Denver Yard Makeover: What to Expect for Cost, Timing, and Results

You’ve been staring at the same patchy lawn, overgrown shrubs, and cracked concrete for years. You know a yard makeover would change everything — the curb appeal, the water bill, how you actually feel pulling into your driveway. But you’re not sure what it costs, how long it takes, or where to even start.

Here’s what a yard makeover across the greater Denver area actually looks like — with real numbers, realistic timelines, and no fluff.

What’s Actually Included in a Denver Yard Makeover

A yard makeover isn’t just planting a few flowers. Depending on the scope, it can include:

• Demo and removal — clearing out old sod, dead plants, overgrown shrubs, and debris
• Grading and drainage — reshaping the ground to move water away from the foundation
• Hardscape installation — pathways, patios, retaining walls, edging, and boulders
• Irrigation work — installing drip systems, adjusting sprinkler zones, or removing a system entirely for a xeriscape design
• Soil amendment — Denver’s clay-heavy soil often needs work before planting
• Planting — trees, shrubs, perennials, and ground covers selected for the Front Range climate
• Mulch or gravel — ground cover that holds moisture, suppresses weeds, and finishes the look

Not every project includes all of these. A basic front yard refresh might just be demo, new plants, and mulch. A full property transformation touches every item on that list.

Greater Denver Yard Makeover Cost: Real Numbers by Square Footage

The most honest way to think about landscaping cost is by square footage. Across Denver and the surrounding suburbs — Lakewood, Aurora, Arvada, Centennial, and beyond — installed landscaping runs $5–$12 per square foot depending on materials, plant selection, irrigation, and site conditions.

That’s a wide range — here’s what moves the needle toward the high end or the low end.

Closer to $5/sq ft:

• Simple mulch or decomposed granite ground cover
• Smaller plant starts (1-gallon and 5-gallon sizes)
• Drip irrigation only, or no new irrigation
• Flat lot with easy equipment access
• Minimal demo — starting relatively fresh

Closer to $12/sq ft:

• Decorative boulders, premium flagstone, or high-end gravel
• Dense planting with larger specimens (15-gallon shrubs, 2-inch caliper trees)
• Mature trees — a single large specimen can run $500–$3,000 installed
• Full sprinkler or drip system installation
• Significant grading, drainage work, or difficult access

Front Yard Cost by Area and Lot Type

Yard sizes vary considerably across the metro depending on when and where a neighborhood was built. Here’s how the math breaks down by area.

Small front yard — newer urban and suburban developments (~300–700 sq ft)
Common in City of Denver new builds (Central Park, Green Valley Ranch, Sloans Lake infill), newer Aurora communities (Copperleaf, Southshore), and Centennial or Broomfield planned neighborhoods where lots were sized down and HOA landscaping covers common areas.

• At $5/sq ft: $1,500–$3,500
• At $12/sq ft: $3,600–$8,400
• Typical range: $2,000–$8,500

Mid-sized front yard — classic city neighborhoods and inner suburbs (~700–1,500 sq ft)
The most common lot type in the metro. Found throughout Denver’s historic neighborhoods (Washington Park, the Highlands, Berkeley, Sunnyside, Park Hill, Whittier), as well as Edgewater, Wheat Ridge, older parts of Englewood, and established Lakewood and Arvada neighborhoods built in the 1950s–70s.

• At $5/sq ft: $3,500–$7,500
• At $12/sq ft: $8,400–$18,000
• Typical range: $4,000–$18,000

Large front yard — outer suburbs and larger lots (~1,500–2,500+ sq ft)
Typical of mid-century ranch neighborhoods in Lakewood, Arvada, and Westminster; older Aurora neighborhoods like Aurora Hills and Hoffman Heights; and larger-lot areas in Centennial, Parker, Littleton, and Highlands Ranch. These properties often have the most to gain from a full xeriscape conversion — both visually and on the water bill.

• At $5/sq ft: $7,500–$12,500
• At $12/sq ft: $18,000–$30,000
• Typical range: $8,000–$30,000

Backyard Cost

Suburban backyards are often significantly larger than their city counterparts — especially in Arvada, Centennial, Lakewood, and Aurora, where 2,000–4,000 sq ft backyards are common. Using the same $5–$12/sq ft framework:

• Small backyard (~600–1,000 sq ft): $3,000–$12,000
• Mid-sized backyard (~1,000–2,000 sq ft): $5,000–$24,000
• Large backyard (~2,000–4,000 sq ft): $10,000–$48,000

Add-ons like patios, pergolas, retaining walls, and outdoor lighting are generally priced separately on top of the landscaping scope.

Full Property

For a full-property xeriscape conversion across a standard metro Denver lot (combined front and back around 5,000–10,000 sq ft of landscapable area), expect $25,000–$90,000 depending on design complexity and material selection. Larger suburban lots on the outer metro can run higher. Design fees, if charged separately, typically run $500–$2,000.

What Drives the Cost Up (or Down)

Things that push costs higher:

• Significant demo — removing a full lawn, large trees, or old hardscape adds labor hours fast
• Poor drainage or major grading work
• Irrigation installation or full system replacement
• Retaining walls — especially anything over 4 feet, which may require permits and engineering
• Large specimen trees (mature trees cost significantly more than 5-gallon starts)
• Tight access — side yards or backyard-only access slows everything down

Things that keep costs manageable:

• Choosing smaller plant sizes and letting them establish over time
• Xeriscape design that eliminates irrigation infrastructure entirely
• Phasing the project — doing front yard one year, backyard the next
• Straightforward flat lots with good soil and easy access

How Long Does a Yard Makeover Take in Denver?

Most homeowners underestimate the timeline. Here’s the reality:

• Consultation and estimate: 1–2 weeks to get on a company’s schedule
• Design (if included): 1–2 weeks after deposit
• Scheduling and material lead time: 2–6 weeks depending on the season — spring is the busiest time in Denver and crews book out fast
• Installation: 1–5 days for most residential front yards; 1–2 weeks for large full-property projects
• Plant establishment: 1–2 seasons before your yard truly looks “done” — plants need time to settle, fill in, and root deep

Total time from first call to completed installation: plan on 4–10 weeks during busy seasons, faster in fall.

The Best Time of Year for a Yard Makeover in Denver

Denver’s climate makes timing matter more than most places.

Spring (April–June) is the most popular season — plants establish well, soil is workable, and results show fast. The downside: it’s also the most competitive time to get on a landscaper’s schedule. If you’re thinking spring, start calling in February or March.

Fall (August–October) is arguably the better season for planting. Cooler temperatures mean less stress on new plants, roots have time to establish before the ground freezes, and crews have more availability. If you can plan ahead, fall installations often outperform spring ones long-term.

Summer (July–August) can work for hardscape-heavy projects — patios, walls, pathways — but planting in the heat requires more irrigation support and careful timing.

Winter is generally not ideal for planting, but it’s the perfect time to plan, get on a schedule, and lock in pricing before spring demand drives costs up.

What to Expect During the Process

Here’s what a typical project looks like from your side of it:

1. Consultation — a walkthrough of your property to understand the scope, discuss goals, and identify any drainage, soil, or access issues
2. Estimate — a written proposal with line items so you know what you’re paying for
3. Design (for larger projects) — a layout showing plant placement, hardscape footprint, and material selections
4. Deposit and scheduling — most companies require 30–50% down to hold your spot on the calendar
5. Demo day — old material comes out. This is usually the messiest, loudest day
6. Installation — hardscape first, then irrigation, then planting, then mulch or gravel
7. Walkthrough — a final walk of the completed project with care instructions for new plants

The best landscaping companies communicate proactively throughout — you shouldn’t be wondering what’s happening or when the crew is showing up.

Does a Yard Makeover Add Value to Your Home?

Yes — consistently. Studies put landscaping ROI between 100% and 200% at resale, meaning a $10,000 yard makeover can add $10,000–$20,000 in home value. In Denver’s competitive market, strong curb appeal also shortens time on market.

A xeriscape conversion adds a specific bonus: Denver Water rebates can offset $1–$3 per square foot of removed turf, and reduced water bills average $200–$500/year going forward. That’s cash back on top of the value increase.

For a property you’re planning to sell, a well-executed front yard makeover is one of the highest-return investments you can make. For a property you’re keeping, it’s about quality of life every single day you pull up to your house.

What Makes Greater Denver Yard Makeovers Different

The Denver metro isn’t a standard landscaping market. A few things that change the equation here — whether you’re in the city or the suburbs:

• Clay soil — almost universal across the metro. Proper amendment and drainage planning matter more than in other markets. Suburban lots that haven’t been touched in decades can have especially compacted soil
• Hail — plant selection needs to account for Colorado’s aggressive summer storms. Delicate ornamentals don’t last, regardless of zip code
• Multiple water providers, different rules — Denver Water serves the city; Aurora Water, Lakewood’s Consolidated Mutual Water, Arvada’s water district, and others serve the suburbs. Rebate programs, watering restrictions, and tiered pricing vary by provider. A local landscaper who works across the metro knows which rebates apply to your address
• HOA requirements in suburban areas — Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Parker, and newer Aurora and Arvada developments often have HOA-mandated plant lists, material restrictions, or approval requirements. Factor in HOA review time if this applies to your property
• Altitude and UV — plants that thrive at 5,000–5,500 feet are a different list than what works at lower elevations. A local company knows this list; a national chain may not
• Temperature swings — the metro can hit 70°F in March and get a foot of snow the same week. Plant hardiness and timing windows matter here more than almost anywhere

Working with a company that specifically knows the Front Range means fewer plant failures, better material choices, and a yard that actually holds up year after year. See our guide to timing your Denver landscaping project and our complete Denver xeriscaping guide for more on designing for this specific climate.