Your Guide to Landscape Project Timelines and Budgeting
You have lots of questions when you’re in the midst of a landscaping project, like “Should we serve salsa or guacamole at our first patio party?” (Duh, both.)
But two big questions take the lead: How long will it take and how much will it cost?
Here at Tropical Gardens, there are very few projects we can’t finish within a month after we begin. But there’s lots of planning, designing, revising and ordering materials involved along the way.
When you ask, “How long will my landscape project take?” we can give you a pretty good idea.
And what about your landscape budget? Need some tips? Let’s break it down.
Keep reading to learn more about landscape project timelines and budgeting, including:
It Starts with The Design
Revisions: Getting It Exactly Right
Ordering Materials
Installation
The Landscape Budget: Do It Backwards
There Might Be a Minimum Fee
Consider Behind-the-Scenes Costs
Fancy Details? How They Add to the Cost
Landscape Project Timeline: It Starts with The Design
It all starts here, once you’ve had your consultation with your landscape designer to hash out your landscaping hopes and dreams.
The design process typically takes about two weeks, as your landscape designer considers a host of details, from plant colors and textures to lighting conditions to spacing. And of course, your lifestyle and how you want to use your outdoor space.
Estimating the cost of your project happens here, too, checking current prices of everything from plants to hardscape materials to labor.
Lots of time goes into your landscape design plan, reflecting years of education and experience, which is why there’s a fee for your expert detailed design.
Revisions: Getting It Exactly Right
Once your plan is complete, we’ll email it to you, but it’s more fun once we print out the plan on a big 24 -by 36-inch sheet and bring it to your home so we can stroll your property together and walk through each element. If something’s not quite right, now’s the time to change it. Revisions, a typical element of any landscape project timeline, can take a week or two.
When everything looks good and you approve the plan, your landscape design heads to our production teams as they prepare to get your new landscape renovation underway.
Ordering Materials
We want to keep your landscape project timeline on track, so we make sure everything our crews need is here on site before we start your project. That helps avoid
any frustrating delays due to back-ordered materials or problems obtaining plants.
It typically takes 4-6 weeks to order and receive all your plant materials, from those stunning Queen palms to your perfect pink hibiscus.
Most pavers are available in 2-3 weeks, but special order pavers can take up to 8-12 weeks to arrive. We don’t start on your project until all materials are on site.
Installation
Once we dive in, we typically finish up within a month, with dedicated crews working on each portion of your landscaping, from specialized paver crews to experts devoted to artificial turf installation.
Delays? Not usually. Delays in your landscape project timeline can happen if other contractors involved, like general contractors or pool installers, miss their deadlines, but delays are rare.
The Landscape Budget: Do It Backwards
If you’ve been lying awake nights stress-eating Oreos trying to figure out your budget for landscaping, it’s time to get some sleep and make it easy on yourself: Choose the features you really want, then go from there.
Budgets are kind of a pain. Sure, you could decide on a set amount, then ask
us to make your backyard dreams come true. But everybody’s going to be frustrated.
Chances are, we won’t be able to deliver the design you really want, because our hands are tied by that pesky pre-set landscaping budget.
Instead, let us create a landscape design based on the elements you tell us you really want. If the price is too steep, you can always scale back. Everything in your plan will be itemized, so you’ll know how much each individual feature costs, from the fire pit to the patio to the pergola.
That way you can decide, if needed, what you can live without and what areas are must haves.
Everybody’s happy. But you can still eat Oreos.
We also know that money is a real thing. So here are some things to consider as you ponder your landscaping budget:
There Might Be a Minimum
When you’re considering your landscaping budget, be aware your Sarasota landscaping company might have a minimum fee.
Here at Tropical Gardens, we have a $25,000 project minimum for new landscaping clients. If you have a smaller project that won’t reach that amount, we’re not the best fit. There is no project minimum for our current landscape maintenance clients.
As you consider your budget for landscaping, ask your landscaping company if they have a minimum so you don’t waste time.
Consider Behind-the-Scenes Costs
Some elements of your landscape budget are obvious — your cool new patio, that pretty pergola, the stand of majestic palm trees. It’s easy to just focus on the fun stuff you see when you start adding up the cost.
But there are expenses you might not think about that are crucial to your landscape project and part of your budget for landscaping. A couple examples:
Prep Work
Maybe you’re starting from scratch and your yard is a big expanse of bare soil. But chances are, before your great new landscaping elements go in, some old stuff has to be torn out. There’s a cost for that labor and disposal of plant material.
How much grading is needed to prepare your property for planting and construction? Do we have to move a lot of soil? That’s part of your landscaping budget.
You’ll see prep work in your itemized list of costs, and it can range anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000, depending on how much work is involved.
Irrigation Tweaks
If you have an existing irrigation system, designed to water your current landscaping, it’s probably not going to work with your new landscaping, so irrigation adjustments will be part of your landscape budget.
Zones might have to be added to accommodate new plants. Lines might have to be moved away from new hardscape.
Feeling Fancy? That Adds to Your Budget for Landscaping
Choose fancier details, and your landscaping cost goes up.
A rectangular patio is generally cheaper than one with lots of curves, because there’s less labor-intensive cutting involved.
A fancy border on your paver driveway will add to the cost.
Details add up, which is something to consider.
Can’t Wait for Your Amazing New Outdoor Living Space? Talk to Us
How long will my landscape project take? How much will it all cost?
Chat with one of our landscape designers, who are happy to help you figure it all out.
The pros at our Sarasota FL landscape design and build services know how to boost your backyard outdoor life with all the elements you need to really enjoy it.
Want a smooth, hassle-free project that stays on time? You’ve got it.
Give us a call or fill out our form today! Our designers are ready to help you figure out all the stunning features you need, and help you sort out the costs. Next up: your perfect outdoor haven.
