Landscaping in East New York

Softscape is living material — turf, plants, trees, soil. Hardscape is built structure — patios, paths, walls, decks, pergolas. Hardscape typically costs 2-4x more per square metre because it involves excavation, sub-bases, and skilled construction. Shifting your design 20% from hardscape to planting is the single biggest lever for cutting a landscaping quote.

One mobilisation is cheaper per unit of work — machinery hire, waste logistics, and crew setup get amortised. But phasing spreads cash and lets you live with the garden before committing to later stages. If you phase: do groundworks, drainage, and irrigation conduits first, even for areas finished later. Retro-digging finished areas is the expensive mistake.

Insist every quote itemises: site prep and excavation, materials by type and grade, labour, waste disposal, and planting with plant sizes specified. The classic trap is comparing a quote with 100mm compacted sub-base against one with paving laid on sand — same look for a year, then one fails. Cheapest itemised quote beats cheapest total.

Turf is priced per square metre installed, and ground preparation is most of the cost — stripping old grass, levelling, importing topsoil, then laying. Seed costs a fraction of turf but takes a season to establish. Beware quotes that skip soil prep: turf on unprepared ground looks fine for weeks, then fails patchily.

A planting refresh: 1-3 days. A patio or new lawn: 3-7 days. A full garden rebuild: 2-6 weeks depending on size and weather. Add lead time — good landscapers in East New York book out weeks or months ahead in spring. Weather delays are normal for excavation and paving; a realistic contractor builds buffer into the schedule rather than promising exact dates.

The first year decides whether planting establishes: regular deep watering (especially trees and hedging), mulch top-ups, formative pruning, and quick replacement of failures. Many landscapers offer a 12-month establishment package or plant warranty conditional on documented watering. Budget 5-10% of project cost for year-one care, or the planting investment erodes.

Angi's 2026 data puts typical projects at $1,000-$14,000 with an average around $5,000-$8,500; full backyard remodels run $15,000-$50,000+. Per square foot: $4-$8 for planting-focused work, $8-$12 for balanced designs, $15-$30 for hardscape-heavy builds. Coastal metros run well above the national average.

Usually not for planting, turf, or low borders — but commonly yes for retaining walls above your city's height threshold (often 3-4 feet), significant grading or drainage changes, and any structures or electrical/gas lines (outdoor kitchens, lighting circuits). The contractor should pull permits; a contractor who suggests skipping them is transferring the risk to you.