ᐅ Affordable landscaping for a new build – what is the best approach?
Created on: 9 Apr 2022 11:16
M
MarkoW.
Good morning everyone,
As some of you may have heard, we are building a semi-detached house as a prefabricated home. As is common with most suppliers, the exterior landscaping is not included in the price. So, we have to take care of that ourselves.
I have read up extensively on the topic but unfortunately keep finding very conflicting prices and cost estimates.
Just a few days ago, there was a thread where someone wanted to spend six figures on their garden—I nearly fell off my chair.
So, about our garden: The area behind the house is roughly 230 square meters (2,476 square feet), a bit over 10 meters (33 feet) wide and just over 20 meters (66 feet) long. We plan to build a simple paved terrace, which will probably be slightly higher than the rest of the garden later on. The house (being timber frame construction) has to be elevated 30cm (12 inches) above ground level. Since we want level access to the terrace from the house, it will be built flush with the door, and the lawn will then be slightly lower. We will also need to install drainage between the terrace and the house to prevent water from running into the building. That shouldn’t be a problem because the rainwater downpipes’ drainage also runs in that area. According to online sources, paving the terrace costs around 100 euros per square meter (approximately $100 per 10.8 square feet).
Regarding the fence, we will of course coordinate with our future neighbors. We’re considering separating the terrace from the neighbor with gabion walls (about 4 meters / 13 feet long). The rest of the garden will be enclosed with a welded wire fence (please no debate about the fence type—the development plan requires hedges, chain-link fencing, or welded wire fencing). On various websites, I calculated prices for this. About 50 meters (164 feet) of fencing (1.8 meters / 6 feet high and 2 meters / 6.5 feet wide per panel), including posts, costs around 4,000 euros. Privacy screening strips might be added, but they can be easily installed by ourselves, so I am leaving those out for now (around 700 euros).
We also want a lawn. I think rolled turf looks best, though I’ve also read about very different prices here. When searching for prices, about 10 euros per square meter (approximately $10 per 10.8 square feet) is displayed. Alternatively, we could sow grass seed ourselves, but then there is the risk that birds will eat it.
No flowers, trees, or shrubs are initially planned. To the right of the house, we want a garage (we have quotes starting at 15,000 euros for an 8 x 3 meter (26 x 10 feet) prefabricated garage with electricity, foundation, and installation).
The driveway / front garden can only be done once the construction access road is removed.
So what makes the garden so expensive? I’ve estimated my calculated costs:
Terrace: 40 sqm x 100 euros = 4,000 euros (possibly a bit more if more base material is needed)
Rolled turf: 200 sqm x 10 euros = 2,000 euros
Fence: 4,000 euros
That brings the total to about 10,000 euros (with the terrace costs including labor).
Then there is additional labor for the fence and lawn installation (unfortunately, I don’t feel confident doing this myself, and none of my acquaintances can either). Is labor really the main factor driving the cost so high? What labor costs would you estimate for these jobs?
Also, does it make sense to install the garage only after completing the garden work? Otherwise, it would be difficult to bring in excavators and other machinery.
What other tips would you have for keeping the garden as affordable as possible?
By the way, the plot used to be farmland, so it’s flat and the soil should be good for this kind of work.
As some of you may have heard, we are building a semi-detached house as a prefabricated home. As is common with most suppliers, the exterior landscaping is not included in the price. So, we have to take care of that ourselves.
I have read up extensively on the topic but unfortunately keep finding very conflicting prices and cost estimates.
Just a few days ago, there was a thread where someone wanted to spend six figures on their garden—I nearly fell off my chair.
So, about our garden: The area behind the house is roughly 230 square meters (2,476 square feet), a bit over 10 meters (33 feet) wide and just over 20 meters (66 feet) long. We plan to build a simple paved terrace, which will probably be slightly higher than the rest of the garden later on. The house (being timber frame construction) has to be elevated 30cm (12 inches) above ground level. Since we want level access to the terrace from the house, it will be built flush with the door, and the lawn will then be slightly lower. We will also need to install drainage between the terrace and the house to prevent water from running into the building. That shouldn’t be a problem because the rainwater downpipes’ drainage also runs in that area. According to online sources, paving the terrace costs around 100 euros per square meter (approximately $100 per 10.8 square feet).
Regarding the fence, we will of course coordinate with our future neighbors. We’re considering separating the terrace from the neighbor with gabion walls (about 4 meters / 13 feet long). The rest of the garden will be enclosed with a welded wire fence (please no debate about the fence type—the development plan requires hedges, chain-link fencing, or welded wire fencing). On various websites, I calculated prices for this. About 50 meters (164 feet) of fencing (1.8 meters / 6 feet high and 2 meters / 6.5 feet wide per panel), including posts, costs around 4,000 euros. Privacy screening strips might be added, but they can be easily installed by ourselves, so I am leaving those out for now (around 700 euros).
We also want a lawn. I think rolled turf looks best, though I’ve also read about very different prices here. When searching for prices, about 10 euros per square meter (approximately $10 per 10.8 square feet) is displayed. Alternatively, we could sow grass seed ourselves, but then there is the risk that birds will eat it.
No flowers, trees, or shrubs are initially planned. To the right of the house, we want a garage (we have quotes starting at 15,000 euros for an 8 x 3 meter (26 x 10 feet) prefabricated garage with electricity, foundation, and installation).
The driveway / front garden can only be done once the construction access road is removed.
So what makes the garden so expensive? I’ve estimated my calculated costs:
Terrace: 40 sqm x 100 euros = 4,000 euros (possibly a bit more if more base material is needed)
Rolled turf: 200 sqm x 10 euros = 2,000 euros
Fence: 4,000 euros
That brings the total to about 10,000 euros (with the terrace costs including labor).
Then there is additional labor for the fence and lawn installation (unfortunately, I don’t feel confident doing this myself, and none of my acquaintances can either). Is labor really the main factor driving the cost so high? What labor costs would you estimate for these jobs?
Also, does it make sense to install the garage only after completing the garden work? Otherwise, it would be difficult to bring in excavators and other machinery.
What other tips would you have for keeping the garden as affordable as possible?
By the way, the plot used to be farmland, so it’s flat and the soil should be good for this kind of work.
chand1986 schrieb:
Mandatory or voluntary?
...The main argument for a natural garden is not morality, but that there is no reason against it.
In the end, you always have to ask yourself whether and how it has worked so far. Voluntariness has, in my opinion, achieved too little so far. You can see – far too many people would cover their entire property with impermeable surfaces or plant dead lawns. Call it what you want – morality, obligation, lifestyle – ultimately, only a profound change in awareness of the value of nature helps. The idea that "there is no reason against it" is outdated. Just look at today’s zoning plans. The sections for greenery often take up most of the space.
I am still in favor of making "environmental protection" a mandatory subject throughout all school grades. At least then there would be some hope.
chand1986 schrieb:
But I know that this is not happening in single-family house gardens. So far, I have had contradictory information. Gardens are a very important part, especially for urban climate regulation. It’s not rocket science. Ultimately, every square meter of natural habitat is a gain for the environment.
chand1986 schrieb:
Fear of gardening comes from a lack of gardening education. Something can be done about that, but you have to keep your finger out of the way or the recipients shut down immediately. I would rather say laziness. The irony is that laziness would actually be the best gardener for the environment. Hands off, and everything is fine. People just always think that “their” garden has to be optimized for themselves. To avoid being disturbed by wasps on the terrace, everything is killed and paved over. Sad.
M
Myrna_Loy11 Apr 2022 08:49K a t j a schrieb:
People tend to think that their garden must be optimized just for themselves. To avoid wasps bothering them on the terrace, everything is killed and paved over. Sad. For most people, the garden is not seen as a natural area, but rather as a kind of summer living space with a representational function. That’s why terms like wellness oasis, chillout zone (with living room-style lounge furniture), and of course the outdoor kitchen for the homeowner appear in garden design. Add a play area for the children and a dining space. Nature is used purely as decoration. The maintenance effort is expected to be like inside the house: easy to clean and low in dirt accumulation.
W
WilderSueden11 Apr 2022 09:02I believe the problem is not only the expectations but also the misconceptions about what is affordable and low-maintenance. You can see that quite clearly in this thread 😉
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
For most people, the garden is not a natural area but rather a kind of summer living space with a representational purpose. ...
The maintenance effort should be the same as inside the house: washable and low-dust. You are right. In the end, it always comes down to the tendency of humans to claim and optimize all living spaces for themselves. By now, even the last person should have realized where this leads.
B
Benutzer20011 Apr 2022 10:54My neighbors also prefer low-maintenance gardens. A rock garden as the front yard (typically gray/anthracite gravel with 3 or 4 solitary conifer plants over 150 m² (1,615 sq ft)) and a lawn as the main garden, surrounded by gravel. No flowering plants at all.
In summer, you can feel the temperature in the front yard; it becomes a small desert valley. Birds, bees, and insects avoid the property. But it is low-maintenance.
In summer, you can feel the temperature in the front yard; it becomes a small desert valley. Birds, bees, and insects avoid the property. But it is low-maintenance.
My 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft) front garden is also low-maintenance and far from a desert.
I think the problem is simply a lack of good examples. What do parks and public spaces actually look like?
When you drive through older neighborhoods with gardens from the 1970s to 1990s, every Saturday the boxwood is meticulously trimmed, every weed is pulled from the bare soil, and so on.
Then come the zoning or building plans full of “you must” and “you must not.”
Wouldn’t it make more sense to have tailored planting plans with detailed instructions to guide new gardeners?
I think the problem is simply a lack of good examples. What do parks and public spaces actually look like?
When you drive through older neighborhoods with gardens from the 1970s to 1990s, every Saturday the boxwood is meticulously trimmed, every weed is pulled from the bare soil, and so on.
Then come the zoning or building plans full of “you must” and “you must not.”
Wouldn’t it make more sense to have tailored planting plans with detailed instructions to guide new gardeners?
Similar topics