Is landscaping expensive


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?

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.'

15. Improvement and arrangement of highways.

K elements of arrangement of automobile roads that provide convenience their operation include: objects road service (hotels, motels, enterprises and food outlets, sites recreation, parking areas for short-term car stops, petrol stations stations, stations and points of technical car service, terminals, bus stations, weight control points), as well as bus stops, meteorological posts, pedestrian crossings, noise protection buildings, architectural and artistic design and landscaping of the road, devices electric lighting, means of technological and signal-call communication, etc. Repair and the content of these elements is carried out organizations on whose balance sheet they are

K means of organizing and providing traffic safety, which as a rule, repair and maintain road organizations, include road signs, markings, railings and guides devices (signal bollards, pedestals, safety beacons).

Road signs.

Road signs to the right along the way movements must be duplicated on the left side of the road at the dividing lane or on the carriageway, if traffic conditions are such that the sign can not be seen by the driver.

B plan, road signs are placed so so that from the edge of the roadway to the nearest to it the edge of the sign was at least 0.5 m. Support elements should not protrude beyond side edges of the sign by more than 20 cm.

Road markup .

Road marking - warns of dangers, establishes advantages in motion, prescribes a certain order traffic, informs about the road environment, imposes prohibitions.

Marking road - lines, inscriptions and others signs on the carriageway, curbs, elements of road structures and road conditions applied independently, in combination with road signs or traffic lights.

Distinguish vertical road markings applied on the elements of arrangement and furnishings roads, and horizontal - applied to the carriageway.

Orientation railings .

Guardrail - structural element of the bridge canvases installed at the borders riding canvas. Fencing needed to prevent the exit of vehicles funds beyond its limits and directions trajectory of the vehicle hitting a fence. Fencing can be concrete, wooden, reinforced concrete and metallic. The design of the fence barrier fencing (racks and horizontal bar, profiled steel tape, timber) mounted on racks on some level above the top of the cover. The fence is parapet, made in the form of a reinforced concrete wall of various configuration.

Guides islands, borders.

Island - element of intersection and junction roads in one level, arranged for traffic management and security enhancements.

Border – constructive lateral limitation coverings arranged flush with road surface or protruding above her.

Islets distinguish between: security - an island in within the carriageway, dedicated for pedestrians waiting to finish crossing the road.

Separators islets - used to separate traffic lanes at intersections and places of limited visibility in terms of or longitudinal profile of the road for dividing lanes of oncoming traffic

Central islet - located in the center of the intersection ring type.

Landscaping .

Plantations along highways are created to protect the canvas from snow drifts (snow protection landscaping) and for architectural and artistic design.

Plantations also used to protect roads from erosion (anti-erosion landscaping), from sand drifts (sandproof landscaping), strong winds and dusty storms.

Decorative landscaping.

B accordance with existing landscape gardening styles and local conditions for decorative landscaping highways in the following ways:

regular - linear (alley or ordinary) plantings trees and shrubs, as well as living hedges; landscaped or free - group planting of trees and shrubs in conjunction with the landscape adjacent to the road;

mixed - combination of regular and free landings, as well as complex landings at intersections, bus stops, overpasses, at the entrances to the forest, etc.

Anti-erosion and noise-gas-dust protection landscaping .

Anti-erosion landscaping is carried out in order to protect roads from destruction growing ravines, erosion directly water flows, erosion and destruction mudflows, as well as to combat with landslides.

Near-river forest strips are placed along the edges ravines and above the top by 30 - 50 m.

Landscaping, road repairs, transportation to dachas :: Krd.ru

News of the City Duma of Krasnodar February 3, 2023

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Another reception of citizens was held by Vera Galushko, deputy of electoral district No. 11, chairman of the Krasnodar City Duma, in the Komsomolsky microdistrict.

The applicants asked a question about the installation of artificial unevenness on the intra-quarter road near the house number 4 on the street. Simferopol. Despite the location of the road inside a residential area, motorists do not slow down when passing near houses, which endangers the lives of children who play in the playground or go to school, kindergarten or home and adults. The representative of the Karasun city administration reported that together with the department of transport and road facilities, the city administration is already dealing with this issue and in the first quarter the problem will receive a positive resolution.

Residents of an apartment building number 119/2 on the street. Uralskaya is concerned about the improvement of the internal territory. Due to the presence of numerous potholes on the road, a big problem arises when leaving the territory of an apartment building.


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