I'm looking to install a 300 sqft rain garden in my backyard to help with water mitigation. A local landscaping company in the Chicago suburbs gave me a quote of $7000, which includes a mix of perennials and shrubs. This seems a bit pricey to me, but I'm not familiar with standard landscaping costs. We're relatively handy and are considering if this is a DIY project we could take on ourselves.
3 Answers
You can absolutely do it yourself! I’ve built a rain garden and it mainly involved digging a hole, lining it with rocks, and planting. I used a shovel and some helpful tutorials online, plus I chatted with folks at local nurseries for plant recommendations. If you understand how to manage the drainage and slope, you could save a lot on that $7000 quote!
The price might actually be reasonable or high depending on what the job entails. It's best to get two or three other quotes to compare, especially since some places are charging just to give you an estimate. Don't rush into it; figure out all the details first!
Honestly, $7000 sounds a bit steep based on what I've seen for landscaping projects. It's definitely a lot of work, but if you're just looking at planting, that could be done pretty easily without hiring someone. Just make sure to check what the quote covers—if it includes more than just planting, there might be more to it.