[Army Guy]

Ok, I know I may be asking a lot. But remember I am Army and we are planners! Can anyone give me just a "ball-park estimate" of what it would cost to landscape the front, side and rear of a typical CYV yard. Nothing high end just normal average stuff. Here is what we are looking at remove the standard stuff that comes with the CYV, all plants, trees, pine straw. All of it! Replace it with all stone/gravel and a very small strip of grass in back, maybe 6 X 3, and plant a few palms. We want NONE to VERY low maintance.
Just trying to get my figures together for budget.
Thanks, Army Guy

[katezbox]

M & L,

As you know, we are not in a CYV - but we did a lots of the same. We got rid of the pine straw and put down granite rocks all around the house and along much of the villa wall behind us.

We left some of the TV stuff - but added a few palms and (against my better judgment - but compromise for Jim) flowering plants. I think we planted about 6 palms in total (queens - 1 double, washingtonian, and date) plus some Hawaiian Tai (?) and crotons.

Total cost was about $4,000.

K

PS - Was thinking of you guys - I'm sitting in the B'ham airport.

PPS - I keep all our estimates on an Excel spreadhseet - talk about planning!

PPS - we used Jeff from Sunscape - he has an ad here

[chuckinca]

I believe you'll need prior approval from the review board.

.

[Ohiogirl]

addI don't believe you need approval for most landscaping, only structures. Believe I spent (over 2 years) about $2200 - to remove the pine straw and add weed mat and bark mulch in the front (I'm in a neighborhood that still has some grass) and some edging (rocks) and replace some stuff that was original that either died or looked awful.

Used bark mulch in the main part and stones in the part (middle of driveway) that would have washed away since I'm not there all the time to sweep it back in heavy rain.

Added a strip of planting area adjacent to the lanai in the back, removed the pine straw and added weed matting and bark mulch along the side patio (around 55 feet, but kept the plantings, which weren't bad), added 1 queen palm and 2 European fan palms, a 4 ft bougainvillea against the courtyard wall and weed matting/mulch in the corner to have a view from the lanai. Have added and plan to add a few minor flowering things.

I used Jeff at Sunscape for the latest rear corner addition. Was very pleased with his work. Got an estimate for about $4000 a couple of years ago to do basically the same stuff. Also am switching to him for granular fertilizer as I think the liquid stuff is what puts stains on the courtyard walls, especially if grass goes all the way up to the walls.

We have a dog and appreciate the grass. Have seen a few rock/concrete/no grass landscapes that look attractive, many others that just look hot! (meaning too warm, not sexy). Be careful!

[Army Guy]

Great, prices are about what we figured then.
Yes, grass area is for our dog also, it is his "poop zone"!

Army Guy

[graciegirl]

Most reputable landscapers know the drill and will submit your plans to the Architectural review board for you.

[Shirleevee]

Our landscaper said submitting plans is a must. I would check with the Architectural Review before doing anything. We received papers from the AR approving our work and we were not adding any structures

[Army Guy]

Yes, I agree, I read our cov. front to back and know anything outside must be approved.
But th contractors will do that for you? At least some? So I guess I should ask.

Army Guy

[OpusX1]

We have a CYV. Found our dogs were pretty much going in the bark mulch on the side so we removed all the grass and planted a few plants, already had 2 queen palms, but we did add a very nice sized robilini, put stone in the front and sides to the fence and put bark down the side and in the back. Since we are snowbirds that let us get rid of the lawn mowing, fertilizing and all grass maintenance. cost of removing grass and the work installing everything was under $3G. We also had Sunscape do the work for us and were very pleased. Call Jeff at Sunscape, you will be glad you did.

[Army Guy]

Sounds great, sounds like I am going to call Sunscape soon.

Army Guy

[JohnN]

I admittedly like to work in the yard, I got estimates of ~~$6K,

did it all myself (and Darling Mrs JohnN LOLOL) for about $1,000,

liked mine better than the landscaping plan by the time it was done

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by JohnN

I admittedly like to work in the yard, I got estimates of ~~$6K,

did it all myself (and Darling Mrs JohnN LOLOL) for about $1,000,

liked mine better than the landscaping plan by the time it was done

I am thinking along these lines myself but have some questions:

1) If you removed sod, how did you get rid of it?

2) did you put in anything large? If so, how did you get it to the site for planting?

[Sgt Mac]

When I was looking in to landscapeing my AO I got a lot of prices from $2ooo to over $4ooo So I did it my self less then $1ooo

1 Get approval from board you will need some photos of what is to be remove and a list of what you are going to do map it

2 Get prices of ie. Rocks, ground cover weed block, trees etc I got some Palms Home Depot and rented their truck $20 and tools to do the work etc

3 Getting rid of the stuff that you remove cut it up and put it in bags and put it out for pick out

I did not remove all the plants that came with the house We got a lot of great info at Home Depot remember you can do it digging in sand is not hard think about it ?

Good Luck, Da Sgt

[Army Guy]

DA Sgt, I know but with limited time until we move down full-time and wanting no maint. to worry about, I am just going to pay and have them do it. Now if I was living there, no problem, I would have it done by me within a few days easy.

Army Guy

[tankdvr1950]

all CYV are not the same as far as land area...it really depends on the model and the layout of the neighborhood

we just had a great job done by a local landscaper.....(Landscaping, Trees & More)....we were very happy with their work......removed all the pine straw, most of the TV installed plants, installed 4 queen palms, 1 pindo palm, a naval orange tree (with (green) fruit on the tree)....weed block of entire area, various other flowering plants, 2 color rock and heavy plastic edging, and redid all the sprinkler heads so they water the plants, not the driverway/walkway....total was about $6k

if you want to see their work....PM me and i will give you the address.