Michigan Landscape Pricing
Do you have realistic expectations for your landscaping budget?
Landscape Pricing Guide for Oakland County, Michigan
At Silva Custom Design, we believe homeowners deserve clear, honest information when planning a landscaping project.
Our landscaping pricing guide is designed to give Oakland County residents a better understanding of what different landscaping services typically cost — and how far your budget can go toward creating the outdoor space you envision.
Whether you're looking for a new lawn, custom garden beds, outdoor lighting, irrigation installation, or a full property transformation, this guide will help you make informed decisions and plan your project with confidence.
Here's what different investment levels can achieve:
Pre-Sale Curb Appeal & Clean Ups ($2,500 - $7,500)
This entry-level range is ideal for homeowners preparing to sell or those looking for a quick curb appeal refresh without major construction. We focus on cleanliness, color, and general repairs that make a strong visual impact.
Typical services in this range may include:
- Full-property landscape cleanup (pruning, edging, debris removal)
- Garden bed cleanup and seasonal planting
- Mulch installation for a uniform, polished look
- Minor outdoor lighting repairs
- Overgrown hedge trimming or plant removals
These projects are fast and effective, often completed in just a few days, and can make your home look cared-for and market-ready.
Mid-Range Landscaping ($7,500 - $25,000)
This budget range allows for impactful improvements that enhance curb appeal, introduce color, and correct common issues like poor drainage or patchy lawns.
You might choose:
- New sod installation or lawn renovation
- Garden bed redesign with native and ornamental plantings
- Decorative edging, low garden walls, or curbing
- Kichler or FXluminaire landscape lighting for walkways and focal points
- Property grading or basic drainage improvements
- Paver walkways, entry pads, or updated front steps (smaller-scale)
This tier is perfect for homeowners who want to refresh their front yard or tackle several moderate improvements at once.
Full Front Yard Redesign or Small Backyard Projects ($25,000 - $50,000)
In this range, we can begin integrating custom design, hardscape elements, and structural improvements for a complete transformation.
Typical projects may include:
- Custom planting plans with a mix of native, low-maintenance, or ornamental species
- Lawn replacement replacing an existing lawn that is brown, patchy, or overtaken by weeds
- Backyard paver patio with a basic outdoor kitchen
- Paver walkways, entry landings, or retaining walls
- Expanded outdoor lighting plans (driveways, garden beds, architectural uplighting)
- Drainage solutions like French drains, dry creek beds, or swales
This is a great budget for homeowners who want a cohesive, long-lasting upgrade to the front or side yard-and a touch of outdoor living design.
Landscape Transformations & New Construction Landscaping ($50,000 - $100,000+)
This investment level is for homeowners starting from scratch or looking to create a luxury outdoor living environment. With a detailed plan and the right materials, we can deliver an entire landscape package that enhances your home's appearance, functionality, and long-term value.
Projects at this tier can include:
- Full property grading and lawn installation (sod)
- Large-scale planting designs with privacy screening and seasonal color
- Custom outdoor lighting with FXluminaire or Kichler fixtures
- Xeriscape design with native plants, stone groundcover, and water-wise planning
- Retaining walls to level slopes or define garden areas
- Integration with patios, fire features, and walkways (see our Hardscaping Pricing Guide for more detail)
This range is ideal for new construction homes, large properties, or homeowners planning a phased landscape build over time.
Luxury Landscaping for Estate Homes & Complete Property Renovations ($75,000 - $150,000+)
This investment range is ideal for large-scale front and backyard transformations on high-end or estate properties, including both new builds and renovations of aging landscapes. It allows for a comprehensive, fully designed outdoor environment that complements upscale homes and adds long-term value and function.
With this level of investment, your landscape may include:
- A professionally designed master landscape plan for the entire property
- Paver driveway, custom walkway, and welcoming front landing
- Backyard patio or outdoor living space complete with a custom outdoor kitchen
- Garden bed construction and replanting, featuring native and ornamental species
- Privacy plantings and screening for pool areas or property borders
- Luxury poolside landscaping with integrated seating areas, accent lighting, and planting design
- Terraced retaining walls to manage grade changes and create dynamic outdoor spaces
- Pergolas, pavilions, or shade structures designed for year-round use
- Custom outdoor lighting systems using Kichler or FXluminaire, with smart controls and multi-zone programming
- Fire features or water features as statement pieces and gathering areas
This tier is tailored for discerning homeowners who want every element of their landscape to be thoughtfully designed, expertly built, and flawlessly integrated with the architecture and lifestyle of their home.
What Affects the Cost of Landscaping
Several key factors affect the cost of a landscaping project. Understanding these elements can help you plan a realistic budget and make informed decisions based on your property, preferences, and priorities.
1. Plant & Material Selection
The types of plants, trees, shrubs, mulch, and groundcovers you choose can significantly impact overall cost. Native plants are often more affordable and easier to maintain, while mature trees, specimen plantings, and premium materials like decorative stone or high-end mulch blends will increase your investment.
2. Site Conditions & Preparation
Every property is different. Factors like grading, poor soil, existing overgrowth, or drainage issues can add time and cost to a landscaping project. Sloped yards, compacted soil, or the need for erosion control or irrigation installation may require additional preparation.
3. Project Size & Design Complexity
A simple front garden bed makeover will cost far less than a full property transformation with new plantings, lighting, sod, and privacy screening. Projects involving multiple zones (front, side, and backyard) or detailed planting plans require more labor and material-and, in many cases, custom design work.
4. Enhancements & Special Features
Adding elements such as low-voltage lighting (like FXluminaire or Kichler), rain gardens, dry creek beds, or privacy screening can enhance both the function and beauty of your landscape-but they also contribute to the final cost. These features are often worth the investment for long-term property value and ease of maintenance.
Understanding Landscape Pricing: Why Costs Vary Between Contractors
As you research landscaping pricing in Michigan and even get an estimate or two from a qualified landscape contractor, you'll likely come across a wide range of estimates for what seems like similar work. It's natural to wonder why one company charges significantly more-or less-than another.
The truth is, while material costs (plants, mulch, soil, lighting, etc.) are relatively consistent across the board, pricing differences usually come down to labor quality, design expertise, project planning, and long-term support.
Why Some Landscaping Contractors Charge Less
If you receive a much lower bid than others, here are a few important things to consider:
Inexperienced or Untrained Labor
Lower-cost landscaping contractors often rely on unskilled or seasonal labor to keep prices down. This can result in poor plant placement, improper soil prep, drainage issues, and early plant failure. We've been called in more than once to fix failing landscapes that weren't installed correctly the first time.
No Design or Planning Process
Basic quotes with no design or planting plan can lead to poorly thought-out layouts and mismatched plant choices that won't thrive in your yard. At Silva Custom Design, we create custom designs-factoring in sun exposure, soil, drainage, and aesthetics-so your landscape matures beautifully and functions properly.
Poor Soil Prep or Planting Techniques
Cut-rate contractors may skip important steps like soil amendments, grading, proper root ball placement, or spacing. These shortcuts can lead to poor plant health, erosion, or drainage issues that cost more to fix later.
No Warranty or Follow-Up Support
Low-budget bids often don't include warranties or aftercare. If plants fail or drainage problems appear after installation, you could be left with the full cost of repair. Silva Custom Design stands behind our work.
Business Instability
Some lower-cost landscapers aren't licensed, insured, or long established. If something goes wrong, they may no longer be in business when you need help.
Why Some Landscaping Contractors Charge More
If you've received a quote that's significantly higher than others, it's important to understand what may be behind the price. Sometimes it reflects added value and quality-other times, it may come from inflated overhead that doesn't directly benefit your project.
High Overhead, Not Always High Value
Larger companies with expansive office staff, fleets of trucks, and major advertising budgets often pass those overhead costs onto clients. While size can mean resources, it doesn't always guarantee better craftsmanship or service. At Silva Custom Design, we maintain a professional, efficient operation that focuses our resources where they matter most-your project.
Overpriced or Exotic Materials
Some contractors may specify rare or imported plants and materials that significantly raise the cost. While those selections can have a place in certain designs, they're not always necessary. We source top-quality, regionally appropriate plants, stone, and mulch from trusted suppliers to ensure beauty, performance, and cost-efficiency without unnecessary markups.
Complex Designs & Advanced Features
In some cases, higher costs are justified-especially when the project involves multi-zone planting plans, drainage engineering, or custom landscape features like rain gardens, pollinator habitats, or outdoor lighting systems. These require greater planning, more skilled labor, and specialized materials-all of which can impact the price.
No Inflated Margins-Just Honest Value
We price our projects based on the real work involved-not inflated profit margins. We encourage homeowners to compare quotes, ask questions, and ensure that each estimate includes the same level of materials, design, and execution. At Silva Custom Design, we're focused on delivering quality that lasts-and that starts with being transparent about what you're getting.
A Fair Price for Quality Work
At Silva Custom Design, our pricing reflects the care, expertise, materials, and long-term value we bring to each project-not unnecessary overhead or inflated margins. We're not the cheapest, but we are committed to doing things right the first time-so you can enjoy your landscape for years to come.
Our Clients Love Us!
Here's What They Say
Edwin and his team were fantastic to work with! We needed our old 90's patio steps rebuilt the exact same way and they were the only company to tackle this project for us. All the others tried to talk us into a whole new look for a lot more money. So glad we went with Silva! Edwin's customer service and expertise is top notch. I highly recommend!
Edwin and his team were amazing! They handled all the permits and paperwork and got promptly to work as soon as everything was finalized. His team that came out were respectful and made sure my wife and I were happy with everything along the way. We love the fence and would recommend to anyone looking for good quality work!
Loved working with Edwin and his team! His team redid our entire back yard and did a beautiful fence to go along with it! They also set up our playground/swing set for us! We loved them so much we had them come back the next year to fix up our garage and build us an above the garage room!
I HIGHLY recommend Silva custom design. Edwin is the best! Edwin redid my driveway and did the foundation + framing for my home addition. His crews were very respectful cleaning up daily and very hard workers! I honestly was sad he wasn’t able to do more work on my renovation.
Edwin and his team were fantastic to work with and our patio turned out beautiful. Edwin came out quickly to give us a quote on removing some raised beds and redoing our collapsing patio and then fit us into his schedule for the fall. We appreciated his professionalism and that he gave us quotes for both new pavers and reusing our old ones. We decided to go with new pavers and they look amazing. The work was done quickly and perfectly! We would happily recommend them to anyone.
