The True Cost of Landscaping: An In-Depth Budgeting Guide

Having a plan for your lawn's upkeep will help keep it attractive and vibrant, and many landscaping companies offer competitive rates for basic upkeep. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, professional landscaping can increase a home’s resale value by up to 15%. Even simple landscaping can improve your yard’s appearance and increase your residential or commercial property’s value.

However, the true cost of landscaping will include comprehensive estimates of the cost to water, trim, and fertilize the lawn, as well as special features such as edging and landscape lighting. This article will provide an in-depth look at the different types of expenses associated with landscaping and offer helpful tips on budgeting for a beautiful yard.

Explore this in-depth budgeting guide to landscaping costs before hiring your lawn care provider.

Average Landscaping Cost in 2026

According to a recent study, basic landscaping costs about $4 to $12 per square foot, while high-end can exceed $40 per square foot.

Estimated Price Ranges:

• Small yards or basic landscaping: $1,000 – $5,000
• Average full-yard design + install: $5,000 – $15,000
• Luxury outdoor renovation: $15,000 – $50,000+

Backyard Sizes

What size is your backyard? Use this helpful table to determine whether you have a small, medium, or large backyard:

Common Types of Landscaping Costs You Can Expect

Based on standard lawn care needs, we've put together a list of the most common services you'll need to consider on your landscaping budget. Be aware that the cost for landscaper services can vary greatly depending on where you are located, how steep your grade is, the condition of your soil, and more.

The numbers you’ll see in this article are 2026 average landscaping costs based on national prices. For a more accurate estimate, find a Heroes Lawn Care provider near you.

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Lawn Mowing

Cost: Basic mowing service may be between $40 and $150 per week.

Lawn mowing is a basic service needed for every lawn, and typically must be done at least weekly during the growing season. It may be difficult to stay on top of this task when you are busy. If you have a business property, you will want to be sure the yard stays mowed and trimmed to keep it looking professional. You most likely need this basic service for your home or business.

Even though this is a common service offered by numerous companies, it can be difficult for homeowners and business owners to compare prices. Usually, you will be charged a flat rate for a large property, but you may investigate hiring per hour.

Premium Care Including Hedge Trimming

Cost: Premium lawn service can cost between $70 and $250 per week.

Lawn mowing may not be enough to maintain a beautiful outdoor environment. Lawn care companies offer premium care, which includes all the services of basic care plus more involved services such as hedge trimming, care for water features, trimming around walking paths, and trimming special trees.

Some properties will require regular maintenance to keep up the beautiful appearance of your lawn. Your lawncare provider can include hedge trimming as part of your package, or you may add one-time options to get the care your property needs.

Lawn Fertilization

Cost: Lawn fertilization can cost between $150 and $500.

Fertilizing your residential or business lawn will keep your lawn attractive and healthy year-round. It does this by strengthening grass roots while improving your soil with proper nutrients.

To make your lawn grow faster and stronger, fertilization is necessary and should be determined as part of your landscaping budget. In the long run, it can save you time and money. If you feed your lawn properly, it prevents your lawn from dying and making you start the grass-growing process over.

Lawn fertilization has a wide range of costs depending on the yard size, desired outcome, and what type of products are used. Deciding between organic or synthetic fertilizer will help you determine your budget.

Lawn Aeration And Dethatching

Cost: Lawn aeration can cost between $220 and $870, while lawn dethatching costs more since it is a more intensive project.

Before achieving that luscious green lawn, you may need to have your landscape and lawn professionals prepare the soil with aeration or dethatching. These processes help your soil support grass growth.

Aeration can release compacted soil and allow grass roots to grow deeper. Over time, soil may become too compacted, especially in areas where people walk. Aeration solves this problem by perforating your soil with small holes, which allows air, nutrients, and water to seep into the grass roots.

Dethatching is a more elaborate process. It involves removing the thatch layer of your yard – the layer of organic material that is between the grass and the soil layer below – which may have become too thick and compacted to allow for growth.

Dethatching is only needed under certain conditions and for certain grass types. St Augustine grass, for example, should not be dethatched. To find out if your lawn would benefit from dethatching, consult with a trusted lawn care provider.

Seeding Or Overseeding Your Lawn

Cost: When you hire a landscaping service provider to overseed your lawn, you can expect to pay between $550 and $1,500.

Overseeding your lawn can boost its appearance. Occasionally, patches of your lawn may die. Having a lawn care provider overseed your yard encourages all areas to continue growing.

When landscaping your residential or business lawn, you should determine if the lawn needs to be overseeded to bring life back into it.

Like dethatching, overseeding is only needed under certain conditions and for certain grass types. To find out of your lawn would benefit from overseeding, consult with a trusted lawn care provider.

Irrigation System Installation

Cost: Irrigation installation can vary greatly, but typically falls within the $2,000 and $6,000 range.

An irrigation system will keep your lawn happy during the dry and hot season. Having your landscaper install the right kind of system for your property and climate can save you time and help conserve water in the long run.

Professionally installed irrigation systems can reduce waste compared to hand-watering by delivering just the right amount of water at the right time.

There are three types of irrigation systems: sprinkler systems, misting systems, and drip irrigation. The average price for installing a new irrigation system varies depending on how large the yard is, what climate you are in, and what type of system is installed.

Yard Cleanup

Cost: Yard cleanup can cost an average of $200 to $500 per service.

Perhaps your lawn has too much debris and leaves, and it’s causing your grass to suffer. Hiring a lawn care and landscaping crew can help take care of this daunting task seasonally or as needed.

You may have a new property that needs special attention, and yard cleanup service may be the first task to complete before achieving that beautiful green home turf. Cleanup at a new property may include taking care of an overgrown yard, yard waste removal, green waste disposal, tree debris removal, weed removal, and more.

Neglecting routine yard cleanup duties can cause damage to your lawn. Regularly removing outdoor debris is vital to the health of your grass. Costs for yard cleanup services can vary depending on the area and what challenges your lawn contains.

Weed Control

Cost: Professional weed control costs can be between $65 and $150 per service.

Weeds can easily take over your property at your home or business and cause the yard to not appear uniform and green. Even the finest lawns may suffer from weed invasion since weed seeds are naturally dispersed on your property by animals, wind, water, and even low-quality grass seed.

A continual defense against weed growth can make a huge difference in the appearance of your home or business. Weeds may be toxic or damaging to your plants or lawn grass. Therefore, including weed control in your residential or commercial landscaping budget may be vital.

There are a few different methods for preventing weeds, including the application of mulch or other materials in garden beds, soil cultivation, herbicidal spray, and organic compound spray. The cost for these services can vary depending on what your property requires and what type of environmental practices you desire.

Hardscaping

Hardscaping refers to the non-living features in your landscape design — things like pavers, retaining walls, walkways, patios, fire pits, and gazebos. These elements create structure, improve usability, and transform your yard into a true outdoor living space.

Hardscaping projects tend to sit on the higher end of the landscaping cost range because they involve excavation, grading, materials, and skilled labor. Your overall cost will depend on the size of your yard, material selection, and design complexity.

Typical hardscaping costs include:

• Paver patios and walkways: $10–$30 per square foot
• Retaining walls: $4,000–$12,000+ depending on size and materials
• Gazebos and pergolas: $2,000–$8,000+ installed

Hardscaping is one of the most effective ways to increase curb appeal, improve functionality, and boost long-term property value.

Xeriscaping

Typical xeriscaping cost range: $5–$20 per square foot depending on design and materials

Xeriscaping is a low-water landscaping approach designed for dry climates or homeowners looking for a low-maintenance yard. It focuses on native plants, efficient irrigation, mulch or rock ground cover, and drought-tolerant design principles.

This style of landscaping is ideal for front yards and backyard landscaping where water conservation and reduced maintenance are priorities. While xeriscaping can lower long-term water and maintenance costs, the upfront installation cost depends on plant selection, soil prep, and hardscape features.

Xeriscaping is especially popular for homeowners who want an attractive, eco-friendly landscape without constant watering and upkeep.

Softscaping

Softscaping includes all the living elements of your landscape — sod installation, flower beds, shrubs, trees, mulch, and types of plants used throughout your yard. It’s what gives your landscape color, texture, and life.

Softscaping costs vary based on the size of your yard, plant maturity, soil preparation, and whether irrigation upgrades are needed. It’s often combined with hardscaping to create a balanced and functional outdoor design.

Common softscaping costs include:

• Sod installation: $1–$3 per square foot
• Flower beds and planting: $500–$3,000+
• Tree and shrub installation: $150–$2,000+ per plant depending on size

Softscaping plays a major role in improving home value, enhancing curb appeal, and creating a welcoming outdoor environment.

Landscape Lighting

Cost: Landscape lighting projects may cost around $3,500 to $4,500.

Outdoor lighting can highlight your property’s qualities and brighten your outdoor space. It may serve multiple functions: lighting areas for use in the evening hours, providing aesthetic features for special areas, and providing security lighting to your entire business or home property.

You may choose to light your deck or patio so it can be used after sundown, or you may illuminate your entire yard. This is another area that varies greatly in project scope and price depending on the environment you want to create and the area you are in.

Rock Installation

Cost: Homeowners and business owners may expect to pay between $250 and $2,500 for rock installation.

The addition of landscaping rocks or stones can create a unique appearance in your property’s garden by offering a step-up from simple mulch installation.

Rock gardens, dry riverbeds, or rocks as garden bed mulch offer an attractive look for your property. Landscaping stones come in various sizes and colors. Your landscaping expert can help you choose the right rock for you.

Prices for landscaping rock will vary greatly depending on the availability of the materials in your area and the size of the garden needing to be covered.

Landscape Edging

Cost: Landscape edging can cost an average of $1,200 to $2,000.

Landscape curbing or edging provides both a functional and aesthetic addition to your gardens. It can help make your outdoor space appear planned and finished. Not only that, but it can help separate various areas of your lawn, thus requiring less maintenance.

There are different types of edging materials including brick edging, preformed concrete blocks, natural stone edging, wood planks, and more. Talk with your landscaping service provider to achieve the look you want that fits your budget.

Additional Landscaping Projects

You may require further design and installation of landscape features in your home or business property to achieve your desired outdoor space.

Consider these project costs, which vary greatly in price and may require additional contractors to perform the tasks:

• Fire Pit or Fireplace Installation: Adding a fire pit or fireplace to your outdoor space makes it more enjoyable. This may cost between $300 and $1,400.
• Walkways: Walkways can provide paths for people to get from one area to another without disturbing the lush lawn that you worked so hard to achieve. Walkways can cost between $500 and $900.
• Patio or Porch Installation: Businesses and homes can benefit from providing an outdoor space for people to relax or gather. Depending on the type and size, patios range from $2,000 to $8,000, while porches range from $12,000 to $30,000.
• Pergola Installation: Designing a pergola in your outdoor space can provide beauty and extra shade. Pergola installation may cost anywhere between $1,900 and $6,500.
• Fencing: Your yard may need to be fenced in to provide a safe environment for children or pets, or to prevent intruders from entering your property. Depending on the size and type of fencing, you should budget between $2,000 and $10,000.
• Tree Planting: There may not be enough trees to achieve the shade or look that you desire for your lawn. Consider hiring a professional landscaper to install these features properly. The average cost of tree planting is $150 to $300.
• Pond Installation: Providing a beautiful addition to your property, a pond may be just what your yard needs. This can cost an average of $9,000.

There may be even more projects you desire to add to your list. Do some research to see all the possibilities, then hire a superb lawn care and landscaping provider.

Steps To Hiring Landscaping Services

As you have read, costs for landscaping can vary greatly depending on where you live and what you want to achieve. Here are the basic steps to complete before requesting quotes from landscape service providers.

1. Measure The Area Of Your Lawn

Landscape service providers and lawncare experts will need to have an idea of the area of your property to give an accurate estimate. You can determine the area of your property by hand measuring or using a satellite image.

2. Plan Your Landscaping Project

Consider the various features that can be incorporated into your landscape design project. Then decide which features you would like to have.

3. Determine Your Budget

There is a massive range in the average cost of landscaping depending on where you live, how big your property is, and how involved the project will be. This landscape budgeting guide can give you an idea of average prices.

How to Budget for a Landscaping Project

Budgeting for landscaping starts with understanding the size of your yard, your goals, and how much of the project is design-driven versus maintenance-focused. A simple front yard refresh will look very different on paper than a full backyard renovation with patios, lighting, and irrigation.

Here’s a smart way to approach your landscaping budget:

1. Define Your Project Scope

Are you upgrading curb appeal, building an outdoor living space, or improving landscape maintenance? A clear vision helps control costs.

2. Understand Your Cost Drivers

Your total landscaping prices will be influenced by:

• Labor costs in your region
• Material costs (plants, pavers, stone, mulch)
• Design complexity
• Access to your yard
• Soil conditions and grading needs

3. Set a Realistic Cost Range

Using national average pricing, most homeowners fall into one of these ranges:

• Basic landscaping: $1,000–$5,000
• Full-yard upgrades: $5,000–$15,000
• High-end outdoor renovations: $15,000–$50,000+

4. Work With a Professional

A qualified landscape contractor can help you prioritize features, choose durable materials, and build a plan that fits your budget while maximizing long-term value.

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FAQs: How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

What is the average cost of landscaping around a house?

The national average landscaping cost typically falls between $5,000 and $15,000, depending on the size of your yard, the scope of the project, and the materials used. Smaller front yard projects may cost less, while full backyard landscaping with patios, lighting, and irrigation can reach the higher end of the range.

Is spending money on landscaping worth it?

Absolutely! Landscaping is considered one of the most valuable home improvement projects you can make. Professional landscaping improves curb appeal, enhances outdoor living space, and can increase home value and property valu. A NAR study found yard upgrades, like flagstone paths and new plantings, could recover 100% of their cost

What is the most expensive part of landscaping?

Hardscaping is usually the most expensive component. Features like retaining walls, pavers, patios, outdoor kitchens, and gazebos require heavy labor, materials, and site preparation. Irrigation systems and grading can also add significantly to the overall cost.

What landscaping upgrades improve curb appeal the most?

The biggest curb appeal upgrades include:

• Fresh sod installation
• Flower beds with seasonal color
• Landscape lighting
• Defined edging and walkways
• Healthy lawn and landscape maintenance

These features make a strong first impression and boost perceived home value.

How can I get started with a backyard renovation?

Start by identifying how you want to use your backyard — entertaining, relaxing, play space, or low-maintenance retreat. Then:

1. Measure the size of your yard
2. Set a realistic budget
3. Prioritize features
4. Find a local professional landscape contractor to build a phased plan

A Heroes Lawn Care professional can help you design a backyard that fits your lifestyle and your budget.

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