Landscaping cost depends on demolition, access, excavation, drainage, base preparation, materials, planting and restoration. Compare complete project scopes rather than a single square-foot number.
1. Quick answer 2. Project-specific decisions 3. Site-specific scope 4. Materials and installation 5. Risk and sequencing 6. Comparing quotes 7. Completion checklist 8. Next step
Landscaping cost depends on demolition, access, excavation, drainage, base preparation, materials, planting and restoration. Compare complete project scopes rather than a single square-foot number. Document the existing condition, verify current official requirements and request a proposal that names every assumption. Ottawa homeowners planning outdoor work should weigh performance, maintenance, access and long-term fit—not a headline price.
This guide cannot certify a property or predict incentive eligibility, contractor performance or municipal approval. Confirm site facts and retain written approvals.
A patio, planting bed, retaining wall and drainage correction need separate quantities. Patio scope should identify excavation, geotextile, granular base, bedding, cuts, edge restraint and jointing.
Name species, container size, soil depth, mulch, warranty and the party responsible for watering.
excavation cubic volume: measure or verify this condition on site with the topic-specific dimensions and tolerances, mark its location on the relevant drawing, and require the bidder to state the assumption used in pricing. geotextile separation area: name the proposed material, method or governing ...
Complete locates, drainage, grading and structural retaining work before hardscape and planting. A finished patio should not become the access road for a later excavation.
Clarify whether the contractor returns after freeze-thaw settlement and what correction is included.
drainage work first: measure or verify this condition on site with the topic-specific dimensions and tolerances, mark its location on the relevant drawing, and require the bidder to state the assumption used in pricing. retaining excavation access: name the proposed material, method or governing pro...
Walls require base preparation, drainage stone, filter fabric, outlets and an appropriate design where height or loads demand it. Decorative blocks do not resolve soil pressure.
Show where drainage exits without directing water toward a foundation or adjacent lot.
wall retained height: measure or verify this condition on site with the topic-specific dimensions and tolerances, mark its location on the relevant drawing, and require the bidder to state the assumption used in pricing. surcharge behind wall: name the proposed material, method or governing project ...
Narrow side yards, buried rock, tree roots and truck access affect labour and equipment. Price lawn repair, soil replacement, boulevard protection and disposal explicitly.
Photograph curbs, fences, trees and paving before machinery enters the property.
plant botanical names: measure or verify this condition on site with the topic-specific dimensions and tolerances, mark its location on the relevant drawing, and require the bidder to state the assumption used in pricing. container or caliper size: name the proposed material, method or governing pro...
Document the existing condition, define the outcome and confirm the current Ottawa approval path. Then request comparable written scopes rather than asking for an unexplained “rough price.”
No single answer applies to every property or scope. Building, zoning, right-of-way, condominium, electrical, plumbing, tree and environmental rules can differ. Confirm with the authority responsible for the work and keep the written response.
Use a separate contingency appropriate to uncertainty and project complexity; a common planning practice is 10% to 20%, but it is not a guarantee. Known exclusions should be priced separately rather than hidden in contingency.
Three detailed proposals are a practical starting point. More are useful for unusual work, but only if each bidder receives the same drawings, measurements, specifications and questions.
Use it only as a question prompt. Site access, soil, ownership, condominium rules, existing construction and finishes differ, so another property's price or method is not evidence for yours.