Landscaping is a great way to add beauty, functionality and value to your backyard. A good-looking landscape can add value to your property, increase the curb appeal of your home and even improve its energy efficiency.
But if you’re not sure where to begin with landscaping, it might seem like an overwhelming project. How much will this cost? What materials do I need? How many people are involved in the process?
These are questions that most homeowners have when they begin their own landscaping projects and they’re all valid questions!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Backyard landscaping can be expensive, but costs can vary widely based on factors like yard size, design complexity, and materials used. |
| Popular backyard landscaping features include patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, water features, garden beds, and outdoor lighting. |
| To save money on backyard landscaping, consider doing some of the work yourself, choosing less expensive materials, and opting for simpler designs. |
| While it is possible to do some backyard landscaping work on your own, hiring a professional landscaper may be beneficial for more complex projects or if you lack experience. |
| To budget for backyard landscaping, consider the costs of materials, labor, and any additional expenses like permits or equipment rentals. Breaking the project down into smaller phases can also make it more manageable. |
The Outdoor Space You Want
Once you know what kind of outdoor space you want to create, the next step is to calculate how much it will cost.
The first step in calculating your costs is figuring out how large your backyard is and what features you want in it.
For example, if your backyard measures 40 feet by 80 feet (1/5 of an acre), then this would be equal to 320 square feet or 3200 square feet.
If you’re planning on adding a new patio and driveway for parking for visitors, then these spaces should also be measured so that the landscaping contractor can give an accurate quote based on their size and shape as well as where they’ll be located within the property line boundaries.
The types of trees planted may also affect costs because some species are more expensive than others due to the amount of time required for growing them before planting them into soil environments
However there are ways around this problem such as buying mature plants rather than young ones which may require less maintenance care throughout their lifetime because they already have established root systems when purchased from nurseries or garden centers nearby
Creating a beautiful backyard landscape is a rewarding project that can enhance the look and feel of your outdoor space. Our article on how to make your own backyard landscape provides helpful tips and advice on designing and implementing your dream backyard.
Your Geography
A landscaper’s cost will vary depending on where you live. If you’re in a rural area and have to pay for materials to be delivered, that’s going to affect the cost.
Also, if there are more than two miles between your home and the nearest suppliers, that can increase costs as well.
If you live in an area with higher wages (like San Francisco), it may cost more than expected because labor costs are higher there as well.
As far as transportation goes, if you live in a city with terrible traffic and no way around it except by car or bus/subway system—again: increased costs!
Your Materials
The materials you choose to use in your landscape project can have a big impact on the final cost and appearance of your backyard.
For example, choosing a brick pathway that’s 15 feet wide instead of 8 feet wide will cost more than half as much again.
This can be worth it if you want something more dramatic or different from the usual stone pathways that are common in this area, but it could also be too expensive for other homeowners who are budget-conscious and want something simple.
The materials themselves can also affect how often they need repairs or maintenance. If something breaks down after a few years, then you’ll have to pay someone else to fix it—or do it yourself!
Getting started on a backyard landscaping project can be overwhelming, but with a few helpful tips, you can turn your vision into a reality. Check out our article on how to start landscaping your backyard for guidance on planning, budgeting, and executing your backyard transformation.
The Scale Of The Project
The scale of the project is how many square feet of land you are planning to cover. The bigger the area, the more materials and labor it will take to complete your landscape design.
This can also affect how much work is involved in completing your landscape design.
If you have a large yard and want a big backyard makeover, then you may need some help from professionals who specialize in landscaping big yards to ensure that all aspects are completed correctly.
It’s important to know what type of design you want for your project before starting so that there are no surprises along the way (like if you wanted an outdoor kitchen but didn’t realize it would require adding drainage).
Your Landscaping And Why You’re Doing It
Before you buy anything, think about why you’re doing it. Some homeowners want to grow their own vegetables or flowers; others simply enjoy the look of the backyard.
While some people want a natural feel to their landscape, others prefer something more formal. You may also have specific reasons for your landscaping choices maybe saving money is important to you or maybe saving time is important.
Regardless of why you’re doing landscaping work on your property, there are several things that will affect how much it costs:
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Your Landscaper’s Experience And Reputation
Your landscaper’s experience and reputation are key factors in determining the costs of your project. Before you hire a landscaper, it’s important to ask for references and check them at least once.
In addition, make sure your potential landscaper has a portfolio of previous projects so that you can get an idea of their style and taste.
Ask for detailed estimates from multiple companies so that you know exactly how much each company will charge for their services before making any decisions.
You should also check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see whether or not any complaints have been filed against the company you’re thinking about hiring (and if there are none, this is a good sign!).
The Design Of Your Landscape
The design of your landscape will affect the cost. A simple layout may be less costly than an intricate one, but if you do not have enough space in your yard to accommodate a large and complex design, it can be difficult to choose something that fits both your needs and budget.
You may need to compromise on one or the other, or find a way to fit more elaborate plans within the confines of your existing space.
If you are considering installing irrigation systems in addition to other features like stone walls or ponds, these additions will increase costs as well.
The more work involved in installing it all (e.g., digging trenches), the higher those costs will be as well so keep this in mind when choosing what type of landscaping project is right for your budget!
Installing turf in your backyard is a great way to achieve a lush and beautiful lawn without the hassle of traditional grass. Our article on how to put turf down in your backyard provides step-by-step instructions on the installation process and helpful tips for maintaining your new turf.
Terrain, Climate, And Environmental Factors
The type of terrain, climate and environmental factors you have can all affect the cost of a project.
For instance, if you live in an area with a lot of hills and valleys as opposed to flat land—then it will cost more to create a landscape design because more land needs to be built up so that plants aren’t flooded by rain.
On the other hand, if you live in an area where it rains often then drainage will need to be added into your design as well so that runoff doesn’t damage landscaping materials or cause plants not to thrive in wet conditions.
Another example is if it gets very cold for long periods throughout the year (like Minnesota) then more time will probably have to be spent on creating features like pathways since they may freeze over faster than other areas during winter months when it’s cold outside!
How Much Work Is Involved In Installing It?
The first thing to consider when you’re trying to figure out how much it will cost to install your new landscaping is how much time and manpower will be involved in the process.
The more people who are helping with the installation, the more expensive it’s going to be. If you have a lot of ground that needs work, then you can expect the job to take longer than if only one person was working on it.
Some types of equipment will also cost more than others because they’re hard to use or require special expertise you may need a bulldozer or other large machinery if there are lots of trees and rocks in your backyard.
The best way to make sure that you’re getting high-quality service at a fair price is by finding someone who has done plenty of installations before (and knows what kind of materials work best for your particular situation).
A professional should be able to give you an estimate based on their own experience; if they don’t know their stuff very well then chances are high that he’ll either give too low an estimate or take forever because he doesn’t know how long certain tasks will take!
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Do You Need To Hire A Contractor Or Subcontractors?
You have some options when it comes to hiring a contractor or subcontractors.
If you want someone to do everything, including design, installation and maintenance, then a full-service landscaper may be best for you.
But if you prefer to hire different professionals for each task that needs to be completed on your project, then subcontractors might work better for you.
Subcontractors are people who work for contractors; however they can also work independently as well and sometimes even specialize in specific types of projects such as irrigation systems or hardscaping materials like pavers and retaining walls.
Subcontractors can provide more flexibility since they aren’t attached to one company but rather serve multiple clients at once—sometimes this means lower prices too!
How Many People Are Involved In The Project?
You may be wondering how many people are involved in the project. Since landscaping a backyard is a large undertaking, it’s important to know how many people will be involved.
For example, if you have a small yard and only need one person to complete the work, you can expect your costs to be much lower than if you have a larger yard that requires multiple workers.
When calculating how much money you should spend on your project, keep in mind that the number of workers needed can affect its cost as well.
Conclusion
It’s important to think about what you want, how much work it will take, and how much time you have before you start a project like this.
You also need to consider if there are any environmental factors that could affect your landscaping or whether or not you need to hire contractors or subcontractors.
Further Reading
If you’re looking for more information on backyard landscaping costs and budgeting, be sure to check out the following resources:
How much does backyard landscaping cost?: This article provides an overview of the costs associated with various landscaping features, from outdoor lighting to patios and water features.
What Is the Cost of Landscaping?: This Forbes article explores the different factors that can impact the cost of landscaping, including materials, labor, and location.
How Much Does Landscaping Cost?: Lawn Love’s blog post provides an in-depth analysis of the costs associated with various landscaping features, including installation and maintenance costs.
FAQs
What factors influence the cost of backyard landscaping?
The cost of backyard landscaping can vary based on a number of factors, including the size of the yard, the complexity of the design, the materials used, and the amount of labor required.
What are some popular backyard landscaping features?
Popular backyard landscaping features include patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, water features, garden beds, and outdoor lighting.
How can I save money on backyard landscaping?
To save money on backyard landscaping, consider doing some of the work yourself, choosing less expensive materials, and opting for simpler designs.
Do I need to hire a professional landscaper?
While it is possible to do some backyard landscaping work on your own, it may be beneficial to hire a professional landscaper for more complex projects or if you don’t have experience with landscaping.
How can I budget for backyard landscaping?
To budget for backyard landscaping, consider the costs of materials, labor, and any additional expenses like permits or equipment rentals. It may also be helpful to break the project down into smaller phases to make it more manageable.
I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.