Division 32 · Garden Construction
Garden projects priced bed by bed, from soil to the last drip line
Garden jobs look small until the soil arrives. A 4 by 12 foot raised bed filled 12 inches deep takes 1.8 cubic yards, ten of them take 18, and the compost, lumber, hardware cloth and drip tubing behind them add up fast. Our estimators measure garden plans bed by bed, convert soil to cubic yards, count plants at spacing and price paths, irrigation, lighting and the upkeep that follows.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
“The conduit and wire takeoff matched what my foreman pulled from the drawings almost to the foot. Labor hours were realistic for our crews. It is the first outsourced estimate I did not have to redo.”
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“The conduit and wire takeoff matched what my foreman pulled from the drawings almost to the foot. Labor hours were realistic for our crews. It is the first outsourced estimate I did not have to redo.”
Dana Okafor
Owner, Okafor Electric · Houston, TX
Garden quantities we take off
Beds measured in area, soil in volume, plants by spacing and irrigation by line length.
Raised bed constructionEA / LF
Cedar, composite, corrugated steel or masonry beds by size and height with corner hardware and liner
In-ground planting bedsSF
Bed preparation, tilling, edging and bed shaping for ornamental and productive gardens
Soil mix and compostCY
Blended raised-bed mix, topsoil and mushroom or leaf compost by depth
Plant counts by categoryEA
Vegetables, herbs, perennials, shrubs, small trees and bulbs counted by spacing and container size
Mulch and ground coverCY / SF
Wood chip, straw, pine bark and living ground cover between rows and around plants
Drip irrigation linesLF / EA
Mainline, 1/2 inch drip tubing, emitters, filters, pressure regulators and timers
Hose bibs and water supplyEA / LF
Sill cocks, frost-free hydrants, manifold assemblies and trenching to the garden zone
Pathways and edgingSF / LF
Gravel, decomposed granite, stepping stones or pavers with fabric and compacted base
Trellises, arbors and fencingEA / LF
Cattle panel trellises, wood arbors, deer fencing and gates around productive beds
Garden lightingEA / LF
Low-voltage path, spot and string lighting with transformer and cable
Compost, tool storage and structuresEA
Three-bay compost bins, potting benches, rain barrels, sheds and cold frames
Maintenance allowanceHRS / MO
First-season watering, weeding, pruning, replanting and seasonal turnover visits
Overview
What a garden estimate actually covers
A garden estimate is a collection of small, specific quantities that add up to a large number. The plan gives us bed dimensions and shapes, which we convert into planting area in square feet and edge length in linear feet. Raised beds are priced as built units: lumber or steel walls, corner hardware, liner, hardware cloth for pests and the fill itself. Fill depth times area gives cubic yards, usually a blend of topsoil, compost and aeration material.
Plants are counted by spacing rather than by symbol: a vegetable bed at 12 inch spacing in a 4 by 8 foot box holds 32 plants, while a perennial border on 18 inch centers needs one plant per 2.25 square feet. We separate trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and edibles because each has different cost and survival allowances.
Support systems finish the estimate: drip lines, emitters, timers and filters, gravel or mulch pathways, trellises, fencing, garden lighting and compost bins, plus a maintenance allowance for the first season.
Estimate types
What type of gardening estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
| Estimate type | Accuracy | Turnaround | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Residential garden build estimate Raised beds, planting beds, soil, plants, irrigation and paths priced from a garden plan for a complete installation proposal. | ±6% | 24 hours | Garden designers and landscapers |
Community and school garden pricing Multi-bed layouts with accessible paths, tool storage, water supply and signage priced for grant-funded or volunteer-built installations. | ±7% | 24–48 hours | Nonprofits and school districts |
Soil and plant list only Cubic yards of soil, compost and mulch with plant counts by variety and size, ready for supplier quotes. | Quantities only | Same day | Gardeners buying their own materials |
Commercial rooftop and courtyard gardens Planter, drainage layer, lightweight growing media, irrigation and edging priced from architect plans with weight and access constraints noted. | ±8% | 48 hours | Developers and contractors |
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
Then step 2
- 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
Then step 3
- 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
Then step 4
- 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Bid-ready
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Soil, compost and mulch converted to cubic
Yards from bed area and depth, with delivered loads rounded sensibly.
Plants counted at proper spacing so beds
Are neither overcrowded nor overbought.
Raised beds priced as built units with lumber or steel
hardware cloth, liner, fasteners and labor.
Drip irrigation measured by row length
emitter spacing and zone, with filters, regulators and timers included.
Pathway base, fabric and edging priced separately
From planting so the cost of access is visible.
Seasonal planting dates and first-season
Maintenance included as clear allowances.
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbook
Marked-up plans
Material procurement list
Labor hours by task
Estimate workbook XLSX
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plans PDF
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement list XLSX
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by task XLSX
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions log PDF
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheet PDF
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Free quote
Get a fixed quote for this scope
Upload drawings or a plan link and tell us the bid date. A senior estimator confirms scope, price and delivery before any work starts.
- Scope confirmation and a fixed price within two business hours
- Most estimates delivered in 24–48 hours
- Unlimited revisions until bid day
- Plans stay confidential and are deleted on request
Prefer to talk? Call +1 (800) 555-0199 or email info@leedsestimating.com.
Nationwide
Priced for your zip code in all 50 states
Labor rates, material costs and code requirements are adjusted to the project location, not a national average.
FAQ
Gardening Estimating FAQs
How do you calculate soil for a raised bed?
We multiply bed length by width by fill depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 4 by 12 foot bed at 12 inches deep needs about 1.8 cubic yards. We then split that into topsoil, compost and aeration material according to the specified mix.
Do you count plants by variety?
Yes. Plants are counted from the plan and by spacing in each bed, then grouped by variety, container size and category. This lets nurseries quote accurately and shows which plants drive the budget, especially specimen shrubs or small trees.
Can you price drip irrigation for a garden?
We measure mainline and drip tubing by row, add emitters at the required spacing and include filters, pressure regulators, timers and connections to the water supply. If trenching is needed to bring water to the garden, that is priced separately by length.
Do you include paths, trellises and fencing?
Yes. Pathways are priced by area with base and edging, trellises and arbors by unit and fences by linear foot with gates. Deer or rabbit fencing for edible gardens is called out separately because it can rival the bed construction cost.
Is garden maintenance part of the estimate?
We can include a first-season maintenance allowance covering watering, weeding, pruning, mulch top-up and replacement plants. The hours are tied to bed square footage and visit frequency, so you can quote a clear seasonal or monthly price.
How fast can you price a small garden project?
Small residential gardens are usually delivered the same day or within 24 hours. Community garden plans with multiple beds, water supply work and structures may take up to 48 hours, and we confirm the date before starting.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Ready for a gardening estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.