Okay, we're at halfway mark on our new home construction, targeted move in date is Oct 1st and it's time to start thinking about landscaping. We purposely chose a lot without a walk-out or daylight basement because after owning a home with a large wood deck, I absolutely despise the maintenance. We are having an egress window installed so that finishing the basement is an option though.

Questions for those of you with landscaping experience:

Approx how much $ should we budget for a nice brick paver patio, driveway extensions, sod/sprinkler, perennials, blah, blah? (lot is approx 1/3 acre).

Did you attempt it yourself or use professional installation?

Any regrets, things you would have done better/differently?

Thanks in advance.

 

I just spent $3200 on my backyard. Hired a landscaper to do it. Ripped everything out and did sprinklers (all pvc), new grass (superbowl grass), about 40-50 plants, several palm trees and concrete boarder curving around the entire planter area. Backyard is about 50'x25'...They still have some touch up work left, but overall it came out fantastic. I did the Malibu lighting myself, which is ridiculously easy to do. Just make sure you run the electrical to where you want it. I ran mine to the back of the yard to where I have a fountain installed.

1/3 of an acre of course is going to be substantially more

Personally, I wouldnt attempt to do this kind of work by yourself. It will take forever to do. Need Manuel Labor.

 

Ya, I def wouldn't to the brick or big stuff, but I know the mark-up in landscaping is pretty fat. I'd consider saving a few bucks by planting the small shrubbery/flowers myself though.

 

I paid a tad over $5000 for sod and irrigation (had a friend of the in-law family do it)... And probably put in well over that for trees, pavers, rock, perennials, etc... Did that all myself. I think trees alone ran me over $1500.

 

Oh an go with rock for landscaping... Mulch smells, gets blown around and will have to be replaced/replenished annually.

 

I may use some natural rock for parts, but my oldest brother-in-laws friend has a house w/ some very nice landscaping which has some kind of plant which grows aggressively (sorta vine like) but completely covers the ground, looks really nice and green year around. I'm not sure what it's called - will try and post pic.

 

^^^^^

I'd be careful with ground cover... Especially if you'll be planting perennials, etc in the same area... Does the ground cover choke off other plants?

 

I've been fairly warned. Yes, he told me the ground cover is VERY aggressive. But, planting perrenials in pots should protect them or is that a ?

 

I just put in a few sweet woodruff plants for ground cover. They are shade loving and can be a little aggressive. They die back in the winter. You definitely need to have a border installed to stop the little buggers from spreading via underground rhizomes.

What's the best way to get rid of landscaping rocks if one day you decide that you hate them? I would imagine that the trash collector wouldn't' be too happy with a couple dozen bags of rocks.

 

I'm away on business so I don't have all the info in front of me, but if I remember correctly we paid about $1000 or so per zone for our irrigation in the backyard. Sod was about $1600 or so installed for ~950 square feet. Most of the actual landscaping we did except for the big stuff (large trees and bushes).

As for mulch, we have a hardwood mulch that holds great on the hills and doesn't blow away or wash away in storms. I can even use the leaf blower (on low) to remove the leaves and the mulch won't move. We have pine bark mulch in the front, and it doesn't blow away or wash away only b/c of the way the beds are designed, but if the front beds were the same as the rear beds, they'd be gone. I'd stay away from the Pine Bark mulch if you're looking for something to hold.

Regarding pavers, I can ask some of the neighbors who have had it done to get you a range. I believe all paid to have it done, but it should give you an idea of what to expect. I'll see a bunch of them this weekend, so I'll ask around.

 

^^ I haven't gotten quotes since we may we haven't closed yet - which raises another question, is it better to install late fall or early spring?

 

^ Not sure about your area, but down here (Charlotte, NC area) they put the sod in in February... so based on that I'd guess early Spring up in MoTown

 

You just had to rub it in didn't ya, Doh!

 

I had my sod done in mid-September. It was very hot in 2004, but the irrigation system made all the difference. Just be prepared to water at least twice if not three times a day for the first two weeks. I watered three times a day...

Also, how does water work in your town? Do they charge you for sewage for water used? Because watering two/three times daily over multiple zones is a shitpot of water. What I did was install a second water meter specifically for irrigation and outside spigots, where there is no sewage ever associated... Therefore I never pay sewage tax on the water.

My town does offer "summer" rates between June 1 and August 31, where they all but eliminate sewage tax (to allow for watering of lawns, etc). But in April, May, September where grass may need some water, you get fucked.

 

I just paid someone to install pavers. It can be done yourself, but it takes alot of work (digging and hauling lots of dirt) and you need to be careful you grade it properly. One option might be to have someone dig and grade it, and you place the pavers yourself.

Price up here is around $4-$6 a sq/ft for the labor + whatever pavers you want.

 

bump, landscaping is going in now...

Everyone I talked to seemed to agree that fall was the best time for planting trees, shrubbery and fresh sod, yada yada. Ended up going entirely with a Professional architect/installer to the tune of $32gizzle. The brickpaver patio is about 530 sqft and is elevated about two feet, also had them install a raised herb garden so the deer can't easily get to it.

 

pics?

 

^^ Tooling around on my new i-Mac, still feeling my way around - will post pics...

 

Are you ever going to get rain?

I can't wait to start the backyard project but it is soooo expensive!

 

oh the things i'd do to have mexicans around here.

 

Got about a 1/4" last night

We only recently went into Stage 3 conditions, so we've only been restricted from watering since November 7th... so the yard is fine. And luckily drip systems are still allowed and haven't been regulated all summer, so I can keep all of our trees and landscaping alive although we should only need to water for a few more weeks before we can turn off the irrigation until late winter/spring.