Costs to Landscape Front Yards

Creating a Lawn

• The lawn is the canvas on which a landscape is built. The three major expenses for establishing a lawn are the preparation, grass seed and initial maintenance. If the lawn is left bare by the contractors, the soil is probably in poor condition. Adding a single cubic yard of topsoil costs about $30 dollars, and a cubic yard of compost is about $50 as of the time of publication in August 2011. There is also a delivery charge, along with the cost of renting a rototiller to mix the two additions into the existing soil. Grass seed and maintenance fertilizer together will generally cost less than $50, depending on the size of the front yard.

Trees and Shrubs

• Trees are the queens of landscaping, and shrubs their court. Common landscaping trees such as maples, locusts and elms cost less than more exotic trees, with starting prices lower than $200. Trees are also priced by their diameter, with larger trees more expensive. A small tree allows you to transport it yourself, dig the hole and plant it, saving professional costs. Shrubs can range from less than $20 to well above $100.

Flowers

• A walkway or foundation with abundant, colorful flowers throughout the growing season says to passersby that you take pride and care in your home. Perennials that come back year after year have an initial investment of between just a few dollars up to $30. Preparing a bed for them with topsoil and compost can cost several dollars per bag. Mulching around the flowers with wood chips can cost another $30 to $40, depending on the type of mulch.

Special Landscaping

• Landscaping doesn't end with putting plants in the yard. It also includes special projects such as creating protective rings around trees and shrubs or decorative touches such as statues or other objects, in addition to landscape lighting. Costs can quickly add up with all the extras, with some decor ranging up to the hundreds of dollars. Many homeowners see their front yard as an ongoing project that is never finished. Instead of trying to do all the work in one year, you can spread the labor and the costs of materials over several years.