3/4 Acre site to be landscaped - Costs etc?

Hi there

We're buying a house on 3/4 acre. The house was built about 6 years ago but nothing had been done to the garden at all so the ground is all uneven and full of weeds. Would anyone have any ideas as to roughly how much it would cost for a company to level it out and grass it ? Also approx what timeframe would be involved?

Many thanks
R

I was in a similar situation to yourself. Got three quotes as follows (prices from memory):

1. Rotavate, level out and seed area, plant 60 shrubs in a border area - about €4,000.

2. As above, plus a little bit of tree pruning and putting mulch under trees (so that there is no grass to cut under the trees), put in a few decorative boulders - about €6,500.

3. Proper landscaping guy (affiliated to whatever the association of lanscapers in Ireland is) - put 4 inches of topsoil across the whole area, level everything out, decent amount of tree pruning and hedge clearing - about €12,500.

Didn't get anything done in the end as we ran out of time and money this year!

I'd be interested to see what other replies you receive and what you do. One thing I would say if to get several quotes as each person that gives you a quote also gives you a different angle on things.

Hi Roc,

I am on a one acre site.I did the front lawn and the two side lawns this year (just over 1/2 acre).Am still in negotiations over the back lawn.The price I paid probably reflects the fact I'm in the building game.

- to scrape off the dead grass on top of existing ground, generally prepare ground for topsoil and supply and level 200 ton of topsoil = €2,500

- the drain one wet area, power harrow and remove the larger stones = €400

- to rotavate, bury stones prepare and seed the lawns €750

Its not hard to organise basic landscaping.If your in the country maybe try local farmers as they can often be a cheaper alternative than a professional landscaper - it's not rocket science sowing a lawn.

I did a 3/4 acre on my own (nearly).
Got a local farmer in to power harrow the ground + rotavate it(€50), and I then I borrowed a push grass seeder and mixed grass (2 big bags of seed) and fertilizer together in it and I spread that - took 2 or 3 hours but gave it a good covering. Got the farmer back again to roll it for another €50 and then I picked all the stones that were on the top and not rolled into it so this took 1 day with my girlfriend helping me.
At this stage the grass is growing great and has got 10 cuts so far this year so worked out very cheap.
I ordered 150 hedge plants and I planted them myself - took time but they are growing fine, I just dug a whole for each with a spade and popped them in with some peat and clay and pressed down the clay well around them.
Makes for a cheap garden - and Im no way a DIY man but I saw the savings that could be made with some effort from me.

Are yo prepared to do work yourself, you want a garden designed or just lawned,

It is great to just get all leveled and seeded (grass sown) if wanted get a hedge on your border lines done (bare root should be planted now and are cheaper to buy) put in bulbs now in areas that you want borders in. Start visiting garden centers and buy some plants trees that you like at this time of year, visit every month. You have flowering shrubs and trees for any time of year and it is great to plant at any time before you know it you have a lovely garden.

Read up on gardening, there are some great magazines available, and it will not take long to get the bug.

Your bulbs that you plant now will be blooming in spring, it is a great way of getting infected witht he garding bug.

How much will it cost ???? you can make it as expensive and cheap, this depends totally on your selve look at the advice already given.

GO FOR IT!!

Thanks a mill for the replies. Its great to have an idea now of how much to expect in terms of cost, what's involved etc. Will def see if there's a local farmer willing to do the job and will get a few different quotes - isnt it amazing the way quotes can vary substantially for the same job

Allaboutheat- I'd love to get involved in the garden and will definitely do some work on it next year (am already tasting the veg I'm hoping to grow ) - I've two toddlers and a baby so I'll probably just have to outsource for the moment and look forward to more time in the garden next year

Many thanks all for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

I paid a grand for somebody to level my site and a grand for somebody to rotavate it and put down grass. About 6 months ago.