Landscaping around the house starts with a plan, not an excavator. Sort out drainage and rough earthworks first, then paved areas, fencing and retaining walls, and leave the planting until last. According to the Slovenian contractor portal Omisli.si, a complete landscaping job usually costs around 10–15% of what you spend on building or renovating the house, so it pays to split the work into phases.
Plan first: what to find out before the first dig
A good garden is the result of decisions made at the kitchen table. Before you call a contractor, answer a few questions that will later drive almost every cost.
- Terrain and soil: where water collects after heavy rain, whether the plot slopes, and what the soil is like (clay, sand, or backfilled building rubble).
- Sun and wind: where the morning and afternoon sun falls and where the wind comes from – this decides where the patio, vegetable beds and hedge should go.
- Use: parking, a play area for children, space for entertaining, a vegetable garden, a quiet corner.
- Maintenance: how many hours a week you are realistically willing to spend mowing, pruning and watering.
If you are building a new house, plan the outdoor areas together with the build: cables for lighting and pipes for water, drainage and irrigation are cheapest to lay at that stage. In Slovenia, a landscape architect typically charges around €400–1,000 for a concept plan with visualisation and €70–120 per hour for consultation, according to Omisli.si. That fee pays for itself quickly by preventing mistakes that would otherwise have to be torn out.
The right order of works
Most money is wasted when phases are done out of sequence – for example, when new paving has to be dug up because of a forgotten pipe. Contractors recommend this order:
- Demolition and removal of old structures, concrete and tree stumps.
- Earthworks, levelling and drainage (French drains, soakaways, falls away from the house).
- Utilities: power for outdoor lighting, water, gas if needed.
- Irrigation pipes and connections.
- Retaining walls, edging and paved surfaces.
- Fences, canopies, pergola, patio or deck.
- Outdoor kitchen, fire pit and similar features.
- Planting: lawn, shrubs, trees.
- Testing all systems and final clean-up.
Let the seasons guide you: plan in autumn and winter, carry out construction work when there is no night frost and the ground is not waterlogged, and plant trees and shrubs in autumn where possible.
How much does landscaping around a house cost?
Prices depend heavily on the size of the plot, machine access, soil conditions and the materials you choose. The ranges below are summarised from Slovenian contractor portals (Omisli.si, Mojmojster.net) and are only a rough guide – prices elsewhere will differ, so get at least three written quotes for your own project.
| Work | Indicative price (Slovenia) |
|---|---|
| Concept plan with visualisation | €400–1,000 |
| Concrete paving blocks (material) | €10–30/m² |
| Sub-base preparation and laying of pavers | approx. €30–55/m² |
| Asphalting a driveway or yard | €20–40/m² |
| Turf (material and laying only) | €5–10/m² |
| Turf including excavation and levelling | approx. €25–40/m² |
| Panel or wire mesh fence, installed | approx. €20–45 per running metre |
| Hedge plant, supplied and planted | €20–30 each |
| Ornamental tree or larger plant | €50–200 each |
Rough landscaping of a larger plot with excavation, backfilling and paving comes to roughly €30–55 per m² of finished area in published contractor estimates. The cheapest route is to work in phases: in the first year do the drainage, access and lawn, then add ornamental planting, lighting and irrigation later.
When do you need a building permit?
Most garden work needs no permit, but fences and retaining walls are the exceptions. In Slovenia the Decree on the Classification of Structures sets the following limits:
- A fence up to 2.2 m high is a simple structure (no permit); up to 3.5 m it is a minor structure that does require a permit.
- A retaining wall with a height difference of up to 1 m is a simple structure; up to 2 m it is a minor structure.
- A wall with a fence on top is assessed as two separate parts, and each must meet its own limit.
Rules differ in other countries, so check with your local planning authority. Even for simple structures, the municipal zoning plan may restrict height, materials or the distance from the boundary. Before building along a neighbour’s boundary, agree it with them – ideally in writing.
Greenery: lawn, hedge and a garden you can use
Lawn
Sowing seed is cheaper, while turf gives you a green surface straight away. Either way, preparation is what matters: clear away building debris, level the ground, add a layer of good topsoil and fertilise before sowing or laying.
Vegetable, herb and flower garden
Put the vegetable garden in the sunniest spot close to the house and a water tap; raised beds solve the problem of poor or backfilled soil. A herb garden (rosemary, thyme, sage, chives) needs little space and can sit right next to the patio or kitchen door. A flower garden of perennials needs less work than annuals and comes back every year.
Which fertiliser to choose
The best fertiliser for a garden is the one that suits your soil. Before the first planting, order a soil test showing pH and nutrient levels. For most gardens, mature compost or well-rotted manure is a good base; add mineral fertilisers only when needed and at the recommended rates.
Mistakes that make landscaping more expensive
- No site survey: water pools by the foundations, paving sinks, plants die.
- Too little fall on paved areas and driveways, or a fall towards the house.
- Planting young trees too densely, so that in a few years they shade the house or grow over the boundary.
- Choosing plants that need more watering and pruning than you are willing to do.
- Comparing quotes that do not include the same items (excavation, soil removal, sub-base, edging).
Frequently asked questions
How much does landscaping cost per m²?
In Slovenia, rough landscaping with excavation, backfilling and paving comes to around €30–55/m² in published contractor estimates, and a simple turfed lawn around €25–40/m². Only a quote for your own plot will give you an exact figure.
Do I need a building permit for a fence?
In Slovenia a fence up to 2.2 m is a simple structure and needs no permit, while a higher one (up to 3.5 m) is a minor structure that does. Elsewhere, check local building regulations and your zoning plan.
When is the best time to landscape a garden?
Plan in autumn and winter, do the construction work in spring or summer when there is no frost and the ground is dry enough, and plant trees and shrubs in autumn.
How can I landscape around my house on a budget?
Split the work into phases, start with drainage, access and the lawn, choose concrete pavers instead of stone and perennials instead of annuals, and do the simple jobs yourself.
