In this guide

Landscaping Costs Per Square Foot

Landscaping is a very broad term that encompasses a vast range of projects, so it has a wide range of associated costs per square foot. The average price per square foot ranges from $5 to $20 a square foot, depending on what you do with the area. It is common to mix materials and landscaping across a property, which means that the cost per square foot is likely to change. For example, you may have new topsoil put down at $1 a square foot, with new seed added at $0.14 a square foot, but bluestone pavers cost on average $30 a square foot installed. And, adding water features, structures, and plants changes the average costs per square foot as well, which results in the average range of $5 to $20 a square foot, depending on the location and type of landscaping.

Landscaping Prices Per Hour

Some landscapers charge by the hour, which ranges depending on their expertise and the service they provide. The physical labor of landscaping costs between $50 and $100 an hour, while landscaping designers often charge up to $200 an hour for planning, consultations, and design work.

Landscaping Prices Per Acre

There is also an enormous cost range for determining landscaping costs per acre. This depends largely on what you do with the space, the layout, and the condition of the land. It is not uncommon for landscaping costs per acre to start between $2,000 and $4,000 for basic turf and soil and go up from there, depending on what other work you have done.

Landscaping Price List

There are many ways to landscape a yard and numerous materials you can use in the process. The following cost list helps you determine the average costs for the most common landscaping projects for ¼-acre lots:

Lawn Fertilization Cost

Fertilization helps your new grass or plants grow more quickly. Fertilization has a range of costs, depending on the type use, the desired outcome, and the size of your yard. Expect to pay $40 - $140.

Deliver Soil, Rock or, Mulch

Most homeowners prefer to have soil, rock, or mulch delivered because they may not own a truck large enough to carry the load. Some contractors charge a fixed fee for delivering the materials while others charge a percentage of the weight of the materials being delivered. Your location and accessibility are other factors that affect the cost. Expect prices to start at around $100, but they can go as high as $2,000, depending on the material, distance, and size of the load.

Yard Clean Up Cost

If your yard is in really bad shape, you may want to pay for a yard clean up to remove things like leaves and debris before you start the planning and planting. Yard cleanups cost between $200 and $600.

Fire Pit Installation Cost

An outdoor fire pit can be a great addition to any yard. You can purchase a simple metal pit for $150 or have one built from pavers, complete with an interior ring, for around $850.

Lawn Seeding Cost

Lawn seeding is the process of using seeds to add new grass to a lawn. The total cost depends on the lawn size, seed type, and the prep work involved. Use seeding to cover thin patches in an existing lawn or to start a new lawn from scratch. The average cost to add seeds to a lawn is around $0.14 a square foot installed, although some grass seeds may cost more than others.

Pathway Installation Cost

Pathways and walkways are typical additions to most landscaping. They can be added to the front yard to walk up to the front door or to the back yard, moving through the rest of the landscaping. They have a range of costs, depending on the material used, but most average around $700.

Tree Removal Cost

While landscaping deals with planting trees, sometimes you need to have one removed to make way for new projects. Tree removal costs start at about $700 per tree.

Water Fountain Installation Cost

Installation costs for a water fountain depend on the size of the fountain, materials used, fountain type, power supply, prep work, and labor. The average concrete fountain costs just over $1,000, but you can have custom fountains made of stone or marble that cost $10,000 or more, depending on the size and design.

Curbing Installation Cost

Curbing or edging gives your landscape a finished appearance. Popular materials for curbing include concrete and brick. Concrete edging can be done in two ways: preformed concrete blocks ($5 - $10 per linear foot) and poured concrete ($5 - $13 per linear foot). Although poured concrete, with its continuous seam, is more attractive and easier to maintain, it is more expensive than preformed concrete. At $13 - $18 per linear foot, brick edging is more costly than concrete edging.

Outdoor Misting System Installation Cost

An outdoor misting system keeps you cool even in the sweltering summer months. A good-quality misting system costs between $1,500-$3,500, including a pump and labor.

Sod Installation Cost

On average, sod installation costs $1.50 and up per square foot. Sod provides an instant lawn, but it is generally not used for very large areas due to its cost. It can be combined with other landscaping to produce quick results.

Sprinkler System Installation Cost

A sprinkler system lessens the pain of caring for your lawn and also helps conserve water. Sprinkler systems may not be installed everywhere you landscape but are typically installed in large sections of grass. They cost between $2,500 and $3,500 on average.

Pergola Cost

Pergolas are open structures that allow air to flow through while providing shade and definition to the area. They can be built of wood, vinyl, or fiberglass and come in many styles and sizes. They cost around $3,500.

Wood Fence Installation Cost

Fencing can be a big part of your landscaping, adding definition and security as well as privacy. Fencing has a wide range of costs depending on the material and the length and size of the fence. A wood fence costs between $3,500 and $6,500, but costs for chain like fences start at around $850.

Landscaping Cost

Landscaping costs for a new construction site vary between $5 and $20 per square foot, depending on the design style, materials, and location.

French Drain Installation Cost

If you have problems with drainage in your yard, a French drain moves the water from one end of your yard to another area where it can drain without causing soggy ground or foundation issues. A French drain costs around $5,000 on average.

Pond Installation Cost

A pond can be a beautiful addition to any back yard. Installation costs for a pond depend on factors like the shape, labor, and any accessories you add. Some ponds are filtered and lined like pools, while others are left natural. They have an average cost of around $7,000 - $8,500.

Gazebo Cost

Gazebos serve as an attractive and useful outdoor living space. They can be built of many materials and take on several shapes, styles, and designs. The average gazebo costs between $7,500 and $10,000, depending on the final material and layout.

Turf Installation Cost

At $3 - $10 per square foot, artificial grass installation costs significantly more than installing sod or seeding. However, artificial grass lasts for a very long time and requires less maintenance.

Landscaping Costs by Type

Landscaping can be broken down into three basic types, each with its own costs:

Softscaping Costs

Softscaping is the planting of trees, grass, shrubs, flowers, and other plants in your yard. It has a wide range of costs because each plant has a different price, and the number of plants varies. Expect small projects to start at around $800 and large softscaping projects to cost up to $10,000.

Xeriscaping Costs

Xeriscaping helps you improve your water usage and conservation in hot and arid climates. This process uses a mix of different materials, including some plants and some hardscaping, to enhance the look of your area and conserve water. It also has a wide range of materials and costs. Expect most projects to have starting costs of around $8,000.

Hardscaping Costs

Hardscaping is anything you do to your landscaping that does not involve plant life. This includes patios, walkways, decks, pergolas, gazebos, lighting, and other structures. Because hardscaping often involves costly materials and construction, it is usually expensive, with starting costs of about $10,000.

Landscaping Costs for New Home

When starting from scratch on a new lot, landscaping costs significantly more. It is not uncommon for landscaping to be approximately 10% of your home’s value. So a $400,000 home will have around $40,000 in landscaping. Expect to pay about $200 an hour to get your landscaping started, with most projects taking several weeks to grade, add topsoil and seed, and the basic planting and hardscaping done.

Landscaping Design Cost

A holistic approach and careful planning and design are key elements of beautiful landscaping, which is why most homeowners choose to work with a landscape designer or landscape architect to create the landscape of their dreams within their budget. Even homeowners who ultimately decide to do the actual planting themselves need a designer during the planning and design phase to avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes, such as planting plants that require a lot of sun in a shady spot and planting a tree too close to the foundation. Depending on your needs, a designer also helps you choose plants that are low-maintenance or complement each other and create beautiful designs.

During the design phase, the designer evaluates the need for grading or resloping the land. This is very important because if the water does not properly drain away from your home’s foundation, it can cause water damage and other issues like mold and mildew in no time. A landscape designer may charge $2,000 - $7,000 for a detailed plan, with most homeowners paying around $4,500 with verbal consultations charged additionally at the rate of $200 per hour.

Some of the most common landscaping design styles are as follows:

Mediterranean

One of the most popular landscaping styles throughout the world, Mediterranean gardens are characterized by tiered fountains, terracotta pots, statuary, and plants that provide color, texture, and structure.

Japanese Garden

Japanese garden designs are heavily influenced by Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto philosophies and use natural elements like plants, ornaments, rocks, and water to create a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere.

Tuscan Garden

The Tuscan garden style combines trademark plantings like rosemary, lavender, and Italian cypress with terracotta urns, natural stone, and bright colors like red, yellow, and orange.

English Cottage Garden

English cottage gardens are lush and free-flowering and give the impression of an unplanned landscape. White picket fences, charming birdhouses, wheelbarrows, arbors, and layered arrangements of classic, old-fashioned plants, such as peonies, foxgloves, pansies, cosmos, and roses, are trademark elements of this design.

Formal Gardens

Formal landscapes are characterized by simple geometric designs, symmetry, straight edges, long sightlines, classic urns, and traditional building materials.

Southwest Landscape Design

The southwest landscape design incorporates Spanish and Native American details and is characterized by native plants and bold and colorful building materials that reflect the natural landscapes of the region.

Not all landscape designers offer installation services. If that is the case, you may need to hire a landscaping contractor or groundskeeper to bring the design to life.

Cost of Landscaping Front Yard

Front yard landscaping has the biggest impact on curb appeal and value. This landscaping impacts the way your home looks when viewed with the important parts being the walkway, shrubs and trees framing the house, and lawn. Typically, there are no major structures in the front yard, which means costs may be less expensive than back yards that have patios or decks. Expect front yard landscaping to cost between $4,000 and $6,000 on average.

Cost of Landscaping Back Yard

Backyard landscaping is more about enjoyment instead of the appearance from the road. It still adds value, but there is less immediate impact, and it does not need to frame and work with the home quite as much. Backyards are usually where the most money is spent on things like paths, patios, gazebos, pergolas, and ponds, so the costs are typically higher, around $8,000 to $10,000 on average.

Other Factors That Impact Landscaping Costs

Landscaping is a very personal thing that varies from yard to yard and person to person. Things like property size, type of grass or tree you plant, added structures, or whether the paths are gravel or have pavers have a major impact on the cost. Some landscapers recommend purchasing your own plants because you may save as much as 50% on the materials. Having a designer work with you on the layout increases costs, while keeping things simpler lowers them. Sometimes, it is also possible to do things in stages to work within your budget rather than attempting to do everything at once.

Landscape Maintenance Cost

Maintaining your landscaping can have additional costs, depending on the landscaping and how often it requires care. For example, some shrubs need regular trimming, while others do not require any. Grass needs to be mowed and often fertilized, but most hardscaping can go without regular maintenance for years.

Most companies offer a basic maintenance package and provide landscape services on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis as needed. Some provide one-time maintenance deals for specific projects as well.

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Basic Care

Premium Care

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Landscaping Company

Many people look at the cost of landscaping and wonder if they would be better off doing most of it themselves to save money. While landscaping is not inexpensive, many benefits come from hiring a professional service to care for your property.

Landscapers have a great deal of knowledge about the soil, climate, and what will grow in your area. They know how and when to maintain it and what problems you might encounter. They can also help you frame and design your landscaping to best suit your yard and property to get the best results. When you pay for professional landscaping services, you do not just get the labor, you also get their knowledge, which is arguably the most important part of the job.

Enhancements and Improvement Costs

Retaining Wall

Retaining walls are useful for preventing soil erosion and other issues. They also make beautiful additions to landscaping. The cost is around $4,000 to $6,500 on average.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting helps brighten your landscaping into the evening hours, making it usable longer. It costs around $3,800 on average.

Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are becoming very popular additions to most landscaping, allowing you to cook and entertain outside. They have starting costs of $2,700 to $10,000.

Patio

Patios are very common additions to landscaping designs. They come in many shapes and materials and enhance your yard and the enjoyment of it. They have starting costs of around $4,000.

Porch

A porch can enhance the front of your home, give you the look of a farmhouse, and increase your enjoyment in the area. The average porch costs about $21,440.

Deck

Decks are sometimes added to landscaping as an addition to the home and can be used for recreation and relaxing. The average deck costs around $17,000 - $19,000.

Swimming Pool

Pools can add a lot of enjoyment to your yard, while also enhancing your landscaping. Pools come in many shapes, sizes, and materials, with average costs of around $50,000.