How to Estimate Landscape Costs

Landscaping is one of the most popular ways to increase the value of your home and surround yourself with beauty. Before beginning your landscape project, you make sure to plan out a time-frame, gather materials and estimate your landscape costs.

Instructions

1. Measure your project area. Find out the length and width of the area before planning for any plants, shrubs or landscaping materials. Multiply the length by the width to find the total area.

2. Choose materials based on functionality, design and layout. Use landscaping books, your local garden center and garden planning software to help you find the perfect materials. Spend time comparison shopping and be sure to ask if any of your local stores plan to have any sales on the items you choose.

3. Layout your project area bottom to top. If you are creating a walkway, start with the soil, then figure in your sand and then your landscape stone. If you are creating a garden area, plan for your topsoil, fertilizer, weed mat and then shrubbery and plants. If you are creating raised beds, add in the number of timbers you require to frame your garden.

4. Design and draw your project on paper, or use landscape software to see how your project should look once it's finished and in the future. Don't purchase anything until you have a firm design. Calculate the area for plants and shrubs by using the full-grown width plus spacing to find the number of plants you need. Calculate amounts of mulch, rock, sand and stone per cubic foot, while you generally want to calculate weed mat by the foot.