Landscaping Cost in Nashville (2026)
Quick Answer
Estimated rangeIn Nashville, landscaping costs are commonly estimated at about $50–$100 per labour hour for a small crew, with one-off jobs often starting around $150–$300 for basic tidy-ups and running into the low thousands for planting, sod or drainage work. Because many local landscapers quote by job rather than by the hour, the most useful rule of thumb is roughly $500–$2,500 for small-to-medium projects and $3,000+ for larger redesigns or hardscaping. Exact pricing varies a lot with slope, access, plant choice and whether irrigation, retaining walls or drainage are involved.
Overview
Landscaping prices in Nashville vary widely because the term covers everything from routine garden tidy-ups and mulching to full garden redesign, grading, planting and hardscape installation. For straightforward maintenance-style work, homeowners typically see minimum visit charges or half-day rates rather than highly itemised pricing. For improvement projects, most contractors price by scope, materials, haul-away and crew time, with Nashville labour and material costs generally sitting in a mid-range band for a major US metro area. A practical way to budget is to split work into maintenance, soft landscaping and hard landscaping. Basic clean-ups, bed refreshing and shrub trimming are usually the least expensive jobs. New planting, mulch, sod and irrigation repairs are the next tier. Patios, retaining walls, drainage correction and substantial grading are normally the highest-cost items because they involve machinery, aggregate, disposal and more skilled installation. In Tennessee, licensing can also matter: smaller basic landscape jobs may not require a state contractor licence, but larger projects that cross state thresholds or include irrigation, masonry, electrical or structural elements may trigger additional licensing requirements. Always ask whether the quote includes materials, waste removal, plant warranty and any permit-related costs before comparing bids.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping labour rate(per hour) Estimated range based on typical market rates for landscaping labour in a mid-sized US metro such as Nashville; many firms actually quote per job or per crew visit rather than as a standalone hourly rate. | ~$50 – $100 | Estimated range |
| Minimum call-out / small garden tidy-up(per visit) Estimated range for a basic one-off visit such as light pruning, bed clean-up, weeding or mulch touch-up; based on common minimum service charges used by trade-service providers. | ~$150 – $300 | Estimated range |
| Mulch installation(per job) Estimated range for a typical residential refresh including delivery and spreading on a modest front or back garden bed area in Nashville. | ~$300 – $900 | Estimated range |
| Planting / bed refresh project(per job) Estimated range for small-to-medium projects involving plant removal, new shrubs/perennials, bed edging and mulch; final cost depends heavily on plant size and count. | ~$500 – $2,500 | Estimated range |
| Sod installation(per square foot) Estimated installed rate based on typical US residential sod pricing adjusted for local labour and material conditions; site prep, grading and irrigation repairs can add materially to cost. | ~$1.5 – $3.5 | Estimated range |
| Hardscaping / drainage / larger redesign(per job) Estimated range for larger residential projects such as patios, retaining walls, drainage correction or substantial redesign; costs vary sharply with engineering, excavation and material choice. | ~$3,000 – $15,000 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Labour
- Basic site clean-up
- Loading and haul-away of green waste on larger jobs if stated in the quote
- Materials only if specifically itemised or described as included
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
Regulator / licensing: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Variants & Configurations
Duration
Small tidy-ups may take 2–6 hours; planting and mulch jobs often take half a day to 2 days; larger drainage or hardscape projects can run several days to a few weeks.
How Fees Work
Many Nashville landscapers use a minimum visit fee for small jobs and fixed project quotes for larger work. Some maintenance work is billed hourly or per crew-hour, while design-build projects are usually priced as a lump sum plus any approved changes.
Factors Affecting Price
- Project type: maintenance, planting, sod, drainage and hardscaping have very different labour and material profiles
- Site conditions: slope, rocky soil, drainage problems, access for machinery and disposal distance can raise cost
- Materials and plant stock: premium stone, mature shrubs, irrigation components and soil amendments increase the quote
- Job size and minimum charges: small jobs can look expensive per hour because crews apply a minimum visit fee
- Licensing and permits: irrigation, electrical lighting, walls or major construction elements may require additional qualified trades
Local Context
In Nashville, quotes usually exclude sales tax details unless materials are clearly itemised, and project costs can shift with summer demand, storm clean-up demand and hilly or drainage-prone sites common in parts of Middle Tennessee. Tipping is not normally expected for landscaping crews, though some customers offer drinks or a discretionary tip for exceptional service. Prices also vary between simple suburban lawn-and-bed work and more design-led projects in higher-end neighbourhoods.
These are data-informed estimate ranges, not confirmed prices.
Costs like this vary widely by job, location, timing and provider, so there is no single fixed price. The ranges here are based on typical market rates to give you a realistic ballpark. For an exact figure for your situation, get a quote or check the official source below.
All figures are in US dollars (USD). Estimated ranges are intended for budgeting and should be checked against written local quotes.
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors · government
Official regulator for contractor licensing in Tennessee; relevant to licensing and compliance for larger or regulated landscaping-related work.
- National Association of Landscape Professionals · industry
Recognised industry body relevant as a directory/source for locating professional landscape companies.
- Better Business Bureau · secondary
Widely used directory for checking business profiles and complaints history when screening tradespeople.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical hourly rate for landscapers in Nashville?+
A reasonable estimate is about $50–$100 per labour hour, although many firms quote by crew or by project rather than giving a single-person hourly rate.
How much does a basic garden clean-up cost?+
For a one-off tidy-up, weeding, light pruning or bed clean-up, a realistic starting range is around $150–$300, with larger or overgrown gardens costing more.
Do landscapers in Tennessee need a licence?+
It depends on the scope and value of the work. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors regulates contractor licensing, and larger projects or work involving irrigation, electrical, masonry or structural elements may require appropriately licensed contractors.
Is mulch or planting cheaper than hardscaping?+
Yes. Mulch and planting jobs are usually far less expensive than patios, retaining walls or drainage works because hardscaping needs more labour, base materials, machinery and technical installation.
Should I expect the quote to include materials?+
Not automatically. Some quotes bundle labour and materials together, while others separate plants, mulch, stone, disposal and delivery. Ask for a written breakdown.
Where can I look for vetted landscapers in Nashville?+
Good starting points are recognised trade directories and member directories such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals and local Better Business Bureau listings, then verify licences and insurance directly with the contractor.
Related Cost Guides
Interior Design Cost in Chicago (2026)
Chicago, United States
Swimming Pools Cost in Glasgow (2026)
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Appliances Cost in Philadelphia (2026)
Philadelphia, United States
Solar Panels Cost in Houston (2026)
Houston, United States
Landscaping Cost in Edinburgh (2026)
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Solar Panels Cost in Adelaide (2026)
Adelaide, Australia
Check current prices at the official source
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Are you a business?
Get your business listed on this page and reach customers actively searching for your services.
List Your BusinessFind Home & Garden in Nashville
Browse more cost guides for Nashville