The cost of skilled labor is a significant, often overlooked, part of any landscape budget.
By a landscape design industry contributor.
When you plan a budget for an outdoor project, you probably think about the things you can see. This includes the stone for a patio, the price of big trees, or new kitchen appliances. But the biggest cost is often something people forget: skilled workers. A big project isn’t just one person with a shovel. It’s a whole team working together, including designers, stone workers, electricians, plumbers, and plant experts.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average pay for one grounds worker is about $40,080 per year. Now, imagine a team of several people working for months. You can see how the costs add up. To manage a big project, many people hire a design-build firm. This type of company, like Lifescape Colorado Denver, handles both the design and the construction. This prevents expensive problems that can happen when you use separate companies for design and building.
Quick answer: A professional landscape project is a major upgrade to your home. It can take 6 to 18 months from the first idea to the last plant in the ground. Your budget needs to cover three main things: design and planning fees, the cost of materials like stone and plants, and the high cost of skilled workers to build it.
What’s inside
- How much should I budget for a landscape project?
- What are the key phases of a design-build project?
- How long does the design and permitting process really take?
- What site factors influence the construction timeline?
- How can I evaluate a potential landscape design firm?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Landscape Timelines
How much should I budget for a landscape project?
A good place to start is to budget 10% to 20% of your home’s value for a big landscape project. This number covers more than just plants and materials. It includes everything needed to create a useful outdoor space, like design fees, getting the ground ready, building patios, and installing sprinklers and lights. For an expensive home, this makes sure the outside looks as good as the inside.
❝ A good rule for planning your budget is to set aside 10% to 20% of your property’s value for a complete landscape project. For example, on a $1.5 million home, that would be a budget of $150,000 to $300,000. This amount covers the entire job, from the first ideas to the finished work.
The biggest part of the budget usually goes to paying the skilled workers who do the job. The cost of materials like stone, wood, and plants is high, but the skill needed to install them right is even more important. One project might need stone workers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and plant experts all working in the right order. This is why you need a professional manager to keep the project on schedule and make sure it’s built to last.
This money is an investment, not just a cost. It adds value to your property and makes it more useful. A good outdoor space gives you more room for dining, having fun, and relaxing. Ask any design firm you might hire how they plan for surprise problems in their budget. A good plan will include extra money, usually 10% to 15% of the building cost, for unexpected issues. This could be bad soil or finding something buried when they dig. Planning ahead like this helps avoid expensive surprises and delays.
What are the key phases of a design-build project?
A design-build project follows a structured path. This ensures nothing is missed from start to finish. The first phase is discovery. Here, you meet with designers to discuss your vision, needs, and budget. They will analyze your property to understand its potential and limitations.
Next comes conceptual design. The team creates initial sketches and layout options. This helps you visualize the possibilities for your space. Once you choose a direction, the project moves into design development. This is where specific materials are selected and the plan becomes more detailed. A more precise budget is also created at this stage.
After you approve the design, the team creates construction documents. These are the technical blueprints the build crew will follow. These documents are also used to apply for necessary city or county permits. The final phase is construction, followed by a final walkthrough to ensure every detail is perfect.
How long does the design and permitting process really take?
The design and planning stage often takes longer than people expect. A thoughtful design process can last two to four months. This timeline depends on the project’s complexity and how quickly you make decisions. It includes site meetings, drawing revisions, and material selections.
Getting permits is a major variable that can add significant time. Depending on your local government, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Projects involving structures, pools, or significant grading require more detailed reviews. A delay in permitting can push your entire construction start date back.
❝ Insider Tip: Before you even start a design, ask your potential firm about the typical permitting timeline in your city for a project like yours. An experienced local firm will understand the specific requirements and potential bottlenecks. This knowledge helps set a more realistic schedule from day one.
It is wise to plan for this administrative phase. Do not assume construction can begin as soon as the design is finished. A well-managed firm will handle the permit submission process for you. This helps avoid common errors that can lead to rejections and further delays.
What site factors influence the construction timeline?
Your property itself plays a huge role in the project’s timeline and cost. Easy access for machinery and materials is critical. A site with a narrow side yard or steep hills can prevent large equipment from entering. This forces crews to use smaller machines or do more work by hand, which takes much longer.
The condition of your soil is another major factor. Heavy clay soil drains poorly and may need to be replaced. Extremely rocky ground can require special equipment to excavate. These issues are often discovered only after work begins. They can add days or even weeks to the schedule.
Water drainage is also a key consideration. If your property is flat or slopes toward your house, you may need a drainage system. Installing French drains or grading the land to direct water away is essential. This work must be completed before building patios or planting gardens. Ignoring drainage can lead to serious water damage later.
Finally, existing underground utilities can cause delays. The build team must locate all gas, water, and electrical lines before digging. Sometimes, these lines are not where the old plans say they are. Working carefully around them is slow, and accidentally hitting one is a major setback.
How can I evaluate a potential landscape design firm?
When you check out a firm, look at more than just their photos. Pay close attention to their process, their team, and their professional memberships. A gallery of nice projects is a good start, but it’s not the whole story. A professional firm should be able to explain their step-by-step plan. This plan should go from the first meeting and site review to early designs, and then to detailed building plans and city permits. If a company can’t explain these steps clearly, it might be a sign of poor management later.
Ask how their team is set up. Does one company design the project and another one build it? Or are they a design-build firm that does both? In a design-build company, the designers, project managers, and building crews all work together. This setup affects how smoothly the project runs and who is responsible for the work.
❝ Having one company in charge is a great way to control quality. When the team that designed the project also builds it, there are fewer communication problems. This stops the designer and the builder from blaming each other if something goes wrong.
The best choice depends on how big your project is. A simple garden plan might not need a firm that does everything. But a big project with patios, outdoor kitchens, and a sprinkler system works better with one team managing it all.
| Feature | Designer-Only Model | Integrated Design-Build Model |
| Coordination | You manage separate contracts | One firm manages all phases |
| Accountability | Split between designer and builders | Centralized with one project manager |
| Budgeting | Design and construction are bid separately | A comprehensive budget is developed early |
| Best For | Smaller planting plans or conceptual work | Complex, multi-stage construction projects |
Finally, check their professional qualifications. Being a member of a group like the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) shows they are serious about quality and learning. NALP members have to follow a set of rules for good business. Ask if the company’s main employees have certificates in design, plant care, or sprinkler systems. These papers prove they have a high level of skill.
When interviewing firms, ask direct questions about their operations:
- How do the designers and the building crew communicate?
- What do you do when plans change or there’s a surprise problem on site?
- Can I talk to past clients who had projects like mine?
- What professional certificates do your main designers and managers have?
Their answers will tell you more about their skills than pictures will.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscape Timelines
Why does the design phase take so long?
A thorough design phase prevents expensive construction mistakes. This critical step involves detailed site analysis, developing concepts, and selecting every material. Rushing this process often leads to costly changes during the build. Taking the time to plan carefully ensures the final result matches your vision and budget.
Can I save money by managing the project myself?
You might save on a project management fee, but this approach has significant risks. Coordinating multiple specialized contractors is a complex, full-time job. A single scheduling error can create a domino effect of delays and added costs. Professional managers use their experience and relationships with trusted trades to keep the project on track.
What is the biggest unexpected cost in landscape projects?
Unforeseen ground conditions are a very common source of surprise costs. Crews might discover a high water table, large underground boulders, or unstable soil after excavation starts. These issues require immediate and often expensive solutions. This is why a contingency fund is not just a suggestion, it is a necessary part of a responsible project budget.
How is a design-build firm different from a landscape contractor?
A landscape contractor typically focuses only on the installation or construction part of a project. They work from plans that you or a separate designer provide. A design-build firm, however, handles the entire process from the initial idea to the final installation. This integrated approach centralizes communication and accountability, which can prevent many common problems.
About the author
This article is contributed by the team at Lifescape Colorado. Lifescape Colorado is a landscape architecture and construction firm based in Denver. The company designs, builds, and maintains outdoor spaces for residential and commercial clients.
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