Landscaping in stages is often the best solution for homeowners who have a clear vision for their property but prefer to spread the investment over time. At Details Landscape Art, we design and build landscapes throughout Sonoma County, Marin County, and Napa County, ranging from small garden renovations to large estate properties.
An example of landscaping in stages. This is the completed project.
There is no question that landscaping is expensive. The final cost depends on many factors, including the size of the property, the terrain, the materials selected, and the features included in the design. A flat backyard generally costs less to landscape than a steep hillside. A simple patio will cost less than a patio combined with retaining walls, water features, and extensive stonework.
Most homeowners have a budget. The challenge is deciding how to achieve the landscape they truly want without compromising the overall vision.
Why Landscaping in Stages Makes Sense
Many homeowners are tempted to reduce the scope of a project or eliminate important elements simply to meet an immediate budget.
We often recommend another approach.
Rather than settling for a watered-down version of the landscape, it frequently makes more sense to develop a complete plan and then install the project in stages over several months or even several years.
This allows the homeowner to achieve the desired result while spreading the investment over time.
Start with a Complete Plan
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is tackling a project one piece at a time without an overall plan.
The result can be a collection of unrelated improvements that never quite fit together.
We prefer to begin with a complete landscape design.
Landscaping in stages begins with a design
Once the master plan is established, we can identify which portions of the project can be completed independently and in what sequence they should be installed.
A good plan prevents expensive rework later.
Landscaping In Stages – The Bones of the Garden Come First
In most projects, the first stage should be the hardscape.
We often refer to patios, walkways, retaining walls, grading, and water features as the Bones of the Garden. These elements establish the framework of the landscape and should generally be installed before planting begins.
Hardscape construction is always messy. Excavation equipment, concrete trucks, wheelbarrows, and material deliveries can damage newly installed plants and lawns.
For that reason, it usually makes sense to complete the hardscape before moving on to the softscape.
Softscape Is Usually the Next Stage
Once the major construction is complete, attention turns to the living elements of the garden.
Trees, shrubs, ground covers, lawns, and irrigation systems are often installed together.
After the soil has been prepared and amended, plants should be installed promptly. Once planted, they require irrigation and mulch to protect the soil and help suppress weeds.
Trying to spread the softscape over too many stages can sometimes create additional maintenance challenges.
Access Can Affect the Schedule
Access is another important consideration when landscaping in stages.
If heavy equipment will be needed for a future swimming pool, retaining wall, or major grading project, it often makes sense to complete those improvements first.
No one enjoys removing a fence, tearing up a side yard, or driving equipment across a newly completed landscape.
Thinking ahead can save both time and money.
Staging by Area
Another common approach is to divide the project into separate areas.
For example:
- Backyard first
- Front yard later
Or:
- Outdoor living areas first
- Planting areas later
This strategy allows homeowners to enjoy completed portions of the landscape while planning future improvements.
Landscaping in Stages Creates Better Results
Trying to stretch a limited budget across an entire property often results in a landscape that feels unfinished.
In our experience, homeowners are usually happier when they complete one area properly and then move on to the next phase.
At Details Landscape Art, we work closely with clients to develop realistic installation schedules that fit both their vision and their budget. Landscaping in stages allows homeowners to enjoy a thoughtfully planned landscape today while continuing to build toward the complete garden they ultimately want.
Details Landscape Art is a landscaping professional with a variety of projects throughout Sonoma County, Marin County and Napa County. And these landscapes range in price from smaller, inexpensive postage stamp size gardens, to large high end estate landscapes. There’s no question that landscaping is expensive. The ultimate cost of a landscape project is a function of the size and elevation of the property to be landscaped, the types of elements to be included, and the materials chosen. A larger property will typically cost more than a smaller one, a project on a slope will certainly cost more than a flat one, adding water features and elaborate stone work will increase the price, and choosing flagstone is more expensive than stamped concrete or aggregate.
An example of landscaping in stages. This is the completed project.
Homeowners almost always have a budget or a dollar range they would like to keep to. Rather than skimp on what they really want to stay within the budget, or try to do too large an area at once, we offer the opportunity to stage the project over time…sometimes several years. A good landscaping professional can draw a design or sketch, bid the project in the approximate sequence of installation, and then indicate which elements can be installed independently of other elements, and propose a schedule that meets the homeowner’s financial timing.
After the demolition of the existing unwanted landscape elements, the first stage is usually the hardscape…patios, walkways, retaining walls, stonework, major grading, water features. These are what we call the ‘Bones of the Garden’. It does not make sense to install these elements after the ‘softscape’, as these hardscape installations are generally messy projects. Sometimes the hardscape itself can be broken down into stages, but it’s often economically more efficient to do them together.
The next stage is the softscape, which usually makes sense to do all at once. Once the soil is amended, plants or sod need to be installed right away…once the plants or grass are in they need to be irrigated…then the ground need to be mulched with bark or else weeds will soon take over.
Access is another factor to be considered. If the backyard is going to require the use of heavy equipment, a side yard may get trampled or a fence may need to come down temporarily to gain access. If a swimming pool is to be installed and tractors and dump trucks are required, then these project should be done first, especially in the rainy, muddy winter months. So accessible may affect the sequence of the stages.
The other possibility on a larger project, is to stage the job by area or sections i.e. back yard now-front yard later or vice versa Often homeowners try take an estimated budget and stretch it too thin. Trying to landscape too large an area with limited resources often yields a sparse project that cries out for filling in after the job is complete.
Details Landscape Art is a landscaping professional, and we work hard to make it feasible for the homeowner to get what they want in the long run.