San Diego landscaping pricing is its own category. Our climate, water rules, labor costs and plant palette are all different from the national averages you\u2019ll see on HomeAdvisor or Angi. Over twenty years of quoting yards across North County San Diego, we\u2019ve developed a pretty clear picture of what things actually cost here in 2026.
This guide walks through the most common project types with honest price ranges \u2014 low, mid and high \u2014 plus the factors that move the number.
Quick reference: 2026 NCSD pricing at a glance
| Project type | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape design fee | $1,500 | $3,500 | $6,500+ |
| Front-yard refresh | $3,500 | $8,500 | $15,000 |
| Full-property install (residential) | $25,000 | $55,000 | $120,000+ |
| Weekly maintenance (per visit) | $85 | $160 | $280 |
| Sod installation (per sq ft) | $1.80 | $2.50 | $3.25 |
| Sprinkler system (residential new) | $2,800 | $5,500 | $8,500 |
| Smart controller + install | $400 | $650 | $950 |
| French drain (linear foot) | $55 | $90 | $150 |
| Tree trimming (typical residential) | $350 | $750 | $1,400 |
| Tree removal (residential) | $450 | $950 | $2,200 |
| Stump grinding | $150 | $350 | $700 |
| Landscape lighting (full yard) | $2,800 | $5,500 | $9,500 |
| Artificial turf (per sq ft, installed) | $12 | $16 | $22 |
These are real NCSD numbers from 2026 quotes \u2014 not national averages.
Landscape design fees
Most NCSD designers charge a design fee for conceptual and construction drawings, then credit some or all of it toward the install if you build with them. At our shop:
- Conceptual design only (one revision) \u2014 $1,500\u2013$2,500 for a standard residential yard
- Full planting and construction plan \u2014 $3,500\u2013$5,500
- Large or complex properties (hillside, multi-structure) \u2014 $5,500\u2013$10,000+
If you’re going to have the same company build the yard, the design fee often pays for itself by preventing mid-build change orders.
New landscape installation
This is the big one \u2014 starting from dirt and delivering a finished yard. The range is wide because scope varies enormously:
- Front-yard only, modest scope \u2014 $12,000\u2013$20,000
- Full-property residential, typical NCSD lot \u2014 $35,000\u2013$75,000
- Luxury estate install (specimen plants, hardscape, lighting) \u2014 $80,000\u2013$250,000+
The main cost drivers: hardscape percentage (patios, walls, paths), lighting, irrigation complexity, specimen-tree quality, and whether you\u2019re installing on flat or hillside terrain.
Read more in our Landscape Design & Planning service page.
Ongoing maintenance
Weekly or bi-weekly visits are where most NCSD clients spend over the long haul:
- Small yards, basic mow/edge/blow \u2014 $85\u2013$130 per visit
- Typical NCSD residential with full service (mow, edge, bed care, irrigation checks, fertilization schedule) \u2014 $160\u2013$220
- Larger lots or high-maintenance design \u2014 $220\u2013$350+
Monthly contracts save 10\u201315% over one-off visits, and consistent crews catch small issues before they become expensive. See our maintenance service.
Sod installation
Classic lawn in NCSD, installed and ready:
- Basic sod, simple prep \u2014 $1.80\u2013$2.20 per sq ft
- Full prep (soil amendment, grading, new irrigation) \u2014 $2.50\u2013$3.25 per sq ft
- Premium sod varieties (Marathon III, St. Augustine) add 10\u201320%
For a typical 2,000 sq ft front yard: $3,600\u2013$6,500 installed.
Sprinkler systems
New residential sprinkler system, including controller, valves, mainline, laterals and heads:
- Small yards (under 2,000 sq ft) \u2014 $2,800\u2013$4,200
- Typical NCSD residential (3,000\u20136,000 sq ft) \u2014 $4,500\u2013$7,500
- Large or complex properties \u2014 $7,500\u2013$15,000+
Add $400\u2013$950 for a smart controller \u2014 usually pays for itself in water savings inside the first year. See our irrigation service.
Drainage
Yard drainage is often an invisible line item until you need it. In NCSD:
- Basic French drain (up to 40 linear feet, straightforward access) \u2014 $2,400\u2013$4,500
- Longer runs or difficult access \u2014 $75\u2013$150 per linear foot
- Full regrading \u2014 $8\u2013$18 per sq ft
- Channel drain (hardscape-adjacent) \u2014 $2,500\u2013$5,500 for a typical driveway or patio edge
Tree work
- Residential tree trimming (per tree) \u2014 $250\u2013$1,200 depending on size and access
- Tree removal \u2014 $450\u2013$2,200 for typical residential trees; large eucalyptus or palms near structures can run $3,500+
- Stump grinding \u2014 $150\u2013$700
Before you plan any removal, check whether it requires a permit \u2014 see our tree removal permit guide.
Landscape lighting
Low-voltage LED lighting transforms a yard after dark:
- Basic path lighting package \u2014 $2,200\u2013$3,500
- Full-yard package (path, uplights on specimens, wall wash, step lights) \u2014 $4,500\u2013$9,500
- Luxury with zone control and app integration \u2014 $9,000\u2013$18,000+
Artificial turf
Installed, not DIY:
- Basic residential install \u2014 $12\u2013$14 per sq ft
- Pet-rated premium install with full sub-base, pad, and proper drainage \u2014 $16\u2013$22 per sq ft
- Putting green turf \u2014 $22\u2013$35 per sq ft
What moves the number most
Within any project type, the biggest cost drivers are:
- Access. If crews have to wheelbarrow materials 100 feet from the truck, everything takes longer.
- Slope. Hillside work doubles the time and adds engineering (walls, drainage, erosion control).
- Permits. HOA architectural approval, city permits for retaining walls over 3ft, drainage permits \u2014 all add time.
- Plant choices. Specimen olives, mature Japanese maples, 15-gallon specimen palms \u2014 these are not the same number as 5-gallon off-the-shelf.
- Hardscape quality. A concrete patio is a different planet from a hand-cut flagstone patio.
How we quote
We come out, walk the yard with you, ask honest questions, and send a written quote within 3 business days. No sales pressure, no mystery line items, no \u201cit depends\u201d answers. If you\u2019re shopping, we\u2019re happy to be one of your three quotes.
Call (760) 314-1359 or request an estimate \u2014 typically on-site within 48 hours.
Published May 1, 2026
