Montreal Landscaping Cost Guide - June 2026 Prices

$45,000 CAD. That is what some Montreal homeowners paid for high-end landscaping projects this year. If that number makes you want to retreat back inside your house, don't worry. Most people aren't spending the price of a luxury sedan on their backyard. In reality, the average Montrealer is spending $15,000 CAD to get their outdoor space in order. Depending on whether you just want a fresh lawn or a full stone patio with a retaining wall, you could spend anywhere from $3,000 to $45,000 CAD.

Figuring out these numbers for the first time is confusing. You see beautiful photos on Pinterest, but nobody ever puts a price tag on the "after" photo. Right now, costs have climbed by 5.7% compared to last year. If you are looking at your yard and thinking it’s time for a change, you need to know exactly where your money goes before you start calling contractors in the Plateau or West Island.

How Montreal Compares to Other Canadian Cities

Montreal sits in a bit of a middle ground when we look at prices across the country. We aren't the cheapest, but we certainly aren't the most expensive. For example, if you moved here from Regina, you’d notice a jump in price. The average cost there is $12,712 CAD, which is about 15% lower than what we pay here.

If you look toward Ontario, Oshawa is also slightly more affordable with an average of $13,344 CAD. However, once you start looking at the East Coast or out West, Montreal starts to look like a bargain. St. John's averages $17,005 CAD, likely due to the logistics of getting materials to the island. And if you think Montreal is pricey, look at Kelowna, where the average project hits $32,000 CAD.

Why the difference? Montreal has a very robust network of local stone quarries and nurseries in the surrounding regions like the Laurentians and the Eastern Townships. This helps keep material transport costs lower than in places like Kelowna, where high demand and geography push prices up.

How Much Does Landscaping Cost in Montreal?

When you start your first project, the jargon can get overwhelming. Are you doing "softscaping" (plants, soil, grass) or "hardscaping" (stone, wood, pavers)? Most projects are a mix of both.

For a budget of around $3,000 to $7,000 CAD, you are looking at basic refreshments. This usually covers things like fresh sod, some flower bed edging, and maybe a few medium-sized shrubs. It’s the kind of work that makes a house in Rosemont look cared for without breaking the bank.

The $15,000 CAD average is where things get interesting. At this price point, you are likely looking at a small unistone patio or a high-quality wooden deck, plus some professional planting and perhaps an automated irrigation system.

Once you cross the $30,000 CAD mark and head toward that $45,000 CAD ceiling, you are into "resort" territory. This includes custom outdoor kitchens, complex multi-level stone retaining walls, and extensive lighting packages. In neighborhoods with uneven terrain, like the slopes of Westmount or parts of Ahuntsic, a large chunk of this budget often goes into "invisible" costs like excavation and drainage to ensure your yard doesn't wash away during a heavy June rainstorm.

What Affects the Cost?

The biggest factor is the "bones" of your yard. Montreal is famous for its Leda clay soil in certain areas, which expands and contracts. If your contractor doesn't dig deep enough or use the right base materials, your expensive pavers will shift after just one winter.

1. Material Choices Choosing local Quebec limestone versus imported granite will change your quote by thousands. Even the type of wood matters. Pressure-treated wood is the budget-friendly choice, but many Montrealers are opting for IPÉ or Cedar to handle our humid summers and salty winters, which adds a premium to the bill.

2. The Montreal Labor Market Finding a good "paysagiste" in June is tough. The season is short here. Because everyone wants their yard done between May and September, labor rates spike. You aren't just paying for the work; you’re paying for a spot on a very crowded calendar.

3. Permits and Regulations Dealing with your local borough (arrondissement) is a must. For example, if you live in Ville-Marie or Le Plateau, there are strict rules about how much of your "green space" you can cover with non-porous materials like concrete. If you plan to build a fence or a deck over a certain height, you'll need a permit from your local city hall. These fees and the time it takes to get approval can add to your initial budget.

4. Site Access This is the one nobody tells you about. If you have a classic Montreal townhouse with no back alley access, your contractor has to haul every bag of dirt and every stone through the house or over a fence with a crane. That "access tax" can add 10% to 20% to your labor costs.

How to Save Money on Landscaping

If you want to keep your costs closer to the $3,000 CAD mark than the $45,000 CAD mark, you have to be strategic. One of the best ways to save is to buy your plants from nurseries outside the island. Places like Pépinière Locas or others in the Laval/North Shore area often have better bulk pricing than boutique shops in the city center.

1. Phase Your Project You don't have to do it all at once. Do the "hardscaping" (the stone and wood) this year so it can settle. Save the "softscaping" (the plants and trees) for next year. This spreads the financial hit.

2. Choose Native Species Ask for plants that thrive in Quebec’s Zone 5 or 6. Native plants require less water, less fertilizer, and are much less likely to die during a snap frost in late May. This saves you replacement costs down the road.

3. Timing is Everything The best time to start planning is actually late autumn or winter. If you sign a contract in February for a June start, you might lock in last year's material prices. If you wait until the sun comes out in May to call a contractor, you’ll pay the "I’m busy" premium.

4. DIY the Prep Ask your contractor if you can save money by doing the demolition yourself. Pulling up old patio stones or clearing out dead bushes doesn't require a degree, just a pair of gloves and a weekend.

Is 2026 a Good Time for Landscaping in Montreal?

The 5.7% year-over-year increase tells us that prices aren't dropping anytime soon. While the "post-pandemic" supply chain chaos has settled, labor remains the biggest expense in Quebec. The construction industry here is still moving fast, and skilled landscapers are in high demand.

If you wait until 2027, you’ll likely be looking at another 4% to 6% increase. If your backyard is currently a mud pit or a crumbling concrete slab, it’s better to get into a contractor's queue now. The value a well-landscaped yard adds to a Montreal home - especially in tight-knit neighborhoods where outdoor space is a luxury - usually outweighs the cost of the project.

Start by using a landscaping cost calculator to see how your specific ideas square up against your budget. Once you have a rough idea, get at least three quotes. Make sure they specify the depth of the base they are digging; in Montreal, a shallow base is a recipe for a lumpy patio by next spring.

Check the latest landscaping costs for Montreal and other cities on LookupCost.com.