I've noticed homes that recently sold in our neighborhood have no plantings at all. They actually look nice. No plants and no mulch. Just grass. Nothing to maintain.

Merrifield is not cheap!

Anonymous wrote:I contacted a local landscaping company. Their designer charges $300/hr with most designs taking 2-3 hours’ time. No thanks!

My dad paid for a design and implemented it himself over the course of many years. It was a good investment and it's a beautiful yard many decades later.

Anonymous wrote:I did something similar, and it made a big difference in how my yard turned out. Professional designers typically charge between $50 to $150 per hour, or you might find a flat rate for a full design plan, usually ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the complexity. Also, you can check out some reliable and experienced companies like https://topgradeenterprises.com/. You might find someone affordable and skilled. Hope this helps!

I must be missing something. That company you linked to is in Canada and we are in Virginia.

We are doing a large project (deck, pool, stone work, planting) and the landscape plan was $2000. Honestly the best money we spent as he had really creative ideas that we hadn’t thought of. He didn’t want to be involved in project oversight although we would have paid him to do that.

In another house we paid by the hour and it was $200/hour. She did oversee the project but we hired the contractors.

I'm getting really into gardening, and I would pay a company for design and install of the garden structure: hardscaping, drainage, evergreens for winter interest and managing privacy.

Then I would enjoy selecting and planting my own perennials and designing the color/look I want myself.

We’ve used Merrifield 3x as we’ve done sections of our yard and have been very happy.

I did something similar, and it made a big difference in how my yard turned out. Professional designers typically charge between $50 to $150 per hour, or you might find a flat rate for a full design plan, usually ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the complexity. Also, you can check out some reliable and experienced companies like https://topgradeenterprises.com/. You might find someone affordable and skilled. Hope this helps!

We paid $1700 last year for about 300 sqft. The beds were already dug though. It included 100 plants and they did all of the planting.

They didn't really design it per se, but just offered to plant it as they best saw fit. I don't even notice that it wasn't 'designed' tbh

I posted above: Truly couldn’t guess what it would cost (Length of path? How extensive plantings? Path or other lighting) I certainly don’t charge $300/hr - and if as simple as you describe design fee might be just $300. Some jobs can just have a nominal $175 fee, ones with complicated hardscape and elevation issues will be $3-4000-and porches and decks extra - but some honestly are just straight forward enough I can move straight to
pricing.
Also: Your ‘guy’ might be able to implement the path and plantings but most companies like ours train our crews to install everything correctly (and training is an ongoing investment as we want to be the best!) and we at least have a 2 year guarantee / lifetime on plants. Look where companies are recommended not just at price! And - a skilled designer may take your initial ideas and present much better options!!

Anonymous wrote:I’m at a full service Design/Install landscape company. We don’t have a set design fee as it’s based on what the project actually is. If its just a path and renewed plantings it shouldn’t be too much but there may be additional things you’d want to think about. If you’re ready to invest in your yard - any drainage issues need to be addressed and lighting adds so much. Talk to people who have yards you admire and see who they used. My work is probably 60-70% referrals and repeat customers and the rest a mix of having seen us in their neighborhood, coverage in magazines and things like the BB vetting.

Thanks for that info. I have not noticed any drainage issues in the front yard. It's full sun and the soil gently slopes away from the house.
I do like lighting and would consider any lighting options.
What would be your ballpark then for plantings, a path, lighting, including install? We were thinking of a gravel path with pavers.

I contacted a local landscaping company. Their designer charges $300/hr with most designs taking 2-3 hours’ time. No thanks!

I’m at a full service Design/Install landscape company. We don’t have a set design fee as it’s based on what the project actually is. If its just a path and renewed plantings it shouldn’t be too much but there may be additional things you’d want to think about. If you’re ready to invest in your yard - any drainage issues need to be addressed and lighting adds so much. Talk to people who have yards you admire and see who they used. My work is probably 60-70% referrals and repeat customers and the rest a mix of having seen us in their neighborhood, coverage in magazines and things like the BB vetting.

Usually, design/install guys won't charge separately for design. Whatever design/plants you choose, make sure that you run it past people that know plants. IME, most landscaping companies choose plants that are easy to maintain (for them). This is one of the reasons you see the same plants being used over and over and over again.

Looking to hire a designer for a typical 3-brm SFH front yard, it's not very big. Need a new walkway made and plantings and want it to look nice. It's currently just grass.
I know places like Merrifield will do it for really cheap but what about a professional landscape designer? I already have a guy I work with on lawn jobs who says he can install for me.