Landscape Design Pictures for Small Yards

Access the Area that Needs to be Landscaped

1. Travel to a landscaping site to get a view of the area and learn what potential client wants.
   • Take accurate measurements of the length and width of the area to be landscaped.
2. Design the area with landscaping in place.
   • Make labels for each type of plant used and the dimensions of the area.
3. Calculate the cost of the mulch for the landscaping job.
4. Determine the cost of plants.
   • Tally the type and amount of each plant used in the landscaping project.
   • Multiply the cost of the plants by the number of plants you’ll need.
5. Determine the price of extra materials.
6. Allow for selling cost.
   • Once you know how much the materials will cost, you can determine what you need to charge the client.
   • In most cases, multiply the landscaper’s cost by 115% to determine the selling cost.
7. Add in the expense of labor.
   • Determine your time on the landscaping job comparing the needs of this job with previous jobs.
   • Calculate the cost of labor by multiplying the hourly wages by the number of man-hours.
8. Add all expenses together for a bidding price.
9. Subtract the bidding price from the company cost to determine profit.

Community Q&A

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• What would be a good rate for trimming the trees and bushes around the edge of the front and backyard of a house?

   

  wikiHow Contributor

  Shrubs/bushes/hedges should be looked at separately when estimating the charge. They are done fairly quickly but they require skill and tedious cleanup. When done correctly the time can add up, and that’s what people who first start out seem to overlook. So here’s an example: If your are to trim and clean up a 4′ x 10 ‘ stretch of hedges it should take you approx 15 to 20 mins to trim and another 15 mins to clean up, rounded up to one hour, $25.00 + equip + debris removal cost at $10.00 total = $35.00.

• How can I estimate the cost of a customized pondless waterfall with plants and a drip system?

   

  Consider the cost of all materials with standard profit mark-up, plus any and all taxes. Furthermore: cost of all labor involved (design, lay-out and management); cost of any equipment including transport of materials; cost of debris haul-outs and final clean-up; and final cost estimate of any future maintenance or warranty to cover final walk through and release of the project.

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Tips

• Write an itemized bid for the potential clients rather than one single total. Clients like to see how their money will be spent.
• Give the potential clients sketches of the landscaping project so they can make changes before you begin.

Warnings

• Never guarantee a bid for more than 30 days in the event of an increase in the cost of materials.
• Be certain the client understands the bid does not include maintenance and up keep of the landscaping once it is complete.