Landscaper homeowner tool

Yard Project Planner

Prepare clearer landscaping quotes by recording project type, access, water plan, grade changes, slope or drainage concerns, utility locates, and permit questions before contacting landscapers.

Last updated Jul 11, 2026.

Landscape quote prep

Build a clearer yard scope

Project type

Timing

Access

Water plan

Grade, drainage, or slope will changeWall, runoff, neighbour, and permit questions become more important.

Known constraints

Recommended next step

Start with a clear scope

This is a good fit for a concept or design-build conversation before construction pricing gets too specific.

Priority

Scope

Scope flags

Permit and scope note

Ask the landscaper to identify any utility locate, irrigation, drainage, structure, retaining-wall, or municipal requirement before quoting final scope.

Prep before quotes

Take photos of the yard from each corner, plus access gates, slopes, drainage paths, existing irrigation, hardscape, trees, fences, and problem areas.
Write down project goals, must-keep features, approximate dimensions, preferred timing, budget range, and whether the work can be phased.
Collect strata, neighbour, utility, survey, irrigation, warranty, and previous landscape documents if they exist.

Questions for the landscaper

What is included in design, demolition, excavation, grading, drainage, soil, plants, irrigation, materials, labour, cleanup, and disposal?
Who arranges utility locates, access planning, equipment staging, disposal, inspections, and permit or engineering checks where needed?
How are substitutions, weather delays, plant warranty, watering responsibility, and change orders handled?

Scopes to compare

Design-only plan before construction quotes
Full design-build scope with one accountable contractor
Phased project separating demolition, irrigation, hardscape, and planting
Maintenance or refresh scope without major construction

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What should be in a landscaping quote?

A useful landscaping quote should say whether you are buying a design, a full construction project, a seasonal refresh, or a narrow service such as irrigation, sod, planting, hardscaping, or a retaining wall.

This planner does not price landscape work or interpret bylaws. It helps homeowners ask about demolition, access, grading, drainage, soil, plants, irrigation, hardscape materials, disposal, watering responsibility, warranty, and permit responsibility.

Four details that change the recommendation

These are the details that often turn a simple yard quote into a design, irrigation, drainage, wall, or hardscape conversation.

Design and phasing

Separate concept, demolition, grading, irrigation, hardscape, planting, cleanup, and warranty assumptions before comparing quotes.

Water and irrigation

New sod, trees, shrubs, and waterwise planting need an establishment plan that works with current watering rules.

Access and materials

Gates, slopes, disposal, base prep, equipment staging, material substitutions, and freeze-thaw assumptions can change price quickly.

Walls and drainage

Retaining walls, grade changes, runoff, neighbours, and utility locations should be clarified before final pricing.

Yard project FAQ

What should I prepare before asking landscapers for quotes?

Collect photos, rough dimensions, access notes, existing irrigation details, drainage concerns, preferred materials or plants, budget range, and whether the project affects grades, walls, patios, utilities, or neighbours.

When should a landscaping quote mention permits or engineering?

Ask whenever retaining walls, major grade changes, drainage changes, structures, pool areas, decks, utility work, or neighbour impacts are involved. Requirements depend on the exact scope and municipality.

Why does irrigation matter for a yard project?

New sod, planting, and waterwise conversions can fail if establishment watering, zones, controllers, soil, and current watering rules are not planned before installation.

Can this planner price a landscaping project?

No. It organizes quote questions. Final pricing depends on demolition, access, soil, drainage, materials, equipment, disposal, plant selection, irrigation, labour, weather, and contractor availability.