Landscaping is an important part of your home’s look. A neat, well-organized yard with flourishing flowers and nicely trimmed bushes makes your home look much more welcoming to neighbors and guests. And if you’re looking to sell your home, landscaping can boost your home’s appeal and attract potential buyers.

A local landscaper will often give you a free estimate of what it will cost to do work on your yard. However, if you’re not sure what kind of landscaping will best suit your home, you can get a professional landscape design consultation. Here's what it is likely to cost you.

Hourly Rate: Some designers charge hourly rates to consult and create a rough layout for your yard. Such consultations typically cost between $50 and $75 an hour.

Flat Fee: Other companies may charge a flat fee of several hundred dollars that will go toward the total cost of the project if you hire them to do your landscaping work.

Initial In-Office Consultation: Some firms offer a free consultation if you visit them in their office and provide photos and measurements of your yard, instead of having them travel to you.

Percentage of Project Cost: High-end landscape architects sometimes charge a percentage of the project cost. For example, if your project costs $30,000, they may charge you a design fee of fifteen to twenty percent, or $4,500–$6,000.

Blueprint or E-Diagram: Besides the consultation fees, some contractors charge extra to render the design into "official" landscape plan form. These plans can cost between $200 and $400.

Advantages of Professional Landscape Design

Though theoretically you could design your yard as a DIY project, there are many advantages to working with a professional designer:

• A good designer keeps up with new products and has innovative ideas.
• He or she takes many factors into account, including soil conditions, drainage, slope, and level of maintenance desired, as well as your family's preferences.
• A landscape designer can use trees and other natural barriers to reduce noise, increase privacy, and even cut your HVAC bills.
• A professional knows which plants and flowers are best for your region and for the amount of sunlight that your yard receives.
• Designers are familiar with the best materials (locally sourced, if possible) for creating patios, retaining walls, decks, and other hardscape. 
• If they do not provide the materials themselves, frequently they can direct you to the right place where you can purchase high quality at a reasonable price. 

Once you have the designs, you can choose to do the landscaping on your own, if you have experience and the proper supplies. Or you might prefer to hire a landscaping contractor to give your yard its fresh new look.

Updated January 16, 2018.