A design session, monthly mowing, and a backyard rebuild have different scopes and budgets. The examples listed below were verified on September 30, 2026. They are advertised rates for the named services, rather than market averages or company recommendations. Use them to get a sense of the scope, then ask for a written brief that covers your exact needs when you contact your shortlist.
| Service example | Advertised starting price | Comparison detail |
|---|---|---|
| Figaro’s Garden · Vancouver design | CA$400–$600 | Full front-and-back-yard design starts at CA$800–$1,000; installation is separate. |
| SurreyMowing · very small lawn | CA$199/month + tax | April–November; compare lawn size, included visits and clipping handling. |
| SurreyMowing · lawn and garden | CA$299/month + tax | March–November; includes garden work as well as lawn care. |
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Separate design from the installed garden
If you are looking for a planting refresh in Vancouver, you need to decide if you're paying for advice, a plant list, actual drawings, or someone to coordinate the construction. Figaro’s Garden lists design services starting at CA$400–$600, while comprehensive front-and-back-yard designs start at CA$800–$1,000. These prices cover design; building the garden is separate. When you get quotes, ask how many revisions are allowed, if they do on-site measurements, and what kind of documents you'll get to hand over to an installer. You should see separate line items for plant supply, digging, paving, and construction.
Compare the service season behind a monthly maintenance price
A low monthly price can be misleading if the service season or the workload is different from what you expect. SurreyMowing offers a plan for very small lawns starting at CA$199 per month plus tax from April through November. Their lawn-and-garden plan starts at CA$299 per month plus tax from March through November. Don't just compare the monthly rate; look at how many months you'll be billed, how often they visit, and what tasks are included. Yard size, access, and garden complexity still need pricing for your property in Surrey, Langley, or elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.
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Measure lawn, beds and hedges separately
When asking for regular yard maintenance, give them a rough idea of the lawn area, the number and current state of your garden beds, and the height and length of your hedges. A small lawn might be easy, but if the beds are neglected, the initial cleanup will cost more than a larger, tidy yard. You should ask if the first cleanup is an extra charge, how they handle visits during slow growth periods, and if they reschedule when the weather is bad. If you are managing a Surrey townhouse complex, be specific about which gardens are part of the shared contract so there's no confusion about front entrances. Make sure items like aeration, overseeding, and heavy hedge trimming are listed explicitly.
Show the actual route into the yard
Show the route from the unloading point to the work area. A narrow side gate in Burnaby, a North Vancouver staircase, or a Vancouver rear lane can change how materials and waste move through the property. Ask how the access conditions affect the work and price; the city name alone does not explain a surcharge. It's best to send photos and note any widths or steps. Ask the contractor who is responsible for loading, protecting your existing surfaces, and fixing any damage to access paths caused by their equipment.
Price preparation beneath the visible finish
For projects like a patio or a wall, you need to know the costs for everything beneath the surface: removal, excavation, base prep, drainage, materials, labour, and finishing details. You can't compare two quotes if one is for just the visible pavers and the other includes all the prep work. In Abbotsford, keep in mind that building bylaws have rules for retaining walls at least 1.2 metres high (measured from the lowest adjacent grade) and specific requirements for stepped arrangements with slopes greater than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. It is a good idea to check with the City to confirm your layout and see if you need permits or specific design work before you compare construction totals.
Check where clippings and construction waste will go
Check whether cleanup includes collecting debris, removing it, or both. For example, SurreyMowing’s lawn plan involves bagging clippings or putting them in green bins at the curb for city pickup; that is not the same as hauling waste off-site. If you are doing a major garden rebuild, ask specifically about the removal of soil, old paving, roots, and mixed construction waste. You need to know where temporary piles or bins are allowed to sit and exactly what removal services are included in your price. If the contractor is unsure of the quantities or if there are disposal fees, make sure those are listed as visible allowances in the quote.
Agree on changes, tax and establishment care
Keep all your information in one place: the agreed scope, any allowances, exclusions, and optional work. You should know who has the authority to approve extra digging or replacement materials and how those changes will be recorded before any extra work starts. Make sure the quote explicitly states the applicable tax and the payment milestones. For new plantings or lawns, you need to clarify who is responsible for checking local watering laws, running the irrigation, and looking after the plants after they've been installed. Include a written care plan and a defined finished result in the quote.
Turn a vague quote line into a comparable scope
This is a scope-writing example, not a contractor quote or suggested construction specification.
| Vague line | Details to request |
|---|---|
| Install a new patio | Measured area, material type, existing surface removal, and proposed base preparation. |
| Drainage included | What is being collected, the proposed route and outlet, and responsibility for design or approval. |
| Cleanup included | Which materials are removed, where they are disposed of, and which surfaces are restored. |
| Monthly maintenance | Billed months, frequency of visits, included tasks, and any separately charged seasonal work. |
Enquiry checklist.
- Use the same measured scope and access photographs for every quote.
- Compare billed months and included visits for recurring care.
- Identify preparation, removal, allowances and optional work.
- Confirm tax, change approval and aftercare in writing.
Common questions
What do the advertised Surrey maintenance plans cost over their full season?
Based on the reviewed starting prices, a CA$199 monthly plan billed for eight months (April through November) totals CA$1,592 before tax. A CA$299 monthly plan billed for nine months (March through November) totals CA$2,691 before tax. These figures are calculated based on one provider's advertised starting plans, not market averages or official quotes. The second plan includes garden care, so the totals cover different work. Find SurreyMowing in the directory Find SurreyMowing in the directory
Can I use a Vancouver garden-design price as an installed-landscape budget?
No. The design examples published only cover the design service itself. You need to ask which site measurements, plant selections, drawings, and revisions are included, and then get separate quotes for the actual supply and installation. A price for a planting plan won't tell you the costs for excavation, drainage, paving, or construction at your specific property. Find Figaro’s Garden in the directory
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