Updated May 2026
You’ve worked hard for your home. Now you’re ready to do something meaningful with the outdoor space, and you want to do it right. Whether you’re planning a full backyard transformation or phasing improvements over a few years, getting the budget right from the start is what separates a project you’ll love from one that stalls halfway through.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how much you should realistically budget for landscaping, what different project types typically cost, how to use a simple budget framework to plan your investment, and how to think about phasing your project over time.
How Much Should You Budget for Landscaping?
The industry benchmark: The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recommends homeowners plan to spend 10–20% of their home’s value on their outdoor living space. Landscaping investments typically yield a 20–30% return on investment at resale, making it one of the more financially sound home improvements you can make.
In practice, here’s what those percentages look like at different home values:
| Home Value | 10% Budget | 20% Budget |
| $400,000 | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| $600,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| $800,000 | $80,000 | $160,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
A note on these numbers: The 10–20% range is a lifetime benchmark, not a single-project target. Many homeowners invest in phases: a patio and planting one year, a pool or outdoor kitchen the next. What matters most is having a clear plan, so each phase builds on the last rather than creating a patchwork result.
For first-time landscaping projects with a professional design-build partner, $15,000–$50,000 is a realistic starting range for a meaningful backyard transformation. Full outdoor living spaces (patio, outdoor kitchen, pool, plantings, lighting) commonly run $75,000–$250,000+, depending on scope and material selections.
Landscaping Budget by Project Type
Here’s a breakdown of typical installed cost ranges for the most common elements of a premium outdoor space. Use these as planning benchmarks, not firm quotes — your actual cost will depend on site conditions, material selections, and design complexity.
Hardscaping (Patios, Walkways, Driveways)
| Material | Typical Installed Cost |
| Poured concrete | $16-30 per sq ft |
| Concrete pavers | $30–$35 per sq ft |
| Natural stone (bluestone, travertine, flagstone) | $40–$50 per sq ft |
| Clay brick | $35-40 per sq ft |
| Porcelain pavers | $40–$50 per sq ft |
A typical 300–400 sq ft paver patio runs $7,500–$20,000 installed, depending on material. Natural stone and porcelain patios at the high end of the range reflect both material cost and the more specialized labor required.
Related Reading: Paver Patio Cost — More Affordable Than You Might Think
Retaining Walls and Seat Walls
| Type | Typical Installed Cost |
| Concrete block retaining wall | $30–$60 per sq ft of face |
| Natural stone retaining wall | $60–$125 per sq ft of face |
| Seat walls (paver or stone) | $200–$300 per linear foot |
Retaining wall costs increase significantly with wall height, required drainage systems, and permit requirements. A functional retaining wall on a moderately sloped property typically runs $5,000–$20,000, depending on length and height.
Planting and Landscape Beds
One of the biggest variables in any planting budget is plant size. Smaller plants, like 1-quart or 1-gallon perennials and ornamental grasses, cost less upfront, but they require more patience. Most small plants take one to three seasons to fully establish, meaning your beds may look sparse in year one while the root systems develop. Larger plants, such as 3- to 5-gallon shrubs or caliper-sized trees, arrive with a more mature root structure and deliver a fuller, more immediate visual impact. The tradeoff is a higher upfront cost per plant. Your best choice depends on timeline, budget, and how quickly you want your landscape to feel complete. During your design consultation, the Elevate Outdoor team will help you find the right balance for your project!
| Plant Type | Installed Cost | Maintenance Level |
| Native perennials1 qt to 1 gal | $20-40 per plant | Low |
| Ornamental grasses1 gal to 3 gal | $30-60 per plant | Low–Medium |
| Native shrubs3 gal to 5 gal | $60-150 per plant | Low–Medium |
| Flowering annuals4-inch pots to 1 gal | $15-30 per plant (seasonal) | High |
| Trees native, 2–3″ caliper | $450–$1,200 per tree | Low once established |
| Ground cover installed | $10-20 per sq ft | Low–Medium |
A full planting design for a typical residential backyard (beds, shrubs, trees, edging, mulch) commonly runs $5,000–$25,000 depending on plant selections, bed size, and site preparation required.
Related Reading: The 7 Best Reasons to Grow Native Plants
Pools, Outdoor Kitchens, and Fire Features
These elements take your outdoor space from a beautiful yard to a genuine outdoor living destination, and the investment reflects that.
| Feature | Typical Cost Range |
| In-ground pool (basic) | $80,000-$120,000 |
| In-ground pool (custom) | $120,000-$220,000 |
| Outdoor kitchen (built-in) | $15,000–$50,000+ |
| Built-in fire pit | $3,000–$10,000 |
| Built-in fireplace | $15,000–$350,000+ |
| Pergola or shade structure | $15,000–$75000+ |
| Landscape lighting (professional) | $300+ per fixture |
Related Reading: Inground Pool Design: The Ultimate Homeowner’s Guide
Related Reading: Why Inground Fire Pits Are the Best Choice for Your Backyard
A Simple Landscaping Budget Framework
Rather than starting with a number and working backward, use this framework to build a realistic budget from the ground up.
Step 1: Define your vision and priorities
List every feature you’d like in your ideal outdoor space — patio, pool, outdoor kitchen, planting, lighting, and so on. Then rank them. What must happen in phase one? What can wait?
Step 2: Estimate by category
Use the cost ranges above to build a rough estimate for each element. Add 10–15% for contingency — site surprises (drainage issues, grading challenges, buried utilities) are common and can add cost.
Step 3: Check against your home value benchmark
Compare your total estimate against the ASLA 10–20% benchmark for your home value. If you’re well under 10%, you may have more room to invest than you realize. If you’re over 20%, consider phasing.
Step 4: Decide your phasing strategy
A well-designed outdoor space is built in logical phases. A common sequence for design-build projects:
- Phase 1: Hardscaping foundation — patio, walkways, retaining walls
- Phase 2: Planting and landscape beds
- Phase 3: Premium features — pool, outdoor kitchen, fire features, lighting
Designing all phases upfront (even if building in stages) ensures everything integrates beautifully rather than looking piecemeal.
Step 5: Build in maintenance
Ongoing maintenance is a real cost. Factor in annual lawn care, seasonal planting, hardscape sealing or cleaning, and irrigation system upkeep when calculating your total annual investment in your outdoor space.
Because managing outdoor maintenance can be challenging and requires coordination between multiple parties, we offer comprehensive outdoor property management services that completely eliminate the guesswork that goes into planning and budgeting. Connect with us to schedule an outdoor maintenance consultation.
How to Phase Your Landscaping Investment
For homeowners who want a premium result but prefer to spread the investment over time, phasing is a smart strategy, as long as the full design is planned up front.
For example, a patio designed without knowing where the future pool will go may need to be modified or expanded later. A planting plan that doesn’t account for an eventual outdoor kitchen can put mature trees exactly where you don’t want them in three years. The design investment pays for itself many times over by preventing these costly mistakes.
A typical phased approach:
Year 1 — The Foundation ($15,000–$50,000)
Establish the hardscape backbone: patio, walkways, retaining walls, and basic grading. This phase defines the structure of the space and is the most disruptive to install, so doing it first makes sense before planting matures.
Year 2 — The Living Layer ($5,000–$25,000)
Planting, landscape beds, edging, mulch, and ground cover. With hardscaping complete, planting can be done with precision and the yard begins to feel like a finished space.
Year 3+ — Premium Features ($25,000–$150,000+)
Pool, outdoor kitchen, fire features, pergola, landscape lighting. These elements complete the transformation from “nice yard” to “the place everyone wants to be.”
Should You Tell Your Landscaper Your Budget?
Yes! And the sooner, the better.
A common hesitation is that sharing your budget will cause the contractor to spend exactly that amount rather than coming in lower. In reality, the opposite is true: a professional landscaping partner uses your budget to make the right recommendations for materials, scope, and phasing so you get the best possible result for your investment rather than a design that looks great on paper but quotes at twice what you planned to spend.
Transparency also protects you from the frustration of falling in love with a design you can’t execute. An experienced designer who knows your budget from the start will build a design that delivers within it — or have an honest conversation about what it would take to achieve your vision fully.
Aligning Your Budget with Maintenance Preferences
How much ongoing maintenance you’re willing to invest should meaningfully shape your landscape design. A beautiful space that requires constant attention becomes a burden rather than a retreat.
- For low-maintenance landscapes: Prioritize native and climate-adapted plants that thrive without much intervention, concrete pavers over wood decking (no staining, sealing, or rot), and mulched beds over lawn area. An irrigation system is often a worthwhile investment — it reduces watering labor and keeps plantings healthier with less attention.
- For homeowners who don’t mind some maintenance: Flowering annuals, ornamental kitchen gardens, and water features reward the attention they require. Just be honest with yourself and your designer about what you’ll realistically keep up with over time.
- Factor in professional maintenance costs: If you plan to hire a professional team for lawn care, seasonal planting, and landscape upkeep, get an estimate for those services before finalizing your design.Â
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping Budgets
How much should I budget for landscaping?
The American Society of Landscape Architects recommends 10–20% of your home’s value as a lifetime landscaping budget. For a first major professional project, $15,000–$50,000 is a realistic range for a meaningful outdoor transformation. Full outdoor living spaces with pools, outdoor kitchens, and premium hardscaping commonly run $75,000–$250,000+.
What is a good landscaping budget for a backyard?
A good backyard landscaping budget depends on your goals. For a patio and basic planting, $15,000–$30,000 is a workable range. For a full outdoor living space — patio, outdoor kitchen, fire feature, planting, and lighting — budget $50,000–$150,000+. The best starting point is a design consultation where a professional can assess your space and help you prioritize.
How much does professional landscaping cost per year?
For ongoing professional landscape maintenance — lawn care, seasonal planting, bed maintenance, mulching, and seasonal cleanup — homeowners with professionally designed spaces typically budget $3,000–$12,000 per year, depending on property size and service scope.
What does a $5,000 landscaping budget get you?
At $5,000, you can realistically accomplish: a basic planting refresh with shrubs, perennials, and mulched beds; a small patio (100–150 sq ft) with poured concrete; or a combination of ground cover, edging, and seasonal flowers for a front yard facelift. It’s a meaningful starting point, though a comprehensive design-build project will typically require a larger investment.
What does a $20,000 landscaping budget get you?
A $20,000 budget is a solid foundation for a phase-one project. You could expect: a quality paver patio (200–350 sq ft), a planting design with trees, shrubs, and perennial beds, basic landscape lighting, and professional grading and drainage improvements. It won’t include a pool or outdoor kitchen, but it can create a genuinely beautiful and functional outdoor space.
Should I get a landscape design before getting quotes?
Yes, and for premium projects, a professional 3D design is worth every dollar. A design establishes exactly what’s being built, which makes contractor quotes genuinely comparable. Without a design, you’re comparing rough estimates for different things. It also allows you to phase the project intelligently so future additions integrate seamlessly.
How do I know if a landscaping quote is fair?
Compare multiple quotes for the same scope and design — this is why a detailed design document matters. Look beyond the total price to what’s included: base preparation depth, material quality, warranty terms, and crew certification. The lowest quote often reflects shortcuts in base installation or material quality that cost more in repairs over time. For hardscaping, ICPI-certified crews and contractor certifications like Belgard Master Craftsman are meaningful indicators of quality.
How long does a professional landscaping project take?
A patio and planting project typically takes 1–4 weeks of active construction, depending on size and complexity. Larger projects with pools, outdoor kitchens, or significant grading can take 6–16 weeks. Lead times for design, permitting, and scheduling vary by contractor and season — in St. Louis, planning 3–6 months ahead for spring and summer installations is advisable.
Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life
The best investment you can make before spending a dollar on materials is in a conversation with an experienced design-build team. At Elevate Outdoor, every project begins with a complimentary design consultation. We’ll walk your property, listen to your vision, and help you build a realistic plan for achieving it, whether that happens in one phase or three.
As the only Belgard Master Craftsman contractor in the Greater St. Louis area, we bring the highest level of expertise and craftsmanship to every project and back it with a 2-year hardscape warranty. Schedule your consultation today!
