Landscaping projects vary in duration depending on the complexity of the job, the season, and customer readiness. While some projects can move from the initial phone call to completion in just a few weeks, others, especially large or design-intensive projects, may take longer.
For each of these tasks, we estimate:
- Maintenance: 2-4 weeks
- Cleanup: 3-7 weeks
- Hardscaping: 6-18 weeks
- Drainage: 5-8 weeks
- Planting: 5-14 weeks
To help, you can consult this chart that breaks down each phase of a project. It’s important to note that the biggest points of variability are the client’s willingness to go forward and if a formal landscape design is needed. A motivated client who signs a contract quickly can cut several weeks off the final estimated time. A project with a landscape design adds 4-6 weeks of design work to the final estimate, although that time can run concurrently with project lead time, so it would not affect the final estimate.
| Maintenance | Cleanup | Hardscaping | Drainage | Planting | |
| Initial Process | 1-3 weeks | 1-3 weeks | 1-3 weeks | 1-3 weeks | 1-3 weeks |
| Landscape Design Needed? | N/A | N/A | 4-6 weeks | N/A | 4-6 weeks |
| Spring Lead Time | 1 week | 2-4 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Summer Lead Time | 1 week | 2-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
| Fall Lead Time | 1 week | 2-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Winter Lead Time | 1 week | 2-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 3-4 weeks | Months for plant availability |
| Construction Time | 1 day | 1-2 days | 1 week | 1 week | 1 week |
| Estimated total time | 2-4 weeks | 3-7 weeks | 6-18 weeks | 5-8 weeks | 5-14 weeks |
The Initial Process
The first step is a phone consultation, which is typically scheduled within a day or two of contacting us.
From there, an on-site visit is scheduled within a week, two at the most, during which the customer receives a general verbal estimate.
A formal proposal presentation follows, either by phone, video, or another on-site meeting. For simple jobs, the proposal can be ready as soon as the next day, while complex projects requiring detailed landscape plans may take one to two weeks. If the job requires a landscape design, the design work could take 4-6 weeks.
Customer decisions about signing the contract affect the timeline. Some clients make their choice within a few days, but it can take up to three weeks for others to finalize plans.
On average, this initial phase takes three to four weeks, although in some cases it can be completed in as little as a week. Delays often stem from waiting on contract signatures or deposit payments, since work cannot be scheduled until the deposit is received.
Seasonal Variables
The season plays a significant role in scheduling. Johnson’s Landscaping crews are often booked solid during peak months, which means early planning is critical. Customers who contact the team in January or February for spring installations have a far better chance of getting their preferred schedule.
Planting can be done almost any time of year except during the dead of winter, but the real consideration is whether the customer can water the plants adequately, especially during the heat of summer.
Fall is often recommended as the best time for planting due to milder weather and reduced watering requirements. Late September and October are particularly ideal. However, we can plant any time of year as long as the ground isn’t frozen and local nurseries have plants in stock. The only requirement is watering. Because of that flexibility, all our plantings come with a one-year warranty for peace of mind.
Winter does not usually delay most projects. As long as the ground is not frozen, drainage and hardscaping work can proceed, and preparations for future planting can be completed during the colder months. In fact, winter and late summer are often the best times to schedule these types of projects due to reduced demand.
Lead Times by Project Type
Lead times after the contract is signed depend on the type of project and crew availability.
Maintenance work is the easiest to schedule, with regular visits starting within a week of contract signing. Cleanups, however, take about two to four weeks.
Masonry projects such as flagstone patios, retaining walls, or walkways are generally booked four to six weeks out, which can stretch to six to eight weeks during the busy spring season. Smaller masonry projects that take just a day or two can sometimes be squeezed into the schedule.
Planting has the most variability. In-season, the wait is typically around four weeks, but early spring planting depends on nursery stock availability, which often does not peak until mid- to late April. Summer planting can be scheduled more quickly, within two to three weeks, while fall reverts to a four-week lead time.
Drainage projects have an average lead time of three to four weeks year-round, but heavy rainfall can increase demand and extend this schedule.
Grass seeding and sod have their own windows, with early April and early September being ideal for seeding, while sod is best laid from March to early May or mid-September through early November.
Construction Timelines
Once a job begins, construction time depends on the project’s size and complexity. Johnson’s estimates that most jobs cost about $2,500 per day of work, so the price of a project offers a rough guideline for how long a project will take.
Cleanups usually require one to two days, with large properties taking up to five days.
Masonry projects vary widely depending on size and complexity, while planting jobs can often be completed in a few days unless significant bed preparation is needed. Large trees, while more expensive, do not typically add time. Drainage projects are highly dependent on site conditions, particularly access and excavation requirements.
Possible Delays During Construction
Weather is the most common cause of construction delays. Masonry cannot be performed in even light rain because of the moisture’s effect on mortar and other wet-mixed materials.
Overly wet soil can prevent planting or drainage work.
Occasionally, inspections are needed for certain project elements, introducing another scheduling factor. Sometimes crews need the go-ahead from inspectors to continue work, and inspectors can be busy.
Unforeseen underground conditions, such as hidden roots or unexpectedly deep base materials, can also add time.
Miss Utility markings are not always accurate, and incorrect locations of cables or pipes may require adjustments.
Additionally, sourcing unique or non-native plant materials can cause delays if the customer insists on specific species.
