How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

Average Cost of Landscaping Estimate

Annual estimates for landscaping projects range anywhere from $50 to $700 or more if you combine them. These annual tasks maintain your landscape, lawn, plants and trees. Some annual projects you might consider include:

• Winterizing or fertilizing a lawn costs: $75-$400.
• Winterizing sprinklers costs: $50-$100.
• Planting flowers: $300-$3,000.
• Yard dethatching costs: $100-$700. Do this at least once per year to encourage grass growth.
• Lawn aerating costs: $75-$200. Do this once or twice a year.

Landscape Service Pricing List

Grading or Resloping

Resloping a lawn costs $1,000 to $3,000. Consider grading in conjunction with your landscape design. In this way, you create a functional and aesthetic landscape without drainage issues.

Water that doesn't drain correctly away from your home's foundation can cause water damage and moisture issues, such as mold and mildew, in your basement and crawlspaces. Even a little bit of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. To protect your property, you must grade your yard away from your home's foundation.

Landscaping Cost Per Square Foot

• Basic services include things like thatching, aerating, flower planting and other basic maintenance style services you’ll get on a yearly basis.
• Intermediate levels include more detailed work, like installing landscape curbing, flower beds or raised gardens.
• A full tear out and replace usually includes a complete exterior design, demolition of the lawn, tress and any structures, regrading and installing all new sod, fencing, plants, trees and shrubs.

How Much Do Landscapers Charge?

Landscapers charge anywhere from $1,000 to $40,000 or more for landscaping services, not including basic lawn care maintenance. For projects, you’ll get a quote for the entire project along with a timeline and any guarantees. Make sure to get at least three quotes before settling on a landscaper.

Landscaping Prices Per Hour

Landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour for a crew of two. However, you’ll almost never find hourly rates from larger companies, who prefer project pricing. If you hire a general laborer, you might find hourly rates for maintenance and smaller projects.

Backyard Landscaping Cost

Backyard remodeling costs tend to run from $1,000 to $40,000 or more, significantly higher than most front yard projects since it includes most of your outdoor entertainment areas. For complete outdoor entertainment and relaxation, you’ll want to consider the following:

• Outdoor kitchen costs: $4,600-$22,000
• Patio installation prices: $1,800-$5,000
• Deck construction costs: $4,100-$10,700
• Pool installation costs: $14,000-$42,000

Backyard Remodel Cost

A total backyard renovation costs $15,000 to $50,000 on average. For a modest remodel, including new sod, bushes and plants, you’re looking at $5,000. On the high end, you can easily break $100,000 with a pool, patio, outdoor kitchen and lounge area.

Cost of Landscaping Front Yard

Landscaping a front yard costs $1,500 to $5,000 on average. They’re both much smaller than your back yard and don’t usually have large structures like patios or kitchens. At most, you’re looking at a basic job of sod, trees, bushes and plants. However, if you need to reslope and add any hardscaping, like walkways, you might push that number to $10,000 or a little more.

Landscaping Costs for New Home

New landscaping costs $3,000 to $15,000 for the basics of sod, walkways, bushes and trees. However, a couple things you’ll probably need with a new home that you wouldn’t otherwise include:

• Sprinkler System Installation Cost: $1,700-$3,500.
• Walkway installation costs: $8-$18 per square foot.
• Bulding a fence costs: $1,600-$4,000.
• Soil testing costs: $750-$1,800.

Landscape Architects and Other Pros

Landscape pros range from $50 to $150 per hour. The key to a beautiful and successful landscape lies, in large part, in the planning. It can help you make the most of your landscaping dollars. Even those who like to do their own planting can find professional help on the planning stage immensely valuable.

• Landscape architects cost: $70-$150 per hour. They help you choose plants that play well together. One plant, for instance, can repel insects that would otherwise eat away at its neighbors. They also can help with creating the most interesting and beautiful designs that will say within your budget.

• Landscape designers cost: $50-$150 per hour. Keep in mind, while they can help you decide placement of a pond or the types of plants to purchase, some landscape designers will not help with the installation. 
• Land Surveyors cost: $400-$1,000. Get a survey done anytime you have boundary changes or land division, ownership transfer, erection of fences or structures that are related to a property boundary.

DIY vs. Hire a Professional Landscaper

For most landscaping, you can DIY much of the process, hire a professional to do it all, or a little of both. If you have the time and desire to get a little dirty, some parts of landscaping make excellent DIY projects.

Some things you’ll want to leave to the pros include:

• Drainage installation. Messing this up can cause yard and basement damage.
• Resloping your yard. Same as with drainage, plus it requires heavy equipment operation.
• Design and architecture. Some plants go well together, others don’t. Some materials work well outside, others don’t. Do you know which are which?
• Things like pools, patios and kitchens require experience and skill to pull off correctly.
• Tree trimming and removal. Most places require a permit for this, not to mention it’s dangerous and can cause significant damage if done improperly.

There are a few great DIY projects you can do on your own. But know that messing these up, while not catastrophic, can cost you in more materials. These projects include:

• Aerations and thatching.
• Tree and shrub planting.
• Sod installation.

Not sure what you need done? Contact a local landscaper for quotes and consultations.

FAQs

How much does it cost to have a landscape designed?

You’ll spend anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 to have your landscape designed.

How much should you spend on landscaping?

You should spend as much on landscaping as you feel necessary to achieve the look you want. Most people spent between $3,000 and $15,000.

How much does landscaping cost monthly?

Monthly landscape maintenance might cost anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on the size of your yard and what you need done.

How much do landscapers charge to mow?

Landscapers charge $25 to $50 per hour per worker to mow. Most yards only take 30 minutes.

How do I landscape my front yard on a budget?

To landscape your front yard on a budget, consider pitching in with a professional or taking on the smaller projects, like planting, laying sod, aerating and thatching.