When people envision their dream home, they often imagine a beautiful lawn, a nice garden and a backyard where their family can create memories. Landscaping costs for a new home are often forgotten when considering the price of a new home.
A general rule of green thumb is that your landscaping costs will come in at around 5-10% of the value of your home. So for example, if your house costs $750,000, expect your landscaping project to come in at around $37,500-75,000. While it sounds like a lot, remember landscaping includes everything including lawns, gardens, decking, pathways and driveways. There are going to be some obvious exceptions to this (if you’re planning to start your own botanical gardens with marble sculptures and a hedge maze, it will be pricey), but this estimate is a good starting point.
In this article, we’re performing a breakdown of a landscaping project, including installation costs, material costs and construction costs, looking at what factors will play the biggest roles in influencing your final cost.
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What are the key factors that impact landscaping costs?
No two landscaping projects are going to be identical and therefore it’s impossible to offer a universal quote for all landscaping. However, we can discuss some of the key elements that will determine your final price. Below are the primary factors to take into account when working out how much it will cost to landscape your new home.
Size of garden
It may sound obvious, but the size of your garden will influence your final cost significantly. By size, we mean the amount of space you have on your property overall and the size of any major renovations you plan to take.
If you’re on a tight budget (aren’t we all?), remember you can expand your garden in years to come. Down the line, you can always add plants, expand your garden beds, or improve your lawn.
Types of Landscaping
Your landscaping budget will vary greatly depending on what you’re after. Though they both fall under landscape design, building a retaining wall is a different task than laying turf for a lawn and each has a different task. The types of landscaping you want for your outdoor spaces will play a big role in determining your final landscape design cost.
Materials used
Material costs, whether it’s plants, structural materials or soil, are going to be key in deciding the final number that shows up on your bill. When deciding on your materials, consider both short and long-term costs. For example, it may be worth spending more on decking if it lasts longer and is less vulnerable to damage.
The more exotic your plants are, the more expensive they’re likely to be. Remember there’s a huge advantage to using native plants. For starters, native plants will cost as little as $10-$100 while exotic plants can set you back $500 or more. They’re likely to not only cost less but also likely to grow better because they’ve evolved in this environment. That means they’re more likely to thrive with less maintenance.
Labour costs
Who you hire will be a key factor in your costs. Everything from experience to the number of contractors to whether you’re hiring a landscape designer will influence your price.
A gardening designer will charge around $800 for a plan. If you want to go all out for a complete 3D rendering and full design, the price goes up to anywhere between $3,000-6,000.
If you’re handy with gardening, there may be some jobs you can do yourself to save money. If you haven’t done it before, keep in mind that building a deck or pouring a driveway may be more complicated than the professionals make it look.
We recommend talking to a few different landscapers for your project and getting a quote from each. This will give you an idea of the market and offer you a few options to choose from.
Design complexity
The more features your garden has, the more expensive it is likely. Basic designs can come in as cheap as $2,000 whereas more elaborate, intricate designs can easily cost over $20,000. This applies to everything from your decking to your driveway. The more complex your design, the more it will cost.
Geographical location
Where you’re building will influence your price for a variety of reasons. It’ll influence what plants are readily available, and how far contractors need to travel.
It’s not just how far you are from everyone you need to consider, but also the property itself. Climate plays an important role in determining what plants will flourish and which won’t. Also, your soil condition needs to be taken into account. Poor soil will make the landscaper’s job more difficult and odds are that extra work will show up on your bill.
Ongoing Maintenance costs involved
Remember, more than most things in your new home, your garden and lawn will require ongoing maintenance. Everything from keeping plants alive to lawn mowing costs need to be factored in when designing your new garden. Beyond costs, consider whether you can be bothered looking after an elaborate garden (or want to pay someone else to do it). After all, not everyone is a green thumb and some simpler gardens can still look amazing.
What are some typical landscaping elements to consider?
Landscaping projects vary greatly depending on the customer and budget but here are a few common landscaping jobs and the price they offer.
Installing retaining walls: $3,000 per retaining wall or about $150-$250 per square metre.
Installing new turf and garden lighting: $2,500 or about $10-$100 per square metre for the turf
Installing artificial turf: $12-45 per square meter
Paving Cost: $40-75 per square metre
Installing irrigation systems: Between $1,600 -$4,000 for a 600m2 block (both front and back yard).
Outdoor Kitchen cost: $5,000-$50,000 depending on scope.
New plants, trees, and foliage: $3,000-5,000.
Building a new deck: $160-$300 per square metre.
Put in a new lawn costs: $800-2,500 for a lawn between 100-400 m2.
Cost for a driveway: $120-150 per square metre.
Our tips to save budget on landscaping costs
- When budgeting, consider what is an essential component of your landscaping project and what can be added later. For example, a lawn and a deck may be essential, but water features may be something you can live without.
- Perform your due diligence and talk to numerous contractors. Get detailed quotes from each that spell out what exactly you’ll be getting for your money. This helps with comparing each and making your final decision.
- Find contractors who specialise in what you want them do. The old saying of someone being a jack of all trades but a master of none can apply to contractors. Someone who’s great at decking won’t necessarily know what they’re doing with other factors of your landscaping.
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