Landscape Cost Guide for Greater Victoria BC
One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners across Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula is simple: what does landscaping actually cost? In a region known for its natural beauty and higher property values, landscaping isn’t just about looks. It affects how your home functions, how it feels to live in, and how it holds its value over time.
Costs can vary a lot here depending on slope, bedrock, drainage, access, and how detailed the project is. This guide is meant to give you realistic expectations for landscaping projects in Victoria, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Colwood, and nearby communities.
At Victoria Interlock, we design and build landscapes in these conditions every day. We’re fully licensed and insured, an A rated BBB accredited business, and a certified Allen Block contractor and ICPI-certified paver installer. That experience matters. It means the pricing guidance in this guide is based on real projects, not generic averages.
As you read through, we’ll also point you to our hardscaping price guide and our landscape visualizer and estimator, which can help you explore ballpark pricing based on your own property before moving into a full design.
Pre-Sale Curb Appeal & Clean Ups ($2,500 - $7,500)
This entry-level range is ideal for homeowners preparing to sell or those looking for a quick curb appeal refresh without major construction. We focus on cleanliness, color, and general repairs that make a strong visual impact.
Typical services in this range may include:
- Full-property landscape cleanup (pruning, edging, debris removal)
- Garden bed cleanup and seasonal planting
- Mulch installation for a uniform, polished look
- Minor outdoor lighting repairs
- Overgrown hedge trimming or plant removals
These projects are fast and effective, often completed in just a few days, and can make your home look cared-for and market-ready.
Mid-Range Landscaping ($7,500 - $15,000)
In Greater Victoria, this budget range is typically used for focused upgrades that make a noticeable difference in curb appeal, usability, and overall polish. It’s a common range for homeowners looking to refresh tired spaces.
Projects in this range often include:
-
- New lawn installation using locally grown BC sod
- Garden bed renovations with a mix of native and climate-adapted plants
- Mulch or decorative stone installation for a clean, finished look
- Light grading or drainage improvements
- Walkways or entry pads using pavers or natural stone
- Landscape lighting for paths, steps, and garden features
This tier works well for front yard upgrades, smaller backyards, or properties that need several practical improvements without moving into full landscape reconstruction.
Full Front Yard Redesign or Small Backyard Projects ($15,000 - $30,000)
At this investment level, we're moving beyond simple upgrades and into more cohesive landscape design. This range allows for thoughtful planning, hardscaping, and solutions that address both appearance and function, especially on sloped or challenging Island properties.
Projects in this range often include:
-
- Custom planting plans using a mix of native and climate-adapted plants
- Lawn replacement where turf has struggled due to shade, drainage, or poor soil
- A paver patio designed for everyday use and casual entertaining
- Walkways, entry landings, or smaller retaining walls to manage grade changes
- Expanded landscape lighting for paths, garden beds, and feature areas
- Drainage solutions such as French drains, dry creek beds, or swales
This budget works well for homeowners who want a complete front yard refresh or a smaller backyard transformation.
Landscape Transformations & New Construction Landscaping ($30,000 - $50,000+)
This investment range is typically for homeowners starting with a blank slate or planning a complete landscape transformation. With proper design and sequencing, this level allows us to address grading, drainage, planting, and outdoor living as one cohesive plan.
Projects at this level often include:
-
- Full property grading and new lawn installation using locally grown BC sod
- Large-scale planting designs with privacy screening, structure, and seasonal interest
- Custom landscape lighting throughout the property for safety and ambiance
- Xeriscaping elements using native plants, river rock, mulch, and low-water planning
- Segmental retaining walls to manage slopes, bedrock, and elevation changes
- Integration with patios, walkways, and outdoor living features (see our hardscaping price guide for detailed pricing)
This range is well suited for new construction homes, larger properties, or homeowners who want a high-quality landscape built properly from the ground up.
Luxury Landscaping & Complete Property Renovations ($50,000 - $100,000+)
This investment range is suited to large-scale landscape transformations on high-end homes and estate properties throughout Southern Vancouver Island. At this level, landscapes are built as complete outdoor environments, not individual features added over time.
Projects in this range may include:
-
- A professionally designed master landscape plan for the entire property
- Paver driveways, custom walkways, and front entry landings
- Large outdoor living spaces with patios and built-in features
- Fiberglass in-ground pool installations with integrated poolside landscaping
- Privacy screening and planting around pools and property boundaries
- Luxury poolside design, including seating areas, planting, and accent lighting
- Multi-level retaining walls to manage slopes, bedrock, and elevation changes
- Pergolas, pavilions, or shade structures designed for extended seasonal use
- Custom landscape lighting systems with smart controls and multi-zone programming
- Fire features or water features designed as focal points and gathering spaces
This tier is ideal for homeowners who want a fully integrated, high-end landscape where every element is planned, built properly, and designed to last. These projects are common on new builds, waterfront properties, and larger lots throughout Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula.
What Affects the Cost of Landscaping
Landscaping costs on Southern Vancouver Island can vary widely. Understanding what drives pricing will help you set realistic expectations and plan a project that fits your property and priorities.
1. Plant and material selection
Plant choice has a major impact on cost. Native and climate-adapted plants are often more affordable and easier to maintain, while larger trees, specimen shrubs, decorative stone, and specialty materials increase investment. Material availability on the Island also plays a role.
2. Site conditions and preparation
Many properties in Greater Victoria have slopes, shallow soils, or underlying bedrock. Grading, drainage corrections, soil improvement, and removing overgrown or failing landscapes all add time and cost but are often necessary to do the job properly.
3. Project size and design complexity
A simple garden bed refresh costs far less than a multi-area project involving lawns, planting, lighting, drainage, and privacy screening. Projects that span front, side, and backyard spaces or require custom design work involve more planning and labour.
4. Enhancements and special features
Features like landscape lighting, dry creek beds, drainage swales, privacy hedging, or xeriscaping elements improve both function and appearance. These upgrades add value, but they also increase the overall project cost.
Why landscaping prices vary between contractors
If you’re comparing estimates in the Victoria area, you’ll likely see a wide range of pricing for similar-sounding work. Material costs are fairly consistent. The real differences usually come down to experience, planning, and execution.
Why some contractors charge less
Lower pricing often means corners are being cut.
-
- Unskilled or temporary labour
Inexperienced crews can lead to poor plant placement, inadequate soil prep, drainage issues, and early plant failure. We’re frequently called in to fix landscapes that weren’t installed correctly the first time. - No real design process
Quotes without a planting plan or layout often result in mismatched plants and poor long-term performance. We design with sun exposure, soil, drainage, and mature plant size in mind. - Skipped preparation
Cutting back on soil improvement, grading, or proper planting techniques saves money upfront but creates problems later. - No warranty or follow-up
Many low-cost contractors don’t stand behind their work. If plants fail or drainage issues appear, the homeowner absorbs the cost. - Lack of licensing or insurance
Business stability matters. Unlicensed or uninsured contractors put homeowners at risk.
- Unskilled or temporary labour
Why some contractors charge more
Higher pricing isn’t always a red flag, but it should be understood.
-
- High overhead
Large companies with heavy marketing, office staff, and fleets often pass those costs onto clients. Bigger doesn’t always mean better results. - Over-specified materials
Exotic plants or imported materials can inflate costs without adding real value. We focus on regionally appropriate materials that perform well here. - Complex or technical work
Projects involving drainage engineering, multi-level planting, retaining walls, or integrated lighting require more planning and skilled labour, which legitimately increases cost.
- High overhead
Honest pricing for Island conditions
At Victoria Interlock, our pricing reflects the real work involved in building landscapes that last in Vancouver Island conditions. We’re fully licensed and insured, an A rated BBB accredited business, and certified through Allen Block and ICPI. We price projects fairly, without inflated margins, and we’re upfront about what’s included.
We encourage homeowners to compare quotes carefully and make sure they’re comparing the same scope, materials, and level of workmanship.
