Landscape Pricing Overview
First things first. We cannot calculate an accurate landscaping budget without a finished design for your garden covering all the key elements you wish to include in it.
Use this page to explore some popular features you may like to include in your garden, with some ballpark pricing to allow you to put together a quick thumbnail budget.
Factors that affect Landscape pricing
While this is not an exhaustive list, it does include 6 factors that often have the biggest impact on pricing a landscaping project.
The size of your area
The larger the area to be landscaped, the more will be required to be added to it.
So depending on whether you have a large or small area can heavily influence the price.
Complexity
The level of complexity in the construction project directly impacts the amount of labour required and the materials needed.
Sophistication
Depending on the sophistication of your project, in terms of the quality of your desired result, and overall styling you requested.
Quantity of Elements
For instance, paving is a landscaping element that can be quite expensive. The decision to pave or lay grass will result in significantly different costs.
Plant Maturity Desired
The cost of your landscaping project will vary depending on the maturity level of the plants you choose.
Existing Site Conditions
For instance, is excavation required, the type of terrain (rocky or sandy), the accessibility of the site, and the elevation of the land. These details play a significant role in determining the overall cost.
What Do Typical Elements Cost?
In the following section, we will delve into various key factors that contribute to the calculation of costs. Bear in mind, these figures are only estimates aimed at providing you with a general understanding of what you can anticipate paying.
Common Elements in Landscaping
Here are a few optional landscape elements that you might consider including in your landscaping project. Each of these elements will affect your overall investment accordingly.
Paving
Paving is often the most significant investment in a landscape construction project, with its intricate process and skilled labor. The journey begins with excavating and grading the area, followed by the pouring of a sturdy steel-reinforced concrete foundation. The installation of pavers requires expertise and time, making it a meticulous task.
The cost of pavers can vary greatly, ranging from $60 to $260 per square meter. The design pattern chosen for the paving can also impact the installation time and, consequently, the overall cost.
Certain elements, such as steps and coping around a pool, demand extra attention and time during installation. Moreover, some materials require special sealing to ensure their longevity and durability.
Considering all these factors, it is not surprising that the cost of paving can range from $500 to $1000 per square meter.
Decking
A typical deck often requires an engineer to specify the necessary details. Additionally, obtaining a Building Permit is a requirement for nearly every deck.
Alongside the necessary working drawings, the cost for these permits can range from $5,000 to $10,000.
It is important to note that the use of thicker and wider decking boards can increase the overall cost. Out of all the options, composite decking tends to be the most expensive to purchase. Furthermore, the cost can also be influenced by the site conditions.
To get a realistic estimated cost, it is advisable to budget around $600 to $900 per square meter.
Retaining Walls
Determining the cost of retaining walls can be challenging since some projects do not require walls while others may involve significant infrastructure. In terms of affordability, sleepers are the most cost-effective type of retaining wall.
When it comes to typical retaining walls, they can be constructed using materials such as brick or concrete bloks. If you choose to add stone cladding to the wall, the cost can be around $1000 per square meter alone. However, the final cost will depend on your specific design requirements. For example, properly grading garden beds can help avoid the need for retaining walls altogether. On the other hand, if you desire a more structured aesthetic, you may need to allocate a budget of $40,000 for your retaining walls.
It is challenging to provide an exact cost estimate for this without knowing your specific preferences and needs.
Pergola/Veranda
Looking to create a stunning outdoor space with an open structure pergola adorned with beautiful vines? You can bring this dream to life for as little as $10,000.
However, if you have your heart set on a louver roof over a spacious alfresco area, you may need to invest $50,000 or more.
Concrete Service
Exposed aggregate concrete is a popular choice for driveways and the sides of houses. With factors such as steps, slope, and access taken into consideration, the cost ranges from $150 to $250 per square meter.
Planting
The cost of landscaping is primarily influenced by two key factors: the quantity of plants and the size of the pot they are purchased in. The options are endless, as you can choose to use a single shrub that spreads 2m wide or opt for 10 smaller plants to cover the same area. This flexibility in styling can lead to varying costs.
For instance, when creating a garden for a newly constructed home on a 700m2 block, the price range typically falls between $20,000 and $30,000.
However, it's important to note that the final cost may differ depending on your specific preferences and design choices.
Irrigation
When it comes to landscaping irrigation, it is crucial to take the cost into account. Typically, the price for irrigating a suburban area can vary between $3,000 and $8,000.
Lighting
Enhance your yard in the evenings with incredible, well-planned lighting for your new landscaping project.
Our clients typically invest anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, ensuring their outdoor space shines brilliantly.
Outdoor Kitchen
Are you looking to enhance your outdoor living experience with an incredible outdoor kitchen? If the answer is yes, then we highly recommend Limetree Alfresco, a trusted company that specializes in creating stunning outdoor kitchens.
Our recent projects have encompassed a wide range of budgets, starting from $12,000 and going up to $25,000.
Other Costs
Additionally, various other expenses need to be considered including site clearing and grading, installing fencing, adding steel edges to the beds, creating gravel areas, incorporating rock works, providing comfortable bench seats, setting up screens, managing pool works, constructing sheds, cultivating vegetable gardens, and even creating a cozy firepit.
We are excited to have a detailed discussion about these additional elements with you.
Talk With a Designer
Find out how you can start creating your dream garden with a 60-minute Discovery Call
Get actionable advice about the design & and construction process for your unique garden as you speak directly 1:1 with one of our professional designers
Here’s just some of what we’ll cover in your call…
- A deep dive into the current state of your garden
- Your unique vision for your beautiful dream garden
- How to build a perfect garden within your budget
- And this is only just scratching the surface…
