How to Calculate Landscape Estimates and Quotes 2.01 Apply procedures to perform calculations used in estimates and quotes

Why oh Why do I need this!! To compute area to determine amounts of seeds, sod, stolons, plants, fertilizers, pesticides, pavers, or railroad ties To compute volume to determine amounts of soil, mulch, or concrete To calculate amounts of labor and materials and their cost.

Area For Squares Formula for squares, rectangles and trapezoids: –Length x width Length in feet x width in feet = square feet Total square feet / 9 = square yards Example: 200’ x 120’= 24,000 ft² 24,000 sq ft / 9= yds² 200’ 120’

Area For Triangles Area = ½ base X height 1. Use tape or wheel to take measurements for base and for height. 2. Divide the base measurement by Multiply the ½ base measurement times the height measurement to get total square feet. 4. Divide total square feet by 9 to get total square yards. Example: ½ base = 222‘/2 = 111' 111' x 234' = 25,974 ft² 25,974 sq. ft. ÷ 9 = 2886 yd² 222’ 234’

Area For Trapezoids: 1. Use tape or wheel to take measurements at 90 degree angles to get an accurate length or width measurement. 2. Add the unequal opposite sides (length or width) together. 3. Divide the two opposite sides total by 2 to get average length or average width. 4. Multiply the average length times the average width to get total square feet. 5. Divide total square feet by 9 to get total square yards. Example: Average Length =(225’+ 325’)/2 = 550‘/2 = 275' Area = 275' X 112' = 30,000 ft² 30,000 ft² ÷ 9 = yds² 225’ 325’ 112’

Area For Circles Area = π r² Notes: π = 3.14 radius = ½ diameter 1. Use tape or wheel to take measurements for diameter. 2. Divide the diameter measurement by 2 to get radius measurement. 3. Multiply the radius measurement times π = 3.14 to get total square feet. 4. Divide total square feet by 9 to get total square yards. Example: Radius = 40' ÷ 2 = 20‘ Area = 3.14 X 20²=1256 ft² 1256 ft² ÷ 9 = yd² 20’

Volume for Cubes Volume = length X width X height ft X ft X ft = ft³ ft³ ÷ 27 = yd³ 1. Use tape or wheel to take measurements for length, width and height. 2. Multiply the length times the width times the height to get total cubic feet. 3. Divide the total cubic feet by 27 to get total cubic yards. Example: 8' X 5' X 4' = 160 ft³ 160 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 5.93 yd³ 8’ 5’ 4’

Percentages Percentage = number divided by Divide the number by 100 which will give two decimal places. 2. The number of hundredths equals the percentage. Example: 9 ÷ 100 =.09 = 9%

Ratio Ratio = one number compared to another such as 3:1 Example: 3 shovels of sand to 1 shovel of cement = a 3:1 ratio

Labor Cost Labor cost = number hours X cost per hour (set by landscaper) Example: 10 hours X $8.00/hr = $80.00

Materials Plants, Hardscape, Softscape, Fertilizers, Pesticides quantity X cost per unit

Foundation Plant Calculations Number of plants needed for linear feet (hedge, foundation, etc.) 1. Divide the linear feet of space by the distance apart plants will be. 2. Add one plant for the starter plant. Example: How many plants are needed for a 100' row if plants are 10’ apart? Number of plants = 100' ÷ 10' = 10 plus 1 = ’

Sod Calculations Square feet of sod needed (use area formula and steps) Example: How many square feet of sod are needed for a lawn area that measures 60' X 80'? How many square yards? Sq. ft. = 60' X 80' = 4800 sq. ft. Sq. yd. = 4800 sq. ft. ÷ 9 = sq. yd.

Groundcover Calculations Number of plants needed per square foot of groundcover Divide square feet by number of square feet each plant needs. Example: How many plants are needed for a 50 square feet flower bed if each plant requires 2 square feet? Number plants = 50 sq. ft.÷ 2 sq. ft. = 25 plants

Estimating Plant Cost Cost is number of plants X price per plant Example: 4 plants times $25.00 per plant = $100.00

Seed, Stolon, Sprig Calculations Quantity of seeds, stolons or sprigs needed 1. Divide square feet by Multiply that number by the amount of seeds, stolons or sprigs needed per 1000 square feet. Example: How many lbs. of seed are needed for 44,000 square feet of lawn area if recommended rate is 2 lb of tall fescue seeds per 1000 square feet? 44,000 sq. ft. ÷ 1000 sq. ft. = 44 X 2 = 88 lbs

Seed, Stolon, Sprig Calculations Example: How many bushels of Bermuda grass stolons are needed for 20,000 square feet of lawn area if the recommended rate is 10 bushels/1000 square feet? Number bushels = 20,000 sq. ft. ÷ 1000 sq. ft. = 20 x 10 = 200 bushels

Cost of Seed, Stolons, Sprigs Cost is amount needed X price per unit (lbs., bushels, each, etc.) Example: 100 lbs. of grass seeds needed X $1.75/ lb. seed cost = $175

Bricks and Pavers Number of pavers 1. Divide area to be paved by area of each paver. 2. Add the amount needed for waste. 3. Remember to convert inches to feet. Either use fractions of feet (4" =.33 ft. or multiply inches by inches and divide by 144 sq. in to get sq. ft Example: How many 4" X 8" brick pavers are needed for a patio that measures 25' X 15'? How many if 10% waste is expected? Area to be paved = 25' X 15' = 375ft² Area of paver = 4" X 8" = 32 sq. in ÷ 144 =.22 ft. ² Number with 10% waste = 1705 X 1.10 = 1876 Note: 100% + 10% = 1.10 (You can also calculate 10% (.10) of 1705 which is 171 and add the two ( = 1876)

Yards of Concrete Yards of concrete (use volume formula and steps) Volume = length X width X depth (convert inches to feet) Ft X ft X ft = cubic feet Cubic ft ÷ 27 = cubic yards Example: How many cubic yards of concrete are needed for a 4" deep driveway that is 60‘ long X 9' wide? 12" ÷ 4" =.33 ft. Volume = 60' X 9' X.33' = cubic feet Cubic yards = cu. ft. ÷ 27 = 6.6 cubic yards

Retaining Wall Steps to finding the number of railroad ties or timbers needed for a wall 1. Calculate the area of the face of the wall (part of wall that is visible when you look at the installed wall). 2. Calculate the area of the face of the tie (part of tie that is visible when you look at the installed tie). 3. Divide the area of the wall face by the area of the tie face to find number of ties needed. 4. Be certain to convert inches to feet. (6" =.5 feet) Example: How many railroad ties are needed for a 40' X 6' retaining wall if the ties measure 6" X 6" X 8'? wall area = 40' X 6' = 240 ft² tie face area =.5' X 8' = 4 ft² number needed=240 ft ²÷ 4 ft² = 60

Mulch Yards of mulch for beds (use volume formula and steps) Volume = length X width X depth (convert inches to feet) Ft X ft X ft = cubic feet Cubic ft ÷ 27 = cubic yards Example: How many cubic yards of pine bark mulch are needed for a bed that measures 12' X 8' if the mulch depth is 3"? 12" ÷ 3" =.25 feet Volume = 12' X 8' X.25' = 24 cubic ft Cubic yards = 24 cu. ft. ÷ 27 =.89 cubic yd

Soil Yards of soil for beds (use volume formula and steps) Volume = length X width X depth (convert inches to feet) Ft X ft X ft = cubic ft Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yard Example: How many cubic yards of soil will be needed to construct a flower bed 4" deep that measures 12' X 10'? 12" ÷ 4" =.33 feet Volume = 12' X 10' X.33' = 39.6 cubic feet Cubic yards = 39.6 cu. ft. ÷ 27 = 1.47 cubic yards

Bales of pine needles Calculate area to be covered divided by area each bale will cover (use area formula) Example: How many bales of pine needles are needed to cover a natural area that is 80' long by 25' wide if each bale will cover a 50 sq. ft. area? Area to be covered = 80' X 25' = 2000 square feet Bales needed = 2000 sq. ft.÷ 50 sq. ft. = 40

Fertilizer Calculate the amount of fertilizer required to get a specific amount of nitrogen. Formula – Number of pounds of Nitrogen divided by percent of Nitrogen in fertilizer equals the amount of that analysis fertilizer needed. Lbs. Fertilizer = Lbs. N/% N Example: How much fertilizer is needed if the soil test report recommends three pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square ft? 3 lbs. nitrogen ÷ 12% (.12) = 25 pounds of per 1000 square ft.

Pesticides Pesticide labels contain the percentage of active ingredient and inert ingredients on the container. Example: If 41% of Round-up is the active ingredient Glyphosate, the remainder of the container (100% - 41% = 59%) is a mixture of other ingredients called inert ingredients.

Pesticides You can calculate the amount of pesticide necessary to spray an area if they know the size of that area and the application rate of the pesticide or the proper concentration of the pesticide.

Pesticide Examples Example: Controlling Spurweed in established turf might require 0.67 lb. of Sencor 75 DF per acre. If the area to be treated is 2 ½ acres, then the amount of Sencor needed is 0.67 X 2.5 = lbs. of Sencor 75 DF Example: Azaleas can be treated with Dimethoate 400 for lacebugs at a rate of ¾ teaspoons per gallon. How much chemical should be mixed to fill a 3 gallon sprayer? 0.75 X 3 = 2.25 teaspoons.

Yearly Spray Schedule Similar calculations can be repeated to produce a yearly spray schedule including costs of materials.

Example How much would it cost to treat Azaleas and Japanese Andromedas around a home with Orthene if the rate is 2 tablespoons per gallon of spray, 2 ½ gallons of spray are necessary for each application, the shrubbery has to be treated every 2 weeks from April 1 to September 30, and Orthene costs $12.00 per pint (there are 32 tablespoons in a pint)?

Example April 1 to September 30 is 183 days (6 months)/ 14 day intervals = 13 applications, and there are 2.5 (gallons) X 2 tablespoons = 5 tablespoons per application. Therefore, the season spraying program would require 13 X 5 = 65 tablespoons of spray. If there are 32 tablespoons in a pint then 65 / 32 = 2.03 pints (2 pints). Since 2 pints of Orthene cost $12.00, then $12.00 X 2 = $24.00 cost of Orthene for season.