How Much Does Landscape Installation Cost?

Plant Installation Prices

Plant installation costs $3,364 on average with a typical range between $1,326 and $5,654. However, you might pay anywhere from $300 to $10,800 or more depending on the size of the job. Plant installation includes flowers, shrubs, trees and grass. Landscaping pros, including designers and installers, charge anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour or $4 to $10 per square foot.

Whether you are moving into a new home or updating the grounds of the home you already live in, landscaping can dramatically change the look of your house and property. You may like a neatly trimmed lawn or prefer a wild and overgrown look, you may live in an arid climate and need to xeriscape, or you may like finely manicured rosebushes. In this guide, we’ll cover all the costs associated with planting and maintaining your beautifully manicured yard and lawn.

How Much Does It Cost to Plant a Tree?

Planting a single tree costs anywhere from $150 to $300 but it’s cheaper to do multiple trees at once. Five small trees ranges from $300 to $700, or $60 to $140 per tree. About 30% of the cost is labor.

Most trees you purchase are small to plant, ranging from 5 to 15 feet tall. It makes it easier to transport and install. If you want to DIY this project, you’ll need a truck or trailer for transport, with other simple tools being a shovel and a garden hose.

Cost to Plant a Large Tree

Planting a mature tree, something that’s past the sapling stage and usually more than 15 feet tall, costs $1,500 to $3,000 per tree. They require large machinery to dig, transport and lift into place. The process not only requires larger machines, but more space, time and crew members.

How Much Do Landscapers Charge to Plant Shrubs?

Landscapers charge $25 to $50 per shrub to purchase and install them. They figure the price based on 2 to 3 times the cost of the shrub plus $50 to $100 per hour. Shrubs are priced per a 3 gallon or 5 gallon container and tend to be small bushes and trees.

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Cost to Install Flower Bed

Installing a flower garden costs $300 to $3,000, depending on the size and whether you already have the bed installed or not. Installing just the flowers runs on the lower end, or $300 to $1,500. Putting in a new bed with borders pushes that price upwards to $1,000 to $3,000 for each garden.

Many people want a landscaper to design their lawns and gardens but enjoy tending to their own flowers and planting new ones each year. If this is the case for you, ask that the space be made for flower or vegetable gardens.

Xeriscaping Cost

Xeriscaping costs $10,000 to $30,000 and covers your entire outdoor area, from the front yard to the back. Xeriscaping utilizes plants, shrubs, ground covers and rocks that need very little water to thrive. While far more expensive than simple sod, the maintenance and water costs are low by design.

A xeriscape landscape doesn't have to look like a desert. Carefully chosen shrubs, trees, plants and flowers can provide vibrant, lush color as well as water conservation.

Drought Tolerant Landscaping Cost

You’ll spend anywhere from $3,000 to $30,000 for drought tolerant landscapes. With droughts so common in many parts of the country, more landscape designers are creating projects that conserve water. Both synthetic turf and xeriscaping can save you money over time by saving you water and labor.

• Indigenous planting: Besides xeriscaping, that uses drought resistant plants, you can also consider mixing hardscaping with native (also called indigenous) plants to your area. These plants thrived prior to modern irrigation and do well in your climate without help.

• Synthetic Turf: $3,000-$7,000. Synthetic grass can provide the swaths of green you want without the watering. In the past decade, synthetic grasses have grown much softer and more natural looking. Return to Top

Average Landscaping Costs by Location

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Hardscaping Costs

Hardscaping, the process of adding inanimate features like patios, walkways and gazebos, costs anywhere from $300 to $100,000 or more. The only limits on price come from the size of your yard, design and budget.

Hardscape Cost Per Square Foot

Your hardscaped project might range anywhere from $1 to $150 per square foot. Without knowing your project, it’s impossible to narrow it down. For example:

• Pea gravel costs $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot to install.

• Patios cost $5 to $50 per square foot depending on the material you use.

• Pools cost $50 to $125 pe square foot. Return to Top

Water Features and Décor

When adding features like a gazebo, pond, fountain, misting system or pond to your landscaping, make sure that you fully understand the ongoing costs of energy and regular maintenance. Thinking about all aspects of your water features and other décor will help you with your planning and the better you plan, the better prepared you are for unexpected costs.

For example:

• Ponds need consistent maintenance so that they don't grow mold or mildew.

• Areas with harsh winters mean either de-icing or emptying your water feature every year.

• If you introduce aquatic plants or fish, that is even more of a maintenance cost.

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Other Landscaping Installation Costs

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DIY vs. Hire a Landscaper

Small landscaping jobs make excellent DIY projects. Things like planting trees and flowers can be accomplished by the weekend DIYer. However, having a professional install a flower bed, regrade the land and put in the shrubs means you’ll have a guarantee on the work and often the plants. For professional guaranteed work with quotes for your project, find a local landscaper. Remember to get at least three quotes, check references and prior work.

FAQs

Does backyard landscaping add value to your home?

Backyard landscaping can add value to your home, but the biggest benefit is in how fast it’ll sell. It’s a great idea to update your yard if you live in an area with a competitive housing market.

How much should I pay for landscape design?

Landscape designers charge $500 to $5,000 on average.

How do you maintain a landscape?

You maintain a landscape with regular pruning, planting, fertilizing, aeration and soil testing. You can do this yourself, of find a landscaping professional to take care of your yard for you.

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