Landscape design service comparison

Yardzen vs Tilly vs ShrubHub: which landscape design service fits?

The short answer

Compare Yardzen for a choice of design tiers, Tilly's successor Bower & Branch for designer-led front, back or full-yard packages, and ShrubHub for a lower-priced 3D design package. Start with the drawings and revisions you need, then compare fees for the same part of your yard. Installation is a separate cost to check.

By Gardenful Editorial Team5 minute read
Overhead garden layout beside a perspective illustration of the same path, lawn, patio and planted border
A plan explains the layout; a perspective shows the look. Check which drawings, plant lists and revisions are included in the price.

Yardzen vs Tilly vs ShrubHub

Gardenful publishes this comparison; it is a separate planting-design app. The prices below are design fees in USD. Compare the included drawings and revisions as well as the price.

ServiceYardzenLikely fitA remote design service with a choice of package tiers.Advertised price and scopeBackyard Essential: $995. Classic: $1,395. Signature: $1,995. Essential includes 2D CAD plans and plant/material lists; 3D renders begin with Classic.Ask before payingEssential has no revisions; Classic lists one and Signature two. Confirm the selected yard area, drawings and installation exclusions.
ServiceTilly / Bower & Branch Design StudioLikely fitA designer-led plan for a front yard, backyard or full yard.Advertised price and scopeSignature starts at $795 front, $995 back and $1,495 full yard, before selected upgrades. Advertised process: 2–4 weeks.Ask before payingConfirm area limits, drawings, revisions, plant lists and optional upgrades.
ServiceShrubHubLikely fitA lower-priced online 3D design package.Advertised price and scopePromotional prices: $197 front yard, $237 backyard, $297 both. The site advertises 3D design, a shopping list and delivery in 2–3 weeks.Ask before payingConfirm area covered, revisions, drawing detail, installation availability and extra fees.

These packages cover different work: Yardzen Essential, for example, does not include 3D renders. Ask for a written quote showing the yard area, drawings, revisions and delivery date.

Sources: Yardzen, Yardzen, Tilly, Bower & Branch Design Studio, ShrubHub

Compare the service model before the price

A landscape-design service can sell a concept, a plan, a plant and material list, revisions, installation coordination, or some combination. Compare what each package includes before judging its price.

Comparison diagram showing a homeowner choosing between a visual concept, a design plan, and local installation help
Choose the service path by the next decision you need to make: idea, plan, or execution.

Yardzen publishes prices for each tier. Compare the drawings, revisions and support included in the tier you are considering, then confirm the scope for your yard.1,2

Tilly's site now redirects to Bower & Branch Design Studio. Its overview lists Signature packages from $795 for a front yard, $995 for a backyard and $1,495 for a full yard. Lot size, 3D images and lighting choices can change the final price.3,4

ShrubHub advertises a lower starting price, 3D designs and a shopping list. Ask for a sample of the drawings and confirm how revisions work and whether installation is available where you live.5

Whichever service you choose, prepare a base map, photos, a short use brief, and the site constraints that could change the design. A clearer input produces a more useful quote and makes omissions easier to spot.7,6,8

Choose the service by your project stage

Are you planning a whole-yard renovation, comparing designers or just trying to decide what to plant in one bed? Match the help to that project.

  1. 1

    I need a structured whole-yard design

    Compare Yardzen's current tiers

    Consider a remote design service when you need drawings and professional support, not just a picture. Choose the tier by the work it includes.

  2. 2

    I want a designer-led conversation and a tailored scope

    Review the current Design Studio package

    Look at Bower & Branch's current design packages, where the Tilly site now leads. Ask how the designer uses your site information and what revisions are included for your yard.

  3. 3

    I want a lower-cost online design package

    Request a ShrubHub scope

    Compare ShrubHub's package with your project's size and timing. Check revisions and installation fees before treating the starting price as the total.

  4. 4

    I want to try a planting design first

    Start with a Gardenful planting idea

    For a bed or patio-edge refresh, try Gardenful before paying for a larger design service. See realistic planting on your yard photo, with suggested plants and quantities. If you decide to hire a designer, bring the image to show the look you like.

Sources: Yardzen, Tilly, ShrubHub, University of Maryland Extension

Ask these questions before signing

A written answer to these questions makes the three services easier to compare and gives you a record of what the quote does not include.

Diagram separating design drawings from plant buying and installation work
Design fees, plants, installation and aftercare are separate parts of the budget.
  1. 1

    What exactly do I receive?

    Ask for the file or drawing format, renderings, plant and material list, measurements, notes, and any construction or installation information.

  2. 2

    How many revisions are included?

    Ask what counts as a revision, when the revision window closes, and what changes create a new fee.

  3. 3

    Who checks the site and the plants?

    Clarify whether the service performs horticultural review, site measurement, drainage or grading assessment, and local plant-fit checks.

  4. 4

    Who handles installation and what is excluded?

    Separate design, sourcing, delivery, permits, utilities, site preparation, construction, planting, irrigation, and aftercare.

  5. 5

    What happens if the scope changes?

    Ask about area limits, timeline, refunds, additional revisions, regional availability, and what you receive if you choose your own installer.

A fair comparison is a side-by-side scope sheet, not three homepages and one headline price.

Frequently asked questions

Is Yardzen better than Tilly or ShrubHub?

We can't judge design quality from package pages alone. Yardzen offers tiered packages; Tilly now directs to Bower & Branch Design Studio; ShrubHub advertises lower promotional prices. Compare the drawings, revisions, yard area and installation responsibilities you actually need.

Which is the cheapest: Yardzen, Tilly, or ShrubHub?

ShrubHub has the lowest advertised backyard design fee in this comparison at $237. Yardzen Essential and Bower & Branch Signature each start at $995 for a backyard. The packages include different drawings and support; confirm the current offer and installation costs separately.

Does a landscape design service include installation?

Not automatically. Some services may offer installation support, referrals, or a path to installation, but you should ask whether sourcing, site preparation, construction, planting, irrigation, and aftercare are included or separate.

What should I prepare before requesting a landscape design quote?

Prepare photos, a simple base map or dimensions, the area you want to change, how you will use it, your budget range, existing features to preserve, and any slope, drainage, utility, or access constraints.

Can an app replace these design services?

For a planting refresh, Gardenful may give you the design and suggested plants you need to get started. Hire a designer when you need a larger landscape planned around paths, structures or technical site issues. An app's image does not replace construction drawings.

Gardenful

Try a planting idea before you hire a designer.

See how new planting could look around your own house with Gardenful. Your design includes suggested plants and quantities, so you can start with one bed or bring a clearer idea to a designer.

Gardenful for iPhone

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Current service and planning sources(8)

Initial service research was completed September 11, 2026; Bower & Branch prices were refreshed September 25. Request a current written proposal before treating any figure as final.

  1. [1]
    Yardzen Design Packages

    Yardzenhttps://yardzen.com/packages

  2. [2]
    Landscape design near you

    Yardzenhttps://yardzen.com/landscape-design-near-me

  3. [3]
    Tilly Design

    Tillyhttps://tillydesign.com/

  4. [4]
    Landscape Design Packages

    Bower & Branch Design Studiohttps://bowerandbranch.com/pages/design-studio

  5. [5]
    ShrubHub online 3D landscape design

    ShrubHubhttps://www.shrubhub.com/

  6. [6]
    Landscape Planning

    University of Maryland Extensionhttps://extension.umd.edu/resource/landscape-planning

  7. [7]
    Drawing a Landscape Plan: The Base Map

    University of Florida IFAS Extensionhttps://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP456

  8. [8]
    How to Hire a Landscaper

    University of Arizona Cooperative Extensionhttps://extension.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/Landscaper-Hiring.pdf