There is no single price for landscaping in Melbourne, because the cost of a garden is decided by the site far more than by the wish list. Access, levels, soil, demolition, structural work, drainage, the surface materials you choose and the size of the planting all move the number. Two neighbouring properties can want the same garden and land on very different figures.
The factors that move the price most
- Access. A rear yard reachable only through a narrow side gate means barrowing, hand demolition and slower work than a site a machine can drive into.
- Levels and retaining. Every change in level has to be held, drained and finished. Structural work is usually the single largest line on a sloping block.
- Demolition and disposal. Old concrete, pools, sheds, failing walls and heavy clay all cost money to remove before anything new begins.
- Drainage. Surface falls, pits, subsoil lines and legal points of discharge are unglamorous and non-negotiable.
- Surface materials. Natural stone, porcelain, exposed aggregate, decking and gravel sit at very different points, and the substrate under them matters as much as the surface.
- Planting size. Advanced trees and mature hedging create an instant garden and cost accordingly. Smaller stock costs less and closes the gap in a few seasons.
- Extras. Irrigation, lighting, screening, joinery, water features and outdoor kitchens each add scope.
Why we work to an honest rate rather than a padded lump sum
A fixed price on an unknown site is usually a guess with a safety margin built into it. We prefer to walk the property, agree an honest hourly rate and a clear scope, and charge for the hours worked and the materials used.
That means the money follows the work. If a wall turns out to be simpler than expected, you are not paying for the contingency someone else assumed.
How to make a budget go further
- Spend on the things that are hard to change later: levels, retaining, drainage and the position of paths and paved areas.
- Stage the work against a single masterplan so early stages do not have to be undone.
- Choose one good material and repeat it rather than mixing several cheaper ones.
- Plant smaller in the areas that fill quickly, and reserve advanced stock for the trees that carry the garden.
- Get the soil right. It is the cheapest thing in the project and the reason plants either establish or sulk.
What to have ready before asking for a price
A rough budget range, your priorities, any survey or building plans, and an honest sense of timing. With those in hand a first site conversation can be genuinely useful rather than theoretical.
Common questions
Can you tell me a price over the phone?
We can talk through what is likely to drive the cost, but a meaningful figure needs the site. Access, levels and drainage are impossible to judge from a description.
Is design charged separately from construction?
Design and construction are different bodies of work. We explain how each is handled for your scope before anything begins.
Does staging cost more overall?
Sometimes slightly, because of repeat mobilisation. A good masterplan keeps that overlap small and stops earlier stages being rebuilt.