A Guide To Landscape Pricing In Charleston South Carolina
Learn all about landscape project pricing
Navigating the world of landscape pricing can be a daunting task for homeowners looking to create or upgrade their outdoor spaces. With a wide range of variables influencing project costs, it is essential to have a clear understanding of what to expect for your available landscaping budget.
This guide aims to explain landscape pricing by providing an overview of the different factors that affect costs, common (and realistic) price ranges for various landscaping services, and helpful tips for maximizing your investment. By gaining some insight into the intricacies of landscape pricing, you can confidently make informed decisions and create a beautiful, functional, and sustainable outdoor living environment that aligns perfectly with your budget.
This guide will be geared towards hiring a professional landscaping company such as Martinez Landscaping & Pine Straw to complete the work. We've organized the pricing structure from lowest to highest for your convenience.
Getting Your Landscaping Ready For Market
$2,500 - $7,500
When you're getting a home ready for sale you're generally looking for quick, affordable, projects that will improve your curb appeal without spending a fortune. The easiest (most affordable) way to do this is to give the property a thorough cleanup, a little bit of a facelift, and to complete any necessary repairs to items like irrigation systems, landscape lighting, edging, and any other obvious eye-sores.
With a budget in the $2,500 to $7,500 range here are some projects that could be completed.
- Thorough Yard Cleanup: Often a good landscape cleanup can work wonders on a property that hasn't received a lot of attention over the last few years. Trimming trees, hedges, and shrubs, cleaning out garden beds, removing the organic debris, re-establishing garden bed and lawn edges, and aerating and overseeding the lawn to repair any brown or patchy areas.
- Garden Bed Makeover: If your home has front garden beds or garden beds that border the driveway these can be revitalized and given a new look with a good cleanout, new seasonal plantings for interest and color, and a fresh layer of mulch to give the beds a uniform appearance.
- Complete Necessary Repairs: If you have broken sprinkler heads or landscape lighting that isn't working, broken fencing or gates, maybe a few pavers on your walkway or patio are raised or sunken, and other obvious landscape eye-sores. Focus on repairing these issues so any potential new homeowners can see the property is cared for and ready-to-move in without them having to repair all of these issues.
This is a realistic budget range to get an average sized landscape cleaned up so the property can be put on the market. These particular projects will drastically improve curb appeal without spending a fortune and they can be completed fairly quickly.
Quick Front Yard Curb Appeal Improvements
$5,000 - $20,000
Front yard landscaping plays the most significant role in shaping the first impression of your home, contributing to the overall curb appeal and perceived value of your property. A well-designed and maintained front yard not only enhances the aesthetics of your residence but also creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests and potential buyers if you're looking to sell.
With a budget in the $5,000 to $20,000 range here are some projects that could be completed. With a budget on the $5k side you may be limited to one or two of the below items. With a budget on the $20k side you could likely do most if not all of these items.
- Yard Cleanup: Often a good landscape cleanup can work wonders on a property that hasn't received a lot of attention over the last few years. Trimming trees, hedges, and shrubs, cleaning out garden beds, removing organic debris, establishing edges, and aerating and overseeding the lawn to repair any brown or patchy areas.
- Garden Bed Makeover: If your home has front garden beds these can be revitalized and given a new look with a good cleanout, new seasonal plantings for interest and color, curbing or a small garden wall surround, and a fresh layer of mulch to give the beds a uniform appearance.
- Landscape Lighting: A little bit of lighting goes a long way in improving the ambiance of your landscape, improving safety and security, and drawing attention to specific landscape features like your new garden beds.
- Front Walkway Or Entry Steps: A new paver pathway from your driveway to the front door, maybe some new front steps, or a small patio area for an entry way will drastically improve your curb appeal. A beautiful entry can make a lasting impression.
Because this is a limited budget, new construction will be limited. However, that doesn't mean we can't still make a dramatic difference in the appearance and curb appeal of your property. By focusing on the right areas we can give you that "wow" factor without spending a fortune.
A Complete Front Yard Makeover
$20,000 - $50,000
Going beyond some simple curb appeal improvements a budget in this realm gives us a lot more to work with. We can get into new construction like a new paver driveway, a paver walkway, a new front entry porch or patio, retaining walls surrounding garden beds, a new lawn, and more. This budget would give your front yard a radically different new look.
With a budget in the $20,000 to $50,000 range here are some projects that could be completed.
- Paver Driveway: So long as you don't have a massive driveway this budget could allow for the construction of a permeable paver driveway to replace that cracked or broken concrete or gravel driveway.
- Garden Bed Construction: New garden beds can be created along the front or side of your home. They could include a small garden wall (retaining wall) along with a selection of plantings for color and interest.
- Landscape Lighting: In this budget range landscape lighting could include driveway lighting, pathway lighting, and some wall lighting or specific spot lighting to bring attention to some specific landscape features.
- Retaining Walls: This could include a retaining wall bordering your driveway or along the front of your yard if you have a sloped property.
- Front Walkway Or Entry Steps: A new paver pathway from your driveway to the front door, maybe some new front steps, or a small patio area for an entry way will drastically improve your curb appeal. A beautiful entry can make a lasting impression.
This is a fairly common budget for landscape improvements and so long as materials are chosen carefully and there are no problems that must be overcome such as poor access, steep slopes, or substantial demolition, we can accomplish quite a lot with a budget in this range.
A Beautiful Backyard Patio Or Outdoor Living Space
$30,000 - $75,000
Going beyond some simple curb appeal improvements a budget in this realm gives us a lot more to work with. We can get into new construction like a new paver driveway, a paver walkway, a new front entry porch or patio, retaining walls surrounding garden beds, a new lawn, and more. This budget would give your front yard a radically different new look.
With a budget in the $30,000 to $75,000 range here are some projects that could be completed.
- Landscape Design: When you're spending this kind of money landscape design makes sense. Using modern software we can create a very realistic rendering of what your new landscape could look like.
- Paver Patio: So long as you don't have a massive driveway this budget could allow for the construction of a permeable paver driveway to replace that cracked or broken concrete or gravel driveway.
- Surrounding Garden Beds: New garden beds can be created along the front or side of your home. They could include a small garden wall (retaining wall) along with a selection of plantings for color and interest.
- Gazebo or Pergola: The construction of a gazebo or pergola brings the benefit of shade or shelter from the elements. It will offer a nice area for cooking, relaxing, or entertaining.
- Landscape Lighting: Your patio could include a landscape lighting system complete with accent lighting around the perimeter, pathway lighting, security lighting, and spot lighting.
- Retaining Walls: If your property is sloped then the construction of a retaining wall might be necessary to carve out a flat and level section for your patio. They can also be used for raised garden beds or to create pathways.
- Outdoor Kitchen: On the lower end of this budget scale a small outdoor grilling area is a possibility while on the higher-end of the scale an elaborate outdoor kitchen with cooking area, countertops, cabinets, a fridge, sink, and all the amenities of a modern kitchen could be included.
- Firepit Or Fireplace: What patio would be complete with an outdoor firepit or outdoor fireplace to sit and relax with company during those warm summer evenings? With a budget in this range a firepit can easily become a focal point of your outdoor patio.
Backyard patios can vary in size and scope and the associated costs only increase with their size and the more luxurious the materials and finishing details. However, with a budget in this range you can get a very nice patio built.
The Cost To Landscape A New Construction Home
$50,000 - $150,000+
Designing and building the landscaping for a new construction home can be exciting. You're essentially starting with a blank canvass and are open to a world of possibilities. Costs for this type of landscaping project can vary wildly depending on many factors.
With a budget in the $50,000 to $250,000+ range here are some projects that could be completed. With a budget on the lower end ($50k) you'll only be able to implement a couple of these options or possibly install the landscaping in phases. With a budget on the higher end ($150k+) you'll be able to complete most if not all of them at the same time.
- Property Grading: If the builder hasn't properly graded the property this is going to be the first step. The property will need to be graded level and for proper drainage.
- Irrigation System: If you plan on having lawns and garden beds then an irrigation system is a good idea and a multi-zone system complete with digital wifi controller could be installed.
- Front and Back Lawn Installations: This budget could not only include the property grading but also both your front and back lawns. Either with sod or hydroseed.
- Xeriscaping: Instead of an irrigation system and large lawn areas the grassy areas could be minimized and a low maintenance xeriscape could be installed instead. River rock, natural stone, hardscape surfaces, native plants, shrubs, and ornamental grasses will deliver seasonal interest and require very little maintenance. A beautiful xeriscape could be built with this budget.
- Backyard Patio: Outdoor living areas are very popular and in this budget range you could have a beautiful backyard patio installed. You could include a basic kitchen/grilling area, built-in seating, lighting, a firepit, and possibly even a hot tub.
- Landscape Lighting: In this budget range you could have a comprehensive landscape lighting system designed and installed. It could include driveway lighting, pathway lighting, wall lighting and specific spot lighting to bring attention to your landscape features.
- Retaining Walls: Retaining walls are almost a staple in most modern landscapes, especially on sloped properties. They also are an excellent way to carve out sections of your property and create some separation and/or elevation between different landscape features.
- Front Walkway Or Entry Steps: A new paver pathway from your driveway to the front door, maybe some new front steps, or a small patio area for an entry way will drastically improve your curb appeal. A beautiful entry can make a lasting impression.
This would be a realistic workable budget for a new construction home. Obviously the larger the property and more intricate the landscape the more expensive it will be. $50k would be for a property in a new sub-division with a small city lot. A budget of $150k or more would be suitable for a larger home on a larger piece of property.
How Much Do Specific Landscaping Elements Cost?
There are usually several elements that make up your landscape. Each landscaping element can have it's own associated price range.
Landscape Design
$500 - $3000+
Landscape design is a necessity on larger projects with many landscaping elements.
New Lawns
$6,000 - $15,000+
New lawn installation pricing can vary quite a bit depending on the grade and size of your property.
Retaining Walls
$3,500 - $100,000+
Starting from small garden walls up to larger tiered retaining walls, they are an integral part of a landscape.
Backyard Patios
$7,500 - $75,000+
Patio pricing goes up depending on size and scope and how many "extras" you'd like.
Backyard Makeovers
$25,000 - $150,000+
Your backyard is your own private retreat. The larger the budget, the more we can do.
Pool Landscaping
$15,000 - $150,000+
From a basic paver patio surrounding the pool to much more elaborate outdoor spaces.
Outdoor Kitchens
$8,000 - $100,000+
This would be for a simple grilling area up to a full fledged outdoor cooking and entertainment area.
Garden Bed Makeover
$2,500 - $6,500+
Revamp those old garden beds with a good cleanup fresh edging, new plantings, and a layer of mulch.
Privacy Hedge Planting
$3,000 - $12,000+
A hedge can improve privacy along property lines. The Price is affected by size of trees and length of hedge.
Xeriscaping
$5,000 - $100,000+
A beautiful landscape with low maintenance rock, drought tolerant plants, and ornamental grasses.
Outdoor Firepits
$3,500 - $15,000+
Firepits are a popular landscape upgrade. Adding extras like pavers, seating, pathways, raises the price.
These prices are only ball park figures to give you a rough idea as to what you should expect for the cost of the landscape elements you'd like to include in your project. These price ranges are very broad but it gives you a starting point. Your particular landscape project will vary depending on the site, the accessibility, any required earthwork, the specific materials chosen, and the overall scope of work. If you need a firm price please request a consultation so we can view your potential project, listen to your ideas, and determine the actual scope of work required to complete the project for you. After our on-site consultation we'll be able to provide you with a firm estimate to design and build your new landscape the right way.
Why Is Landscaping So Expensive?
There are many factors that contribute to the cost of landscaping
Landscaping can be a significant investment for homeowners and there are several factors that contribute to the overall cost of a project. Here are some reasons why good quality landscaping is so expensive:
#1. It's Labor-intensive work: Landscaping involves considerable manual labor, from digging and planting to moving materials, and constructing hardscape features. The labor-intensive nature of the work demands skilled professionals who are experienced in various aspects of landscape design and installation, resulting in higher labor costs.
#2. We use specialized equipment: Landscaping projects often require specialized equipment and machinery, such as mini-excavators, skid-steers, loaders, dump trailers, and more, to efficiently carry out tasks. The cost of renting or purchasing this equipment and ensuring its proper maintenance adds to the overall expense.
#3. Quality materials: High-quality materials, such as plants, trees, mulch, soil amendments, gravel and base materials, pavers, landscape blocks, boulders, and other hardscape elements, can be costly. Investing in quality materials is crucial to ensure the longevity and visual appeal of your landscape, but it certainly does contribute to the overall cost.
#4. Design and planning: A well-designed landscape requires careful planning and professional expertise, which often involves working with a landscape architect or a designer. Landscape design takes considerable amounts of thought, time, and creativity and will add to the overall project cost. The experience and knowledge of landscape designers are essential in creating a functional, attractive, and sustainable outdoor space.
#5. Permits and regulations: Depending on the scope of your project, you may need to obtain permits or comply with local regulations, which can increase the overall cost of the landscaping process. Generally, if permits are required we will be able to fill out the necessary paperwork and acquire them for you.
#6. Site preparation: Some landscaping projects require extensive site preparation, such as grading, drainage improvements, and removing or bringing in substantial amounts of materials. These additional steps will add to the overall cost of your project.
While landscaping can certainly be expensive, it's essential to view it as an investment in your property. A well-designed and maintained landscape can increase your home's value, enhance its curb appeal, and provide enjoyment for years to come. By carefully planning your project and working with experienced professionals, you can maximize your investment and create a beautiful, functional outdoor space that suits your needs and budget.
Check Out The Landscapes We've Designed
We've designed and built some beautiful landscapes in Charleston, South Carolina.
Choose The Right Landscape Designer
We've designed and built some of the most beautiful, award winning landscapes in Charleston, South Carolina.
You Want A Beautiful Landscape...?
There are literally hundreds of landscaping contractors you could choose from throughout our area to design and build your landscape. They range from small one man show type businesses to very large companies with lots of overhead.
Somewhere in the middle is the contractor that's probably best suited for your particular project. Finding a landscaping contractor you can trust to take your vision and transform it from a beautiful design concept into reality is your ultimate goal.
You're not hiring a landscape designer. You're hiring someone to improve your lifestyle. It's an important distinction.
What Should You Consider?
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out who to hire to design and build your new landscape. To make things easier when trying to determine who the right landscape design/build contractor is for your project is, start with these questions.
Do they specialize in design/build projects of the same scope and scale of the project you have envisioned for your property? If yes, how long have they been in business?
Do they have great reviews from other homeowners who've hired them to design and build their landscape?
Do they offer any type of workmanship warranty or any after sales service if there is ever a problem?
Do they have photos and references of the work they are capable of doing?