Approximate budget — Draft 1 - Balanced Food Forest
Every figure is a planning estimate for the Cincinnati area in USD. Lines marked listed come from a published nursery price; lines marked estimate are planning figures that must be confirmed before ordering. Stock at any given nursery is not guaranteed.
Plant cost by layer
- canopy: $663
- shrub: $430
- herbaceous: $960
- groundcover: $255
- all layers: $2,308
A Street-facing ornamental fruit tree(s) backed by a deer-resistant berry shrub border.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callery Pear (Asian Pear)
Pyrus calleryana |
tree | 2 | $50.00 | $100.00 | estimated
Asian Pear (Callery) - Hosui / Shinseiki cpi |
| Chicago Hardy Fig
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' |
tree | 1 | $35.00 | $35.00 | estimated
Fig - Chicago Hardy cpi |
| American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum trilobum |
shrub | 1 | $19.00 | $19.00 | listed
American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum) treeyo |
| Aronia 'Viking'
Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' |
shrub | 3 | $19.00 | $57.00 | listed
Aronia - Viking treeyo |
| Coral Bells
Heuchera sanguinea |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Coral Bells planning estimate |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Coreopsis tinctoria |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Coreopsis (Tickseed) planning estimate |
| English Lavender 'Hidcote'
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' |
perennial | 4 | $8.00 | $32.00 | estimated
Lavender cpi |
| Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy' planning estimate |
| Woodland Sage
Salvia nemorosa |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Woodland Sage planning estimate |
| Yarrow
Achillea millefolium |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Yarrow planning estimate |
| Zone A plants (30) | $414.00 | ||||
B One showpiece shrub ringed by drought-tolerant, deer-resistant ornamentals.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Olive / Goumi
Elaeagnus umbellata |
shrub | 1 | $20.00 | $20.00 | estimated
Goumi - Sweet Scarlet cpi |
| Carolina Allspice (Sweetshrub)
Calycanthus floridus |
shrub | 1 | $15.00 | $15.00 | listed
Carolina Allspice / Sweetshrub treeyo |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Coreopsis tinctoria |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Coreopsis (Tickseed) planning estimate |
| Creamy False Indigo (leadplant)
Baptisia alba 'Sierra Gold' |
perennial | 1 | $15.00 | $15.00 | listed
Indigo bush (False Indigo, Baptisia) treeyo |
| Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea |
perennial | 4 | $7.00 | $28.00 | estimated
Coneflower - E. purpurea cpi |
| Rough Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Rough Goldenrod planning estimate |
| Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Russian Sage planning estimate |
| Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy' planning estimate |
| Woodland Sage
Salvia nemorosa |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Woodland Sage planning estimate |
| Yarrow
Achillea millefolium |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Yarrow planning estimate |
| Zone B plants (28) | $267.00 | ||||
C Kitchen-adjacent berry bushes with culinary herbs and ornamentals within easy reach of the porch.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum trilobum |
shrub | 1 | $19.00 | $19.00 | listed
American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum) treeyo |
| Aronia 'Nero' (black chokeberry)
Aronia melanocarpa 'Nero' |
shrub | 2 | $19.00 | $38.00 | listed
Aronia - Nero treeyo |
| Chives
Allium schoenoprasum |
herb | 4 | $6.00 | $24.00 | estimated
Chives planning estimate |
| Comfrey
Symphytum officinale |
herb | 2 | $6.00 | $12.00 | listed
Comfrey treeyo |
| Common Sage (Culinary)
Salvia officinalis |
herb | 3 | $7.00 | $21.00 | estimated
Sage, Culinary cpi |
| Oregano
Origanum vulgare |
herb | 2 | $6.00 | $12.00 | estimated
Oregano planning estimate |
| Spearmint
Mentha spicata |
herb | 1 | $6.00 | $6.00 | estimated
Spearmint planning estimate |
| Strawberry 'Honeoye'
Fragaria x ananassa 'Honeoye' |
groundcover | 8 | $6.00 | $48.00 | listed
Strawberry - Honeoye treeyo |
| Thyme
Thymus vulgaris |
herb | 3 | $6.00 | $18.00 | estimated
Thyme planning estimate |
| Zone C plants (26) | $198.00 | ||||
D Long-bloom ornamental border along the house face; one 10-12 ft feature plant between the windows and a small ornamental tree at the east end.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Amelanchier lamarckii 'Autumn Brilliance' |
tree | 1 | $45.00 | $45.00 | estimated
Serviceberry (Autumn Brilliance) cpi |
| Chicago Hardy Fig
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' |
tree | 1 | $35.00 | $35.00 | estimated
Fig - Chicago Hardy cpi |
| American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum trilobum |
shrub | 3 | $19.00 | $57.00 | listed
American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum) treeyo |
| Bee Balm
Monarda didyma |
perennial | 4 | $7.00 | $28.00 | estimated
Bee Balm - M. didyma / M. fistulosa cpi |
| Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis |
perennial | 1 | $15.00 | $15.00 | listed
Indigo bush (False Indigo, Baptisia) treeyo |
| Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii 'Nanho' |
shrub | 1 | $19.00 | $19.00 | estimated
Butterfly Bush planning estimate |
| Coral Bells
Heuchera sanguinea |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Coral Bells planning estimate |
| Hardy Geranium 'Rozanne'
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Rozanne' |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Hardy Geranium 'Rozanne' planning estimate |
| New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
New England Aster planning estimate |
| Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea |
perennial | 5 | $7.00 | $35.00 | estimated
Coneflower - E. purpurea cpi |
| Rough Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Rough Goldenrod planning estimate |
| Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy' planning estimate |
| Woodland Sage
Salvia nemorosa |
perennial | 5 | $9.00 | $45.00 | estimated
Woodland Sage planning estimate |
| Zone D plants (39) | $441.00 | ||||
E Thorny gooseberry row plus partial-shade woodland perennials and groundcovers.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrenwort
Epimedium grandiflorum |
groundcover | 5 | $7.00 | $35.00 | estimated
Barrenwort planning estimate |
| Canadian Wild Ginger
Asarum caudatum |
groundcover | 4 | $7.00 | $28.00 | estimated
Canadian Wild Ginger planning estimate |
| Comfrey
Symphytum officinale |
herb | 2 | $6.00 | $12.00 | listed
Comfrey treeyo |
| Coral Bells
Heuchera sanguinea |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Coral Bells planning estimate |
| Gooseberry 'Amish Red'
Ribes uva-crispa 'Amish Red' |
shrub | 4 | $19.00 | $76.00 | listed
Gooseberry - Amish Red treeyo |
| Hardy Geranium 'Rozanne'
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Rozanne' |
perennial | 4 | $9.00 | $36.00 | estimated
Hardy Geranium 'Rozanne' planning estimate |
| Plantain Lily
Hosta plantaginea |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Plantain Lily planning estimate |
| White Imperial Currant
Ribes nigrum 'White Imperial' |
shrub | 2 | $19.00 | $38.00 | listed
Currant - White Imperial treeyo |
| Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis |
perennial | 3 | $9.00 | $27.00 | estimated
Wild Columbine planning estimate |
| Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana |
shrub | 1 | $15.00 | $15.00 | listed
Witch Hazel treeyo |
| Zone E plants (31) | $321.00 | ||||
F 2-3 full-size fruit trees (15-25 ft) in the north-east backyard.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple 'Enterprise'
Malus domestica 'Enterprise' |
tree | 1 | $45.00 | $45.00 | estimated
Apple 'Enterprise' planning estimate |
| Apple (Honeycrisp type)
Malus domestica |
tree | 1 | $45.00 | $45.00 | estimated
Apple - Liberty / Enterprise / Golden Delicious cpi |
| Peach
Prunus persica |
tree | 2 | $45.00 | $90.00 | estimated
Peach - Gala / Indian Free cpi |
| Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium |
tree | 2 | $50.00 | $100.00 | estimated
Sweet Cherry - Coral Champagne / Chelan cpi |
| Blackberry
Rubus occidentalis |
vine | 2 | $19.00 | $38.00 | listed
Blackberry (thornless) treeyo |
| Comfrey
Symphytum officinale |
herb | 3 | $6.00 | $18.00 | listed
Comfrey treeyo |
| Elderberry 'Adams'
Sambucus canadensis 'Adams' |
shrub | 1 | $19.00 | $19.00 | listed
Elderberry - Adams treeyo |
| Elderberry 'Marge'
Sambucus canadensis 'Marge' |
shrub | 1 | $19.00 | $19.00 | listed
Elderberry - Marge treeyo |
| Strawberry 'Earliglow'
Fragaria x ananassa 'Earliglow' |
groundcover | 6 | $6.00 | $36.00 | listed
Strawberry - Earliglow treeyo |
| Zone F plants (19) | $410.00 | ||||
G Lowest-priority rear boundary: optional asparagus bed / perennial strip, otherwise left as lawn.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone G plants (0) | $0.00 | ||||
H 2-3 full-size fruit trees (15-25 ft) in the north-west backyard.
| Plant | Type | Qty | Unit | Line total | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Hazelnut
Corylus corellata 'Newell' |
tree | 1 | $15.00 | $15.00 | listed
American Hazelnut treeyo |
| American Plum (Chickasaw Plum)
Prunus nigra |
tree | 2 | $19.00 | $38.00 | listed
American Plum / Chickasaw Plum treeyo |
| Hazelnut 'Jefferson'
Corylus avellana 'Jefferson' |
tree | 1 | $25.00 | $25.00 | estimated
Hazelnut - Jefferson / Felix cpi |
| Pawpaw
Asimina triloba |
tree | 2 | $45.00 | $90.00 | estimated
Pawpaw cpi |
| Cliffbrush Locust (Rose Acacia)
Robinia hispida |
shrub | 1 | $19.00 | $19.00 | estimated
Cliffbrush Locust (Rose Acacia) planning estimate |
| Grape 'Mars' (table grape)
Vitis labrusca 'Mars' |
vine | 1 | $24.00 | $24.00 | listed
Grape - Mars Table Grape treeyo |
| Hardy Kiwi
Actinidia arguta |
vine | 1 | $24.00 | $24.00 | listed
Hardy Kiwi treeyo |
| Hardy Kiwi (male pollinizer)
Actinidia arguta (male selection) |
vine | 1 | $22.00 | $22.00 | estimated
Hardy Kiwi (male pollinizer) planning estimate |
| Zone H plants (10) | $257.00 | ||||
Materials and installation
| Item | Qty | Unit | Line total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood mulch, 2-3 cu yd Mulch for tree and shrub planting holes and paths. |
18 cubic yard | $45.00 | $810.00 | estimated
bulk supply |
| Compost / screened topsoil blend Backfill blend for tree pits. |
17 cubic yard | $40.00 | $680.00 | estimated
bulk supply |
| Temporary deer fencing, 6 ft woven mesh with posts Temporary fencing around all zones while plants establish. |
1 lot | $380.00 | $380.00 | estimated
bulk supply |
| Tree stakes and ties (per tree) Stake the fruit and nut trees for the first two seasons. |
17 tree | $12.00 | $204.00 | estimated
retail |
| Drip irrigation for the drip-line establishment period Lowest-effort watering option while plants settle. |
1 lot | $260.00 | $260.00 | estimated
contractor / DIY |
Totals
| Plant cost (all zones) | $2,308.00 |
|---|---|
| Materials and installation | $2,334.00 |
| Subtotal | $4,642.00 |
| Contingency (10%) | $464.20 |
| Estimated total | $5,106.20 |
| Estimates only. Confirm every plant and material line with the nursery; listed prices come from the published TreeYo / CPI lists and do not guarantee current stock. No delivery, tax, tool or equipment cost is included. | |