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Before You Begin: Helpful Tips for New Homeowners

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Starting landscaping on a new build can be exciting—but also overwhelming. Here are a few things every homeowner should know before getting quotes or planning their yard:

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⭐ Section 1: Before You Begin: Helpful Tips for New Homeowners

 

🔍 1. Get Multiple Quotes & Choose Reputable Companies

It’s important to compare prices, but what matters most is experience and reliability. Look for a company that’s established, insured, and has consistent work to show. Landscaping is a major investment—you want it done right the first time.

 

📐 2. Have Your Survey Certificate Handy

Your survey helps us understand lot lines, elevations, drainage patterns, and where slopes need adjustment. If you have it, keep it ready. If not, we can still work with you.

 

📅 3. Decide Whether You’re Doing Everything at Once, or in Phases

Full new-home landscaping can be a large investment. Many homeowners choose to:

  • finish the grading and sod first,

  • add trees, shrubs, edging, and rock later,

  • or complete everything in one season.

Whatever fits your timeline and budget is the right way.

 

📝 4. Have a Basic Idea of What You Want

You don’t need a full design. Even a simple idea helps:

  • sod everywhere?

  • rock beds along the house?

  • trees or shrubs?

  • patio now or later?

A bit of direction helps us give accurate pricing and solid suggestions.

 

🏗️ 5. Make Sure Your Yard Gets Proper Base Work

The most important part of a new yard is the grading and topsoil foundation. Proper prep affects drainage, settlement, and the long-term health of your yard. Good base work makes everything else last longer.

 

💬 6. Ask About Timeline, Communication, and Warranty

A reputable company should:

  • explain how long the project will take

  • keep you updated

  • stand behind the work

  • and be easy to contact

You should always feel comfortable with who you hire.

⭐ Section 2: Our New Home Landscaping Process

 

A proper new-home landscape isn’t just sod and rock — it requires the right base work, preparation, and finishing touches. Here’s how Good Turf completes every project the right way:

 

📋 Step 1: On-Site Meeting & Planning

We walk the property with you, review the lot grading, check settlement areas, and go over your ideas. Whether you have a full plan or just a general direction, we help shape a clear and realistic layout.

 

📐 Step 2: Rough Grading & Slope Correction

New yards often settle unevenly. We fix low spots, correct slopes away from the house, and prepare the entire yard so drainage works properly. This is the most important part of your landscaping — everything is built on this foundation.

 

🚜 Step 3: Topsoil Installation & Compaction

We bring in clean topsoil, spread it evenly, shape the yard, and compact it with a roller. This creates a firm, level base for sod, planting beds, and future landscape upgrades. Proper soil prep prevents washouts and sinking later.

 

🌱 Step 4: Sod Installation (or Lawn Preparation)

We install fresh #1 Kentucky bluegrass sod with tight seams and clean edges. We water it, roll it, and make sure everything is fully level and ready to grow.
If you prefer seeding or lawn dressing, we can prepare the base accordingly.

 

🌿 Step 5: Rock Beds, Edging, & Fabric (Optional)

We install 6-oz landscape fabric, clean decorative rock, mulch, and strong black commercial edging where requested. These options help reduce maintenance and add a clean, finished look around the home.

 

🌳 Step 6: Trees, Shrubs & Finishing Touches (Optional)

We can supply and plant trees, shrubs, grasses, and accent plants. Everything is placed properly, planted at the correct depth, and watered in.
This step can be done now or in a future phase — whenever you’re ready.

 

🤝 Step 7: Final Walkthrough & Care Instructions

We walk the finished yard with you, answer questions, and provide watering and care information so your new yard starts off right. You’ll always know exactly what was done and how to look after it.

⭐ Section 3: Understanding Pricing & What Affects the Cost

Every new home is different, and landscaping costs can vary depending on the size of the yard, access, soil conditions, and the features you choose. Here are the main factors that influence the final price of your project:

 

🚪 1. Accessibility to Your Yard

Easy access lowers the cost.
If equipment can enter freely, grading and topsoil installation are faster and require fewer labour hours.
Tight spaces, no rear access, or obstacles can increase time and difficulty, which affects the final price.

 

🌤️ 2. Time of Year You Book

Spring and early summer are the busiest times for new-home landscaping in Winnipeg.
Booking early often allows for better scheduling and may secure you faster service.
Late-season work can sometimes cost slightly more due to tight timelines and weather conditions.

 

🧱 3. Hardscape vs. Softscape Features

Hardscape (patios, re-grading, stonework, steps, retaining areas) typically costs more than softscape (sod, soil, rock beds, shrubs).
Hardscape requires more materials, equipment, and precise labour.
Softscape is usually quicker and more budget-friendly but still requires proper preparation.

 

🏗️ 4. Quality of Base Work & Soil Preparation

The most important part of your new yard isn’t the sod or decorative rock — it’s the foundation underneath.
Proper grading, bringing in the right topsoil, compacting, and rolling everything ensures:

  • no low spots

  • no water pooling

  • even growth

  • long-term stability

Good base work takes time, equipment, and experience. Cutting corners here leads to sinking, uneven lawns, and costly repairs later.

 

📐 5. Size & Shape of the Yard

Larger yards require more soil, sod, and labour.
Irregular shapes, curves, and complex layouts take more time than simple square lots.
We measure everything accurately so you know exactly where your investment is going.

 

🌿 6. Additional Options & Upgrades

Your choices also affect the overall cost:

  • Decorative rock or mulch beds

  • Landscape fabric

  • Edging

  • Trees & shrubs

  • Walkways or patios

  • Drainage corrections

  • Side-yard cleanup & soil removal

Everything can be done at once or spread over multiple phases to match your budget.

 

💬 7. Clear, Honest Estimates Up Front

We always explain your options and help you decide what makes sense for your yard and timeline.
Whether you’re doing everything this season or splitting it over a couple of years, you’ll always know the pricing and the plan before any work begins.

⭐ Section 4: Typical Pricing for New Home Landscaping

Every yard is different, but most new-home landscaping projects in Winnipeg fall within a general price range depending on lot size, soil requirements, access, and the features you choose. Here’s a helpful guideline to give you an idea of what to expect:

 

💰 Basic New-Home Yard

(Final Grading • Topsoil • Sod)
Most standard new-home yards fall between $8,000 – $11,000 depending on the size of the lot, how much topsoil is needed, and how much prep work is required.

 

💵 Mid-Range Yard

(Add rock beds • edging • fabric)
When you add 6-oz fabric, commercial edging, and decorative stone, most yards range between $11,000 – $14,000 depending on how many beds you’re creating and how much rock is needed.

 

🏡 Full-Service Landscape Packages

(Grading • Topsoil • Sod • Rock • Edging • Trees • Shrubs)
A complete front and backyard package often ranges from $14,000 – $18,000+, depending on the lot size, layout, and planting options.

 

These aren’t quotes — just helpful ballpark ranges so you know what to expect before planning your project.

 

⭐ A Very Important Note About Pricing

 

💡 The lowest price is rarely the best value — especially on new builds.

We see this every single season:

  • A homeowner is quoted $10,000 from a reputable company

  • They instead choose someone offering $6,000

  • The job is done improperly or the best to the contractors ability

  • They fight with the contractor all summer

  • Then they call us to fix it… and the repair ends up costing $7000,00

In the end, they spend far more than if they had chosen the right contractor the first time.

 

Why does this happen?

Because with new homes, almost all the work is in the base preparation:

  • proper grading

  • compaction

  • quality soil

  • correct slopes

  • clean edges

  • tight seams

  • drainage done right

If this part is rushed or skipped, the entire yard fails later — and repairs are far more expensive than doing it properly the first time.

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