Cost of garden


How Much Does It Cost To Build A Garden From Scratch

Shyntartanya/Shutterstock

By Daniel Feininger/May 9, 2022 6:42 am EST

Constructing a new garden from scratch can be a highly rewarding activity for a homeowner. Garden beds, greenhouse installations, and hanging planters can all add to the allure and overall value of a property (via House Beautiful). An established garden is a sight to behold, and the work that goes into making a stunning one will provide you with many hours of relaxation, enjoyment, and a sense of accomplishment that can be hard to find elsewhere.

A number of unique elements go into building a new garden, so it can be hard to pin down an average cost basis for creating the one that will ultimately fit into your yard and life. The best way to understand the overall price tag on a new garden is to start with the dimensions of the space you're hoping to reinvent. A raised garden bed, for instance, averages $145 per bed kit, according to Lawn Starter.

Reimagining your yard to include a garden can be as in-depth a process as you want it to be. Simple changes, like the addition of a single raised garden bed, can make for a new look and feel in your yard, while more substantial renovations to the lawn will reimagine the entire energy of the space and provide you with ample growing area to support a drive toward self-sustaining living and a greener thumb.

Factors for cost

Paul Maguire/Shutterstock

Adding a garden to your yard can provide a whole new feature and great enjoyment to your home. Because of the varied ways in which a homeowner can install a new garden, making this change a dramatic one or a more subdued addition is totally up to you. No matter how you approach building a new garden, many of the cost factors remain the same.

Landscaping begins with a plan and the removal of features

For a homeowner looking to revamp their garden, the first step is to understand what it is that the new garden will try to accomplish. Every garden is unique; some act as a growing medium for vegetables, fruit, and other plants that will serve in the kitchen or pantry, and other gardens offer an extended grassy area that's perfect for children's playtime or relaxation.

Typically, when building a new set of landscaping features, the first thing you'll need to do is remove existing elements of the space. Raking out sod, removing trees and leftover stumps, or digging up shrubs and bushes to make room for new additions can be backbreaking work. Hiring a professional outlet to complete these tasks will cost you between $50 and $100 per hour (for a two-person team), according to Forbes Advisor.

Adding fertile soil to the yard or in raised beds features prominently in the cost analysis

Adding growing plant life to your garden is something that many homeowners look forward to when creating a new yard layout, but growing a vibrant garden of flowers, fruit trees, or vegetables will require an expansive use of fertile soil. HomeAdvisor estimates that topsoil typically runs between $12 and $55 per cubic yard, while sand costs between $15 and $40 per cubic yard.

Hunker points out that prices can vary dramatically across the country, advising homeowners to assume a local price that comes in at the high end. Furthermore, Hunker suggests that a 4-inch depth that covers 1,000 square feet of new garden space will require 12 cubic yards of soil, costing $660 at the high-end price point. If you're looking to establish raised garden beds, the volume requirement may be even more substantial depending on the depth of each container's space.

It's also a good idea to invest in worms to support ongoing health in the soil of your garden. The dirt that acts as a growing medium for your plants is a complex mixture of various components and worms help to ensure that this blend of organic materials is always balanced with the right nutrients for healthy plant growth. Worm Farming Secrets estimates that you should expect to spend around $50 or $55 on composting worms that can be added directly to the soil or used in a specialized compost additive maker called a vermicomposter or wormery (via the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Working with a landscape designer can boost the overall cost of the project

Homeowners that don't know where to start on a new garden project can benefit greatly from the introduction of a landscape designer and their specialized expertise. Forbes Advisor estimates that the average cost of a landscaper runs about $700, with a significant range that extends from as little as $50 for simple lawn care tasks to more than $7,000 for a total makeover. Factoring in a cost of at least $1,000 will bring you closer to an overall estimate of the price if you opt to bring in a landscaper to help make the transformation.

These professionals can offer their expertise in both the changes that need to be made and in selecting the perfect site on your property for a new garden. Moving back to the initial planning phase, if you're unsure of how to go about this change, then working with a landscaper can help you design a strategy that will take you from start to finish in a streamlined fashion.

Additional costs

Arnaoutis Christos/Shutterstock

In addition to the direct costs of redesigning your yard to include a garden section, there are a number of other cost factors that can play a role in the final price.

Many gardens feature structures like raised beds, hanging baskets, and even greenhouses

The attractiveness of specialized garden features make them a favorite among homeowners looking to install new garden fixtures on their property. Raised garden beds, trellises, greenhouses, frames, and many other features play a significant role in the transformation of a yard into a garden. But these additions will raise the price of the endeavor. 

Better Homes & Gardens explains that an arched trellis is a great addition to just about any garden because it offers the ability to segment the landscaping into two distinct areas. These fixtures allow you to create a luxurious feel to the garden while adding a functional piece to the equation that can be used for vines and other plants that require support to reach their full potential. A Rustic Garden offers iron arbors and arched trellises at prices ranging from $379.95 up to about $1,000.

Another often-seen option is the raised garden bed. Garden beds can be made from wood, metal, and many other materials. Lawn Starter estimates that raised garden beds range from $104.18 to $210.46 per bed, with framing materials costing an average of $18.39 per square foot.

Greenhouse installations (via House Digest) will also add to the cost of the project. A typical greenhouse kit (not including those that are custom built with a foundation and more permanent status on the property) will cost between $1,000 and $2,000 (via Greenhouse Info).

The plants themselves will raise the cost of construction

In addition to the cost of equipment and the construction of planting areas, homeowners looking to create a new garden bed for their home will have to factor in the cost of the plants themselves. Plant prices can vary greatly depending on the types of plants you are hoping to install in the garden. Seeds (for flowers, herbs, fruits, and more) often cost a few dollars per packet, with heirloom seeds typically priced around the $3 mark per packet (via Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds). On the other hand, trees, large shrubs, and specialty plants can raise the price. Bob Vila reports that homeowners can expect to spend $150 to $300 per tree for smaller or younger varieties, and about 10 times that ($1,500 to $3,000) for large trees that measure over 15 feet.

Increased watering needs will raise your bill accordingly

Lastly, adding a new garden will increase your irrigation needs. Routine watering of this space that is specifically designed for increased growth can dramatically change your water usage and overall sprinkler system layout. Angi estimates that a simple drip irrigation installation can be found for as little as $22, whereas a professional installation can cost between $450 and $625.

Additionally, depending on your price for water, an irrigation system can raise your monthly water bill — either by a small factor or a more substantial one. For homeowners worried about significantly increased water costs, installing a rainwater system to support your needs might be the perfect solution. HomeAdvisor estimates that a straightforward, single-barrel system will likely cost around $120, but a more elaborate setup can cost upwards of $2,500.

Types of home gardens

Anna-Nas/Shutterstock

There are endless ways that you can establish a growing area at your house. Garden design is completely up to you; however, many people find that by following an existing blueprint for some of the most popular garden layouts, they can enjoy the space and experiences that it can provide with greater regularity and effectiveness.

Density-minded urban gardens

In North America, 83.6% of the population lived in cities in 2020, according to the World Economic Forum. In practice, this means that most Americans looking to incorporate garden space into their home will need to do so in an urban environment rather than with a sprawling rural landscape as a backdrop. The Royal Horticultural Society notes that urban balconies and yard space are often marked by high walls and sometimes the addition of densely packed buildings surrounding the space. Making use of plants that can thrive in shady areas is a must if your area doesn't see full sun through the bulk of the day.

Formal gardens

Gardening Know How recommends a formal garden for anyone who thrives on clean lines and meticulously planned design elements. These layouts are based on geometric symmetry and offer a sense of powerful serenity. A formal garden can be as large or small as you want, making this a great choice for homeowners seeking to install a unique and eye-catching piece to the outdoor space of their property.

Plant-specific gardens

Many people choose to plant specialized gardens that focus on a single kind of crop or growing method. The addition of an herb garden, vegetable garden, or even a small home grove of fruit trees, vines, or bushes can add something special to your home. Home Stratosphere suggests that a vegetable garden is one of the most popular options for homeowners seeking to make this change to their property. Vegetable gardens are easy to care for and they provide a product that grows quickly and can make a difference in your kitchen in as little as just a few months.

Why you need a garden on your property

Gary Matuschka/Shutterstock

Adding a garden to your property provides a brand new feature that enhances the home in many ways. For one, garden space can create a defining element that brings you and your family outdoors on a more consistent basis. Building a garden with additional relaxation features integrated directly into the space can provide an even greater effect that flows through the entire home, not just the exterior space.

Added relaxation is a standard for homeowners enjoying the gardening-enhanced lifestyle

The Spruce tells of backyard transformation that can enhance your mood and ability to unwind at the end of a long day. The backyard provides the foundation for much of the relaxation that many people enjoy in their homes. Adding a garden to this area (or on the front end of the home) completes the overall vision of peace and tranquility that so many homeowners seek with their landscaping and outdoor furniture additions.

Garden space can dramatically improve your ability to relax in the outdoor areas of your home. The American Psychological Association reports that exposure to nature can improve emotions and mood as well as attention. Your garden can provide a safe haven for the family and it easily establishes a fantastic place to relax and enjoy a unique element of the home.

Gardens beautify the home, boosting resale value as well as quality of life

In addition to the relaxation effect that a garden can provide, focusing on the exterior space and improving the landscaping can boost the resale value of your home. A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Extension reports that the often-cited 15% boost in resale value is accurate, and in the United Kingdom, a well-kept garden can increase your property's value by as much as 77%, according to research conducted by Post Office Money (via House Beautiful).

Benefits of a home garden

Rido/Shutterstock

UNC Health reports that a garden can add more than financial and lifestyle improvements to your home. On top of these added features, gardening provides potent health benefits, too.

Gardening is great for developing finer hand-eye coordination and other motor skills

The physical tasks associated with gardening provide a low-intensity form of exercise that many people can integrate into their lifestyle without difficulty. But for those with mobility issues or other considerations, gardening can also be done at a height with the use of raised beds or custom-built greenhouse space, making the endeavor something that can be shared by virtually everyone. Digging, planting, and watering your crop takes patience and a measure of physical labor. These tasks typically won't require extensive strength to accomplish but rather fine movements and precision.  

Children's programming often incorporates gardening as a means to develop these critical skills as well (via Brain Balance Centers), making time spent in the garden something that both young and old alike can share and enjoy. Incorporating this hobby into your lifestyle can change the way you approach minute detail and tasks requiring enhanced hand-eye coordination.

Gardeners enjoy reduced stress and improved heart health

Something that comes up regularly when speaking about outdoor activity is the increased heart health that comes into play. UNC Health outlines a reduction in stress (including anxiety, depression, and other related factors that play a role in mental wellbeing) and a boost to heart and lung health among a number of important benefits that can be felt through the task of gardening.

Recommended

How Much Does a Vegetable Garden Cost? Garden Tips 2022

Save for later!

0 shares

The question, How much does a vegetable garden cost is tantamount to, How long is a piece of string? It depends entirely on the size and vegetable garden area as well as how and what you plant. There are many different options from conventional layouts on flat ground to raised garden beds and the vertical tower garden system. 

There is no pat answer when it comes to the cost of establishing a vegetable garden. Total costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. It depends on what you want, what you need to buy, and what prices you have to pay for all of this.   

Is vegetable gardening expensive?

Vegetable gardening can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. It depends on many factors, and it isn’t that easy to estimate costs in advance. 

It also depends on what you include in your costs. For example, the cost you assign to your own time and effort can be subjective and highly variable. 

If you get paid a high rate per hour or per day, you will need to balance this with the time you put into vegetable gardening. But if you put different values on your input, it will be a completely different story. 

You might also want to work out how much you get per pound in relation to the vegetables you are able to grow.  

How much does it cost to create a vegetable garden?

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension suggests a framework for home gardeners to estimate costs and cost savings from veggie gardening. But you won’t be able to work this out accurately in advance.

They say there are three factors to consider:

  1. Your gardening costs
  2. The size of your harvest
  3. The price you would have paid for vegetables if you didn’t grow them yourself

But it’s not a very easy calculation. In fact, it’s very complicated, if not mind-boggling!

You need to calculate the costs for each vegetable and the materials for multiple vegetables, together with tools and supplies. The link supplied will help you establish how much your vegetable garden is likely to cost to create. 

Then, mixed up in all of this will be the soil conditions, climate, and so on. After all, some home veggie gardens will be a lot more successful than others, depending on where they are located.  

Startup cost

The most obvious startup costs will relate to basic infrastructure costs as well as costs for the many tools you will need.

If you are starting completely from scratch, you might want to include fencing, netting, stepping stones, and other structural elements. If you don’t have a gardening toolkit, you’ll need to fork out for this too.  

If you want to include a raised bed, you will need to cost in these materials too. A tower garden can be useful in confined spaces, but these take extra budget too. 

Whichever route you take, you will probably need compost or other organic matter to add to your soil, and possibly even new topsoil.

Then there will be the costs of seeds, seedlings, or established plants.

What you need

What you need depends entirely on what you have already got. The basics are mentioned above.

Realistically though, you are likely to find that you will need to buy certain items as you get more and more into your new vegetable garden.  

Maybe you’ll need a small garden fork, garden gloves, snippers, or secateurs for harvesting the fruits of your labor. You will probably also have to buy compost and fertilizer from time to time. 

More seeds and seedlings will become a given!

Space requirement

The space requirements for any vegetable garden will depend on what you plan to plant as well as the space you have available. So, step number one will be to plan your available space carefully. 

Weigh up the two elements and decide on your priorities. Also, be sure to factor in things like vegetables that shouldn’t be grown in the same soil every year. 

For example, some plants, including ever-popular tomatoes and peppers, need to be grown in different areas every year. The soil runs out of nutrients and the plants become susceptible to soil-borne diseases. 

This means that you need enough space to shuffle them around year after year. But it’s not a daunting task. All you need to do is practice crop rotation! 

Types of vegetables to plant

Studies, including Langellotto’s quoted below, show that tomatoes rank among the top five most profitable garden crops. Just remember that they are heavy feeders and they need to be rotated with vegetables like beans and peas, which are legumes. 

You could have a few raised beds and then alternate them each year. 

Langellotto also says that leafy green vegetables are profitable in many home gardens. Other profitable types include eggplant (aubergine), peas, squash, and strawberries. 

But there are hundreds of other vegetables that will thrive in home gardens. North Carolina State Extension has a list that might help you. But as always, it will depend on the climatic conditions in your part of the world. 

Maintenance

Some vegetables need more maintenance than others. But you can’t ignore any of them. 

You need to check continuously that they are not being attacked by pests and haven’t been beset by common diseases. You also need to feed your veggies (some more than others) and make sure they have enough (and not too much) water. 

Weeds tend to pop up in vegetable gardens, simply because the soil is usually of good quality. So, controlling weeds is another very important maintenance task. 

Is it cheaper to grow or buy vegetables?

Not everybody grows vegetables because they think it is cheaper than buying them. With all the costs you incur creating and then maintaining a vegetable garden, you may find that it is considerably cheaper to buy fruits, vegetables, and salad ingredients from a farmer’s market. 

But there is something very satisfying about growing your own food. If it’s a new challenge, you’ll find it immensely gratifying to watch your plants grow and harvest.

Homegrown vegetables also taste fresher and tastier than grocery store items. If you have access to a farmer’s market where folks are selling their own homegrown produce, this may not be the case. 

However, you can also control production elements to ensure that you have organically grown fruit, vegetables, and herbs.  

A 2014 paper by Gail Ann Longellotto of Oregon State University discusses the concept of cutting household costs with a home vegetable garden. The paper is entitled What Are the Economic Costs and Benefits of Home Vegetable Gardens? It suggests that home vegetable gardens are profitable if garden labor is excluded from the calculated costs.

She says that the average cost of a home vegetable garden is $238 for supplies and materials. On average, the gardens yielded about $677-worth of fruits and vegetables. 

However, she says it isn’t fair to promise home gardeners this type of financial reward because there are too many factors involved. There is also a wide price range, including gardener cost.  

But if family members do the hard work, you will certainly save money. This will reduce the gardening cost overall. 

Other gardening type alternatives

Since we’re talking about vegetables here, let’s stick with food grown at home. The obvious alternatives will be fruit trees or a herb garden, rather than flower gardens. 

That said, you could create a flower garden and only plant edible types.  

Obviously, if you have fruit trees or fruits that grow on vines, you will always have fresh fruit in the season. 

While herbs can be grown with many vegetables very successfully, a dedicated herb garden can be a lot of fun. They can be as small or expansive as you like.

For instance, you can dedicate a small part of your garden to a selection of herbs in a garden bed. You can also grow them along the perimeter of a deck or patio in pots.

Another lovely idea is to create a chequerboard design with paving stone alternated with soil into which you plant different herbs. This makes harvesting individual herb types super-easy. 

Conclusion

If you are committed to creating a vegetable garden, it may be important to estimate what it’s going to cost you.  Just remember that it doesn’t only mean what it will cost to create the veggie garden, but also what sort of budget you need to make it viable.

Viability doesn’t necessarily translate to profitability, but if you do it right, it can.

The key is to, at the very least, estimate how much you are going to have to spend to create a viable vegetable garden. Then, once you have started growing your own veggies, keep a handle on your profits and rewards.

You might not even need profits, but it is a good idea to have a good idea of your costs. 

Related Articles:

Save for later!

0 shares

State Budgetary Preschool Educational Institution Kindergarten No. 123 of the Nevsky District of St. Petersburg

Rules for payment for supervision and care in GBDOU

Payment for supervision and care of a child in a state institution, replacing them , by receipt through any bank. When calculating the amount for the current month, the actual time spent by the child in kindergarten for the previous month is taken into account (there is a recalculation and the amount is reduced). The recalculation of the parental fee is done when the child does not attend a preschool institution for 3 days in a row or more. nine0003

Dear parents!

On the basis of the DECISION of the Government of St. Petersburg dated November 29, 2022 N 1077 "On the amount of fees charged from parents (legal representatives) of underage students for the supervision and care of children in State educational institutions implementing educational programs for preschool entities under the jurisdiction of the executive bodies of state power of St. Petersburg, for 2023:

from 01.01.2023, the amount of the monthly parental fee for childcare and childcare in state educational institutions that implement educational programs of preschool education, which are administered by the executive authorities of St. Petersburg, has changed:

Payment for kindergarten in 2023 (from 01.01.2023)

COMPENSATION

0003

- on paper to a state educational institution implementing educational programs for preschool education;

- on paper to the St. Petersburg state institution "Multifunctional center for the provision of state
and municipal services";

- in the form of an electronic document through the federal state information system "Unified portal of state and municipal services" and the portal "State and municipal services (functions)
in St. Petersburg. who replace them, whose children attend kindergarten in the amount of:

In accordance with Chapter 18 of the Social Code of St. Petersburg, the following additional social support measures are provided to provide compensation and reimbursement of part of the parental fee:0003

Parental fee is NOT charged for the supervision and care of children in state preschool and other state educational institutions engaged in educational activities for the implementation of educational programs of preschool education (hereinafter - parental fee), relating to the following categories of children:

- disabled children;

- orphans and children left without parental care;

- children with tuberculosis intoxication; nine0003

- children attending groups implementing adapted basic general educational programs of preschool education;

- children whose families include a disabled child;

- children whose both or the only parent (legal representative) are I or II group disabled;

- children whose one of the parents (legal representatives) is a military man military service ;

- children whose one of the parents (legal representatives) holds a full-time position in a state preschool or other state educational institution that carries out educational activities for the implementation of educational programs for preschool education. nine0003

Cost of a private kindergarten

Flexible pricing policy for children of any age!

Junior age group


(1.5 - 3.5 years)

Kindergarten for an hour

As part of the service, parents can leave their child in kindergarten for one hour. The cost is per hour of attending kindergarten.

350 rubles

Kindergarten for a day

8.00 – 20.00

The child is taken to kindergarten for one full day with meals. The cost is indicated for the day the child is in the group. nine0003

RUB 3,000

First half of the day

8.00 - 13.00

Groups from 1.5 to 3.5 years - the time the child stays in the garden from 8 to 13 hours. The number of places in the group is limited. The payment is per month.

First half + sleep

8.00 - 16.00

Groups from 1.5 to 3.5 years - the child spends time in the garden from 8 to 16 hours. The cost is indicated per month.

Second half of the day

16. 00 - 20.00

Groups from 1.5 to 3.5 years old - the group works in the afternoon from 16 to 20 hours. Payment for a month of visiting the garden is 15,000 rubles. The number of places in the group is limited. nine0003

Full day

8.00 - 20.00

Groups from 1.5 to 3.5 years - the child is in the kindergarten a full day from 8 to 20 hours.

Senior age group


(3.5 - 6.5 years)

Kindergarten for a day

8.00 – 20.00

The child is taken to kindergarten for one full day with meals. The cost is indicated for the day the child is in the group.

RUB 3,000 nine0003

First half of the day

8.00 – 13.00

Groups from 3.5 to 6.5 years old – children attend kindergarten from 8 am to 1 pm. The number of places in the group is limited.

First half + sleep

8.00 - 16.00

Groups from 3.5 to 6.5 years - the time the child is in kindergarten from 8 to 15 hours. The cost of the "adaptation period" is indicated per month.

Full day

8.00 - 20.00

Groups from 3.5 to 6.5 years - the kindergarten's working hours are from 8 to 20. During this time, the child is in the group. nine0003

RUB 35,000

Six age groups

Such a division of children into age groups contributes to a more favorable passage of the adaptation period, during which the child gets used to peers and caregivers. With children of the same age, the child feels more free and confident.

Baby

1.5 - 2.5 years

nine0002 Luchiki

2.5 - 3.5 years

Why children

3.5 - 4.5 years

Inquisitives

4.5 - 5.5 years

Fidgets

4.


Learn more