Landscape Design in Tbilisi — Process, Timelines, and What Drives the Cost
"What does landscape design cost?" is the most common question, and the answer "it depends" satisfies no one. So let's break down what a project consists of and what raises or lowers the price.
What a design project includes
A full landscape design isn't just a "pretty picture" — it's a technical document the garden is built from:
- Discovery visit and survey — walking the site, soil, light, terrain
- Concept — zoning, style, one or two alternative approaches
- 3D visualization — the garden finished, before any planting
- Technical documentation — planting plan, hardscape, irrigation and lighting schematic
- Plant schedule — an exact list with quantities
Timelines
- Small yard (100–300 m²): 2–3 weeks
- Medium (300–800 m²): 3–5 weeks
- Large or commercial site: 6–10 weeks
What determines the cost
- Area — the main factor, but not the only one
- Terrain complexity — slopes, terracing, drainage add work
- Level of detail — concept only vs. full technical documentation
- Hardscape — paths, water features, retaining walls
- 3D visualization — an optional but valuable stage
Design vs. execution
It's important to grasp the distinction: design is the project (the document); execution is building it — earthworks, planting, irrigation, hardscape. Design is often 8–15% of the whole project cost; the rest is execution.
Why a separate design stage is worth it
A garden started without a design almost always costs more — wrong plant choices, rebuilt paths, irrigation added then removed. A good project solves those mistakes on paper, not on site.
Dr. VERDE's corporate and developer greening projects cover landscape design and planning for private, commercial, and public spaces — from consultation to technical documentation. For agricultural-scale projects, see agro project management.