Landscaping Cost Factors
There's no single number that answers "how much does landscaping cost" — two backyards the same size can cost very different amounts depending on what's actually being built, what's underneath the surface, and what materials are chosen. Instead of a flat price range that wouldn't mean much without context, here's what actually drives the cost of a landscaping project in London, Ontario, and why.
Project Type & Scope
The biggest cost driver is simply what's being built. A small garden wall costs a fraction of a structural retaining wall holding back a driveway. A standard interlock walkway costs less than a full outdoor kitchen with plumbing and gas lines. Within landscape construction, scope ranges from a single, contained project (one retaining wall, one patio) to a full-property rebuild involving excavation, drainage, multiple hardscape surfaces, and structures — and cost scales with how much is actually being done, not just the size of the yard.
Site Conditions
Two properties of the same size can cost very differently to build on if the ground underneath is different. A flat, well-drained lot with easy equipment access costs less to build on than a sloped property, one with poor existing drainage, or one where equipment has to be brought in by hand because a gate or a fence limits access. Grading, drainage correction, and soil conditions are often invisible in the finished result, but they're frequently where the real cost of a project sits — a beautiful patio built on a poorly graded base is a problem waiting to resurface, not a cost saving.
Materials
Material choice affects cost directly and by a wide margin. Interlock generally costs less than natural stone for the same square footage, though both perform well long-term when installed correctly. Composite and PVC decking cost more upfront than untreated wood but need far less ongoing maintenance. Manufactured stone (like Unilock's retaining wall systems) tends to be more cost-predictable than natural stone, which varies more by what's available and how it needs to be cut and fitted. None of these are "better" outright — they're trade-offs between upfront cost, appearance, and long-term maintenance, and the right choice depends on the project and the budget.
Size & Area
This one's intuitive — more square footage of patio, more linear feet of retaining wall, more length of driveway generally means more material and more labour. But size isn't the only variable, which is why two projects of the same square footage can still cost differently once scope, site conditions, and materials are factored in.
Permits & Engineering
Some projects carry costs beyond materials and labour. A retaining wall over 2 ft (1.2m) requires an engineering permit — stamped drawings from a licensed engineer — which adds a cost most homeowners don't budget for if they haven't built a wall before. Outdoor kitchens with gas lines require permits and inspection. A deck that's a principal entrance to the home needs a permit regardless of height. These aren't optional extras — they're required for anything that meets the threshold, and building without a required permit creates a bigger cost risk later than the permit itself.
Design vs. Build, and Phasing
Landscape design is offered as its own service with its own fee, separate from construction — a real plan with site analysis, drawings, and a construction estimate, rather than a free sketch bundled into a sales pitch. That fee is a real cost, but it also protects against a bigger one: a project that gets redesigned mid-construction because something wasn't accounted for upfront almost always costs more than getting the design right the first time.
For larger projects, phasing is a common way to manage cost without cutting scope — breaking one full plan into two or three build phases across different budget cycles, so the whole vision still gets built, just not all at once.
Getting a Fair, Comparable Quote
Because so many factors affect cost, the only way to get an accurate number is a real site visit and a written quote — not a phone estimate or a flat per-square-foot rate quoted without seeing the property. This is also where Ontario's own consumer protections matter: under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, any home renovation contract worth $50 or more must be in writing, and if an estimate is part of the contract, the final price can't legally exceed that estimate by more than 10% without your agreement to the added scope. Knowing this is worth it when comparing quotes from different contractors — a written, detailed estimate isn't just good practice, it's a real legal protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do quotes from different contractors vary so much for what seems like the same project? Scope definitions differ, material assumptions differ, and how much site prep and drainage work is included in the number can differ significantly — a lower quote sometimes means less work is actually included, not just a better price for the same work. Comparing written, itemized quotes rather than a single bottom-line number is the only reliable way to see what's actually different.
Does a landscape design fee count toward the cost of construction? This varies by contractor and is worth asking directly — since design and construction are separate services, the design fee should be clarified upfront as either a standalone cost or one that applies toward a construction project that follows.
Can a project be broken into phases to manage cost? Yes — this is a normal way to handle a larger project, building from one complete design plan across multiple budget cycles instead of compressing everything into one season or cutting the scope down permanently.
Is a permit an extra cost, or is it already included in a quote? This should be clarified before signing — permit and engineering costs for a project that requires them (a tall retaining wall, gas line work) should be itemized in the written quote, not assumed to be bundled in or left out.
This post explains general cost factors and isn't a substitute for a site-specific quote. For a written estimate based on your actual property, request a quote directly.
