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.
Clover is not suitable for children who often go barefoot, as the flowers attract bees and wasps.
I always recommend drawing up a plan showing the driveway, house, terrace, and so on. On the west side of a terrace (i.e., at the terrace), some wind protection is needed. This is usually achieved with 2-3 shrubs that grow to 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet) tall. Then, you should simply map out the sight lines from the sofa, dining chairs, and possibly the kitchen island: what do you want to see in the garden? A play area? A beautiful specimen tree or a flower bed? Or the future garden shed? And just as you arrange candles or Easter decorations on a sideboard (taller at the back, lower at the front), you proceed similarly with a bush, a spherical evergreen, and so forth.
We do have a nice garden thread here that showcases a lot of attractive designs. And if the planting doesn’t turn out as you hoped, it can always be changed.
I always recommend drawing up a plan showing the driveway, house, terrace, and so on. On the west side of a terrace (i.e., at the terrace), some wind protection is needed. This is usually achieved with 2-3 shrubs that grow to 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet) tall. Then, you should simply map out the sight lines from the sofa, dining chairs, and possibly the kitchen island: what do you want to see in the garden? A play area? A beautiful specimen tree or a flower bed? Or the future garden shed? And just as you arrange candles or Easter decorations on a sideboard (taller at the back, lower at the front), you proceed similarly with a bush, a spherical evergreen, and so forth.
We do have a nice garden thread here that showcases a lot of attractive designs. And if the planting doesn’t turn out as you hoped, it can always be changed.
ypg schrieb:
Are those actually gravel front gardens or driveways? I’m not really an expert on this. I would normally consider the drivable part as the driveway, which was usually paved. The other areas in the front garden were often filled with gravel or crushed stone. Based on the borders, I’d guess some of them were once regular flower beds or something similar, until the neighbors influenced them. Many of the houses were quite close to the street, so the area wasn’t very large. But a few were set back, and those had bigger areas with gravel or crushed stone and maybe a few small rock garden shrubs. Generally, some of these gravel parts included these bushes (which I would call a front garden), but I think more than half were simply stone, no plants. It caught my attention because I’m familiar with efforts to green even small spaces. To be fair, the gardens behind the houses looked more green from what I could see. But the impression from that “Stop sealing surfaces!” sign on a street full of stone front gardens (we’re talking roughly 25 houses, and maybe 2 didn’t have them) was quite striking.
netuser schrieb:
…and I immediately came across a book title "The Garden for Smart Lazy People." Sounds just right to me 😉
ypg schrieb:
You can always start by simply sowing grass everywhere. Over the years, you’ll have more time for the garden and can plan things out. That might be something for @MarkoW. or maybe he already had a similar idea before the community members were totally shocked by his initial “just grass” suggestion 😉 The point that it doesn’t have to be more complicated or expensive is a useful reminder regarding the original question (how to create an affordable garden). Maybe he’ll find the time to look into it further and implement something different. But I also understand if it’s not the top priority and may come later or gradually over time.
There was a forum post somewhere where a user sowed a wildflower mix in the first year, and the photo was beautiful (and the person was considering keeping it that way, contrary to the original plan). I’ve kept that option in mind for when we won’t have the patience, budget, or time for a deeper study at first.
@mayglow Gravel does not provide a seal. Many use it as a bed covering. Instead, ground cover plants can be used, which benefit the environment. It is also cheaper. Gravel itself has the disadvantage (like paving) that you can have problems with weeds growing in the "joints."
A garden made of gravel and crushed stone might have its drawbacks for various reasons, but it does not create an impervious surface. In this respect, the sign is not really contradicted. It does not say: "Provide a home for bees and other little creatures!"
And as long as it’s not just gravel and crushed stone but also includes adapted shrubs, such a garden can be an excellent habitat, for example, for lizards. If you have very sandy soil anyway, it might even be better (in terms of being more environmentally friendly) to adapt to that, rather than turning a piece of wasteland into a garden paradise through heavy irrigation.
There are always shades of gray between black and white.
And as long as it’s not just gravel and crushed stone but also includes adapted shrubs, such a garden can be an excellent habitat, for example, for lizards. If you have very sandy soil anyway, it might even be better (in terms of being more environmentally friendly) to adapt to that, rather than turning a piece of wasteland into a garden paradise through heavy irrigation.
There are always shades of gray between black and white.
Tolentino schrieb:
Such a garden can be a great habitat for lizards, for example. Exactly! I’m curious to hear what @MarkoW., our original poster, will report once the little animals have moved into his gabion terrace divider 😀
W
WilderSueden11 Apr 2022 16:52If you want to do something for lizards, I would always prefer a dry stone wall made of natural stone. It usually blends nicely into the landscape, and if you build it with a double layer, you can also plant something on top, not just in the cracks. Some trailing greenery softens the wall 😉
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