It will depend on the size of the project, where it is located within the state, and the reputation of the designer. IOW, a large property located close to a metropolitan area and with a big-name designer will be more expensive than a typical residential sized property in a suburban area created by a "typical" designer.

I would also advise that the actual design itself—preparation of a master landscape plan only (implementation to be done by you or a third party)—is the least expensive portion of a landscaping project. It is an extremely affordable investment. It is the labor and materials that are the major expense.

I live in the greater Seattle area and my 'average' designs typically run from around $500 to $2500, with the largest property 6 acres. And I am not a big-name designer! 😊

Go to a good garden center where you live and ask if thet have advice about who to talk to. Many garden designers will work with you over time to get it right . I agree the design is the least of the cost. I have a home with zero plants or trees just spent $2500 on plants and probably not done yet . I was lucky and got free soil for all my raised beds that were also an expense . This whole yard was gravel so also shovelled gravel all winter to make planting beds so also lots of manual labor involved . Be sure you know what you can do yourself and what you will need done too

Thank you for the insight. I had a friend that did mini-interior design consults and included a simple mock up for $400 (per space). I was hoping to find a landscape designer to do something similar.

I have problems visualizing outdoor spaces. But once I can see the vision, I have a ton Of tools, my husband’s very knowledgeable and we like to salvage and re-use materials, so we plan to execute over time.

Too many variables to consider. I’ve had two done years ago ( 2 different homes ), each cost in the hundreds$, but long ago. I had a landscape/hardscape design done for my current home, $2500.00, but credited that amount towards the project if we hired them, which we did. I second the suggestion to visit an independent garden center, many have landscape designers on staff, some are very reasonable.

If you are looking for a vision and not exact details of particular plants or hardscape, AI can provide some inspiration to float some ideas. You can also prompt it with any ideas you may have.

Here I prompted on freeform beds with privacy screening incorporating some existing evergreens, add plants along the house, and a stepping stone path through the lawn.

Use the exact image, adjust the exposure. designer landscape: keep a few of the evergreen plants at the far end of the lawn and incorporate them into a free form planting bed full of mixed height flowering plants and ferns and small trees and tall enough to act as a privacy screen. extend the bed a bit further than the current row of evergreens. place large flagstone pavers randomly spaced in the lawn to form a winding path from the front porch and beyond the frame to the left. add another planting bed in the lower left similar to the one at the far end. add some nice decorative plants along the front of the house. growing zone is PNw.

use the exact image. adjust the exposure. designer landscape. create a free form planting bed on the perimeter of the lawn on the left, incorporating some of the current evergreens. include lush plantings of ferns and smaller evergreens and some flowering shrubs and a few small trees to create a privacy hedge from the house across the street. lay large flagstone pavers randomly placed in a winding path across the lawn from the porch floor and out of sight to the right.

Most of the AI garden designs I've seen on this site are pretty awful, they get the proportions wrong, they are fond of overly pruned shrubs, and ignore zone and sun. They make for pretty pictures, but not doable plans.

I've worked in the nursery and landscape design industry in this area for many years........don't expect all better, larger nurseries and garden centers to have on-staff designers. Most don't. And if they do, they rarely offer those services for free or heavily discounted in return for plant purchase. It is just not common or an economically sound business practice.

But nearly all will have referrals they can provide. Make sure the designer understands your needs and works to your goals. That is also not a given either.

@tracefloyd, those ai mock ups are the best I’ve seen! Seeing how you prompt it is helpful-I suck at ai prompts…..mine are never quite right.

I realize I’m asking a lot! And as I get everyone’s feedback and insight, I’m slowly adjusting my expectations and vision.

Your mock up with a view from the porch really makes me smile!! That’s the kind of curve I’m looking for…..and it still offers plenty of privacy. Awesome! Thank you! 👏🏼

You definitely need to hire professionals for the one @tracefloyd shows. Professionals to plant as well as to maintain all of that. And they would have to be knowledgeable of what can be used in your geographic zone- as well as with the deer situation. Present it to landscaping companies and get quotes.

I use Gemini, it is very realistic and also free lol.

I’ll have to try Gemini!

I’m very careful about what we will plant, so Ai is super helpful for visualizing the layout without having to build things and then have regret.

My father is a master gardener who even took college landscape courses for fun. I spent years watching him transform and maintain our childhood property into an incredible landscape masterpiece over the course of 25+ years. But eventually, the upkeep became overwhelming in retirement, and my parents ended up selling our beautiful family home for something more manageable.

Taking that into consideration, I have almost an acre, and want to be careful to keep the landscape manageable and enjoyable.

Granted we live in Vancouver BC, but essentially next door, we laid about $600 7 years ago for the design of five large garden beds and a multi stage installation approach. Design only with layouts and all plant instructions

I was my own designer and contractor and laboror for two front yards where we lived over the years. Laid out beds, a lawn, a dry stream, and stepping stones, small fence. Spent hundreds on plants and materials which is not bad for a landscape. Kinda like your dad so I can relate.

Review landscapes and blueprints online to familiarize yourself with the process and find inspiration and ideas. A water feature is always nice.

My yard, I would implement something like my proposed renderings above and make plant selections and planting locations based on research for each plant's individual needs.

You can create shade for plants with shrubs or dwarf trees, either evergreen or deciduous. Deciduous trees allow sunlight to enter the windows in winter but provide shade in the summer.

Look for mature size so plants and trees don't get overgrown and no longer fit their surroundings, intrude on the roof or foundation or need to be pruned heavily.

Think of your needs, raised vegetable beds, a patio/bbq area, a lawn for play, low maintenance, a hammock, a wildflower garden, hen house, shed, pergola, fire pit? Do you like modern, vintage, cottage, natural, or traditional landscapes? So many variables that can be incorporated by the landscape designer.

Native plants take care of themselves.

Clipping the hedge twice a year isn't bad.

If the plan is to incorporate significant hardscape (beyond a simple walk or simple small patio, for example), then it is generally best to have a complete design plan for the entire hardscape to be done professionally. If you do a hardscape plan piecemeal, then the likelihood of regrets and necessary compromises increases, and the final may look disjointed rather than cohesive. The availability of certain hardscape materials can cycle out of availability as trends change, so you may not be able do an exact match of earlier installation materials.

If it is mainly plant scape, with the hardscape already in place, there are more options to do it in sections. You should plan ahead concerning the overall general layout for the purpose of mature tree placement, because you will likely want to put all of those in during round one to give them time to establish even in the areas where you are not ready to plant. You should also plan the overall for more efficient, and less costly, irrigation system installation. Have a general idea of the shape you want to have the landscape plant beds overall, to end up with a harmonious visual flow, even if you decide to install the beds and plant material in stages.

Deciding where you want current and future use spaces, and what they will be, should come first. There is some flexibility for change, of course, but the fewer "dang that would have been a better place for a dog run, but we put something else there already's made, the better. Plant selection is something that should be done later on the planning stage list, even if you do not intend to install all of the sections with hardscape or plant material at one time.

To be honest, IDK much about sourcing for plans, because my husband and I have always done our own for the early residential jobs, or we were doing large enough projects that we had to install the existing architect's landscape plan.

If you are going to DIY the work then yes it makes perfect sense to get a plan and implement over time. On another thread a poster went to a nursery during a quieter time and the staff were more than happy to help them design a working plan to develop their property. I am sure that depends on the scope of the job. The more property to fill the more likely you want someone to come on site and give you suggestions and possibilities. Costs are variable enough this question can only be answered by locals.

Some things to consider. If you get pro designer help or just help here these are still good things to mull.

What size space do you want to work? What kind of work do you want to put into it or pay others to maintain it? What activities or purposes do you want in your spaces? Are there things like being in an HOA or municipality codes or requirements? What is your current flora and fauna?

Whoever you hire, you should have a survey done that shows all lot lines, utility easements, structures and large trees on the land. They will want a digital copy of the survey plan.

Thank you all, this has given me a lot of helpful tips, and I’m so glad I asked before we’ve gotten started.

I think this will take 2-5 yrs to execute and having an idea of where to start is exciting to me!

Always call the utility companies before you dig. Especially gas lines.

I'm glad someone mentioned irrigation lines. I was going to use a hose to water and my gardener talked me out of it. Installed a drip system and lawn sprinklers on a timer. So glad we did.

We’ve already had utilities marked out and my husband and is knowledgeable in these areas so I’m lucky in that area.

Once get my design/layout, he will determine what needs to be done for prep.