Landscape Financing: Best Loans for Cultivating Your Dream Yard

A newly manicured lawn or blooming garden can help you enjoy your home and enhance its curb appeal. It can also be a wise investment if you plan to sell — you could recoup 217% of the cost of standard lawn care service, according to the National Association of Realtors. 

But paying a landscaping contractor can be expensive, especially for larger projects. That's where landscape financing comes in. We'll cover the different ways to finance landscaping, what to look out for, what can be financed, and common costs. 

Best personal loans for landscaping

How do landscaping loans work?

A “landscaping loan” is any type of loan used to finance a landscaping project, including credit cards, personal loans, contractor financing, home equity loans, and personal lines of credit. You apply for the loan — which often involves a hard credit check — and a lender either denies or approves your application. The main difference between landscaping loans is whether they're a revolving line of credit or an installment loan.

• A revolving line of credit provides a credit limit that you can pull from on an ongoing basis. They may have a variable interest rate, which can change over time, which means your monthly payment can change too. However, since you only pay interest on the amount you borrow, a revolving credit line like a credit card or HELOC could be better for a long-term project where you'll be paying for labor and materials over many months. 
• An installment loan, however, provides a lump sum upfront for you to use as needed for landscaping costs. They typically have fixed interest rates and, therefore, fixed monthly payments for a set number of years. Personal loans and home equity loans are two common types. 

Some landscaping loans are secured (often by the equity in your home), while others are unsecured. Secured loans typically have lower interest rates, but take longer to approve (in order to appraise your collateral). However, secured loans also put your collateral at risk if you default on the loan. 

What can landscaping loans be used for?

Landscaping loans and financing can often be used for anything to do with your landscaping project — including materials, labor, trash haul-away, etc. This could include new plants, turf, and rocks; the removal of old plants and materials; the design for your new yard; the addition or removal of retaining walls, drainage systems, electrical components, outdoor lights, water features, etc. A landscaping loan could also be used to finance ongoing landscaping work like regular maintenance or seasonal work like the addition and removal of holiday lights. 

But some loan types may have restrictions, so check with your lender or loan agreement for any prohibited uses before signing.

Types of landscaping loans

Ben Ashton, CEO of Rocky Mountain Turf, says homeowners should start by considering the scope of the project. “Smaller projects are easier to finance with personal loans or even zero-interest credit cards, but larger projects will usually require home equity,” he says.

Below are some of the most common and widely available ways to finance landscaping projects.

Personal loans

Personal loans provide a lump sum of cash when the loan closes that you can use to pay your landscaping contractor. You typically repay the lender in equal monthly installments for the duration of the loan's term. Plus, rates tend to be much lower, on average, than credit card APRs — around 11% for a two-year personal loan compared to 21% for credit cards. 

Most personal loan lenders offer repayment terms between one and seven years, but some lenders give you longer to repay if you're using the funds for home improvement, including landscaping. For instance, LightStream offers home improvement loans up to 20 years.

Unlike home equity loans, most personal loans are unsecured. That means you can avoid appraisals and a lengthy underwriting process — you can typically apply online and get your cash in a few days or as soon as the same day with some lenders. However, because they're often unsecured, personal loan rates tend to be higher than home equity loans and HELOCs. 

Contractor financing

Some landscaping businesses offer financing for their customers. However, in most cases, the landscaper won't lend you the money directly.

“Landscapers aren't banks,” says Ashton. “If they're offering financing, they're going through a third-party lender. Figure out who that lender is, since they'll be the ones actually servicing your loan and collecting the payments.” Be sure to check the lender's reputation and compare your landscaper's financing offer with other options.

Watts also says that contractor financing may seem like a better deal than it is. “Always read the small print twice,” she says. “I've spotted deferred interest clauses, prepayment penalties, and terms that change once the project is underway.”

Home equity loans and HELOCs

A home equity loan provides a lump sum of cash, while a home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows you to borrow against your home equity on an ongoing basis, much like a credit card. Both options use your home as collateral, which means there's a risk of foreclosure if you don't repay the money according to the terms of your loan agreement.

Home equity loans and HELOCs also come with upfront costs and take longer to fund than a personal loan — you may wait longer than a month to get your cash. But they typically come with lower interest rates and longer repayment term options. “If it's a larger-scale project, such as grading, retaining walls or a full irrigation system, and you have substantial equity and time, home equity loans or HELOCs might offer more flexibility,” says Watts.

0% APR credit cards

Some credit card issuers offer 0% interest promotions to new cardholders, which allow you to avoid paying interest for up to 24 months in some cases. This can be a good option if all of the following are true:

• Your landscaper accepts credit cards and doesn't charge a processing fee
• You can qualify for a new credit card with a 0% promotional offer
• You can repay the full balance before the promotional period ends

If you need more time for repayment, a personal loan may be less costly. Credit card APRs are high, so interest can rack up quickly once the 0% APR introductory period is over and the card's regular APR takes effect.

Savings

If you can wait to start your landscaping project, consider depositing a portion of your income in a high-yield savings account. Instead of paying interest, you'll earn interest. It's always better to pay for an expense with savings than take on debt (as long as you don't liquidate your emergency fund to do so). Be mindful of seasonality and rising labor costs when planning your project.

How much does landscaping cost?

Depending on the size of your outdoor area and the complexity of the project, landscaping can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $50,000 or more, according to Watts.

“The biggest cost factors are site conditions like slope or drainage, regional labor rates, and material choices,” she says. “Even seemingly small upgrades — like lighting or fencing — can move the needle fast, so it's worth getting a few detailed estimates and planning your phases carefully.”

The table below shows some common landscaping services and their estimated average cost range, according to Angi.

Pros & cons of personal loans for landscaping

Personal loans are our top choice for financing major landscaping projects, but they do have a few drawbacks. 

Pros

• Quick funding: Personal loans don't require a lengthy approval process or a home appraisal. In fact, some lenders offer funding as soon as the same day you sign.
• Fixed interest and payments: You'll always know how much you owe each month, so it's easy to plan for repayment.
• Lower rates than credit cards: Personal loans have lower APRs than credit cards on average, according to the Federal Reserve data. However, if you can qualify for a long-term 0% APR introductory rate on a credit card, that could be a better option.
• Collateral not required: Unlike a home equity loan or HELOC, collateral is not required for most personal loans.
• Options for fair credit: You could potentially qualify for a landscaping loan with fair credit, especially if you'll use the funds to spruce up your home pre-sale. Personal loans for bad credit may also be available for landscaping, but the rates are likely to be much higher.

Cons

• Higher rates than home equity loans: Watts says personal loans offer convenience but aren't necessarily the lowest-cost options. “Personal loans usually carry higher interest rates than home equity loans and have shorter repayment periods, which means your monthly payments will be higher,” she says.
• May be tough to qualify for: If you have a low income or credit issues, you may have difficulty qualifying for a personal loan. If you're approved, you may pay a high APR.
• Not tax deductible: You can't deduct the interest from a personal loan, in most cases, on your taxes — even if you use it to finance improvements to your home. However, starting in 2026, you can generally deduct the interest on home equity loans and lines of credit if the loan is used for home improvement.

How to get a loan for your outdoor project

The personal loan application process varies from one lender to the next, but here's what you can generally expect:

1. Research lenders: Choose a few options that offer the loan amount you need and have a minimum credit score requirement that's lower than your score.
2. Prequalify: The process is quick and won't damage your credit, but may involve sharing some or all of your Social Security number. Use a personal loan marketplace like Credible to check your prequalified rate with multiple lenders at once. Remember that prequalification isn't an offer of credit — the rates and terms of a loan offer may differ.
3. Choose the best option: Of the options you qualify for, pick the one with the lowest APR and a monthly payment that fits your budget. If you're planning on selling your home, don't assume that you will be able to right away — you should still choose a loan you can afford long-term.
4. Formally apply: Answer the lender's remaining questions and upload any required documents. At this stage, you'll also need to authorize a hard credit check, which will typically cause your credit score to dip slightly.
5. Sign your loan documents: If approved, read the terms and conditions of your loan agreement before e-signing your documents. Check that the rate, monthly payment, repayment term, APR, and upfront fees are as expected.
6. Receive the funds and begin repayment: Wait for the lender to transfer the funds to your bank account and begin planning for repayment. You may want to set up autopay to help avoid missing due dates.

How to compare personal loans for landscaping

When comparing your personal loan options, consider the following factors:

• Eligibility requirements: Some lenders have more stringent credit and income requirements than others. If you have bad credit, that will narrow your options to bad credit lenders, unless the lender allows you to apply with a cosigner or co-borrower. 
• APR: Lenders typically advertise a range of annual percentage rates (APRs), which represent the annual cost of interest charges and upfront fees as a percentage of the loan amount. You can also prequalify to get an estimate of your individual APR, which makes it easy to compare your options. Loans with lower APRs are typically less costly.
• Fees: Some lenders charge an origination fee, which is an upfront fee included in the APR. The fee is typically deducted from the loan proceeds, so it may reduce the amount you can get. You should check your loan agreement for other fees as well. Some lenders, like LightStream, don't charge any fees.
• Monthly payment: Ensure the monthly payment fits your budget before formally applying for a personal loan.
• Repayment term: Choosing a longer repayment term allows for a lower monthly payment, but it also means staying in debt longer and paying more interest. “The financing term should always match the durability of the project,” says Watts. “I always tell my clients, 'Don't take on five years of debt for something with a five-year lifespan.'”
• Total repayment cost: Make sure to calculate the total repayment cost of each loan option before choosing a lender. You can use a personal loan calculator to estimate how much interest you'll pay over time. If you're upgrading your landscaping to sell your home, make sure the total borrowing cost doesn't wipe out the return on investment.
• Secured vs unsecured: While most personal loans are unsecured, some lenders offer secured personal loans, which require you to offer a valuable asset as collateral. This may help you get approved and earn a lower APR. For example, Best Egg offers personal loans secured by the fixtures in your home with an average rate discount of 20%.
• Lender reputation: Read customer reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot to ensure the lender is reputable. You can also check whether the lender was rated by J.D. Power.

Methodology

Credible evaluated 32 lenders across 1,216 data points to find the best personal loans to finance landscaping projects. We feature lenders that offer loans for home improvement and one or more of the following factors: high loan amounts, low rates, and financing options for fair credit.

Lender star ratings were established based on the following weighted categories:

• Rates and fees: 18.75%
• Eligibility and options for bad and no credit: 17.5%
• Availability: 12.5%
• Loan amounts and terms: 10%
• Customer satisfaction: 10%
• Customer service: 10%
• Efficiency and fund delivery: 10%
• Discounts: 7.5%
• Credible proprietary data: 3.75%

Credible's team of experts gathered information from each lender's website and from our partners directly. We also considered each of our partner lenders' statistics over a 12-month period — including average funding times, average credit scores for approved applicants, and average rates. Each data point is verified by a senior editor to make sure it's accurate at the time of publication.

Learn more about how Credible rates lenders by exploring our personal loans lender rating methodology.