September 21, 2026 | Last Updated: September 17, 2026
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What Counts as a Full Landscape Installation
- A single-service install is one job: a sod lawn, or a paver patio, or an irrigation system.
- A full installation reshapes the whole yard, and the elements depend on each other.
A full install usually includes some or all of the following:
- Grading and soil preparation
- Drainage, including French drains and catch basins
- Retaining walls and terracing
- Patios, walkways, and other hardscape
- Planting: trees, shrubs, and beds
- Lawn: sod, hydroseed, or synthetic turf
- Irrigation
- Low-voltage landscape lighting
What Does a Full Landscape Installation Cost?
A landscape design-build project at North County Landscape Co. starts between $15,000 and $25,000. That price covers planning, materials, and the build itself.
If you’d rather see a plan before committing, a standalone 3D design package starts at $2,000 and includes multiple revisions plus 3D and plan-view drawings. On a full installation, the design work is part of the project.
Past that starting point, the number goes up with the size of the property, how much soil has to move, how a crew reaches the work area, and the materials you pick. A site visit is the only way to get a firm figure.
What Each Piece Costs
Most pieces of a full install have their own published starting price. Here’s what each one costs on its own.
| Element | Starting Price | What It Covers |
| Full, designed installation | From $15,000 | Planning, materials, and the build for a project that combines multiple elements |
| Design only (3D plans) | From $2,000 | Multiple revisions plus 3D and plan-view drawings |
| Plant installation | From $1,500 | Regionally adapted trees, shrubs, and beds |
| Sod lawn | $4.00 to $6.50 per sq. ft. | Laying, cutting in, cleanup, and deep watering |
| Hydroseeding | From $575 | Seeding for larger areas |
| Synthetic turf | $15 to $19 per sq. ft. | Varies with site conditions, access, and grass type. Putting greens cost more. |
| Paver patio | From $35 per sq. ft. | 10-year workmanship warranty |
| Retaining wall | From $95 per face foot | Face foot = height times length |
| Walkways and pathways | From $3,500 | Paver or natural stone |
| Landscape lighting | From $2,000 | Low-voltage, energy-efficient |
| Irrigation system | Starts at $6,000 (for a small system with two zones) | New install with smart timers and zone setup |
How Whatcom County Pricing Compares
| Source | Reported Cost | What It Describes |
| Angi national average, 2026 | $3,516 average; $200 to $14,800 range | All landscaping jobs, every U.S. market |
| Angi, full backyard renovation | $15,000 to $50,000 | Whole-yard projects nationally |
| Angi, landscape design plans | $1,933 to $7,270 | Design work alone, national |
| Industry benchmark, quarter-acre lot | $40,000 to $80,000 | Full design-build with hardscape, lighting, and irrigation |
| National estimator note | Add 25% to 35% | Pacific Coast market adjustment |
| North County Landscape Co. | From $15,000 | Published starting point, full designed installation |
Choosing Plants That Live Here
The part of a landscape plan that most often goes wrong is the planting. A design drawn for a sunnier, drier region can look right on paper and still lose half its plants in two years.
Whatcom County has a maritime climate characterized by wet winters, acidic soil, and a dry stretch from July into September. Some plants love that, and some can’t take it.
Rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, and ferns all do well in acidic soil and mild wet winters. Natives like sword fern, salal, Oregon grape, vine maple, and red-twig dogwood settle in fast and need less attention once established.
Mediterranean plants are the usual problem. Lavender and rosemary need strong drainage, and here they sit in saturated clay all winter. They can work in mounded beds with amended soil, but when dropped straight into native ground, they rot.
The rainy reputation also misleads people about summer. New plantings need steady water through their first couple of summers, which is why irrigation is often planned alongside the beds.
What a Low Quote Usually Leaves Out
- Drainage left out, or added after the wall and grading are done
- Soil prep skipped under planting beds, so plants go into unamended native ground
- No irrigation for new beds and lawn, which leaves their establishment to a hose and hope
- Grading, with soil pushed around the site instead of corrected and hauled off
- Unclear plant sizes
- Base depth and compaction unspecified under any hardscape
- Phasing left vague, so work that should happen in one sequence gets split and partly redone later
Ask every contractor to put drainage, soil prep, plant sizes, and irrigation coverage in writing on the proposal.
North County was founded on buying the best materials available and installing them to full spec. That means our prices come in above many of our competitors, but it means your landscape will look amazing for the long haul.
The Steps of a Landscape Design Project
A full installation happens in stages:
- A site walk and consultation
- Design and revisions
- Permitting
- Demolition and grading
- Drainage
- Hardscape
- Irrigation
- Planting
- Finish work
Timing & Scheduling
Design and estimating can be done in fall and winter, and getting on the calendar early puts a project ahead of the spring rush. Installation continues through most of the year, with wet-season work depending on site conditions.
Permits and When a Design Step Pays Off
Local jurisdictions increasingly require permits on hardscape and wall work, and many limit how much hard surface a property can add. North County handles permitting in-house as part of the project.
You’ll also benefit from having our landscape designer take a look at your property. A designer looks at the whole site, including grade, soil, water flow, sun, and how your family uses the yard, then figures out the right combination before pricing goes on paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just get a design without the full install?
Yes. A standalone 3D design package starts at $2,000 and includes multiple revisions plus 3D and plan-view drawings, so you can see the finished layout before committing. If you go ahead with the installation, the design is part of that project, which starts at $15,000.
What’s included in the $15,000 starting point?
Planning, materials, and installation for a designed project that combines more than one element, like grading, a wall, drainage, and planting. The final figure depends on the size of the property and which pieces the plan includes.
Why is my quote higher than the averages I found online?
Those averages pool every market in the country, including regions with cheaper labor, drier soil, and thinner installation standards. National estimators add 25% to 35% for Pacific Coast markets before accounting for local soil. A landscape here handles months of saturated ground, which means deeper bases, deliberate drainage, and soil preparation a drier climate would skip.
Can I phase a full installation to spread out the cost?
Yes. A yard can be designed as one plan and installed in stages, so the budget spreads across seasons. Designing the whole project first keeps the phases working together, so the drainage and grade set in year one still fit the patio and planting added later.
Do you handle permits?
Yes. North County pulls the permits your jurisdiction needs as part of the project, including checking limits on how much hard surface a lot can add.
Is there a warranty on the work?
Paver and wall installations carry a 10-year workmanship warranty, which covers the installation itself. Warranty terms on other materials vary by product.
When should I start planning?
Design and estimating work well through fall and winter, and booking early puts a project on the calendar ahead of the spring rush. Installation continues through most of the year in this climate, depending on site conditions.
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Get a Free Estimate
Every full-install number comes down to soil, slope, access, and how you want to use the space. Estimates and proposals are free, and our office answers on the first ring during business hours. You can also browse finished projects across Whatcom County before you reach out. When you’re ready, our team will walk the yard, talk through the plan, and put a number in writing.
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