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March 23, 2009
How Much to Create a Garden?
I have a large backyard by brownstone Brooklyn standards. It's 60 feet deep and 32.5 feet wide, so 1,950 sf. The backyard is desolate. No trees, a broken down shack, dirt mixed with gravel and a hundred years of Brooklyn refuse, a small brick covered area and a small cinder block covered area. There is nothing worth keeping. Not even the existing dirt. I'd like to create a real garden and am wondering what ballpark pricing would be. I'd appreciate feedback and advice from anyone who's done something similar. The yard is accessible by an alleyway/driveway, so getting materials in and out of the would not be difficult.
Comments
We had a 17x50 place very similar. I had some Mexican company clean up concrete (lucky did not need power tools) (900), then a handyman to haul in new topsoil for about 1/4 area, put in bluestone pavers over sand about 1/3, bricks the rest. He spent 7-8 days with a part-time helper for, I believe, 3000, in 2003. Material was about that also.
We did planting ourselves with about 1500 worth of plants and trees. We also had a designer make up a base plot of pavers, beds and plants.
Posted by: cmu at March 22, 2009 6:16 PM
cmu - am interested in this too. Would you recommend your designer? Can you give (ballpark) cost on this piece? How long did it take? I am planning to take a week in april to do our garden but wld like some guidance.
Posted by: going4broke at March 23, 2009 7:50 AM
CMU- would you be willing to share contact info for the workers? We are interested in a similar project.
Thanks.
Posted by: PHfamily at March 23, 2009 9:31 AM
jfyi, the garden is shown here:
www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/05/garden_of_the_d_6.php
Let's say the designer fee was in line with common arch/designer percentage; she's a neighbor and may have taken the small task as a favor (but then, times are hard now...) She was very good, showed us several designs and listened well to us. Her recommended contractor was way too expensive, but then I'm cheap. If you want her info, please email me via contact page at www[dot]seeinggreen[dot]net.
Handyman: Tony 917-915-3045 (this was 5 years ago) I also have a pair of good guys who're looking for work-- framing/plaster/general guys if anyone needs 'em. May not work for coops/condos because I don't think they'll have the insurance etc.
Posted by: cmu at March 23, 2009 9:57 AM
If you are doing hardscape and landscape design, I'd figure $6-10 a sq. foot, more if you hire a landscape designer...
There's a reno blog (as well as many garden examples) on brownstoner that outlines some of the "hardscaping" for a typical Brooklyn Backyard: http://www.brownstoner.com/Greenwood_Heights_Backyard/
Posted by: Action Jackson at March 23, 2009 11:26 AM
I forgot to say, the $6-10 sq ft includes materials and labor.
Posted by: Action Jackson at March 23, 2009 11:28 AM
Hi,
I am a landscape/garden/greenhouse/construction expert with 22 years experience. I also design in 3D (including realistic sun/shadow animation) and work hands on. I am working for extremely reasonable recession rates.
I am currently working on a Boerum Hil project, and if you'd like I can stop by.
Please call 206-619-4141 or email salemfilm@mac.com.
Thanks,
Salem
Posted by: masterbuilder at March 23, 2009 11:38 AM
We used Evelyn Tully Costa (www.evelynproductions.com) for our hardscaping, (bluestone and belgian blocks) and they weren't cheap but were excellent; the job has held up very well. (I do my own planting, they would have done it better but not for free!) She is a brilliant designer but they did the down-and-dirty part very well, too. She specializes in brownstone (shade) gardens.
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at March 23, 2009 12:51 PM
I am the garden designer featured in the Greenwood Heights garden reno featured on Brownstoner that Action Jackson gives a link for. I don't install but rather provide plans for the home owner to follow with whatever contractor they choose. Having a plan lets you do the garden over a few years, if necessary and as money permits. I happily consult about nurseries, plant selection and how to plant with those who wish to do some or all of the work themselves.
As a rough guide, last year one of the contractors I've used quoted $16/sq ft for pavers laid out on a concrete base. (You can find someone to do that for less if not with a concrete base) Obviously, if you do the work, rent any equipment, and handle getting all the materials, you can save money but it is a job- a heavy, sweaty one.
You can view my website and get contact info at www.funcitydesign.com
Diana
Posted by: kensington gal at March 23, 2009 2:51 PM
I used LOLA http://www.localofficelandscape.com/ and I love, love, love their design work.
We were feature right here in the Brownstoners Garden section. See Rockaway Garden. Also we won The New York Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects, 2008 Professional Awards Small Project Landscape Design.
Their design is so good almost every other week something new and different is blooming. It's worth having a designer.
I did all the heavy lifting and building myself. My main cost were design and plants.
Posted by: BlueBerry at March 23, 2009 4:13 PM
"As a rough guide, last year one of the contractors I've used quoted $16/sq ft for pavers laid out on a concrete base."
Actually I'll bet that's a wee bit more accurate than my quote, as we did some of our work ourselves...
Posted by: Action Jackson at March 23, 2009 11:31 PM
We initially used Evelyn Costa Tully for our backyard and although I thought the stone work was ok, the plantings she did were not that great - felt like she just threw in a ton of bulbs that initially looked good but over time just felt like overkill. I don't mean to fully knock her - I really liked her stone work and certainly the first spring compared with what we had before it was a nice change from mud in the back. Just that I think she didn't completely resonate with us in her plant choices and layout, and overall she was expensive for that piece.
We now use a guy named Tom Castimore who has an outfit called Brooklyn Gardens and we are thrilled with his work. He has done a bunch of gardens right around us and is super down to earth and not pricey at all. In fact I'd reckon far less expensive than Evelyn. He worked with our existing front garden, rearranged the back, and we will be using him once we have our renovations done to rework some stone in the back as well.
Tom's number is (718) 858-7836. He is pretty busy and I know other friends who have had a hard time trying to reach him cause he has so much work, but if you can reach him and he has time, well worth it!
Posted by: sunspot19 at March 24, 2009 7:31 AM
if you're still looking for designers, quotes, etc., i can recommend cary baker from wildpistil (wildpistil.com). her design/install/maintenance is first class and she's wonderful to work with if you want to get more involved with the project. good luck w/your garden!
Posted by: pluvious at March 24, 2009 12:24 PM
OP here. Thanks all for your comments and advice.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at March 24, 2009 2:25 PM
A friend forwarded your post to me. Our company does landscape design work focusing on sustainable landscapes.
You can take a look at our web site at www.sustainlandscapedesign.com. We will do a free consultation if you like.
Posted by: nebrait at March 31, 2009 4:55 PM
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