How to Estimate Landscape Maintenance Costs

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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There is more to landscape maintenance than cutting the grass. Maintaining the landscape may include fertilizing, weeding, planting, trimming hedges and trees and building points of interest. A professional landscaper or lawn service can do all the maintenance for you, but if you do some of the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money. Here are some tips to estimate landscape costs.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Make a thorough assessment of your landscape with a walk through. Take a pad and pen with you so you can make notes. Look at the trees to determine which ones need to be trimmed, which bushes need to be trimmed or replaced and which plants need to be replanted or replaced. As you make a note of each job, note how often you would like it done so the landscaper can give you a more accurate estimate. Each one of these jobs will add to the maintenance cost of your landscape due to increased time and labor.

Step2

Schedule a meeting with the landscaper or lawn service to go over your needs and ask for an estimate. Get a cost estimate for labor and a separate cost for supplies, for landscaping jobs you'd like to have done. Ask for an estimate for routine lawn service. Never agree to the service until you have a written estimate. Most landscape maintenance costs are based on labor and the number of employees. Although the costs for three men is much more, the job will get done quickly. Most landscape maintenance contractors charge a minimum of $50 an hour, per employee. Expect to pay more for special jobs, like planting a new area or wall.

Step3

Buy your own plants and supplies to save on costs. Not only is the cost reduced, but you'll be able to select the plants and shrubs you want. While you are shopping for the plants, find out the cost of extras you may need for the plantings. Extras may include topsoil and fertilizer, mulch, weed killer or bug killer. Ask to have the supplies delivered which will save time, for the landscape or lawn service, and the cost for extra labor needed to pick up and deliver the supplies.