Do you dream of a professionally landscaped garden for your lawn or backyard? That dream can easily become a reality, although there’s a price to pay for the garden of your dreams.
But whatever the costs, we know it’s going to be a worthwhile investment for your home. So, how much does landscape design cost exactly?
In this article, we outline the various features of a landscaped garden and how much each costs in 2021. You can use this guide when planning landscape projects for your home.
Landscape Features and their Costs
Thoughtful garden ideas are a great way to incorporate indoor-outdoor living into your home — offering an extended space for dining, relaxing, entertaining, or just plain nurturing your horticultural passions. The cost of landscape design usually depends on the components you want to have and the complexity of each feature.
Here are the average costs for landscape design and their popular features.
Decking/Patio/Pergola Cost
Decks, patios or pergolas as especially effective when it comes to opening up your home’s indoor spaces. They provide a wonderful place for outdoor entertaining and a perfect spot to soak up the sun.
The expected average decking/patio/pergola costs in Australia vary between $3,500 and $6,500. The average cost of building a standard-sized patio or deck per square metre is typically around $200/m2. Certain factors such as the material used, and the size of the deck can change the range of job quotes.
Fences/Retaining Wall Cost
Fencing in Australia is typically charged on a per metre basis. Depending on the materials you choose, fences can cost anywhere between $75 to $1,200. For instance, you can expect to pay $75 to $150 per metre for a treated pine fence, $80 to 120 per metre for a hardwood fence, $400 to $600 per metre for a wrought iron fence and $750 to $1,200 per metre for a timber and sandstone fence. The fence’s height, land contours and soil type, foundations required for the supports and the amount of materials required are also considered.
Meanwhile, a basic retaining wall typically costs $135 per square metre. Retaining wall costs depend on several factors too, such as the size of the wall and the materials that will be used.
Paving/Driveway/Carport Cost
Outdoor paving can transform your patio, driveway, pathway or pool area. The cost of paving a driveway or a carport varies drastically in price. The industry standard is $40 to $65 per square metre for concrete, $45 to $75 for limestone, $40 to $80 for quartzvite, $70 to $95 for brick and $70 to $100 for granite, flagstone and travertine.
Garden Beds/Plants/Horticulture Cost
Of course, you can’t have a landscaped garden without lush greenery. A professionally drafted landscaping plan will outline all the plants, garden beds and other horticulture features you desire in your yard. Depending on the company you work with, a complete landscape design can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $7,000. These will include new plants, new turf and the replacement or addition of new trees.
Sprinklers Cost
Based on standard pricing, the installation of sprinklers cost anywhere between $10 to $27 per square metre. The pricing can go higher if the site is difficult to access or you need under path bores. Different sprinkler and irrigation systems also include multiple services within their packages, which will result in varying prices. Depending on which systems and services are included in the package you choose, you may pay less or more than the average.
Outdoor Electrical/Lighting Cost
Outdoor or garden lighting is a decorative and practical feature that extends the use of your alfresco area while providing security and safety after dark. Outdoor/electrical lighting costs sit at $90 to $120 per hour for labour. The costs of the lighting fixtures ultimately depend on the types of lights you choose for your garden.
For Limited Budgets, Break the Project Down
If you don’t have the financial capacity to shoulder the cost of a full landscape design project, then there are still ways to achieve a beautiful garden for a cheaper price. For instance, there are plenty of DIY tasks that you can do yourself such as planting garden beds and installing lights in your garden. Additionally, you can gather inspiration from books, magazines and blogs so you don’t have to pay for the landscape design cost — just the installation instead.
After taking some time to fine-tune your garden design, break the project down into manageable chunks. Decide which features you need help with landscapers, and which ones you can do on your own.
As a final reminder, keep in mind that landscape design costs vary across Australia. It’s important to do local research to ensure you’re getting the best quotes.
For more information and enquiries about the costs of landscape design, don’t hesitate to contact Green Oasis Landscaping. As the trusted landscaping experts in Perth, we can provide you with accurate quotes on the projects you want for your garden.