This Hidden Landscaping Cost Can Run You Up to $3K—We Found a Way to Cut It Down to $600

It’s not news that buying a full-grown tree or laying down sod where there was previously dirt will cost you a pretty penny. The landscaping splurge no one talks about? The drawings. While some resources like Lawn Starter suggest the average cost for a landscape plan with sketches, a budget estimation, and details regarding plantings is between $300 and $1,500, we’ve seen other estimates that put that range at $700 to $3,000. And yes, that’s all before you pay the $50 to $150 hourly rate for your landscape designer. The initial expense is so shocking that it’s easy to see why most people put off the job altogether or go the DIY route and slap some mulch and a few raised garden beds in their yard. Luckily, Yardzen is out to change that. 

The company just launched its most affordable planning option yet at just $595. (Previously the brand’s lowest-priced offering that included both landscaping and hardscaping suggestions was $995, and its old botanical-only plan was $895.) So what do you actually walk away with? The Starter Package includes an illustrative 2D design plan including plant layout and hardscaping; two mood boards outlining materials, style, and greenery selection; one round of revisions; and a list of furniture and decor from brands like Serena & Lily, Terrain, Crate & Barrel, and more. 

While the package is geared toward renovators with a smaller budget and up to a half-acre lot size, it’s also ideal for those who want to DIY regardless and just need the visual inspiration to get started. In other words, you let them decide how wide the stairs leading to your new firepit should be or where to situate your mahonias in relation to the hammock. That way, you can focus on getting your hands dirty, which will save you even more than a few thousand dollars in the end.