When you're planning a new site or a major landscape upgrade, the first number everyone looks at is the construction price. That's important—but it's only part of the picture. The real cost of a landscape is what you spend over the next 10, 20, or 30 years: maintenance, repairs, replacements, and labour. That's lifecycle cost, and it should influence the design from the start.
What Are Lifecycle Costs?
Lifecycle costs include everything that happens after the contractor leaves: mowing, pruning, irrigation, fertilizing, pest control, snow removal, and the eventual replacement of plants or hardscape that fail or wear out. For commercial and institutional projects in Ottawa and Ontario, these ongoing costs often exceed the initial build within a decade. If the design didn't account for who will maintain the site and with what budget, you can end up with overgrown beds, failing pavers, or irrigation systems nobody knows how to run.
Why the Lowest Bid Can Cost More
In my experience, clients who focus only on the lowest bid often end up with plantings that need constant care, hardscape that doesn't drain properly, or materials that look good on day one but don't hold up. A [landscape architect in Ottawa](contact) can help you weigh upfront cost against long-term cost. Sometimes spending a bit more on better soils, appropriate species, or simpler detailing pays off many times over in reduced maintenance and longer service life. The goal isn't to overspend—it's to match the design to the reality of how the site will be used and maintained.
How We Build Lifecycle Thinking Into Every Project
I build this into every project: we look at who will maintain the site, what their capacity is, and what the owner's budget and expectations are for the life of the project. For [site and landscape planning](services)—whether commercial, institutional, or residential—we ask upfront about maintenance capacity, water use, and long-term goals. The result is a plan that's buildable, maintainable, and aligned with your goals. When lifecycle costs are part of the brief from day one, you avoid the surprise of rising costs and underperforming landscapes.
If you're planning a project in the Ottawa region and want to talk through how design choices affect long-term cost, [get in touch](contact).
Ready to discuss your project?
Contact Gino to talk through your site and landscape goals, or explore our expertise and services for commercial, institutional, and residential projects in the Ottawa area.
