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How much does it cost to landscape a small garden


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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THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary.

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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. 

Landscaping

Landscaping is the final and most enjoyable stage of work for landscape designers. Plot comes alive like in a fairy tale. The garden turns into a work of art in which buildings and green plantings harmoniously become one.

In the field of landscape design today, the issue of landscaping the territory is relevant. more than ever. It has become fashionable to have a beautiful well-groomed plot with an unusual relief, a rocky garden, water MAF facilities and many exclusive plants. A beautiful garden always attracts enthusiastic views of guests and loved ones. nine0003

Someone makes a garden with their own hands, often making many mistakes and bumping into surmountable Difficulties eventually turn to specialists. The rest of the owners due to employment directly apply to landscape gardening organizations and get the garden of their dreams without special efforts.

Arrangement of the site, our experts strongly recommend starting with a landscape design. This will protect you from unnecessary costs and mistakes in the improvement and gardening of the territory. nine0009 Whatever landscape style your garden is conceived in, make sure that all work on engineering facilities were properly completed, automatic irrigation was installed, arrangement paths and playgrounds. Take soil preparation seriously: do all the necessary work on control weeds and pests, make all the missing nutrients in your area substances.

When all the landscaping work has been completed, you can safely proceed to the final and himself pleasant for the landscape designer stage of work on gardening. nine0009 First of all, we plant large-sized plants, strengthen them, and only then we start massive landscaping.

Today it has become very relevant instead of the classic fence to plant live hedge. She saves from dust, curious neighbors and pleases the eye with her exquisite beauty.
In any escalating territory there is a place for a rocky garden. In landscape design they gained extraordinary popularity giving the site a natural beauty. In such gardens wide ponds, reservoirs, dry streams, bridges, stairs and garden figures are used. nine0003

More than one project for landscaping both a city and a private plot, as a rule, does not does without use of flower beds. They will not only please the eyes of the owners and guests, but also will divide the territory into separate zones, thereby organizing the space of the site and creating its own design.

Well, what about without a lawn? You ask. Someone dreams of a whole golf course, and someone enough attractive green lawn next to the house. In any case, a perfectly manicured lawn He speaks a lot about the owners of the site and shows how much attention is paid to the garden and care him. nine0009 Any customer must be aware that any garden is laid for the future. Creation formed adult garden is a long process that will drag on for more than one year. As As a rule, small or medium-sized plants are planted. In a year - the garden will take root, get stronger and will start to grow. In two - it will look quite impressive and every year at proper care will flourish and become more beautiful. nine0003

Landscaping

Landscaping is the most desired stage in the field of improvement. It's so nice to watch when unattractive objects turn into exquisite gardens and flower beds. Landscaping is a whole science. Before starting planting, the masters collect information about the geographical location of the site and the local microclimate. They analyze the soil composition, disassemble according to the species characteristics of plants that are suitable for a particular area. The temperature regime, the degree of illumination of the site are taken into account. It is very important to assess the fertility of the soil, if it is depleted in microelements, it is necessary to improve the composition of the soil and only then proceed to landscaping the site. nine0003

Tree planting

For some reason, everyone thinks that planting trees is easy and simple. These are not large-scale, we can handle it ourselves, you think. Yes. Anyone can plant. But to plant, taking into account all the nuances, so that after years the garden smells fragrant, does not get sick and bears fruit, you need to know and follow a number of rules. It is imperative to take into account the spatial separation, individual characteristics and preferences, the physico-chemical composition of the soil, light and, of course, the distance between plants. If your garden was created according to a certain style, then you need to select the appropriate plants. Our company will be happy to help you solve this problem! nine0003

formation of landscape compositions

In order to compose beautiful compositions and combine them into one harmonious landscape, it is necessary to take into account the size, species and dendrological features of plants. Be sure the composition should look harmonious at any time of the year. At the same time, the garden should look natural, as if created by nature itself.

Regular-flowering compositions

To make the garden delight with bright colors from early spring to late autumn, it is necessary not only to compose beautiful compositions, but also to choose plants, taking into account their species characteristics, so that they bloom one after another continuously. Be sure to consider that not only flowers can decorate the garden, but also foliage color, bright bark, fruits and openwork inflorescences give decorative accents in garden. Keep in mind that flowering plants require constant care. You can simply equip a flowering corner in the garden by building a small flower garden, rose garden, mixborder or alpine slide. nine0003

Vertical gardening

If you decide:
- improve the appearance of buildings, decorate buildings or hide construction defects;
- protect the house from overheating, dust, noise and other external influences;
- equip a shady cozy place to relax;
- mark the boundaries of the site, divide it into functional zones;
- visually expand the territory, improve the microclimate on the site.
Stop at vertical gardening.

Hedges

If wooden, bamboo, stone partitions, walls, fences are not to your liking or do not suit the style of your garden, then planting a hedge is your salvation. More often In general, hedges perform a decorative or protective function, protecting us from noise, dust and uninvited guests.
Today, hedges have become an essential element of parks and gardens, they serve to create "perspectives", mark the boundaries, enclose a recreation area, make garden closed cozy. nine0003

Phytodesign

"Phyto" - plants and "design" - idea, construction.
Phytodesign is the landscaping of premises, whether it be an office, an apartment, a country house or a new round of landscape design - winter gardens and greenhouses. These are not just flowers in pots, these are whole compositions, islands of greenery, where everything functions harmoniously and combines with each other.

Planting large-sized

Planting large plants is a complex and multi-stage process. Large-sized plants are plants with a height of 3 meters or more with a formed crown. The most difficult thing in transplanting large trees is to maintain the integrity of the root system. For digging, planting and transportation, special equipment is needed. Under certain conditions, protection and care measures, large-sized plants can be planted all year round. Winter is considered the most suitable time of year for planting, as the plants are in their dormant stage. nine0003

Landscaping of garden plots in Penza

LANDSCAPE

One of the main areas of our company is the landscaping of territories. We successfully apply our plant knowledge to create blooming oases that require little maintenance. Our specialists select plants only from reliable nurseries and use only safe fertilizers that have been tested for many years. Modern planting technologies allow us to green areas even in hot weather. nine0003

Gardening is one of the processes that are included in the concept of landscaping. Landscaping of the site is the final, and most enjoyable stage of work. In order to start gardening, a team of professionals needs to carry out a number of preparatory work in your garden.

Before planting the plants in the ground, you need:

Landscaping

The first step to create a beautiful garden. This etam is very important and responsible, because thanks to it it will be known how cozy and comfortable your garden will be. Once laid down, the structure of your garden can exist for a long period of time and even decades. When an ordinary small plant such as a flower can be easily and simply transplanted, then transplanting, say, an adult tree is already a complicated and expensive operation. By the way, the same applies to paths, lighting, ponds and other elements of landscape design. It turns out that the creation of a garden project is a rather time-consuming and difficult process that requires a competent solution and approach! nine0003

Site preparation

To do this, it may be necessary to take the following measures: clear the area of ​​construction debris, treat weeds with herbicides, remove a thin top layer of soil with weeds, as well as their seeds, and carry out sanitary cleaning of the forest.

Landforming

The initial rough leveling is carried out and the reservoir is laid.
Next is the planting of large trees, as long as nothing creates obstacles for heavy equipment, which can damage the site when planting large trees. After that, it is already possible to proceed with the installation of retaining walls, lay drainage, lighting, and also begin to mount the irrigation system. The laying of paths, the installation of gazebos and pergolas can be carried out simultaneously with the construction of your reservoir. nine0009 When all stone construction work is completed, you can start planting plants, for this you first need to form the top fertile soil layer. At the same stage, the arrangement of rockeries, the coastline and other thematic areas of the future garden is carried out.

Lawn seeding

That's it! Of course, landscaping work on your site provides for some discomfort - heaps of soil and earthen dumps are not very pleasant to behold, and, besides, not everyone will accept the noise from a concrete mixer with pleasure. But you need to remember that these are just temporary inconveniences, and we try to reduce such negative moments to a minimum, and, if possible, we meet as soon as possible in order to please you every day with the next stage of landscape work, which brings the end result of all gardening closer . nine0003

Most people think that the process of gardening is easier outside the city, usually there is a natural landscape that can be played with, making the garden more comfortable and practical. But do not think that the urban landscape will not allow you to create a green island among the gray high-rise buildings of the city. Modern innovations open up endless possibilities for landscape design.

Vertical gardening is one of the interesting solutions that is becoming more and more popular every year! Also, do not forget about green roofs in Europe and the USA. This trend every year covers megacities around the world. nine0003

The landscaping project must be coordinated with the landscaping plan.

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