Landscaping Questions, Answered Honestly
Real pricing, real timelines, and real advice from a landscaper who has no reason to sugarcoat anything. If we can help, we will tell you. If we cannot, we will tell you that too.
Pricing & Cost Questions
$1 to $2 per square foot installed, including soil prep, grading, and cleanup. A typical 1,000-sqft front yard runs $1,000 to $2,000. The price depends on the grass variety (St. Augustine is standard, Zoysia costs slightly more), existing soil condition, and whether grading is needed. We break it all down in the free estimate so there are no surprises.
$12 to $25 per square foot installed. Concrete pavers are on the lower end, brick and travertine on the higher end. That price includes excavation, compacted limerock base, sand setting bed, the pavers, and polymeric sand joint filling. A 300-sqft patio runs $3,600 to $7,500. Complex patterns and curves add slightly to labor.
$2,500 to $5,000 for a full residential system on a standard St. Petersburg lot. That includes custom zone design, trenching, PVC pipe, sprinkler heads, rain sensor, and a smart WiFi controller. Larger properties or complex layouts with drip irrigation zones can run higher. Repairs are $75 to $250 per visit depending on the issue.
$8 to $15 per square foot installed, which includes base excavation, crushed stone drainage layer, weed barrier, the turf itself, and infill material. A 500-sqft backyard runs $4,000 to $7,500. The upside is zero ongoing maintenance costs -- no water, no mowing, no fertilizer. Most homeowners save $500 to $800 per year and break even within 3 to 5 years.
$25 to $50 per linear foot depending on material and height. A 150-foot vinyl privacy fence runs $3,750 to $7,500. Aluminum runs slightly less per foot but is typically used for decorative or pool fencing. Wood (pressure-treated pine or cedar) is the budget option at $20 to $35 per foot but requires periodic staining in our climate.
Process & Timeline Questions
No. Never. We do not collect a deposit on any project regardless of size. You pay when the work is done and you have walked the finished job. This has been our policy since day one. If a landscaper asks for 50% upfront, that should make you nervous. We earn your money by doing the work first.
Most projects start within 1 to 2 weeks of accepting the estimate. Many smaller jobs -- a sod install, irrigation repair, or drainage fix -- can start the same week you approve the quote. Emergency repairs (broken irrigation lines, storm damage) are prioritized and usually addressed within 24 to 48 hours. Larger projects like full hardscaping or multi-phase landscapes may take slightly longer to schedule.
Most residential sod installs are completed in 1 to 2 days. That includes removing old turf (if needed), soil prep and grading, laying the new sod, and initial watering. A 2,000-sqft yard is typically a single-day job for our crew. We schedule sod delivery for the morning of installation so it goes down fresh.
We monitor the forecast daily and plan around heavy storms. Light rain usually does not stop work -- and sod actually benefits from rain during installation because it reduces your watering needs during the rooting period. If a major storm rolls in, we may push a day and communicate the change immediately. Hardscaping work is more weather-sensitive since we need dry conditions for base compaction and polymeric sand application.
Yes. For projects requiring permits (fences over 6 feet, retaining walls over 4 feet), we handle the application, documentation, and final inspection. For HOA approvals, we provide material specs, project plans, and any documentation your association requires. We are familiar with most Pinellas County HOA processes and know what they typically ask for.
Materials & Options Questions
Depends on your yard. St. Augustine (Floratam) is the go-to for full-sun yards in St. Pete -- it handles heat, humidity, and moderate salt exposure well. Zoysia (Empire or Geo) is better for partial shade and handles foot traffic without thinning. Bermuda is the toughest for high-traffic areas but needs full sun and goes dormant in winter. We will look at your sun exposure, soil, and usage patterns during the estimate and recommend the right one.
Vinyl and aluminum last the longest with the least maintenance in our climate. Vinyl will not rot, warp, or need painting -- ever. It resists UV fading and handles salt air without corroding. Aluminum is rust-proof and works well for pool enclosures and decorative fencing. Wood (cedar or pressure-treated) is more affordable upfront but needs staining or sealing every 2 to 3 years in Pinellas County's humidity. We install all three and can advise based on your budget and priorities.
For the right situation, absolutely. If you have dogs tearing up the yard, a shaded area where grass will not grow, or you are tired of spending $100+ per month on water and maintenance -- turf pays for itself. The math is straightforward: $8 to $15/sqft installed versus $500 to $800 per year in water, mowing, fertilizer, and pest control for natural grass. Most turf installations break even in 3 to 5 years and last 15 to 20 years total. The main trade-off is that it gets hot in direct Florida sun during summer afternoons.
Yes. We install smart WiFi controllers (Rachio, Hunter Hydrawise, and similar) that connect to your home network and automatically adjust watering based on local weather data. They typically reduce water usage by 20% to 30% compared to manual timers. You can control zones from your phone, see usage reports, and comply with SWFWMD restrictions without remembering the schedule. Controller upgrades run $200 to $500 installed depending on zone count.
25 to 30+ years with proper installation. The pavers themselves are nearly indestructible. What fails is the base underneath when it is not done right. We compact limerock to 95%+ density, set proper drainage slopes, and use the right thickness of sand bed for our soil conditions. That is why our installs do not shift, sink, or separate after the first heavy rain season -- which is the most common complaint about paver work in Florida.
Local Considerations
Per SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) restrictions, residential properties can water 2 to 3 days per week during the warm season (March through November) and once per week during cooler months. Always water before 10 AM to minimize evaporation. Your specific watering day depends on your address -- odd-numbered addresses water on different days than even. A smart controller with rain sensor handles all of this automatically and keeps you compliant.
Florida's sandy soil is naturally prone to erosion, especially during heavy summer downpours (June through September). The most common causes we see in St. Pete: improper grading directing water toward the house, lack of ground cover on slopes, downspout discharge too close to the foundation, and old or clogged drainage. The fix depends on severity -- minor issues can be solved with regrading and strategic planting. Serious erosion requires French drains, swales, or retaining walls.
May through September is ideal because soil temperatures are above 65 degrees and regular afternoon rain helps new sod root quickly. But here is the thing -- sod can be installed year-round in St. Petersburg. Our winters are mild enough that warm-season grasses stay green most of the time. You just need more supplemental watering during the dry season (October through April). We adjust our soil prep and watering recommendations based on the time of year you install.
In Pinellas County: fences over 6 feet tall and retaining walls over 4 feet in height typically require a building permit. Standard 6-foot privacy fences usually do not need a permit, but you do need to confirm property lines and setback requirements. Paver patios and walkways generally do not require permits unless they are within setback zones. We handle all of this -- from the application to the final inspection -- so you do not have to navigate the county permitting office yourself.
We are based in St. Petersburg (38th Ave North) and serve a 12-mile radius across Pinellas County. That includes Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, and surrounding communities. If you are not sure whether your property is in range, call 757-634-6562 -- we will tell you right away. No wasted time for either of us.
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