Question
I'm hoping you can help me determine what kind of money I might be spending to do a new back yard.  It is approximately 60x80 and slopes up quite a bit away from the house.  It's currently fenced in by neighbors chain link.  I would like more privacy, and maybe a nice area to sit out in the yard, rather than a deck on the side of the house.  Also, the grass is currently in pretty rough shape, since there is not a single tree in the yard to provide shade, and it is a north facing lawn it receives direct sunlight all day.

I live in Minneapolis, MN.

I guess I'm not looking for a specific design, but just an idea of what I'm looking for might cost.  I realize there is a lot of missing information, but I really don't know where to begin.

Your help is much appreciated!

Answer
Contemplating a landscape for one's home can be an overwhelming undertaking without understanding the processes that go into the planning, design, site preparation, and features and plant installation. The good news is that if you break it down into small enough steps, you can be as good as any landscape professional in completing the task.

The cost of a landscape depends entirely on:

1) How much of it that you would like to personally do and how much you will choose to sub-contract out.
2) The amount of site preparation you will have, i.e. excavation, grading, drainage needs, soil amenities, etc.
3) The type of construction you must do to facilitate your design specifications.
4) The type and size of plants you choose to install.
5) The type of accessories such as mulches, rock, etc.

I can say that from a professional point of view, given my experience, 60X80 feet can eat up alot of money depending on the features you decide upon. Some examples would include mature privacy hedges, with gazebo and play area for children with irrigation and lawn installed ($20,000), to a more sophisticated garden design with multiple sitting areas, play area for children, dog area, BBQ area, hot tub flowing down into swimming/lap pool, privacy hedges and fencing, trees, and sustainable vegetable garden, irrigation, and hybrid lawn ($280,000). Please don't allow these numbers to scare you though. Every situation is different and there is no real way to estimate the cost to you without fully understanding your needs.

Like any noble undertaking, you must first count the cost, both financially and time wise. In order to do this with a landscape you START WITH A SITE PLAN. A site plan is an accurate drawing of the length and width and elevations of the area to be landscaped that includes all present features, obstructions, buildings, utilities, municipal setbacks, and other related geographical issues. It includes the surrounding land (neighbors) and what you desire to block out of your landscape through construction and plant barriers, prevailing wind patterns, drainage issues, and environmental and wildlife considerations.

Once you have a site plan, use a notebook (loose leaf is best) to list the following:

1) Consider the type of lifestyle you lead and what is most important to you and how you would like to see it played out in your landscape - where you might spend much of your leisure time. I suggest just bullet pointing these things based on the history of your use of your yard or previous yards that you have had, what you hope to experience in and around your home, what is most important to your family members (ask each one what they would like to have in the backyard if they could have anything they wanted).

2) From your consideration of lifestyle, determine what you most want in the way of practical landscaping, i.e. privacy barriers, sitting areas, pools, hot tub, trampoline pit, garden, etc.

3) Based on your list from #2, contact local contractors for pricing estimates on the things you want. Agree prior to their arrival that their estimates are free and what you will get as a part of the estimate, i.e. drawing, pricing, specifications, etc. Most will be happy to prior such.

4) Decide what colors and shapes and textures you most enjoy and then begin your research on plant materials that meet those criteria. Part of the decision making process includes the size of plants you want to start with, how fast the plants grow, and the care and maintenance of the plants (as well as the remainder of your landscape features.

5) Determine that amount of labor you are willing to invest into installing your landscape, and what part you want to contract out. Going labor rates for your part of the country will be determined on economic factors as well as available migrant workers that are available. According to our rate sheets as contractors, a designer rate is $150/hr (both onsite and offsite for design work), a foreman rate is $40/hr, skilled labor crew members are $30/hr, unskilled labor crew members are $25/hr. Most construction work needed would be sub-contracted out by our company if we do not have on staff technicians to do the work. Most contractors receive a discount from the sub-contractor and add on another 10-30% for their markup. Concerning the main labor aspect, you might be able to find a skilled foreman with installation experience by just networking yourself and then contract with a local manpower or temp labor force company for day laborers. This is a very economical way to go IF the foreman is good. Expect to pay a foreman $20/hr.

If you feel that you would like to do this work yourself, and you would like to be able to purchase supplies wholesale from local companies, you might want to spend a few hundred dollars and set up your own lawn and landscape service company (suggest a sole proprietorship) and bank account. This can be done by filing for a fictitious name (check with local occupational licensing office). As a 'business owner' you can now qualify for discounts as a contractor and you can save literally thousands of dollars in the process. One positive outcome in this process is that you may find that you have a knack for this and have several people over the course of doing your own work, ask you to help them as well. I have numerous stories of this happening after helping people get started in business.

There are several cheap landscape design programs that you can purchase for your computer that might be a big help to you in learning about plants, their habit of growth, and needs, etc. which will allow you to make wise plant selection decisions. I suggest that you start by driving around town and taking pictures of plants, trees, hedges, flowers, etc that you like. Once you have taken photos (hopefully with a digital camera) you can build a library of plants that you really like that you have seen being used in a similar fashion to what you want to use them for. This is very helpful in helping to visualize your design ideas. Once you have a thorough library of plants, visit your local Home Depot or Lowe's or other local plant nursery, identify your plants, and price them for the size that you want to start with.

I am confident that if you are willing to do a little research about plants and the features that you want to have, that you could effectively design your own landscape and then have a designer or engineer look over the plans for a small fee (depending on what site preparation and/or features you have included in your landscape that might need a professional opinion to insure you have made wise choices).

In closing, I want to encourage you not to limit your imagination as you undertake the design concept process for your yard. This is the point in the process that I suggest that you dream big. Do not limit your imagination as to what you would want in an ideal situation. All things are possible in landscaping your home if given enough time to accomplish it. Keep in mind that a garden is not a noun, but a verb when it comes to personal enjoyment. It is a process of ongoing action that results in ongoing enjoyment.

Please let me know if I can be of any further help or encouragement in your landscape endeavors.

Yours for a greener life and the peace that is found in a garden walk,

David Ward
[email protected]