When it comes to landscaping your backyard you may have various questions. The most common question is how much does landscaping cost in Ontario? We understand your concerns as many homeowners have a limited budget. In this article, we will tell you what the cost of the design consists of and how you can save money.
Average costs
The final cost depends on various factors about your property and it varies greatly. Homeowners in Toronto, on average, spend around $1,809 and $6,901 for personalized landscaping projects and even more on the entire landscape – $17,204. You should understand that landscapes are not the same and the cost of landscaping as well.
What does the cost depend on?
Like any other project, landscape design consists of many details. And if you think that there is a specific price that will be relevant for everyone, then you are a little mistaken. You may find the average cost but do not forget that every yard and every project is different from each other in size, different goals, and details. If someone made a project and met a certain cost, it is not a fact that you will be able to spend the same amount of money. So, here we have collected the main details that affect the final price of the residential project.
Size of yard
One of the main factors that significantly affects the cost of work is the size of your garden. You probably understand that if you have a huge backyard you may spend a lot of money. A small project of a yard less than 1,000 square feet can cost from $650 to $900. Moreover, your costs can grow to more than $20,000 for more complex projects.
However, there are a few ways to reduce the price. First of all, try to work with professionals. Trying to do everything yourself, you spend even more than working with a team of professionals. The risk of making a mistake is much higher, and in the future, everything will have to be redone. One more way to save money is landscaping in sections.
Location of your yard
If you want your landscaping project to be done near water, it will require more costs than if you were in another area. Professionals need to know the depth of the ground underground and will want to install some kind of barrier to prevent flooding. In addition, they will need to take into account the amount of precipitation during the year, as this may affect plant growth.
Additional features
There is a huge number of features you can add to your backyard but with them, the final cost of the project also increases. Here is the list of most common features:
- New grass or maintaining your current lawn;
- Planting flowers;
- Installing a sprinkler system;
- Building wooden structures;
- Interlocking driveway;
- Lighting;
- Interlocking a walkway;
- Designing the overall layout of your backyard.
You need to think about whether you want to pay for the service all the time and whether you want to spend a large amount at a time. It is possible to add features that you really need and if you realize over time that this is not enough, then gradually add something new.
Materials
Walkways, patios, and other structures can be made of various materials. You can choose between:
High-end materials can easily add to your overall budget. Depending on the size of your yard, the number of materials will vary, which will ultimately add to your budget. The quality of the materials will determine how long your landscaping will remain beautiful. It is necessary to understand that the best materials tend to last longer and are considered to be more durable.
Plants
Many homeowners in Toronto choose plants and trees for designing their gardens. Some of them prefer exotic ones which require future maintenance. In case you have a limited budget but can’t imagine your backyard without flowers and trees, try to give preference to plants that are common in your area. Typically, the cost of installing softscapes is around $14 per square foot. We have more info about weeding the garden in another article.
Maintenance
If you want your landscape to be stunning for many years to come, you will need regular maintenance. And the cost also depends on the size of your yard. If you work with an experienced landscaping company, they typically cover all the basics to make sure your landscape is healthy. These usually include:
- Mowing;
- Lawn fertilization;
- Pest control;
- Garden cleaning;
- Leaf removal.
So the best idea is to work with a team of professionals who can estimate your garden and do what is needed.
Usage of your backyard
One more factor that can affect the landscaping costs is how you want to use your yard. There could be various reasons from the entertaining area to the area where you want to plant flowers and grow vegetables. All these reasons and projects will require a different amount of paving stones or patios.
Why working with a landscaping company is better
When it comes to designing your landscape, you may think that working on your own will save you money. If you have all the necessary skills and perhaps you are a qualified specialist yourself, then yes, you can do everything yourself. In other cases, we highly recommend you contact the skilled company, so you will be able to find out their average landscaping cost in Canada. Here are the most popular reasons to seek professional help.
Proper planning
If you work with a landscaping company, they will guide you through the project planning. So you will get the best result as they know how to prepare your area, what materials are better to use for certain purposes, and have all the necessary tools to prolong the life of your landscape.
Budget
There are such situations when homeowners want to improve their gardens but they have a limited budget. However, it is not a problem for the company with qualified workers. They will offer you the best solution and they will help you meet the budget without unnecessary expenses. You will get a detailed estimate of the services offered and understand what can be done.
Expertise
One more reason to give preference to the company is their expertise. They have probably already completed many projects and have extensive work experience, which means they know how to cope with the problems that have arisen or can even avoid them. Moreover, their expertise will allow them to study your landscape in detail and all the nuances that may arise in the future.
Personalization
Do you want to have a beautiful garden made only for you? Then, partnering landscaping company is what you need. They can create a project that will suit your needs and match your character. What could be better than realizing that your garden belongs only to you and there is nothing more like it in Canada?
Tips that can help with your budgeting process
However, if you still do not know whether to contact a landscaping company or not, here is a list of tips that will help you with your budgeting process.
Know the costs of what you need
The total cost of landscaping works is affected by the size and complexity of the project, as well as the cost of materials and labor. Here is a list of items to consider when drawing up your budget:
- Site work;
- Landscaping materials;
- Grading materials;
- Remove trees and install landscape;
- Paving materials.
Start with a small budget
Start your budget assessment by first determining how much you can afford to spend on landscaping expenses. If you can only spend $300 or even less money a month, you will have to spread these expenses over a multi-month period.
Add in labor costs
If you plan to do landscaping work yourself, then it is not that important. However, if you want to hire a landscape designer and contractors, find out how much landscapers charge for labor. When you know this information, it will be much easier to plan a budget.
Consider the costs of materials
You have to be sure that you get high-quality landscape materials at a reasonable price.
Get some quotes from some companies in Toronto. They should include prices for labor and materials. However, do not forget to consider things like time, creating a custom project, and tool wear when you make the final comparison.
Add all of your costs together
When you have all the information about costs, you can determine your overall budget for landscaping expenses. If you work with contractors and landscaping companies, they can do everything for you.
At first glance, backyard landscaping seems complicated and incomprehensible and it seems that it will cost a fortune. However, it is not so scary. As soon as you have a desire to improve your yard, then you should not rush and try to do everything in a matter of hours. Evaluate your capabilities and budget, understand what you specifically need, and only then try to create a projectб especially if you work on your own.
