost anywhere between $2,500 to $15,000, or $50-$100 per hour or $30-$100 a week. 

How much should I budget for backyard landscaping? 

Knowing how much to budget for backyard landscaping comes with an acceptance that costs vary wildly depending on what garden ideas you want to implement at home.

'Landscaping costs vary significantly,' says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love , a company that delivers high-tech solutions to the lawn care industry. 'The main factors that will impact the overall cost include the size of your yard, the features you choose to have installed, the company you hire (and how many workers the job requires), the level of service you want (basic, intermediate, advanced landscaping, etc.), and how long it takes to complete.'

According to Yamaguchi, you can expect pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars for basic service like lawn moving and plant care to tens of thousands of dollars for things like developing new garden beds, laying a new lawn, or installing hardscaping features. 

'For average yards and average landscaping, it usually ends up being somewhere between $2,500 and $10,000,' he says. For elaborate designs or large yards, costs can quickly go up from there. 

Simple, small back yard landscaping ideas are always going to be more budget friendly than large or complex designs.

However, spend up to 10 per cent of your home's value on landscaping and you will be getting the cost-to-value ratio about right. 

But how does that landscaping cost breaks down, and what do you need to consider when budgeting for your backyard landscaping?

How much does landscaping cost monthly?

The initial spend to landscape your yard is only part of the overall cost of landscaping. Unless you've got a green thumb or don't mind spending weekends mowing the grass and pulling weeds, you may want to hire a landscaper to do monthly maintenance during the summer season.

Monthly maintenance costs can include things like mowing the lawn, pruning flowers, adding mulch to flower beds, weeding, and putting down fertilizer. It can also include annual jobs like deadheading flowers at the end of the season, cleaning up leaves, and giving your yard a spring cleanup. 

Depending on where you live and the size of your yard, expect to pay anywhere from $30-$100 a week to have a landscaper mow your lawn, or about $120-$400 a month.

For other tasks, estimate a range of about $50-$100 per hour. 

Costs for common landscaping jobs

Pinchev, of FieldPulse,  gives the below estimates for common landscaping jobs.

Consider the cost of landscaping materials

Jose Chavez – who has owned and operated Chavez Landscaping and Concrete in the greater Santa Rosa, California area since 1995 – says backyard landscaping costs are based on the customer's needs and the materials associated with those needs.

'The materials are a big part in why the cost is so high,' he says, pointing out that it's not just the hard landscaping but extras, such as outdoor speakers, integrated lighting and luxury pool ideas, that add to the costs dramatically.

Include landscaping material shipping costs

With many materials now being imported from retailers in India, Singapore and other countries, the cost for the consumer is also modified to account for shipping – and this is something you should incorporate into your budget when planning how to landscape a backyard. 

According to Home Guide’s 2021 estimates, that could lead to new landscaping installation costing anywhere from $3,000 to $15,950, depending on the yard size and amenities. 

Chavez estimates even higher costs, citing projects he’s worked on going up to $250,000 – but believes that high price tags often correlate more with amenities over square footage.

Include costs for extra landscaping elements

As much as these items can quickly add up, it’s important to remember the fun and beautiful aspects of a backyard's landscape, on top of its functionality.  

As we’ve seen with recent trending patio ideas, an outdoor seating space is a basic element – but adding an extravagant water fixture or a bocce ball court could tack on hundreds if not thousands of extra dollars.

'I can’t stress enough the importance of taking care of the functional aspects first –and then start thinking about flower bed ideas and your favorite plants,' Linda Greenberg, principal for Linda Greenberg Landscape and Design says.

Search terms such as 'geology,' 'swimming pool,' and 'fire pit' all saw increased popularity via Google Trends in the last year as well — and each of these options require different budgetary considerations.  

'Custom landscape is when the price goes up – especially stonework, because it’s so time-consuming,' Chavez explains.

Consider how your site will add to landscaping costs

Backyard landscaping costs will be higher if your space is difficult to access, needs extensive clearing or has awkwardly sited drains. Sloping garden ideas can also be more expensive to landscape. 

Additionally, city dwellers are likely to pay a premium that those outside of urban areas can largely avoid.

Additionally, connecting with a more seasoned landscaper could drive up cost – but could also provide a better-quality experience and longer-use space. Greenberg has over 25 years of experience as a horticulturist and a landscape designer, so her services may differ from those of a newer expert.  

'If chances are good, some of the best investment decisions a client makes will outlive me,' she says.  

How do I estimate the cost of landscaping?

To estimate landscaping cost, you need to consider the following: 

As we said above, the cost of landscaping a garden will vary, depending on what you want to achieve from the space. If you have a firm budget in place and know exactly what you want, you can tailor the garden to suit spending limitations, for example opting for deck ideas over more expensive stone pavers.

Linda Greenberg agrees. Typically, she meets with her clients for one to two hours at the initial meeting, with hourly on site consultation and/or design fees costing $175 per hour.  

With the majority of her work in the Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina region, Greenberg notes that most clients have an HOA or ARB that shows specifics on the work allowed for individual homes. 

What should you spend on backyard landscaping?

Ultimately, each yard is going to require different things, and thus different budgets. Chavez says: 'We design according to the budget of the client – normally, they do have a budget they want to work with and a designer’s estimates,' he says. 

'I’ve landscaped yards that are considered large that have cost substantially less than yards a quarter of the size – what matters is what the client wants.'

He recommends that interested clients first work with a designer to better assess items they need – horticulture, outdoor furniture – and then assess what fun items they can incorporate in with the remaining budget – bocce ball courts, outdoor kitchen ideas, and the like.

'It boils down to what customers want – on price points, that’s all dependent on what they would want to spend,' he says. 'It is luxury, really, that you’re willing to pay for.'

Linda Greenberg agrees: 'A smaller space can be as expensive as a larger garden, because each one has so many moving parts, from the functional aspects like soil preparation, electrical grading, drainage and lighting.'

Is landscaping worth the money?

Landscaping is worth the money if you get the cost-to-value balanced. This means spending up to around 10% of your home's value on your garden ideas, to be as sure as you can be that you haven't over-spent and that you will recoup a good percentage of your spend when you sell your home. 

However, whether landscaping is 'worth the money' shouldn't be looked at merely as a financial transaction. Linda Greenberg agrees, noting that it’s imperative that the client understands the investment an updated or renovated landscape offers not only to the value of the home, but to their lifestyle. Garden zoning, for instance, can provide spaces for tranquil escapism or sociable outdoor dining.

'We’ve seen an incredible uptick in time spent at home. With a backyard, and even front yard, offering reprieve from the working hours, it only makes sense to extend your living space to the literal living land outside your home’s doors.'

Grace Stetson is a full-time housing and affordability correspondent based in the Santa Cruz region of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Alongside her full-time work, she has worked on many topics in the housing realm — from data-driven real estate stories to lifestyle-focused how-tos — for publications including Apartment Therapy, Homes & Gardens, and Real Homes. 

Improvement of the territory of a house, dacha, site, park, streets in Krasnodar

Improvement of sites is a complex of engineering and technical measures, the purpose of which is to create comfortable conditions for people to live. Moreover, the concept of comfort should apply to all areas of activity possible in this area, such as caring for green spaces, passive and active recreation, growing vegetables and fruits, receiving guests, etc.

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The secret of proper landscaping is clarity in the planning of space and forms in it. Observance of a clear idea of ​​the connection of space with the surrounding nature and the house makes it possible to simplify the task of landscaping. Landscaping, like any process, has its constituent elements.

These elements include the following actions:

For quality landscaping of your territory, you can seek the help of specialists in landscape design. Landscaping also forms the basis for creating landscaping on your site. nine0003

Every morning you can wake up and enjoy the bright colors of evergreen shrubs and trees. A summer run on the lawn will also give you a pleasant feeling. Therefore, landscape design specialists are working so carefully to create a mass of options for landscaping the territory.

Landscaping implies the process of planting trees and shrubs. Also, when landscaping the territory, designers create flower beds and flower beds, cut hedges, and create bosquets. A feature of landscaping with the help of already grown trees is the need to plant them in winter. So they get along better. nine0003

It is very important to correctly select plants for landscaping the site, taking into account all factors (climatic, age of the plant, its compatibility with others, the wishes of the owners of the territory). It is very important to correctly select plants for landscaping the site. An interesting option is to use the roof as a place for landscaping. This way to add some nature to your life is often the only way to landscape design in large built-up cities.

In cities that are so built up, there is not enough space to create green spaces. That is why designers began to look for ways out of this situation. Roof landscaping has become quite a popular trend in landscape design around the world. Moreover, such an idea is also acceptable for suburban areas with houses. The benefits of green roofs, as they say, on the face. Plants on the roof contribute to the reduction of climatic changes in the city. Even such plants, being on the high roofs of houses, are constantly actively involved in the process of photosynthesis, that is, the production of oxygen. nine0003

Plant-covered buildings reduce their heating and air conditioning costs by an average of 20-30% per year. In huge office buildings, green roofs are also a pleasant place to relax from the noise and problems of work.

Roof greening in a metropolis. Climbing plants are also a unique material for landscaping the territory. Such plants are used in landscaping vertical surfaces such as walls, columns, arches, etc. Basically, designers use various types of vines for vertical landscaping. Such solutions are not only extremely beautiful, but also (for example, with the option of landscaping the walls) climbing plants protect the building from overheating and high humidity. It has also become fashionable to use plants in containers using supports when decorating the landscape of the territory (as in the photo). nine0003

So, for the improvement of the territory near your house, it is important to follow the rules of landscaping and the clarity of landscape design.

You can either ask designers for help or work on your own. The choice is yours. Create your green corner of joy and comfortable rest.

A beautiful and well-maintained house, surrounded by unkempt land, with randomly growing plants, will never look complete and attractive. The best way to decorate the yard will be landscaping and landscaping the area surrounding the house. nine0003

There are various options for beautifully decorating the yard, from which the owners can choose the most appropriate options, based on their desires and possibilities, and the size of the plot. The landscaping of the yard area is an important stage of all work in creating an ideal place for unity with nature, bringing joy and pleasure.

For each specific area, the number of transformations performed is individual. The owners must decide for themselves which elements of improvement to apply to their site. It depends on many factors that should be taken into account when creating a landscaping project. nine0003

It should take into account the relief features of the site, the priorities and lifestyle of the owners, and their financial capabilities, because many designs require considerable costs.
If the design retains the green spaces already existing on the site, then they must be included in the general plan of the future landscape. Design will help to correctly distribute the sequence of work so that you do not have to disturb an already organized lawn or paths, lay an irrigation or lighting system.

A variety of amenities

Comfortable places to relax, surrounded by a variety of green spaces, are the basis of a peaceful environment. Convenient paths and cool ponds create the most comfortable conditions for your stay. To create a design for a house adjoining area, it is necessary to think through all the nuances and subtleties of the future landscape in advance. In order to correctly distribute the necessary front of work, a detailed plan for the improvement of the territory should be drawn up, which will display the desired location of all components. nine0003

The main works capable of changing the local area and creating an oasis of comfort include: