LANDSCAPING COST GUIDE • BISMARCK, ND
How Much Does Landscaping Cost in Bismarck, ND?
Most landscaping jobs in Bismarck cost somewhere between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand. Mulching averages about $275, and a typical landscaping job averages about $2,693. Big hardscape projects like patios and walls average about $18,000, according to LawnStarter’s Bismarck price data, updated September 2026.
Those are averages, not quotes. What you’ll really pay depends on your yard’s size, soil and access, and on a few Bismarck-specific costs most national price guides never mention. Below are local prices for every common job, with the source and date for each, and an explanation of what pushes prices up here.
2026 LOCAL PRICE GUIDE
Bismarck Landscaping Prices at a Glance
These are average job prices for Bismarck from LawnStarter, updated September 28, 2026.
| Job | Average Bismarck price |
|---|---|
| Mulching | $275 |
| Tree removal | $780 |
| Landscape curbing | $1,078 |
| Landscape design (architect) | $2,115 |
| Sprinkler system installation | $2,300 |
| Sod installation | $2,394 |
| Flower bed installation | $2,455 |
| Concrete patio | $2,652 |
| General landscaping job | $2,693 |
| Outdoor lighting | $3,553 |
| Artificial turf | $4,620 |
| Hardscaping (patios, walls, walkways) | $18,000 |
An average hides a wide range. A small mulch refresh can run well under $275, and a large patio with walls can run far past $18,000. The sections below break each job down further.
REGULAR LAWN SERVICE
Lawn Care and Mowing Costs
Lawn mowing in Bismarck usually costs about $30 to $100 per cut, based on lot size. HomeBlue’s Bismarck estimates, dated March 2025, break it down like this:
| Lot size | Price per mow |
|---|---|
| 1/8 acre | About $30 to $40 |
| 1/4 acre | About $40 to $55 |
| 1/2 acre | About $55 to $70 |
| 1 acre | About $85 to $100 |
Hourly lawn work runs about $60 to $80. Fertilizing, weed control, aeration and spring repair are usually priced after someone looks at the lawn. Our lawn care in Bismarck page explains what each service involves.
NEW LAWNS ON CLAY
Sod and New Lawn Costs
Sod installation in Bismarck averages about $2,394 per job, according to LawnStarter’s September 2026 data. Nationally, LawnStarter puts installed sod at around $1.65 per square foot.
In Bismarck, the sod is only part of the price. The real cost is in the prep:
Grading so water drains away from the house
Compost worked into clay, which NDSU recommends over adding sand
Removing construction debris on new builds
Timing, since most sod goes down after the last spring frost in mid-May, the busiest time of year
HARDSCAPES THAT LAST
Patio, Retaining Wall and Hardscape Costs
Hardscaping is where Bismarck prices climb fastest. LawnStarter’s September 2026 data puts the average hardscape job at about $18,000, and a concrete patio at about $2,652.
Paver Patios
HomeBlue’s Bismarck estimates, dated May 2022, put sand-set concrete paver patios at about $14 to $17 per square foot:
| Patio size | Typical price |
|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft (100 sq ft) | About $1,400 to $1,700 |
| 12 × 14 ft (168 sq ft) | About $2,400 to $2,900 |
| 10 × 20 ft (200 sq ft) | About $2,800 to $3,400 |
| 16 × 18 ft (288 sq ft) | About $4,000 to $4,900 |
These estimates date from 2022, so current quotes may run higher.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are priced by the square foot of wall face. Homeyou’s Bismarck data, updated August 2026, lists:
| Wall type | Price per square foot of wall face |
|---|---|
| Interlocking concrete block | About $15 to $30 |
| Wood | About $20 to $25 |
| Stone | About $25 to $40 |
| Poured concrete | About $30 to $40 |
For example, a block wall 30 inches high and 20 feet long has 50 square feet of face, or about $750 to $1,500. Walls 3 feet or taller often need an engineer’s input, which Homeyou puts at about $200 to $500 or more.
Why Hardscape Costs More in Bismarck
Frost. Clay soil holds water, and when it freezes it pushes up anything built on a thin base. A patio or wall that lasts in Bismarck needs a deeper, well-packed gravel base and drainage behind walls. That means more digging, more gravel and more labor than a national price guide assumes. It’s also the difference between a patio that stays flat and one that heaves after a few winters.
TREES & ASH REMOVAL
Tree Service Costs
Tree removal in Bismarck averages about $780, according to LawnStarter’s September 2026 data. HomeBlue’s March 2025 Bismarck estimates price it mostly by height:
| Tree height | Typical removal price |
|---|---|
| 20 feet | About $240 to $460 |
| 40 feet | About $480 to $920 |
| 60 feet | About $720 to $1,380 |
| 80 feet | About $960 to $1,840 |
Tree crews often charge about $200 to $260 an hour for a 3-person crew. Stump grinding is usually extra. Emerald ash borer treatment is usually priced by trunk size, so measure your trunk 4.5 feet off the ground before you call.
Since August 2026, ash removals in Bismarck have one more cost to plan for: the wood has to stay in Burleigh County under the emerald ash borer quarantine. See our tree services page and our emerald ash borer guide for Bismarck.
SEASONAL SNOW CARE
Snow Removal Costs
Snow removal for a home driveway in Bismarck usually runs about $40 to $100 per visit, based on driveway size, according to HomeBlue’s Bismarck estimates.
| Driveway | Typical price per visit |
|---|---|
| Single car, 12 × 30 ft | About $40 to $50 |
| Two car, 24 × 40 ft | About $70 to $80 |
| Two car, 24 × 60 ft | About $80 to $100 |
Snow blowing by the hour runs about $50 to $75. Season plans spread the cost over the winter and often work out cheaper per visit in a snowy year. See our snow removal service for how per-visit and season plans compare.
SPRINKLER INSTALLATION
Sprinkler System Costs
A new sprinkler system in Bismarck averages about $2,300, according to LawnStarter’s September 2026 data. HomeBlue’s Bismarck estimates put installs at about $600 to $800 per zone:
| Zones | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| 3 zones | About $1,700 to $2,300 |
| 4 zones | About $2,300 to $3,100 |
| 6 zones | About $3,400 to $4,600 |
Fall blowouts, spring startups and repairs are priced per visit. Our irrigation and sprinkler service page covers what’s included.
BEDS, MULCH & CURBING
Mulch, Curbing and Flower Bed Costs
| Job | Bismarck price |
|---|---|
| Mulching job (average) | About $275 |
| Bulk mulch | About $15 to $65 per cubic yard, depending on type |
| Landscape curbing | About $7 to $8 per linear foot |
| Landscape curbing job (average) | About $1,078 |
| Flower bed installation (average) | About $2,455 |
Bulk mulch and per-foot curbing prices come from Homeyou’s Bismarck mulch and landscaping cost data, updated in summer 2026. Job averages come from LawnStarter’s September 2026 data.
WHAT CHANGES THE PRICE
What Makes Landscaping Cost More in Bismarck?
National price guides don’t account for these local costs:
Clay soil prep. Heavy, alkaline clay often needs compost and grading before sod or plants go in.
Frost-depth bases. Patios, walls and walkways need deeper, packed gravel bases to survive freeze-thaw.
A short season. With only about 129 days between frosts, May and June are packed, and busy months cost more.
Access. Narrow side yards, fences and backyard gates slow down equipment.
Hauling and disposal. The Bismarck Landfill charges $40 a ton for clean wood and tree debris, with a $6 minimum.
Ash wood rules. Ash wood from a removal has to stay in Burleigh County.
Plant choices. Trees and shrubs need to be hardy to zone 3 or 4 and handle alkaline soil. Cheap plants that die over winter cost more in the end.
PLAN BEFORE YOU BUILD
How to Budget a Bismarck Landscaping Project
Start with the problems. Fix drainage, grading and dying trees before adding new features.
Phase big projects. Do the ground work and lawn first, then trees and beds, then patios and walls.
Book early. Getting on the schedule in winter for spring work gives you better dates than calling in May.
Get it in writing. Ask for an itemized estimate so you can compare quotes line by line.
Plan for upkeep. Mowing, feeding, fall cleanup, blowouts and snow removal are yearly costs.
NEW HOMES IN NORTH BISMARCK
Budgeting for a New Build in North Bismarck
New homes in Heritage Ridge, Silver Ranch, Boulder Ridge and Northridge often start with bare construction dirt. A common order is:
Grading and drainage
Sprinkler system, if you want one, before sod
Sod or seed
Windbreak trees and shade trees
Beds, rock and curbing
Patio and walls, often a year or two later
That order keeps you from tearing up a new lawn to add sprinklers, and puts the money where Bismarck yards need it first.
COMPARE QUOTES WITH CONFIDENCE
How to Read a Landscaping Quote
A good quote in Bismarck should tell you:
Exactly what’s included, like materials, labor, cleanup and hauling
Square footage or number of zones, trees or visits
Base depth and material for any patio or wall
Plant names and sizes, and whether they’re rated for zone 3 or 4
Who pulls permits for boulevard trees
Where tree debris and ash wood go
A start date, with a note on weather delays
If a price seems much lower than everyone else’s, check what’s missing. It’s often the base, the cleanup or the hauling. For more tips, read our FAQ.
Questions
Bismarck Landscaping Cost FAQ
Clear answers to typical Bismarck project prices, estimates and seasonal timing.
Have a question that isn’t here?
Browse our costs and hiring FAQ for more details.
How much does landscaping cost in Bismarck, ND?
Most jobs cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. LawnStarter’s September 2026 Bismarck data puts the average landscaping job at about $2,693, mulching at about $275, sod installation at about $2,394 and hardscaping at about $18,000.
How much does lawn mowing cost in Bismarck?
About $30 to $100 per cut, depending on lot size. A 1/4-acre lot typically runs about $40 to $55 per mow, based on HomeBlue’s 2025 Bismarck estimates.
How much does a paver patio cost in Bismarck?
About $14 to $17 per square foot for sand-set concrete pavers, based on HomeBlue’s Bismarck estimates. A 12 × 14-foot patio runs about $2,400 to $2,900 at those rates, and current quotes may come in higher.
How much does a retaining wall cost in Bismarck?
About $15 to $30 per square foot of wall face for interlocking concrete block, and more for stone or poured concrete. A block wall 30 inches high and 20 feet long runs about $750 to $1,500.
How much does tree removal cost in Bismarck?
LawnStarter’s September 2026 data puts the average at about $780. By height, a 40-foot tree typically runs about $480 to $920, and stump grinding is usually extra.
How much does snow removal cost in Bismarck?
About $40 to $100 per visit for a home driveway, depending on size. A two-car driveway 40 feet long runs about $70 to $80 per visit.
How much does a sprinkler system cost in Bismarck?
About $2,300 on average, or about $600 to $800 per zone. A 4-zone system typically runs about $2,300 to $3,100.
When is the cheapest time to book landscaping in Bismarck?
Book in late fall or winter for spring work. May and June are the busiest months of Bismarck’s short season, so early booking gets you better dates, and some jobs, like tree removal, are easier in winter when the ground is frozen.
Bismarck Landscape
Get a Real Price for Your Yard
Averages help you plan, but only a look at your yard gives you a real number. Tell us what you want done, and we’ll give you a written, itemized estimate. Contact Bismarck Landscape, or see our other contact options. See our Bismarck service area page for the neighborhoods and towns we cover.