Frost & Found

Duxbury's Conservation Commission enforces the Wetlands Protection Act and a local wetlands bylaw, and the town's extensive salt marsh, coastal bank, beach, and tidal-creek resource areas carry a 100-foot buffer with a strict no-disturb inner zone — so most work near the bay or marsh needs an Order of Conditions before clearing, grading, or planting. Public shade trees are protected under state law. Retaining walls over four feet typically need a building permit and engineering, and pools, significant grading, and stormwater work require permits. Inland wetland and vernal-pool lots also fall under conservation review.

Duxbury pricing runs high near the water and tight-access lots, softer inland and off-season. Weekly mowing typically runs $50-90; spring cleanup $300-850; fall cleanup $350-1,100. Bark mulch installed runs roughly $90-140 per yard. Irrigation typically lands $5,500-9,500. Bluestone or storm-durable stone patios and walkways run $12-18K, with bay-front and difficult-access lots costing more. Full design-build with salt-tolerant plantings, irrigation, and hardscape usually lands $30K-120K, and waterfront estate work readily exceeds $200K once coastal review and resilient construction are factored in.

Massachusetts requires a written contract and a Home Improvement Contractor registration for most residential landscaping work; ask for the registration number and check it before paying a deposit.

More on permits, costs, rebates and common questions, plus every other landscaping contractor serving the town, on the Landscaping in Duxbury page.