There are many variable elements in the landscape that can affect the look and quality of the new job as well as the price you pay.  Do you want a deck or pergola made of pressure treated wood or the look of cedar?  How about a simple interlocking paving  stone patio, or do you want something more intricate - or perhaps even natural flag stone?  Do you have the patience to wait for small plants to fill in, or do you want an instant garden?

 

Budget between 10% and 15% of the value of your home to enahnce your outdoor living space

Both realtors and landscape industry experts recommend using a budget of between 10 and 15 percent of the value of your home to enhance our outddor living space. In its 2003 article, Smart Money reported that landscaping could bring a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent when a house is sold. Compare this value with kitchen renovations that have 75 to 125 percent recovery, while a bathroom remodel can recoup 20 to 120 percent of the investment.

 

Apart from the obvious materials and labour costs, there will be hidden costs involved in creating your dream garden. The cost of transportation and disposal of soil, old paving stones and tired overgrown plant material have skyrocketed as landfill space becomes scarce around the province.  Rising gasoline prices have also affected the cost of landscaping by increasing the cost to move materials to the site.