How Much Does Landscaping Cost in Westchester County? (2026 Guide)

We list 673 landscaping contractors across the four counties we cover, and Westchester has the densest concentration of them. That's because the county has everything from tiny Yonkers lots to multi-acre Scarsdale estates, and all of it needs cutting, planting, grading, or rebuilding at some point.

Landscaping in Westchester runs 10 to 30% above national averages. Labor rates for a two-person crew sit between $50 and $100 per hour. Lot sizes range from 5,000 square feet in the southern towns to several acres up north near Katonah and Bedford. That lot size variation is the single biggest factor in what you'll spend.

Annual maintenance for a typical quarter-acre suburban lot runs $3,000 to $6,000 when you add up weekly mowing, spring and fall cleanups, mulch, fertilization, and aeration. Hardscape projects like patios and retaining walls are where the real money goes, with most jobs falling between $5,000 and $25,000.

The numbers below come from contractors working across the county right now. Your actual price depends on your lot size, the condition of your property, and how much of the work involves moving rock. Because in Westchester, there is always rock.

The seasonal cycle drives the budget. Here's how it breaks down for a typical quarter-acre lot in Westchester.

March through April is spring cleanup. Crews rake out beds, cut back perennials, edge everything, and apply the first round of fertilizer. That runs $200 to $500 for cleanup plus $77 to $225 for the first fertilizer application.

May through October is mowing season. At $46 to $64 per cut on a quarter-acre lot, and roughly 28 to 30 cuts per season, you're looking at $1,300 to $1,900 just for mowing. Most maintenance contracts bundle mowing with edging, blowing, and basic trimming for $100 to $200 per month.

June and September are when aeration and overseeding happen. A 10,000-square-foot lawn costs $160 to $425 for the combined service. Add a second fertilizer application and you're at another $150 to $400.

November is fall cleanup. Westchester has a lot of mature trees, so leaf volume is serious. Fall cleanup runs $300 to $500, sometimes more if you have oaks that drop leaves into December.

A typical full-year maintenance contract with a single company covers all of the above for $3,000 to $6,000 annually. Going with one company for the full year usually saves 10 to 15% compared to booking each service separately. Most landscapers prefer annual contracts because it guarantees their schedule, and they pass some of that stability back to you in pricing.

Hardscape is where landscaping budgets get real. A nice patio or retaining wall transforms a property, but the costs add up fast because of what's hiding under the surface.

A 300-square-foot paver patio in Scarsdale runs $3,000 to $5,100 for concrete pavers or $4,800 to $10,500 for bluestone. That price includes excavation, a compacted gravel base, leveling sand, and the pavers themselves. What it usually doesn't include is drainage. If your yard slopes toward the house, you'll need to add a French drain or regrading, which can add $1,500 to $3,000 to the project.

Retaining walls are priced by the linear foot, but height is the real cost driver. A 2-foot-tall decorative wall runs $40 to $200 per linear foot. Go above 4 feet and you're into engineered territory, with costs jumping to $200 to $360 per linear foot because of the structural reinforcement, drainage, and geogrid fabric required. In Westchester, hitting bedrock is common, and blasting or jackhammering rock can add $1,000 to $5,000 to a wall project that nobody saw coming.

Flagstone walkways cost $29 to $38 per square foot installed. A typical 100-square-foot front walkway comes in at $2,900 to $3,800. Paver walkways are cheaper at $13 to $27 per square foot.

New York costs for these projects run about 74% above the national average for both materials and labor. When a contractor in Ohio quotes you $8,000 for a patio and your Westchester quote comes in at $14,000, that's the gap in action.

Where you live in Westchester changes what you'll pay. The differences are real.

Scarsdale has large lots, mature tree canopies, and homeowners who expect high-end design. Average lots run 0.3 to 0.5 acres, and estate properties go well beyond that. Landscape design and installation projects here regularly hit $15,000 to $40,000. The soil is clay-heavy with glacial rock underneath, so any digging project takes longer. Scarsdale also restricts tree removal: you can take down up to two trees over 6 inches in diameter per year without a permit, but anything beyond that requires town approval.

Yonkers has the smallest lots and the lowest average costs. A 5,000-square-foot lot with simple mowing and seasonal cleanup runs $1,800 to $3,000 per year. There's less hardscape work because the yards are compact, but drainage is a common issue because of the hilly terrain and dense development. Most Yonkers landscaping work is maintenance, not design.

White Plains sits in the middle for both lot sizes and pricing. The mix of older colonial homes and newer construction means some properties need full landscape overhauls while others just need upkeep. Monthly maintenance here averages $150 to $200. The downtown area has minimal landscaping demand, but neighborhoods like Gedney Farms and Battle Hill drive steady residential work.

Mamaroneck sits on the Long Island Sound, and that coastal location introduces salt tolerance as a factor. Plants, soil, and even hardscape materials need to withstand salt spray. That limits plant choices and bumps up material costs by 10 to 15%. Irrigation here needs to account for salt buildup in the soil.

Katonah is northern Westchester, where lots are bigger (often 1 to 3 acres), deer pressure is intense, and rocky soil is the norm. Mowing a 1-acre lot costs $81 to $120 per cut. The deer eat everything that isn't fenced or poisonous, so landscape designs lean heavily on deer-resistant species. Excavation for patios and walls regularly hits rock, adding $2,000 to $5,000 to projects.

Timing your landscaping work right can save you 10 to 20% or cost you a month of waiting.

The spring rush starts in late March and runs through May. This is when every homeowner in Westchester calls for spring cleanup, mulch, and planting at the same time. If you want work done in April, book it in February. Seriously. The good crews are fully scheduled by mid-March.

Summer (June through August) is peak hardscape season. Patios, walls, and walkways get installed when the ground is dry and crews can work long days. Pricing is at its highest, but so is availability of materials. If you're doing a big project, this is when it happens.

Fall (September through November) is actually the best time for planting. Trees and shrubs establish roots over winter and come in stronger the following spring. It's also when you'll find the best deals on landscape design projects, because contractors are trying to fill the gap between the summer rush and winter shutdown. Expect 10 to 20% off compared to spring pricing.

Winter (December through March) is the off-season. Most landscapers shift to snow removal. But if you're planning a big project for spring, this is the time to get design consultations, sign contracts, and lock in pricing. Some contractors offer early-bird discounts of 5 to 15% for projects booked in January or February with a spring start date.

The New York fertilizer ban runs from December 1 through April 1, so nobody should be putting down nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorous during that window. Any company that offers winter fertilization doesn't know the law.

The barrier to entry for landscaping is low. A truck and a mower is all it takes to start cutting grass. That means there's a wide range of quality, and picking the wrong crew can mean dead plants, cracked patios, and drainage that makes things worse.

For basic maintenance (mowing, cleanups, mulch), the stakes are lower. You want someone who shows up reliably, communicates when they're coming, and doesn't scalp your lawn. Ask for photos of properties they maintain year-round. Check if they carry general liability insurance (minimum $1 million). Get a written service agreement that lists exactly what's included and what's extra.

For hardscape and design work (patios, walls, drainage, full landscape plans), the stakes are much higher. Look for companies that have been working in Westchester for at least 5 years. Ask for references from similar projects in your area. Check whether they're ICPI-certified for paver work or have a licensed landscape architect on staff. Request a detailed written contract that breaks out materials, labor, timeline, and warranty.

Red flags to watch for: no written contract, cash-only payments, no insurance certificate, a quote that's 40% below everyone else (they're cutting corners on base prep), and any company that wants full payment before starting.

Westchester has 41 different towns and villages, each with its own regulations for tree removal, fencing, and construction. A good local landscaper already knows the permit requirements for your town. If they don't, that's a sign they don't work in your area often.

Get at least 3 quotes for any project over $2,000. Compare not just price but scope. The cheapest quote often skips things like proper drainage, geotextile fabric under pavers, or adequate base depth.