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Landscape Design — Vancouver, BC
Vancouver's landscape design challenge is maximizing impact within tight lot constraints. Kitsilano row homes might have a 15-foot-wide backyard. Dunbar lots have mature trees that dictate where sunlight lands. Point Grey heritage properties need designs that complement the architectural era. Mount Pleasant laneway homes need outdoor spaces that serve as the primary living area for a small unit. What works in a Surrey acreage does not work here — Vancouver landscape design is about density, light management, and selecting plants that thrive in shade and rain. We design outdoor spaces that make Vancouver's compact lots feel three times their size through layered planting, strategic hardscaping, and purposeful sight lines.
Compact lot sizes across Vancouver require designs that maximize usable space — every square foot must serve a purpose or it becomes wasted.
Mature tree canopy in Dunbar, Kerrisdale, and Shaughnessy creates deep shade that limits plant selection and determines where sun-loving species can survive.
West coast rain demands plant selections that tolerate constant moisture — Mediterranean or drought-adapted plants popular in design magazines fail within two Vancouver winters.
Heritage property guidelines in certain Vancouver neighbourhoods influence landscape style, material choices, and sometimes even plant species selection.
We start every Vancouver design with a site survey that maps sun exposure, drainage patterns, and existing vegetation worth keeping. The plant palette is curated for Vancouver's specific conditions: sword fern, salal, and native huckleberry for shaded understorey; ornamental grasses and heuchera for partial sun; and hydrangea and Japanese maple as feature specimens that thrive in west coast moisture. Hardscaping is selected to complement the house — flagstone for heritage, clean pavers for modern, and natural stone for transitional styles. The design is presented as a scaled plan with a 3D walkthrough so you know exactly what your space will look like before we break ground.
Landscape design and installation in Vancouver typically ranges from $8,000 to $40,000 depending on scope. Design-only packages (plan, plant schedule, material specs) run $1,500 to $4,000. Full design-build projects for compact Kitsilano lots start at $8,000, while larger Shaughnessy or Point Grey properties with extensive planting and hardscaping integration push beyond $30,000.
Get a precise quote for your Vancouver property — every estimate is based on an on-site assessment of your specific conditions.
Landscape Design across every neighbourhood in Vancouver.
Absolutely — small-space design is where thoughtful landscape architecture makes the biggest difference. We use layered planting (tall backing, mid-ground texture, low border), vertical elements like trellises and climbing plants, and multi-function hardscaping (a patio that doubles as a dining area and a planting bed edge) to make compact Vancouver lots feel open and intentional. Some of our favourite projects are under 400 square feet.
Native and adapted species thrive: sword fern, western red cedar, salal, and Oregon grape for structure; Japanese maple, hydrangea, and rhododendron for feature planting; ornamental grasses and heuchera for texture. We avoid plants that need summer irrigation or cannot handle sustained winter moisture. Every plant in our designs is selected for Vancouver's specific zone 8a/8b conditions — not imported from a generic nursery catalogue.
The design phase typically takes 2 to 4 weeks from the initial consultation to final plan presentation. Installation depends on scope — a focused planting refresh takes 2 to 5 days, while a full design-build project with hardscaping and planting runs 2 to 6 weeks. We coordinate around Vancouver's planting windows (spring and early fall are ideal for establishment) to give new plantings the best start.
We handle every outdoor service your Vancouver property needs.
Free on-site consultation. Detailed written estimate. No obligation.
Licensed & Bonded · Free Estimates · Serving Vancouver& Area