Is My Landscaper Ripping Me Off?
You've just received a quote for your new garden. $65,000. You were expecting something closer to $25,000.
Your first thought might be: Is my landscaper ripping me off?
Probably not.
The reality is that landscaping is expensive. Much more expensive than most people expect. And while there are certainly operators who overcharge, the vast majority of landscapers are simply trying to run a profitable business.
The bigger problem is that most homeowners have very little understanding of what landscaping actually costs, or how to work out whether a quote represents good value.
So before you accuse your landscaper of highway robbery, here are a few things worth understanding.
Working out what you want to build before you start getting quotes is important
1. You're paying for labour, not just materials
One of the biggest misconceptions about landscaping is that the materials are what make it expensive.
In reality, labour is often the largest cost.
Think about what's involved in building a garden. Someone needs to excavate the soil, move heavy materials, dig holes, install drainage, construct walls, lay paving and prepare garden beds. Much of this is physically demanding work, often undertaken in difficult conditions.
You're paying someone to spend their days lifting dirt and digging holes in the heat. It's hard work, and probably work you'd rather not do yourself.
Landscapers also need to make a profit. Like any business, they have equipment, vehicles, insurance, administration and employees to pay for.
Some landscapers aim for profit margins around 25 to 30%, although this varies considerably depending on the project. Smaller jobs can require higher margins, while larger projects may operate on less.
Making a profit isn't the same as ripping someone off.
2. Concrete is expensive. Really expensive.
If there's one word to remember when trying to reduce your landscaping budget, it's concrete.
Concrete retaining walls, swimming pools, extensive paving, foundations and complex built structures can consume enormous portions of a landscaping budget.
It's not just the concrete itself. It's the excavation, formwork, reinforcement, drainage, labour and sometimes engineering that come with it.
Custom-built features are another major expense. Bespoke seating, outdoor kitchens, elaborate walls and architectural structures can look fantastic, but they aren't cheap.
Fortunately, you don't need them to create a beautiful garden.
Choosing off-the-shelf products, simplifying construction and replacing unnecessary hardscaping with plants and trees can dramatically reduce costs.
In fact, some of the most beautiful gardens are predominantly planting rather than construction.
3. Three quotes don't necessarily tell you which is best
It's common advice to get three quotes before choosing a landscaper.
Good advice, in theory.
But imagine receiving quotes for $40,000, $55,000 and $75,000.
Which one is right?
One landscaper might specify expensive materials. Another might propose cheaper alternatives. A third might exclude work that the others have included.
They might also describe the same work completely differently.
Unless you have experience reading landscaping quotes, comparing them can be extremely difficult.
And cheaper doesn't necessarily mean better value. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.
The best way to compare quotes is to have every landscaper price the same design and scope of work.
Otherwise, you're comparing three different gardens.
4. The biggest red flag is getting a quote without a plan
If you're asking landscapers to quote on a garden that hasn't been properly designed, you're already making things difficult.
Without a clear plan, each landscaper is left to make their own assumptions about what you want, how it should be built and which materials to use.
The result? Different prices for different interpretations of the same project.
A plan removes much of this ambiguity.
It establishes the layout, major elements, materials and planting so everyone understands what's being priced.
You should also expect a written scope explaining what's included and excluded.
That doesn't mean a landscaper needs to provide an exhaustive breakdown of every material and labour hour. Preparing a detailed cost estimate takes time and expertise, and it's reasonable for that to be a paid service.
But you should be able to understand what you're buying.
5. Don't start with a number. Start with what you want.
One of the most common pieces of advice is to tell your landscaper your budget before discussing the design.
But what if you have absolutely no idea what landscaping costs?
You might nominate $30,000 for a garden that realistically costs $80,000.
A more useful approach is to reverse the process.
Step 1: Know what you want. Be clear about the garden you're hoping to create. Do you want a swimming pool? A covered entertaining area? New paving? Lots of trees and planting? The more information you can provide, the better.
Step 2: Find out what it costs. Use that information to establish a realistic estimate of the work.
Step 3: Adjust your expectations. If it's too expensive, remove costly elements, simplify the construction or stage the project over time.
And be prepared for the possibility that your original assumptions were too low.
That's not necessarily a sign of overcharging. It's part of understanding what your garden actually involves.
6. Save money by doing the fun bits yourself
You don't need to pay a landscaper to do absolutely everything.
One of the easiest ways to save money is to divide the work between professionals and DIY.
Let the landscapers handle excavation, drainage, retaining walls and heavy construction.
Then consider doing the planting yourself.
Planting is one of the most enjoyable parts of creating a garden. It's relatively accessible, rewarding and gives you a genuine connection to the space you're creating.
You can save on labour while still benefiting from professional expertise where it matters most.
7. Get your garden designed and costed before you build it
Ultimately, the best protection against unexpected landscaping costs isn't collecting more quotes.
It's understanding what you're asking people to build, and what that garden is likely to cost, before you approach a landscaper.
A professional garden design gives you clarity about what you want.
An itemised cost estimate gives you an understanding of what you can realistically expect to spend.
Together, they allow you to make informed decisions, refine the design and approach landscapers with confidence.
That's exactly why we created Gramina's Complete Plan PLUS.
Alongside your personalised garden design, our Budget Clarity Package provides an itemised estimate of anticipated construction labour, materials, planting and major built elements.
It's not a guaranteed construction quote. It's a realistic guide that helps you understand the costs, make changes before committing to construction and compare the quotes you eventually receive.
Because the best way to avoid feeling ripped off isn't to find the cheapest landscaper.
It's to know what you're buying in the first place.
We take on limited clients each month so every garden plan receives proper care and attention.
Build with a Clear Budget.
This is our Complete Plan PLUS a Build Cost Estimate so you know what your new design costs before you build.
The Complete Plan PLUS brings together our most comprehensive gramina garden plan AND a build cost estimate, to give you a full break down of how much your new garden will cost to build. The Complete Plan is the most comprehensive Gramina Garden Plan. It brings together a fully bespoke garden theme, a site-specific design, and a resolved planting strategy into one clear, build-ready package. The result is a one-of-a-kind garden design that reflects how you want to live outdoors, shaped precisely to your site.
This plan is best for:
People ready to build who want their garden design and budget brought together in one clear package.
How it works
One-on-one video/phone conversation
You share your brief, aspirations, priorities, and budget expectations in a focused call that sets the foundation for the design.Send us your site photos
You send through photos of your garden and surrounding conditions to inform layout, scale, and character.We design and cost your garden
We develop a unique garden theme, a bespoke concept layout, rendered views using your site photos, a planting plan, planting list, build notes, and a Build Cost Estimate to help you understand the likely cost of bringing the garden to life.
What’s included in the Complete Plan PLUS
Build Cost Estimate
A cost estimate that breaks down construction costs. This shows investment required, compare priorities, stage work, and hire contractors with confidence.One-on-one detailed video/phone conversation
A dedicated conversation to understand your site, priorities, aspirations, and budget direction before design begins.A fully unique Custom Garden Plan Theme
A one-of-a-kind garden theme created specifically from your brief, lifestyle, and site conditions.Bespoke Concept Layout
A clear, concept layout plan reflective of your custom theme.Up to 6 rendered views
Visualisations showing how your garden can transform, based on site images you provide.A Bespoke Planting Plan
A planting plan designed specifically for your site, climate, and layout, showing plant placement and structure.A Bespoke Planting Palette
A tailored plant palette aligned with your planting plan, climate zone, and design intent.Build Notes
Clear guidance on installation steps, sequencing, and key considerations to support construction and implementation.Additional Moments (Optional)
Any additional moments you choose are integrated seamlessly into your bespoke concept plan.