For a typical Eastside home (7,000-10,000 sq ft lot), a comprehensive landscape renovation — including hardscape, plantings, irrigation, drainage, and lighting — generally runs between $50,000 and $150,000. Smaller projects focused on a single area (front yard only, or a backyard patio with surrounding plantings) typically fall in the $15,000 to $50,000 range.

Absolutely, and we recommend it for larger projects. A phased approach means designing the whole property at once (so everything fits together) but building it over two or three seasons. The key is getting the design done upfront — retrofitting drainage under a finished patio is far more expensive than doing it right the first time.

Look beyond the bottom-line number. A thorough proposal should itemize materials, include a scaled design drawing, specify base preparation and drainage, outline a timeline with milestones, and detail what’s included in the warranty. The most common source of price differences isn’t markup — it’s scope.

The National Association of Realtors estimates that a well-designed landscape adds 10-15% to a home’s perceived value. The highest-ROI investments tend to be hardscape additions (patios, walkways), mature plantings, and landscape lighting.

Late fall and winter (November through February) are the slowest months for landscape companies. For the best balance of price, availability, and weather, starting the design process in fall for a spring build gives you priority scheduling.

For anything beyond basic maintenance or a straightforward planting refresh, yes. A scaled design is the only way to get an accurate cost estimate because it defines exactly what’s being built. Most design-build firms fold the design fee into the project cost if you move forward with construction.