Before getting a quote from a landscaper, it's important to plan out your garden. This will help you find the best landscaper and price for your needs.

The Experience Most People Have When Looking for a Landscape Specialist

Have you ever wanted someone to install a garden for you? Naturally, the first question you might ask yourself is, “How much will it cost?” So you jump on Google to find some answers, maybe a ballpark figure for a garden your size. You discover a sea of non-specific Google results focused on DIY weekend warriors and landscape gardening websites with a “call for a quote” front and center on every page.

Frustrated by the lack of information, you call some local landscapers to gain clarity and ask for a ballpark figure. Only to be met with, “Well… we will need to have a look at your property and do a quote. We can fit you in next month.”

Given that you're excited about the possibility of liberating that neglected lawn outside your office window and turning it into the garden of your dreams, waiting longer than a few hours seems frustrating at best. After all, it's a long time to wait when you're excited, not to mention some tradespeople don't even show up in the past!

The next best thing may be to figure it out for yourself, but it would be much easier for someone experienced in garden design and installation to do it for you in a timely manner. Well, dear reader, it is my intention to give you the tools for both!

In the following article, we will look at the key elements affecting the cost of a garden installation, what to look out for when hiring a landscape professional, and provide a few examples at the end to give you a ballpark figure now. This way, you can make an informed decision on turning that dream garden into a reality.

*Loosening the soil for a new plant hole.*

So How Can I Get an Idea of Cost for My New Garden?

The challenge for most homeowners and landscape professionals is that each project is unique. There are many variables that make it difficult to give a blanket price for a garden. Below are some of the most common factors that will affect the cost for your project.

Materials:

What size plants will you start with? Small plants are cheaper but take longer to fill out the space.
What type of plants will you need? (trees, shrubs, grasses, and ground covers). Some plants take longer for nurseries to grow and come with a higher price tag.
What amendments will your soil need? (rock dust, biochar, fungal inoculants, compost, fertilizer). Some plants have more particular needs than others. Australian natives typically require fewer amendments whereas exotic species will require more TLC.
Will your trees need staking? Most trees need to be staked for 6/12 months until established.
Will you need guards? Tree/shrub guards are useful for protecting young plants from animals and heavy frosts.
Will your plants need to be irrigated? Irrigation can be as simple as a hose with a sprinkler or a complex, multi-zoned system with moisture sensors.
Will you need mulch for your garden beds? Typically, mulch is recommended for healthy, happy soils and plants. The type and depth can vary from 50 - 200mm deep.

Labor:

Do you need a design or planting plan? Larger projects benefit greatly from a design so that you can be sure of a cohesive, successful garden.
Does your garden need clearing and earthworks to prepare for the new plants?
Are there new garden beds that need to be and prepared?
How will the holes be dug? Can a small machine fit into your yard, or do they require digging by hand?
How accessible is the space? Can plants and materials be offloaded in place or need to be brought in from a distance by wheelbarrow?
Is there a large variety of plants? This can affect the time needed to source plants from multiple nurseries.
How experienced is the landscaper? It is important to hire a landscaper who has training and experience in planting. I personally plant 3-4 times quicker than my younger self!

But How Do I Know What Landscape Business to Hire?

Now that we have taken into consideration all the details and have a good grasp of what is involved, let's take a look at what you can expect to find with your local trade professionals so that you can choose a company that works for you.

Cheap VS Expensive.

This is generally a sliding scale of quality and customer experience.

On the cheaper side, you will have business owners with less overhead and experience. They will typically dig a quick hole, throw in the plant, give it a pat down, and be on their way. A garden planting like this will generally have 75% of plants survive.

On the expensive side, you will have longer-standing businesses who will take more care to understand your needs, hopes, and dreams. These businesses will usually take more time to properly select plants and amendments suitable for your climate and soil. They will properly prepare holes in accordance with Australian standards and add a thick mulch to ensure your plants and soil thrive. A well-executed garden should have a 95%+ rate of plant survival.

Customer Service

It is worth taking into consideration the level of customer service you will receive throughout your garden project. The first conversation you have with a landscaper or designer will give you a good indication of this. Some factors include clear communication, timely responses, and plenty of ongoing communication at each stage of the project.

You can also check to see if the business has any reviews on Google or their website to check for previous client experiences.

The Customer Journey

As a landscape business grows, it is essential that a predefined pathway exists for new clients (such as yourself) to be taken along. This ensures repeatable, satisfying, and stress-free experiences. Everyone knows where they are at and what they are doing!

With that being said, a key element of this process is called “qualification.” Basically, the landscaper is looking for a proper fit with the client. Most businesses aren't for everyone and vice versa, so it’s important to establish this fit early on.

A great way to test this out is to ask the landscaper for a ballpark figure based on previous similar jobs. This will allow you to gauge their level of experience within your context and establish a price range that works for both parties. It is important to remember that this price range may not be accurate due to unforeseen challenges during the quoting process (like having bedrock 30cm under your new garden bed!)

Qualifications and Experience

Experience is key when it comes to plants as there is such a vast array of scenarios with individual needs. Previous exposure to similar projects allows the landscaper to improve rapidly beyond the book smarts.

Common qualifications for this type of work include horticulture, landscaping, and landscape design. Some businesses may employ unqualified workers who follow a predetermined process with training, and this is fine too!

So What About My Ballpark Figures?

By now, I'm sure you're excited to see how all this comes together. Let's take a look and form a ballpark figure for you!

We will use the following design as an example and create an estimate for two common examples.

Example 1

Acmena Smithii (Lilly Pilly) hedge. The hedge can be noted along the bottom right of the yard.

Materials:

19 plants in 400mm pots, this client would like a hedge in the next 1-2 years
Soil amendments including biochar, rock dust, and compost for the planting holes
1600mm timber stakes for 6-12 months
Drip irrigation line on a timer, this yard gets very hot and dry in summer.
150mm pine bark mulch to help with water retention and soil health.

Total materials cost = $5,030

Labor:

This client previously had a planting plan drawn up, it cost about $500.
A small excavator to remove existing lawn along the hedge line and dig holes for planting.
There is no vehicle access to this yard so plants and materials need to be wheeled in.
2 workers for 2 days preparing, planting, irrigating, mulching, and tidying.

Total labor cost = $6,080

Grand total = $8,790

Example 2

Tea garden plant out, this can be noted as the large garden on the left of the design. The landscaping has been completed for this garden and has piles of soil left from previous excavation.

Materials:

4x semi-mature Australian native trees and ferns in 400mm pots

(the client would like a mature garden in 1-2 years)

26x semi-mature exotic and native shrubs in 300mm pots
8x native ground covers in 200 mm pots
Soil amendments including biochar, rock dust, and compost for the planting holes
1600mm timber stakes for the trees
Drip irrigation line on a timer, this yard gets very hot and dry in summer.
150mm pine bark mulch to help with water retention and soil health

Total materials cost = $5,350

Labor:

This client previously had a planting plan drawn up, it cost about $500.
A small excavator to level existing soil piles and dig holes for planting.
There is no vehicle access to this yard so plants and materials need to be wheeled in.
2 workers for 3 days preparing, planting, irrigating, mulching, and tidying.

Total labor cost = $8,400

Grand total = $13,750

It is worth taking into consideration the above price also incorporates a markup. Most businesses will charge between 10-60% GPM (gross profit margin) on materials and labor to cover overhead and profit.

This example is calculated at about 50% GPM and is considered to be at the more expensive end of the spectrum.

Bringing It All Together

So there you have it! It is my hope that you now have a clearer picture of the costs involved with your garden plant out and are more confident in engaging a local professional.

From here, it’s about deciding on the quality of work, experience, and time you are willing to spend on your project to determine the best fit for you. You may want to DIY the garden or employ a landscaper to do it all for you! Both options come with wonderful benefits to your health, happiness, and general wellbeing!

You can check out our other blog posts around pricing for hardscaping, ponds, earthworks, and design as well.

Sam Quine.

Owner & CEO

Ecolibrium Landscape & Design

Get an Idea of Garden Plant Out Costs: Essential Steps Before Requesting a Quote