Landscaping?

[Lubs]

Does anyone know the approximate cost for landscaping a front yard? A price range, for a small front yard.

Any recommendations for a good landscaing company that is very fair?

[CSK'sMom]

That is a huge, open ended question Lubs. There are so many variable that come into play with landscaping. Hardscaping (walkways, patios, etc.) to landscaping (annuals, perrienials, shrubs and trees, etc.) to accessories, lighting, etc.

A quick curb appeal cleanup with some annuals could cost as little as $100 vs. a complete reno including hardscape walkway with complete new landcaping could cost as much as $10-$15K depending on the materials and plant material choosen...

[dealdiggerMississauga]

Does anyone know the approximate cost for landscaping a front yard? A price range, for a small front yard.

Any recommendations for a good landscaing company that is very fair?

I'm not a landscape pro, but I did get my front and back done 2 years ago. Just like CSK'sMom said, it can cost from $1,000 to $20,000 depending on what you want ot do.

I paid $4,100 for a more expensive interlocking stone, to do the front and the back. I used this company www.duralock.ca, but I don't have their number, it should be on their website. they did a great job!

[del2248]

www.landscapeontario.com

Choose a contractor from here
Keep in mind that money spent on landscaping increases the value of your home. Ex. 15 000 spent means your home is worth about 15 000 more if you sell it. Sometimes even higher than that!

[JWL]

I'm not a landscape pro, but I did get my front and back done 2 years ago. Just like CSK'sMom said, it can cost from $1,000 to $20,000 depending on what you want ot do.

I paid $4,100 for a more expensive interlocking stone, to do the front and the back. I used this company www.duralock.ca, but I don't have their number, it should be on their website. they did a great job!

If you an employee of Duralock, fess up. Noticed you have 4 posts so far, all today in a span of 14 minutes, and 2 of them are promoting Duralock.

[eelfliw]

A co-worker of mine does commercial real-estate appraisals. Last summer, he was out at a site looking at a building for possible purchase by the company. He was greeted by the every-so-friendly builder & architect who took him all over the site to view the building. They spent the whole morning looking over blueprints & construction etc. While chatting with the builder he just happened to comment that he was looking for landscaping for his front yard and found out how expensive it was.

Low and behold, back in the office in the afternoon, he gets a call from his flustered wife who had just came home. She said there are 8 guys in 2 trucks at their home and they've completely landscaped their front yard and are just about to leave.....

My co-worker freaked. This is against every rule in the book. The story ended with my co-worker paying the builder about $8K to thank him for the "gift" that he didn't want.

As for landscaping costs? Expect workers to average about $24 an hour (equipment operators are more expensive but their rates are offset by the cheaper laborers). On top of that, there are equipment rentals and, of course, supplies. But if you're simply digging holes and moving soil, you can ask a few buddies to come over for pizza & beer on the weekend.

[raptorfan]

this may be of help...i've considered using them but haven't gotten around to my landscaping yet, too much house stuff to fix first! :D

http://www.humbernurseries.com/landscape_services.asp

[del2248]

You do realize that is only a design service and they don't do any construction?

[Azxster]

I have a contact for service in R.Hill, Markham, and North Scarborough (basically around the Pacific Mall area only).

[sunnybono]

this may be of help...i've considered using them but haven't gotten around to my landscaping yet, too much house stuff to fix first! :D

http://www.humbernurseries.com/landscape_services.asp

I'd have to admit, although they are more expensive than the other nurseries, they do have some nice stuff!!!!!

sk

[Mr. Chicken]

Is there a rule of thumb regarding how much you should spend on landscaping? For example, 5% of the value of your home?

I can certainly see spending lots of money on landscaping but if the ultimate market for your home won't value that landscaping, you won't get your money back.

[rf134a]

Spend whatever it takes to make YOU happy. I've seen $2000 DIY jobbies that look decent to amazing $500,000 works of art. Basic dirt & sod could be done for around $2000 if you pay cash. Rocks, stones, and other hardscaping will add money.

[dealdiggerMississauga]

I completely agree with this....spend whatever will make YOU happy. you live once, enjoy yourself, and be happy...

I'm not sure if there is a rule of thumb, for example, a certain percentage of your home's value... but good question. I think landscape increases your house's value, and is also more attractive to prospective buyers... it gives a sense of "wow, they really took care of this place". Atleast, that what I think. Good luck!

Spend whatever it takes to make YOU happy. I've seen $2000 DIY jobbies that look decent to amazing $500,000 works of art. Basic dirt & sod could be done for around $2000 if you pay cash. Rocks, stones, and other hardscaping will add money.

[Rembrandt100]

As people have said above do what you want to do because you are the one that has to live with and in it. Just some comments on what has been posted already.

Humber nurseries is one of the most expensive places in the area for plants and material. But they do supply good stock and you can usually get whatever you want at any time you want it because they carry things that other places do not. They have a design division and ready made plans (standard designs for standard subdivisions) but they do not install. They do have contractors that they will recommend and of course they are the suppliers to those contractors.

Landscape Ontario is trying to promote a work ethic in the contractors in Ontario. They offer classes all winter to anyone that is willing to pay the admission price. You do not need to be a member but member companies get a discount on admission to all courses plus other benefits like a discount on gas if bought at a certain station, group insurance, etc. The one great thing for the homeowner about using a Landscape Ontario member is that if you think that your job was not done correctly you can call them and they will send someone out to look at your concerns. If the mediator agrees with you the contractor will be asked to fix the area in question. If he refuses he can have his membership cancelled. If he has too may mediator interventions he can have his membership cancelled also.

The above are some facts and my opinions.

Dave

[laptop-tech]

if anyone is considering Duralock, read my comments (as a victim) here :

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422263

[glaswegian]

When considering cedar plants to block the view to the neighbours on one side of the front porch, is there anything to look out for in the purchase, planting, tips and all that?

[CSK'sMom]

Read the tags carefully glaswegian. It's the number 1 mistake most people make, they don't read the mature height and width measurements. I can give you a perfect example. Our previous next door neighbor routinely bought shrubs, evergreens and trees from garden centers. He never read a tag, just bought what he liked with no consideration of where he was going to plant it. As a result very little of what he bought lasted more than a couple of years in his yard. It would start to grow, become too big for what he wanted and he would rip it out. When he put the house up for sale he repeated that mistake with a new bed along the front walk to the front door adjoining the garage. The cedars he put in have a mature height of over 20 feet and a width of 8 feet. To put this in perspective, the houses property line is no more than 4 feet between the garage and our property line as it's a semi! The poor guy that bought that house is currently going crazy ripping apart the landscape. I have him reading tags religiously to avoid that costly mistake.

[glaswegian]

Thanks for that. I am trying to find a pic of the design am going for. On a different note, how much will is cost to do a walkway like the one below, and is it possible to do a DIY on that, if so can someone outline the steps and materials needed?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/muree/landscapehouse2.jpg

[glaswegian]

I guess no one has done a DIY of this then?

[CSK'sMom]

I'm not positive, but that walkway looks like a version of interlocking brick or the new cultured flagstone that HD is carrying this year. Either way, the installation would be the same and has been covered here before. ;) Excavate, limsestone screening, compact, install stone or brick and sand the joints...

[glaswegian]

I'm not positive, but that walkway looks like a version of interlocking brick or the new cultured flagstone that HD is carrying this year. Either way, the installation would be the same and has been covered here before. ;) Excavate, limsestone screening, compact, install stone or brick and sand the joints...


Sorry do care to elaborate on that? Newbie to all this and want to make sure we don't screw up if we can do it ourselves :)

[CSK'sMom]

We did an interlocking walkway at the inlaws last year. To begin with we excavated the area where the walkway would wind to the front deck. IIRC, we took it down 8 or 10 inches. We then backfilled with limestone screening for the base under the brick. We rented a compactor and compacted the screenings and leveled the area. We then installed the interlocking brick in a herringbone pattern and installed the plastic edging that holds the brick in place. We then swept interlock joint sand (we used a product called Magic Sand) into all the joints, ran the compactor over it to vibrate the sand into all the joints and misted it down with water. It's alot of grunt work but really not difficult to do yourself. Patio stones or flagstone is basically the same process. HD may even have a seminar dealing with interlock....

[Bullseye]

Sorry do care to elaborate on that? Newbie to all this and want to make sure we don't screw up if we can do it ourselves :)

Search the forum, expedite, myself, and others have posted at length about our experiences installing paver stones.

[glaswegian]

Hmmmmm....can't seem to locate it for some reason :|

[Bullseye]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285182&highlight=patio+expedite

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=301516&highlight=patio+expedite

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281716&highlight=patio+expedite

A post you started last fall also has some info on how to do pavers;

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341488&highlight=pavers+bullseye

[CSK'sMom]

Glaswegian check the calender in the HD booklet that just arrived. There are seminars all this month on building patios and walkways along with other various seminars. :cheesygri

[Bullseye]

Some paver sellers also offer seminars, I did one at Cap Brick in Burlington before I started my patio. The Unilock website also has instructions and video clips.

[glaswegian]

Glaswegian check the calender in the HD booklet that just arrived. There are seminars all this month on building patios and walkways along with other various seminars. :cheesygri

Thanks for that dear ;)