Costs of garden landscaping
Garden landscaping costs 2026
Landscaping a garden costs on average between €40 and €90 per square metre, depending on the complexity and choice of materials. Garden landscaping includes all work involved in setting up a garden: from earthworks and drainage to paving, planting, and installing garden elements. In this price guide, you can read about the costs of landscaping a garden and what you should look out for.
Table of Contents
- What does garden landscaping cost?
- Costs of garden landscaping per component
- Price-determining factors for garden landscaping
- Additional costs and surcharges
- How does the gardener work?
- How can you save on garden landscaping?
- Common problems with garden landscaping
- Find the best gardener for landscaping
- Frequently asked questions
- Book a gardener now
- Useful links
What does garden landscaping cost?
Having a garden landscaped costs on average between €40 and €90 per square metre, depending on the chosen materials and the complexity of the design. For larger projects, you can opt for a fixed project price, while smaller tasks are often billed on a subsequent calculation basis at an hourly rate from €50 per hour.
Average garden landscaping costs
| Task specification | Price |
|---|---|
| Starting hourly rate gardener | €50 per hour |
| Garden design | €400 to €1,150 |
| Pond installation | €1,000 |
| Installing garden shed | €250 |
| Installing gazebo | €1,300 |
| Laying grass | €5 to €12 per m² |
| Applying planting | €9 per m² |
| Installing wooden terrace or decking | €100 per m² |
| Installing fence | €35 per m² |
The table provides an overview of costs for common garden landscaping tasks. The costs per square metre vary greatly per component: simple planting starts at €9 per square metre, while a wooden terrace or decking at €100 per square metre costs considerably more. A complete garden design costs on average €400 to €1,150, providing a good basis for further landscaping.
The costs for a gardener for specific tasks start from €50 per hour. For larger projects, many professionals offer a fixed project price, providing more certainty about total costs. All mentioned prices include 21% VAT and labour. These are indicative amounts; final costs may deviate based on your specific situation.
Costs of garden landscaping per component
The costs of landscaping a garden vary greatly per component. Simple tasks such as laying grass start at €5 per square metre, while more complex projects such as a swimming pond can quickly rise to €30,000 or more. Below is an overview of costs per garden component.
| Component | Price |
|---|---|
| Laying grass | €5 to €12 per m² |
| Applying planting | €9 per m² |
| Paving | €70 per m² |
| Wooden terrace or decking | €100 per m² |
| Installing fence | €35 to €150 per linear metre |
| Gazebo | €1,300 to €6,000 |
| Garden shed | €250 to €13,000 |
| Small natural pond | €1,300 to €2,600 |
| Swimming pond (30 m²) | €30,000 to €40,000 |
Price-determining factors for garden landscaping
The costs for landscaping a garden are determined by various factors. Some are easily influenced, others are fixed. By gaining insight into these factors, you can better estimate what your project will cost and where you might save.
Garden area
A larger garden requires more materials, more labour hours, and more machinery. A garden of 100 square metres simply requires more tiles, soil, plants, and hours of work than a garden of 30 square metres. This increases the total costs proportionally.
Design complexity
Simple rectangular gardens with standard elements are landscaped faster than gardens with many height differences, curved lines, or special drainage systems. Complex designs require more planning, more precise work, and specialised knowledge, which increases the costs per square metre.
Soil type
Clay soil retains moisture and may make drainage necessary. Sandy soil shifts more easily and requires extra stabilisation for paving. Peat soil often requires soil improvement before landscaping can begin. Each soil type requires a different approach, affecting time and material costs.
Chosen materials
The choice of materials has a major impact on costs and the final result. Hardwood decking boards cost more than impregnated wood, natural stone is more expensive than concrete tiles, and indigenous planting is more affordable than exotic species. More durable materials often involve higher purchase costs.
Accessibility of the location
Can an excavator enter the garden directly, or must everything be transported by hand? Gardens that are only accessible via narrow alleys or through the house require much more manual labour. This extends the labour duration and thereby increases the costs.
Presence of obstacles
Old foundations, deep tree roots, existing paving, or underground pipes that must be removed first cost extra time. Sometimes specialist tools are needed to safely remove obstacles, increasing costs.
Urgency versus planned work
Urgent jobs are always more expensive than planned projects. If you want a complete garden landscaped within two weeks, you pay more than if you give the gardener four months. Planning allows for efficient purchasing and deployment of professionals.
Weekend or weekdays
Work on weekends costs more than during the week. Gardeners charge higher rates for work on Saturdays and Sundays. If possible, choose weekdays to save on labour costs.
Region
In large cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam, gardeners' hourly rates are often higher than in rural areas. This is due to higher business costs, travel time, and local demand. Regional differences can be up to 15 to 20 per cent.
Required permits
For fences higher than two metres, raised terraces, or large water features, you sometimes need a permit. Applying takes time and money, and delays in the permit procedure can make the project more expensive. Enquire with your municipality in advance.
Earthworks and drainage
Poor drainage or uneven ground requires extra earthworks. Digging, raising, installing drainage, or compacting soil costs time and material. The more preparatory work is needed, the higher the costs per square metre.
Season and weather conditions
In spring and summer, demand for gardeners is high, which can drive up prices. Work in winter is often cheaper, but rainy periods delay the work. Weather delays increase labour hours and thus total costs.
Preparation and accessibility
An empty, clean garden where machines can gain direct access saves time. Ensure obstacles are removed, gates are wide enough, and materials can be brought in without detours. Good preparation directly reduces labour costs.
Additional costs and surcharges
Additional costs depend on the situation. At Zoofy, you do not pay call-out charges.
- Urgency surcharge: For urgent tasks, a surcharge often applies because the gardener must adjust their schedule.
- Weekend surcharge: Work on weekends is more expensive than during the week.
- Additional work due to unforeseen circumstances: If debris, poor drainage, soil contamination, or old cables are found, extra costs may arise.
- Disposal costs: Disposing of old materials, garden waste, or soil involves extra costs.
- Electrical connections: Garden lighting or irrigation systems are more efficiently installed during the landscaping phase.
- Soil improvement: Poor soil quality may necessitate soil improvement or drainage, increasing total costs.
How does the gardener work?
The landscaping of a garden follows a fixed sequence of steps, from inventory to final inspection.
- Intake and inventory of wishes: The professional discusses your wishes, assesses the situation on-site, and gives advice on possibilities, materials, and an indication of costs.
- Site analysis and design: For more complex projects, a soil survey follows, and a garden design is created with a floor plan, material advice, and possibly 3D visualisations.
- Earthworks: The gardener removes old elements, performs soil improvement, levels the terrain, and installs drainage if necessary to prevent water nuisance.
- Paving and borders: Paving, terraces, and borders are installed with a solid foundation to prevent subsidence.
- Planting and lawn: Plants are placed according to the planting plan, and grass is sown or laid as sods.
- Installation of garden elements: Garden sheds, fences, gazebos, or ponds are installed.
- Aftercare and maintenance instructions: The professional gives instructions on maintaining the new garden, especially in the first months. The total duration varies from a few days to several weeks, depending on size and complexity.
How can you save on garden landscaping?
There are several ways to reduce the costs of landscaping a garden without sacrificing quality.
- Plan in the right season: Landscape your garden in spring or autumn. Avoid frost periods for paving and choose the right planting season. This prevents recovery work and lowers final costs.
- Tidy up yourself: Remove old elements, weeds, and materials yourself and ensure the workspace is easily accessible. This saves labour hours and directly reduces costs.
- Landscape in phases: Divide the project over several periods. This spreads the costs and gives you time to supplement budgets between phases.
- Choose low-maintenance materials: Ground cover against weeds, indigenous planting, and durable materials require less maintenance and need replacing less quickly. This reduces costs per square metre in the long term.
- Plan ahead: Book on weekdays and with sufficient preparation. Urgent jobs and weekend work are always more expensive.
- Book through Zoofy: You get a fixed rate in advance, with no call-out charges and no surprises. You only pay after the task is completed.
Common problems with garden landscaping
Problems during garden landscaping can have various causes and lead to damage or extra costs.
Water nuisance due to poor drainage
Poor drainage causes persistent puddles in the garden. This damages plants and can weaken the foundation of paving. Water that cannot drain away causes root rot and makes the garden unusable during rainy periods.
Subsidence of paving
Insufficient foundation leads to subsiding tiles and uneven terraces. This happens when the subsoil is not properly compacted or the sand layer is too thin. Subsidence increases further and raises repair costs.
Root growth damaging materials
Incorrect planting choices cause root growth that pushes up paving and can damage underground pipes. Especially fast-growing trees and shrubs too close to paving or foundations cause visible damage and higher repair costs within a few years.
Find the best gardener for landscaping
A reliable gardener ensures professional work that lasts a long time.
- No call-out charges: You only pay for the work performed, never extra for the professional's arrival.
- Fixed price in advance: You know exactly what the costs are before the task begins, with no surprises.
- Quick booking without quote hassle: Arrange a professional immediately and choose a suitable time, without long waits.
- Payment via QR code after completion: You only pay once the task is fully completed and you are satisfied.
- Reliable, verified professionals: All affiliated gardeners are verified and score an average of 9.2.
- Quality control: Professionals who score poorly are removed from the platform immediately.
- Proven reliability: More than 200,000 satisfied customers have already preceded you in booking their garden project.
Frequently asked questions
What does an average garden landscaping cost?
Landscaping a garden costs on average between €40 and €90 per square metre, depending on material choice and complexity. A complete garden design costs on average €400 to €1,150, and gardeners charge from €50 per hour for subsequent calculation tasks.
What does a 100 square metre garden cost?
For a garden of 100 square metres, the costs are between €4,000 and €9,000, depending on the chosen materials and the design. Larger gardens often offer opportunities for a fixed project price.
What does it cost to pave 40 square metres?
Paving costs an average of €70 per square metre, so for 40 square metres, you pay around €2,800. The costs per square metre vary based on stone type and foundation.
What does it cost to landscape a 30 square metre garden?
Landscaping a 30 square metre garden costs between €1,200 and €2,700, depending on the desired elements such as planting, paving, or garden elements. Simple planting starts at €9 per square metre.
How long does an average garden landscaping take?
The duration varies from a few days for a small garden to several weeks for a large or complex garden. The planning depends on earthworks, weather conditions, and the chosen elements.
What is the best season for garden landscaping?
Spring and autumn are ideal for garden landscaping. Avoid frost periods for paving and extreme heat for planting, which saves on repair costs.
Do I need a permit for garden landscaping?
Usually not for standard garden landscaping, but a permit may be required for fences higher than two metres, raised terraces, or large water features. Enquire with your municipality in advance.
Can I have the garden landscaped in phases?
Yes, phased landscaping spreads the costs over several periods. This gives time to supplement budgets between phases.
What happens to the existing garden waste?
The gardener can dispose of garden waste, but this involves extra costs. Cleaning up beforehand yourself saves labour hours and reduces total costs.
What should I prepare myself?
Ensure the garden is empty, that there is access for machines, and that power and water are available. Good preparation directly reduces labour costs.
Book a gardener now
Ready to have your garden landscaped? At Zoofy, you book a professional directly, without quotes and without call-out charges. You see exactly what it costs beforehand, and Zoofy connects you with a reliable professional who has been verified. You only pay when the work is finished. Book a professional directly now.