What's In This Article
Landscape design should start with what you want out of your yard. You’ll want to think about how you’re going to use your yard.
Do you want to enjoy relaxing next to fire pits? Do you want to grow vegetables or flowers? Is a pool something you’d like to add? Will you want to create more room for your kids or pets?
Which areas of your yard work well as open spaces, and which areas benefit from being enclosed? All these factors will help you decide what needs to be added to your yard.
Landscapes come in many shapes and sizes. Some landscapes are very expensive while others are less than $10,000.
A typical landscape costs about $30,000. There are many factors that can affect the final cost of building a landscape.
These include the size of the project, the type of plants chosen, how long it takes to complete the project, and the amount of time spent planting, weeding, trimming, fertilizing, watering, and mowing.
Budget
A yard should be designed based on your budget and needs. You should start by working with landscape designers who can help you determine what kind of yard you want.
Next, you should decide what kind of features you want in your yard. Finally, you should think about how much money you have to spend on your yard.
A small space can be as expensive to maintain as a large garden depending on the features you want to include. This is due to the fact that each garden has so many variables.
For example, soil preparation, electrical grading and drainage can all add to the final cost.
Location
Backyard landscaping projects are more expensive than front yard projects.
A backyard project often includes a swimming pool, while a front yard project doesn’t necessarily need one and can be simpler and cheaper.
For example, a front yard project might include the installation of a sprinkler system, which costs around $1,700 to install.
A backyard project could also include a sprinkler system, but it would probably cost more than $3,500 to install.
It’s useful to remember that steep slopes or narrow access between neighboring homes can increase the cost of your project.
Typical patios range from $1,800-to $5,000, including the construction of forms, pouring the concrete into the forms, and finishing work.
If a concrete batching truck can’t back up to dump the cement directly into the forms, a pump is used to transfer the concrete into the forms.
Specialty equipment such as pavers or stepping stones can also increase the price of your project. Landscaping contractors will want to see your land before giving you an estimate.
In addition, rocky soil may make digging harder than sandy soil and this could translate into higher prices.
Cost Per Square Foot
Landscaping costs about $4 to $12 a square foot depending on what you need to do.
Full landscaping makes your yard look great, but it also requires more money. You’ll pay around $40 per square foot if you want an expert designer to do everything for you.
Cost Per Hour
Labor costs make up a large percentage of the total cost of landscaping. When hiring a landscape designer, expect to pay anywhere from $50-$200 an hour.
You’ll also need to pay for additional labor when installing anything unusual or complex.
Landscaping companies are expensive, but you need to get quality work done so to ensure they are reputable companies. Before hiring any company, make sure you get at least three quotes from them. Professional landscaping is a thriving industry so you should be able to find a company that fits your needs.
Per Project
Landscaping costs start at $50 for small projects and can go up to $7,000 for complex tasks.
Popular landscape projects include lawn seeding, landscape curbing, lawn mowing, tree trimming, lawn grading, mulching, pond installation, water fountain installation, sod installation, land design, retaining wall installation, lawn aeration, gravel installation, and lawn aeration.
The landscaping project’s average cost is $700. The final cost depends on how big your house is.
Type
Landscaping costs vary depending on the type of work you want done. Hardscaping requires more money than other types of landscaping.
You should also be aware that some landscaping companies charge extra if you want to use plants or flowers.
You can get landscaping done by professionals or do it yourself. Hardscaping includes things like building walls, fences, retaining walls, patios, driveways, swimming pools, etc.
Softscaping includes things like planting flowers, shrubs, grasses, and trees. Xeriscaping involves using plants that thrive in dry climates.
Materials
Landscaping material costs vary based on size, weight, and difficulty of installation. Smaller boulders cost less and are easier to move around. Larger boulders cost more and will take more labor to move.
If price is an issue then grass costs less than other materials.
Landscaping rocks are very cheap. They are usually made out of crushed stone or granite. However, some people spend more than $500 dollars per square foot.
Some people use river rocks instead of landscaping stones as it works out cheaper.
Granite pavers are also expensive. River rocks are a good option and very heavy, so you need lots of them to make steps.
Shipping/Maintenance
The cost of landscaping a backyard and shipping materials is expected to rise by about 30 per cent in the next decade.
This means that homeowners may be forced to spend an extra $10,000 or more to make sure their yards stay attractive.
In addition to shipping and overall cost, you should also remember that Lawns need to be maintained regularly.
So if you can’t maintain the area yourself you should consider that regular mowing, fertilizing and weeding will cost around $150 per month.
A professional landscaper will charge more than an independent contractor but less than a full-time gardener. Get several estimates before choosing a service provider.
Professional Landscaping
If you decide to use a professional for your landscape project your landscape designer will help you create a beautiful backyard.
What are the benefits of hiring a professional? A landscape designer plans out the entire yard. He knows how much space there is, where each plant needs to go, what kind of grasses will look good, etc.
Hiring a landscape designer may actually save you money because he will give you a detailed drawing of the yard and indicate exactly what needs to go where eliminating the ‘trial and error’ approach.
You’ll also know exactly how much it costs before you start which allows you to budget more effectively.
A landscape design will take into consideration the location of utilities, city codes, and other features before planning begins.
Landscape design fees should be included as part of the project budget.
A landscape design fee is not simply a cost to hire someone to draw a pretty picture, the designers will work with you to create a complete plan that fits within the budget.
They will also check to ensure your project complies with local building codes.
Conclusion
Landscaping your backyard is an exciting project and worth the hard work and cost when you can enjoy something beautiful right on your doorstep.
