1Annabelle hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Medium
- Size
- 4′ × 4′
- Season
- Jun–Aug
This is what $69 gets you.
A real package for our example yard. Yours is built from your photo, your style and your ZIP code.
Yardwonder
Cottage garden
Backyard design concept
- Prepared for
- Sample homeowner
- Site
- Zone 7a · Full to part sun · About 1,200 sq ft
- Date
- October 2026
Your yard, before and after
What changes
- Oval lawn framed by a pea gravel loop
- Deep mixed borders along all three fence lines
- Stepping stones from the back door, replacing the slab
- A bench at the far end of the path
What stays
- The young tree on the left, the fence and the house
Renders
Close-ups show the plants and materials up close; the exact arrangement follows the plan.
Planting plan
Existing tree to remainBenchLawnGravel pathPatioStepping stones1122334455667788NSchematic · Not to scale
Limestone stepping stones
Pea gravel path
Shredded hardwood mulch
Steel edging
Teak bench| No. | Plant | Qty | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annabelle hydrangeaHydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ | 5 | 3 gal |
| 2 | English shrub roseRosa ‘Olivia Rose Austin’ | 6 | 3 gal |
| 3 | FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea | 12 | 1 gal |
| 4 | English lavenderLavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ | 18 | 1 gal |
| 5 | CatmintNepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ | 14 | 1 gal |
| 6 | Purple coneflowerEchinacea purpurea | 10 | 1 gal |
| 7 | BoxwoodBuxus ‘Green Velvet’ | 7 | 3 gal |
| 8 | Little bluestemSchizachyrium scoparium | 16 | 1 gal |
Total plants88
Schematic, not to scale. Quantities assume spacing at mature spread. Dimensioned plan available with the designer-reviewed upgrade.
Plants for zone 7a
1
2English shrub rose
Rosa ‘Olivia Rose Austin’
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Size
- 3′ × 3′
- Season
- May–Sep
3Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Medium
- Size
- 4′ × 1.5′
- Season
- May–Jun
4English lavender
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 1.5′ × 2′
- Season
- Jun–Aug
5Catmint
Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 2.5′ × 3′
- Season
- May–Sep
6Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 3′ × 2′
- Season
- Jul–Sep
7Boxwood
Buxus ‘Green Velvet’
- Sun
- Sun to part
- Water
- Medium
- Size
- 3′ × 3′
- Season
- Evergreen
8Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Very low
- Size
- 3′ × 1.5′
- Season
- Autumn colour
Materials and budget
Materials
- Limestone stepping stonesAbout 24″, natural edge9 pieces
- Pea gravel path⅜″ warm buff, 3″ deep3.4 cu yd
- Shredded hardwood mulchBeds, 3″ deep5.8 cu yd
- Steel edgingBlack, 4″ high120 lin ft
- Teak bench5 ft, backed1
Budget range
Typical installed costs for the Philadelphia area, 2026. Not a quote.
- Paths, stones and edging$4,200–$6,800
- Plants and soil prep$5,600–$8,400
- Mulch and lawn renovation$1,400–$2,300
- Bench$600–$1,200
- Labor and site prep$4,800–$7,400
Estimated total$16,600–$26,100
Doing the planting yourself typically saves 30–40% of the planting and labor lines.
Brief for your landscaper
Scope of work
- Remove the concrete slab and haul away.
- Strip lawn outside the new oval; regrade lightly.
- Install steel edging around the lawn and beds.
- Lay a 4–5 ft pea gravel loop on compacted base.
- Set 9 limestone stepping stones from the back door.
- Amend beds with compost and plant per the plan.
- Mulch beds 3″ deep; overseed and topdress the lawn.
- Place the bench at the far end of the path.
Keep and protect
- The young tree on the left: no grade change within its drip line.
- The fence on all three sides.
Site notes
- Full sun at the back, part shade along the left fence.
- Clay loam; expect to amend planting beds.
- Access through the side gate, about 4 ft wide.
Quantities at a glance
- Plants
- 88
- Limestone stepping stones
- 9 pieces
- Pea gravel path
- 3.4 cu yd
- Shredded hardwood mulch
- 5.8 cu yd
- Steel edging
- 120 lin ft
- Teak bench
- 1
Budget range $16,600–$26,100
