THE SHORT ANSWER
Estimate a planting bed from its actual footprint, plant schedule, edging length and soil preparation. Keep irrigation and plant-care responsibilities separate from the installation price.
The worked project in this guide is 240 sq. ft. foundation planting bed. It uses an original fictional job to explain the estimating decisions, with a matching landscape bed installation PDF example. Replace the example inputs with your measurements, supplier quotes and labor costs.
1. Confirm the bed boundary
Mark the footprint and measure its area and perimeter. An irregular bed can have more edging than a rectangle with the same square footage.
2. Create a plant schedule
List species, sizes, quantities and supplier status for the actual site. The 12-shrub allowance is fictional and should be replaced after selection and availability checks.
3. Review soil and utilities
Record visible ground conditions and arrange required utility-location steps before digging. Significant soil correction or drainage changes need a separate scope.
4. Describe care at handoff
Include mulch depth or quantity based on the selected product, cleanup and basic care information. State who supplies ongoing watering and maintenance.
A worked landscape bed installation calculation
Twelve shrub allowances × $68 = $816. Planting labor is 12 × $45 = $540, totaling $1,356 for those two plant-related lines.
The complete example contains 8 lines totaling $3,452.00 before any tax or markup. These are deliberately stated example prices, not a survey, regional price recommendation or offer to perform the job.
To set your own selling price, review direct costs and decide how you will cover overhead and profit. For example, adding 20% to a $1,000 cost gives $1,200; it does not produce a 20% gross margin. Use the approach you intend consistently, and avoid adding a second markup to rates that already include it.
Before you send the estimate
- Measure bed area and edging.
- Approve plant species, sizes and counts.
- Review soil and utility information.
- Assign watering and irrigation responsibility.
Example scope boundary: No irrigation system, drainage correction, tree removal, long-term maintenance or mature-plant guarantee.
Review the client name, location, validity date and all calculations. Tax is not included in this example; determine the correct treatment for the actual work rather than copying a sample percentage.
Common questions
Is bed area enough to price landscaping?
No. Plant count, edging, soil preparation and mulch need their own quantities.
Who waters new plants?
State the handoff and ongoing care responsibility in the estimate or care document.
TAKE THE NEXT JOB FROM SCOPE TO PDF
Make your own landscape bed installation estimate.
Use Estimates on iPhone or Android to draft a scope with AI assistance or enter your own items. Review quantities and rates, add your business logo, and export a PDF. Example files are free to view; app features may require an in-app purchase.
