Landscaping Project Checklist

Material Calculators for This Project

Use these calculators before you buy. Enter your area dimensions to get cubic yard, bag, roll, and pallet estimates you can take to your supplier or nursery.

Project Steps in Order

Landscaping projects succeed when site prep and hardscape come before soil and planting. Doing it out of order — planting first, then grading — means unnecessary damage to new plants and wasted material.

1. 1
   Design and site assessment: Sketch your layout to scale. Note sun exposure, drainage patterns, slopes, and any existing trees or utilities. Check HOA rules and local codes for fence heights, retaining wall permits, and easements.
2. 2
   Call 811 before digging: Call 811 or submit a dig-safe request online at least three business days before any excavation. Underground utilities — gas, electric, water, cable — must be marked before any shovel goes in the ground. This is required by law in most states.
3. 3
   Calculate and order materials: Use the calculators above to get topsoil, mulch, sod, gravel, and block quantities. Order bulk materials (cubic yards) well in advance if delivery is needed — landscaping deliveries can book out one to two weeks during peak season.
4. 4
   Obtain permits if required: Retaining walls over three to four feet in height typically require a permit and may need engineered drawings. Check with your local building department before starting any wall over 24 inches. Permits can take one to four weeks to process.
5. 5
   Site prep and clearing: Remove existing vegetation, grass, and debris from work areas. Kill weeds chemically or by solarization a few weeks before if possible. Remove or grind stumps that will be in the path of hardscape or beds.
6. 6
   Grade for drainage: Soil should slope away from the house at a minimum of one inch per foot for the first six feet. Low spots that collect water need to be filled or addressed with French drains before adding soil or sod. Poor drainage under sod leads to dead spots and disease.
7. 7
   Install hardscape elements: Build retaining walls, lay path sub-base and pavers, set edging, and install any lighting conduit before adding soil or plants. Use the retaining wall block calculator and gravel calculator for material quantities.
8. 8
   Spread base layers: Add compacted gravel sub-base (four to six inches) under paths and patio areas. For planting beds, spread and till topsoil to a depth of four to six inches. Use the sand calculator for bedding sand under pavers.
9. 9
   Lay sod, plant shrubs, and seed: Install sod on graded, moist soil with staggered seams. Plant shrubs and trees at the same depth they grew in containers. Seed bare areas after sod is down. Water new sod daily for two weeks. The sod calculator gives exact pallet and roll counts.
10. 10
    Mulch, rock, and final touches: Apply two to three inches of mulch in beds, keeping it away from plant stems. Spread landscape rock or decorative gravel in designated areas over landscape fabric. Use the mulch calculator and rock calculator for quantities. Install irrigation heads or soaker hoses before final mulch layer.

Cost Tiers

Landscaping project costs vary significantly by region, project scope, plant selection, and whether you hire contractors or DIY. These tiers describe what each level typically includes — not specific dollar amounts, which vary too widely to be useful without local quotes.

Costs vary significantly by location, contractor availability, and plant selection. Get at least two to three quotes from licensed landscaping contractors before committing to a scope or budget.

Frequently Asked Questions