Landscape maintenance can cost $4 to $12 per square foot, which adds up quickly on civic, multifamily, and commercial sites. Outdated designs increase water use, labor needs, and recurring repairs, making long-term costs harder to control.
Sustainable landscape design offers a more innovative and cost-effective approach. It lowers water bills, reduces maintenance, and delivers lasting value across every property type.
At Evergreen Design Group, we create high-performing landscapes that do more with fewer resources.
The biggest cost savings often start before a single plant goes into the ground. Our landscape designs lay the groundwork for a landscape that’s easier to build, simpler to maintain, and less resource-intensive over time.
Our team of landscape architects looks at what the site already offers — natural drainage, healthy soil, existing trees — and prepares the design from there. Designing around what works helps avoid unnecessary grading, rework, and long-term maintenance headaches.
Here’s how that approach pays off:
Incorporating a tree disposition plan early in the process isn’t only good ecology — it’s good economics. Preserving mature trees provides instant shade, stabilizes soil, and reduces future planting costs.
For example, the City of Phoenix found that increasing urban tree canopy by just 10% could lower summer air temperatures by about (1.4°C) — a measurable cooling effect that reduces irrigation needs in shaded zones.
Plant choices have a major impact on two of the biggest influences on landscape cost: water use and time on site. Oregon State University found that water-efficient planting options can reduce outdoor water use by 35% to 75% — a substantial drop that adds up over time.
We prepare every planting plan at Evergreen Design Group around real site conditions — climate, sun exposure, and soil. This keeps things looking good even in high-visibility or low-access zones where crews can’t be on-site every week.
Why it matters:
When turf is needed, we keep it to a minimum and recommend hardy varieties like buffalograss, zoysiagrass, or hybrid Bermuda. That means less mowing, less water needs, fewer chemical inputs, and longer-lasting results.
When irrigation systems aren’t designed around site conditions, the result is wasted water, stressed plants, and ongoing maintenance headaches. We create irrigation designs that match the layout, plant palette, and soil profile.
Zones are calculated to deliver the right amount of water to each area, using drip irrigation in beds, rotary heads on large turf areas, and weather-based controllers that adjust automatically. This reduces runoff, protects plant health, and the numbers speak for themselves:
We also prioritize systems that are easy for property managers or facility teams to adjust, monitor, and maintain.
Low-maintenance doesn’t have to mean low-impact. You can create functional, durable spaces with a well-thought-out landscape hardscape design.
Incorporating sustainable hardscape elements helps reduce the maintenance footprint and avoid unnecessary landscaping labor:
Using durable hardscape surfaces in high-traffic zones reduces labor and keeps the landscape functional and accessible year-round, especially in community-facing projects or amenity centers.
Community green spaces and amenities are some of the most visible — and expensive — parts of a development to maintain. Our landscape architects take a strategic approach to community amenities design so that outdoor spaces look inviting while withstanding frequent use without continuous repairs or replacements.
Rather than overbuild or overplant, we focus on usability, durability, and sustainability:
Every decision at this stage shapes long-term costs. Making the right calls early can lower landscape maintenance fees, water costs, reduce capital repairs, and create a more functional, welcoming space for residents and visitors.
Sustainable landscapes don’t come together by chance. They’re built through early, strategic decisions and detailed execution because every element, from plant selection to irrigation layout, influences long-term cost and reliability.
Partner with Evergreen Design Group to build a site that lasts. Contact us today to get started.
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