A beautiful, well-maintained landscape can make a big impact on your home’s curb appeal and property value, but landscaping costs can add up based on the services you need. It’s important to determine the right services for your northern NJ home and hire the best professional landscape contractor for the job.
Your landscaping costs will vary based on services you choose. If you just want someone to mow your lawn, your costs will be minimal. Prices will probably be based on a weekly or bi-weekly charge for services rendered. However, someone who simply mows the lawn is typically called a “gardener,” not a landscape contractor and the cost for services can be quite different. A professional landscape contractor can provide many more services for your home.
What Services Does A Landscape Contractor Offer?
Landscape Maintenance
If your property is in good condition and you don’t want to make landscape changes, you may want basic landscape maintenance services. Landscape maintenance services can include:
- Weekly or bi-weekly lawn mowing and maintenance
- Necessary weeding
- Periodic feeding, fertilizing and mulching
- Planting new foliage and flowers
- Border edging for driveways and walkways
- Tree and shrub pruning
- Cleaning driveways, walkways and pathways
- Removal of debris and dead winter growth
- Removal of debris and preparation for winter
- Lawn renovations with new sod or seed
- Irrigation system repairs
Basic maintenance and landscaping costs can vary greatly based on your needs. Talk to your landscape contractor about the services you want or need to get a better idea of your costs. Here are some factors that can impact your overall costs for basic landscaping and maintenance:
- Your location
- The size of your yard
- The current condition of your landscape
- Yard cleanup
- Removal of dead or diseased trees and plants
- Land clearing and debris removal
- Changes you make to your landscape
- Materials and plants you select
It’s difficult to estimate costs because all properties are different and don’t need the same services, but here’s an average range of prices you can expect for landscaping costs in northern NJ areas:
- New Landscaping: $3,600 – $9,000
- New Sod: $2,300 – $4,800
- Lawn Re-sloping: $1,500 – $3,300
- Delivering Soil, Rocks, Sand or Mulch: $900 – $2,000
Outdoor Features
In addition to landscape maintenance services, a professional landscape contractor can provide design and build services for your home. Many landscape contractors have a formal educational and professional background in landscape architecture and they are knowledgeable and well-trained in building techniques. If you add outdoor landscape features, your landscaping costs will naturally increase, but these great outdoor features may be worth the extra costs.
- Swimming pools
- Outdoor spas or hot tubs
- Outdoor fountains and waterfalls
- Outdoor ponds
- Outdoor patios and terraces
- Outdoor kitchens
- Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits
- Outdoor walkways and pathways
- Driveways
- Landscape lighting
You should expect your landscaping costs to vary based on the outdoor features you want for your home. The more feature you want, the higher the costs. When you decide on specific features, your contractor can provide you with an estimate that will give you more accurate costs. In the meantime, take a look at an average range of prices you can expect to pay for outdoor features in Bergen County and Passaic County, NJ areas.
Swimming Pools: $30,000 – $100,000
Swimming pool prices vary depending on the type, size and shape of pool you install. You can choose from a variety of different sizes and shapes, so you need to think about how you plan to use your pool. Types of in-ground pools include concrete, gunite, vinyl-lined and fiberglass. Pool costs will vary based on the type of pool you choose. Finishing materials such as plaster, paint and tile will increase your landscaping costs for your pool.
Outdoor Spas and Hot Tubs: $8,500 – $20,000
Many homeowners in Bergen County, NJ and Passaic County, NJ want an outdoor spa or hot tub for its therapeutic benefits. Attached to the end or side of the pool, a spa or hot tub provides a great way to relax tired muscles after a swim. Spas and hot tubs can come with spill over features, water jets, LED lighting and infinity edges.
Outdoor Fountains and Waterfalls: $4,000 – $8,000
Outdoor water features create soothing sounds that quickly establish a relaxing, tranquil landscape setting. Outdoor fountains and waterfalls provide a special landscape focal point with visual interest and beautiful ambiance.
Outdoor Ponds: $2,300 – $5,000
A quiet, relaxing outdoor pond creates a tranquil atmosphere in your back yard and provides a unique focal point. Your pond can be filled with greenery, underwater lights and even fish that will intrigue your curious guests. An outdoor pond is a great outdoor feature with minimal landscaping costs.
Outdoor Patios and Terraces: $4,000 – $9,000
An outdoor patio or terrace is great for entertaining. It increases your outdoor space for large gatherings and special events and allows you to set up distinct areas for dining and conversations. A multi-level patio will add depth and dimension to your house and yard.
Outdoor Kitchens: $8,000 – $45,000
Outdoor kitchens are great home features, but prices can vary a lot based on the equipment and other amenities you choose. Outdoor kitchens can include state-of-the-art cooking equipment, refrigeration equipment and accessories. If you include specialty features like wine coolers, beer kegerators, ice-makers and trash bins your costs will increase.
Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits: $5,000 – $50,000
An outdoor fireplace is a permanent structure with a firebox and a chimney that requires proper ventilation for fire and smoke. The exterior can be covered in various types of stone, brick, tile, stucco or concrete. It can be attached to your house or patio or built in a remote location with a proper foundation. It does require building permits that will increase your landscaping costs.
An outdoor fire pit is a pit that’s surrounded by raised walls. The pit area which contains the fire must be fireproof for safety. The raised walls can be constructed using stone, brick, tile, stucco or concrete. Since there is no chimney, a fire pit can be built anywhere in the yard or on the patio with no building permits.
Outdoor Walkways and Pathways: $3,500 – $7,500
Design possibilities for outdoor walkways and pathways are endless. They can be built in almost any size, shape and outdoor material. You can create a short walkway that’s straight and narrow or a long walkway with winding curves. You can design beautiful walkways with subtle materials that blend into the landscape or colorful materials that add visual interest.
Driveways: $7,500 – $15,000
Your landscape contractor can install a new driveway and do repairs on your existing driveway. You can install a simple asphalt driveway or design a custom driveway in stone pavers, brick or concrete.
Landscape Lighting: $1,000 – $4,000
Outdoor lighting enhances the look of your home at night and highlights fine architectural details on your house. It adds depth and visual interest to your landscape while providing safety and security for your property. Landscaping costs will vary based on the type and number of fixtures you need.