This isn't a cost. It's an investment.
The figures on this page are real and we don't hide them — that's how AE operates. But we want to be honest about how to read them. Your Scottsdale landscape design isn't a line-item expense; it's an investment in your home's value, your family's daily experience, and a space you'll use for the next twenty to thirty years.
When you compare bids, compare what you're investing in — the spec, the crews, the warranty, the company that will still be standing in year ten — not just the price tag. The lowest bid is almost always the most expensive build over time.
Landscape design in Scottsdale, one team, one plan, one HOA package.
AE Outdoor Living designs and builds landscapes across every Scottsdale neighborhood — from Old Town courtyards to Silverleaf estates. Plants, hardscape, structures, lighting, irrigation, glass fencing, and pool all designed together and built by one accountable team, with HOA architectural submittal packages handled in-house.
What's in an AE Scottsdale landscape design
- Site analysis — sun, drainage, soil, existing conditions.
- Program brief with the household — how the space actually gets used.
- Concept plan with plant palette matched to microclimate and mature size.
- Hardscape layout with drainage engineering (not just "pavers here").
- Structure design — ramadas, pergolas, cabanas, outdoor kitchens.
- Permanent lighting scheme (AE LEDs) — trim, path, tree, feature.
- Irrigation plan with as-built head schedule and hydrozone organization.
- 3D renderings for structures and hardscape.
- Full plan set, material specs, and HOA architectural submittal package.
Scottsdale landscape investment ranges
- Design-only: $2,500–$8,500 depending on lot size and scope.
- Mid-size backyard refresh (plants, drip, decorative rock, lighting): $18,000–$55,000.
- Full backyard renovation with hardscape and structures: $55,000–$180,000.
- Full front + back renovation with pool, structures, and lighting: $150,000–$300,000+.
- Estate-tier full outdoor envelope: $300,000–$1M+.
HOA submittal handling
- Silverleaf, DC Ranch, Grayhawk, Troon, McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Terravita, and every other Scottsdale HOA handled in-house.
- Site plans, elevations, plant lists, material specs, structure engineering.
- Design-review board coordination — we present, not you.
Plants that actually perform in Scottsdale
- Anchor trees: Desert Museum palo verde, Chilean mesquite, ironwood, live oak.
- Structural plants: Mexican fence post, totem pole, ocotillo, agave americana, blue agave.
- Mid-layer: red bird of paradise, Texas mountain laurel, Baja fairy duster, gopher plant.
- Ground layer: damianita, blackfoot daisy, dwarf lantana, angelita daisy.
- Every plant sized to mature growth and matched to hydrozone — no monthly-special palettes.
Irrigation done right
Every plant on drip. Every zone tied to a smart controller (Rachio / Hydrawise) with weather-responsive scheduling. Zones organized by hydrozone — trees separated from mid-layer separated from ground cover. Rainbird PESB or equivalent commercial-grade valves. Every install ships with a printed as-built head schedule so future maintenance knows what's actually in the ground.
Full outdoor envelope integration
- Pool + spa design and construction under the same contract.
- Deck materials coordinated to plant palette and structure finishes.
- Ramadas, pergolas, outdoor kitchens — engineered to Scottsdale wind loads and HOA aesthetics.
- Permanent lighting scheme designed with the plants, not bolted on later.
- Glass fencing (Sonoran Glass) — frameless code-compliant safety fencing when a pool is in scope.
- Artificial turf where used — proper base spec, not a DIY.
Common questions.
Start your Scottsdale landscape design.
Free in-person site walk, program brief, and design-fee proposal in 5 business days.
Start My Project PlanWhy this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."
Related Scottsdale reading
More landscape questions?
Design process, plant selection, HOA submittals, irrigation — all in the Landscape section of the Homeowner FAQ.