What to Budget for Landscaping in the Florida Panhandle
Published on February 16, 2026
How Much Does Professional Landscaping Cost in the Florida Panhandle?
If you’re considering landscaping for your home, rental property, or HOA, one of the first questions will probably be:
“What is this going to cost?”
The honest answer is that professional landscaping is customized. Price depends on your property size, conditions, and what you want to achieve.
At Joe’s Custom Lawn, we help clients throughout Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Mexico Beach, WindMark, Apalachicola, and St. George Island understand their options so they can make confident, informed decisions.
Here’s a realistic look at what drives landscaping costs in our coastal market.
What Affects Landscaping Costs?
Every project is different, but these factors influence pricing more than anything else.
Property Size
More square footage means more materials, labor hours, equipment time, and logistics.
Scope of Work
Are you looking for:
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A simple refresh?
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New plantings?
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Bed redesign?
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Drainage correction?
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Irrigation installation?
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A complete landscape renovation?
The broader the project, the larger the investment.
Materials
Your selections matter. Larger plant sizes, palms, decorative rock, upgraded edging, and specialty features can significantly affect pricing. Click here to read our blog post about plant selections!
Site Conditions
Coastal properties in locations like Cape San Blas, Mexico Beach, WindMark Beach, and St. George Island bring unique challenges like:
✔ Sandy soil
✔ Salt exposure
✔ High winds
✔ Tight access or elevated homes
These environments require hardy plant material and professional installation methods that protect the longevity of the landscape.
Irrigation
Proper watering is critical. If a system is outdated, undersized, or inefficient, improvements may be necessary before new landscaping is installed.
Drip irrigation run to each plant ensures proper watering
Typical Landscaping Investment Ranges
Because every property is unique, exact numbers vary. But here’s what we commonly see in our service area.
Landscape Enhancements & Refreshes
Refreshing mulch or rock, redefining beds, replacing plants, or adding small upgrades.
➡️ Most projects fall between $3,000–$10,000 depending on size and materials.
Mid-Size Installations
New beds, privacy buffers, palms, sod work, lighting, and irrigation adjustments.
➡️ Many projects range from $10,000–$40,000.
Full Landscape Transformations
Design planning, removal of old materials, irrigation systems, grading, new plantings, new sod, and feature elements.
➡️ These projects often start around $40,000 and go up based on vision.
A property visit allows us to provide real numbers based on your vision.
Why Landscaping Near the Gulf Often Costs More
Online inspiration photos rarely account for coastal reality.
Landscapes here must stand up to:
🌴 intense sun
🌴 salt air
🌴 wind
🌴 tropical weather events
Doing it right usually means:
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Better soil preparation
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Stronger root establishment
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Smarter irrigation layouts
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Plants selected specifically for coastal durability
This reduces replacement costs and keeps your property looking great long term.
The Hidden Cost of Choosing the Cheapest Option
Lower upfront pricing can lead to higher expenses later due to:
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Premature plant failure
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Drainage problems
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Poor installation techniques
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Re-doing projects sooner than expected
Professional landscaping is about value over time, not just install day.
How to Budget for Landscaping the Smart Way
Many successful projects happen in phases.
We often recommend clients:
✔ Address irrigation first
✔ Invest in foundational plants
✔ Improve high-visibility areas
✔ Plan future upgrades strategically
Working with a company that can both install and maintain the property ensures consistency.
Ready for Real Numbers?
The best place to start is a simple, on-site conversation.
We’ll walk the property with you, understand your goals, evaluate the conditions, and recommend options that match your priorities and budget.
👉 Schedule your landscaping estimate with Joe’s Custom Lawn today.