Welcome to the landscaping cost calculator – your handy tool for estimated costs as you plan that backyard oasis. Simply plug in your lawn size, garden details, ideas for trees and fencing, and more using the easy drop-down menus. The calculator takes over from there, adding up the numbers to give you a ballpark total cost.

How the Landscaping Calculator Works

Getting started is easy. Choose a lawn size from Small, Medium, and Large presets or enter your exact square footage. Next, specify how many garden beds you want and the size of each. Dreaming of a mature shade tree? Pick Standard, Premium or Exotic trees and enter the quantity. Moving into hardscaping, select material types like Concrete, Stone or Brick along with the area size. Round it out by playing with irrigation, fencing and lighting options too.

Once all categories are set, click Calculate to see the total cost estimate. A summary lists out your choices as well so you can tweak as needed to fit your budget. Print or save the details to refer back as your landscape plans progress.

The calculator works its magic by attaching a standard per-square-foot or per-unit price to your selections. For the lawn, it’s a simple area multiplied by $0.50 per square foot. Gardens beds, hardscaping, fencing and more use a similar calculation. Lighting units and exotic trees have set prices per item. Irrigation goes by the foot. All the line items get summed up for a grand total catered to your vision.

Calculate Cost Inputs:

• Lawn Cost: Multiplies the lawn size by the cost per square foot ($0.50).
• Garden Bed Cost: Sums up the sizes of all garden beds and multiplies by the cost per square foot ($1.00).
• Tree/Shrub Cost: Multiplies the number of trees/shrubs by the selected cost per unit.
• Hardscaping Cost: Multiplies the hardscaping area by the selected cost per square foot.
• Irrigation Cost: Multiplies the irrigation length by the cost per foot ($2.00).
• Fencing Cost: Multiplies the fencing length by the selected cost per foot.
• Lighting Cost: Multiplies the number of lighting units by the selected cost per unit.

Dreaming up your perfect backyard escape? Let the Landscaping Cost Calculator remove the guesswork and make that oasis a reality.

Tips on How to Save on Landscaping

Creating an attractive landscape doesn’t have to drain your wallet. With some strategic planning and resourcefulness, you can keep costs down without sacrificing aesthetics. Start by outlining your landscaping goals and budget. Knowing what features are essential will allow you to allocate funds wisely. Take on simpler DIY tasks like planting and basic upkeep – this small commitment of sweat equity can add up to major savings. Shop seasonal sales at nurseries for deals on plants.

Looking to save money on your plant purchases? Start small! Growing plants from seeds or cuttings lets your garden expand for just pennies. Tiny seedlings and baby plants may be less impressive at first, but with attentive care they will quickly flourish to maturity. Connect with fellow gardeners too – plant swaps are a great way to trade cuttings and divide overgrown plants.

When selecting additions, go native. Local plants thrive with natural rainfall and resist regional pests. This reduces maintenance effort and cost over time. Finally, choose versatile perennials. Unlike fleeting annuals, perennial plants return every year stronger than before. A little patience and planning allows your garden to multiply with natural charm and savings.

Get creative with materials, repurposing items where possible for an eclectic, custom look. Use reclaimed bricks for garden walls or pallets for vertical planting structures. Mulch, gravel and drought-resistant grass also help reduce water usage and cut your utility bills. Phase larger projects over time, focusing first on critical elements then embellishing later as budgets allow.

Maintenance is a cost-saver too – keeping plants healthy and preventing issues before they spread saves time, effort and money down the road. Allow some portions of your yard to grow more natural with prairie grasses and wildflowers. Finally, consider consultation with a landscaping pro. An expert can help strategize the most bang for your buck, creating a plan for you to implement in stages.

With mindfulness of long-term sustainability, strategic do-it-yourself efforts and resourceful design, you can craft a gorgeous, functional landscape without breaking the bank. Getting your hands dirty is rewarding in itself – and keeps more green in your wallet for enjoying the oasis you’ve created.