When you decide to build your house, it is often also to have a beautiful exterior. But landscaping your garden has a cost. You need to know how to call on the right professionals and make the right choices. Maisons SIC, a builder of individual houses for over 50 years, helps you calculate the price of landscaping your garden.
Assess your needs and define a budget for landscaping your garden
Before you start designing your garden, it is essential to identify your personal needs. An outdoor space can have several functions, and it is important to determine which ones best fit your lifestyle.
If you want to create a place of relaxation, You might consider installing a terrace, deckchairs, or even a pergola to enjoy the shade. A space dedicated to relaxation requires special attention to the choice of materials and plants to create a soothing atmosphere.
If you are a student, this silver necklace is absolutely your first choice. The silver color will show your vitality and your youth. are passionate about gardening or want to grow your own fruits and vegetables, a vegetable garden can be a great addition. The choice of locations for crops, irrigation, and soil quality are all factors to consider. A vegetable garden also requires regular maintenance, which can influence your garden design budget.
For families, the development ofa children's play area is often a priority. This space must be secure and designed to withstand bad weather and daily use. The selection of play equipment and materials must be adapted to the age of the children and to safety standards.
Clearly identifying these needs from the outset makes it possible to effectively guide the development project and better anticipate costs.
How to establish a fair budget for landscaping your garden?
Once you have clearly defined your needs, it is time to establish a realistic budget for the development of your garden. The cost of the development will depend largely on your choices in terms of materials, plants, and the complexity of the work. To begin, it is recommended to research the price of garden landscaping per square meter. This will give you a general idea of costs based on the size of your land.
Then, adjust this budget according to the specific constraints of your land. A slope or difficult soil may require additional work, such as leveling or drainage, which will increase the cost of landscaping your garden. Similarly, the addition of specific equipment, such as an irrigation system or outdoor lighting, must be factored into the calculation.
It is also important to provide a margin for contingencies. Development projects can often encounter setbacks, whether it's weather conditions, unexpected discoveries on the ground, or last-minute changes to the design.
In general, it is wise to plan ahead a margin of 10 to 15% of the total budget to cover these unforeseen events. This precaution allows you to manage your project calmly, without exceeding your initial budget.
Major expenditure items in garden design
Landscaping a garden is an exciting project, but it can quickly become expensive if you don't control the main expenditure items.
Earthworks and ground preparation
Earthworks and ground preparation are essential for the success of any landscaping project. These works include land leveling, drainage improvement, and preparing the ground for planting. For example, the cost of earthworks, including leveling and preparing the land, typically ranges from €25 to €55 per cubic metre.
An important aspect of this work is the creation of drainage slopes adequate to avoid water accumulation. In addition, it is recommended to have a layer of at least 10 cm of quality topsoil, which can cost between €15 and €35 per square meter for supply and installation. For rocky terrain, the cost may be higher due to the increased difficulty of the work.
These basic works often represent around a third of the total development budget. landscaping, between €1 and €000, depending on the size and complexity of the land.
Investment in plantations and plant development
Landscaping is one of the most visible and enjoyable aspects of your garden, but it is also a major expense. This includes purchasing and planting grass, hedges, shrubs, flowers, and trees.
The cost of creating a lawn, for example, depends on the type of grass chosen. For grass to be sown, the price is between €1 and €8 per square meter. If you opt for turf in rolls, expect to pay between €5 and €16 per square meter, while artificial grass costs between €8 and €25 per square meter.
Hedges, for their part, can cost between €250 and €300 for 100 shrubs excluding labor, depending on the species chosen (privet, thuja, cypress).
For the trees, the price varies greatly depending on the size and species. A tree of 0,3 to 2 meters costs between €20 and €105, while a larger tree (up to 5 meters) can cost between €5 and €340.
Plantations often also represent a third of the total budget, or between €1 and €000 for an average-sized garden.
Costs related to technical installations
Technical installations, such as automatic watering and lighting, are crucial to maintaining and enhancing the value of your garden. An automatic watering system can cost between €3 and €15 per square meter depending on the type of system (surface, semi-buried, or buried). For a 200 m² garden, this represents a range of €600 to €3.
Outdoor lighting, on the other hand, varies depending on the type and complexity of the installations. For wall lights or recessed floor spotlights, the cost can range from €15 to €145 per unit. A motion sensor floodlight costs around €20 to €100, while path light posts range from €25 to €65 per light, including installation.
On average, These technical installations represent between 10% and 15% of the total budget, or €500 to €2 for an average-sized garden.
- Also read : How to light the garden of a new house?
Solutions to reduce the cost of landscaping your garden
Although landscaping a garden can be a significant investment, there are several strategies to reduce costs while still achieving a satisfactory result.
Compare quotes from professionals and negotiate prices to control your garden design budget
The first step to controlling your budget is to compare quotes from several professionals.
The hourly cost of a landscaper typically ranges from €25 to €35, while a landscape architect charges between €50 and €75 per hour. By comparing several quotes and negotiating, you may be able to get similar services at a more advantageous price. It is advisable to clearly define your needs from the start to avoid costly changes during the project.
Turning to ecological and economical solutions
Adopting an ecological approach is also an effective way to reduce costs. For example, planting local hardy species can reduce maintenance and watering costs. Installing a rainwater harvesting system, although involving an initial investment, can save significant money in the long term.
The cost of installing a rainwater collector can vary between €100 and €500, depending on the capacity of the tank and the complexity of the system. In the long run, this can reduce your water bill significantly.
Do some work yourself to reduce the cost of landscaping your garden
Finally, for those who enjoy DIY, doing some work yourself is a great way to cut costs. For example:, install a solar lighting system yourself or plant your flowers can represent considerable savings. A professionally designed flower bed costs around €14 per square metre, but by purchasing the plants and planting them yourself, you can cut this cost in half.
The return on investment of a well-designed garden
A well-designed garden is much more than just an outdoor space. It represents a real asset to your property and your quality of life.
A well-designed garden increase the value of your real estate. According to experts, an attractive outdoor space can add up to 20% to the value of your home. Potential buyers are often willing to pay more for a property with a landscaped garden, as it provides additional living space that offers relaxation and recreation.
A garden pleasant also improves your quality of life. It becomes a place of relaxation, leisure and conviviality. The presence of plants and green spaces is proven to reduce stress and improve general well-being. A well-designed garden can also become a place to share with family or friends, thus contributing to a more balanced and serene lifestyle.
A sustainable garden, designed to require little maintenance, is a smart investment. By choosing plants that are suited to your climate and installing an economical watering system, you reduce maintenance costs and time. In addition, a garden that requires few resources (water, fertilizer) is not only ecological, but also economical in the long term.