It seems you’re prepared to address that outdoor space. Good on you! You may have been looking at that sad lawn for years, or you just bought a place with a war-torn garden.
Whatever brought you to this point, there’s no reason a landscape renovation needs to be the chaotic mess most people think it is.
Here’s the key – where most homeowners get it wrong is diving straight in without thinking it through properly. I have seen it again and again.
Someone gets an urge for a new garden, hires the first landscaper who arrives the next morning, and three months later, they cannot understand why their new garden does not match their expectations. Or even worse, what’s causing it to fall apart now?
Let’s discuss how to genuinely prepare for a landscape makeover so your eyes don’t grow bigger than your garden.
Working Out What You Actually Want (Not What Instagram Tells You)
Before making any decisions, clearly define the purpose of this space. It’s important to consider not only the aesthetic images you’ve selected, but also the practical uses you have in mind for this space.
Yes, visit the latest trends in landscape design for inspiration, but don’t let everyone there tell you what to do. Do you have kids running around? Love gardening or prefer low maintenance? Are you in search of a barbeque deck or a tranquil native garden? And these answers matter more than trends.
Write this stuff down. It sounds simple, but it’s a step that many people skip, and then they wonder why their gardens are good-looking but ineffective. You might think the Japanese rock garden is beautiful, but having three kids under 10 and a Labrador can lead to trouble. You’re asking for trouble.
From the beginning, be transparent about your budget. Garden makeover plans often lead to disappointment when people focus on ideas they love without first understanding the true cost involved. Professional landscaping can work within any budget; it just needs to know how much.
Getting Your Property Sorted Before Anyone Shows Up
Ensure you clearly understand your desired outcome. Now comes the part most people don’t think about until it becomes a problem – getting your property ready for the actual work.
Sort out these things first:
- Access routes: Can trucks and equipment actually get to your backyard? Narrow gates might need temporary removal.
- Underground services: Use Before You Dig Australia to locate pipes, cables and gas lines. It’s free and prevents expensive disasters.
- Power and water points: Know where your nearest tap is and if you need new outdoor outlets installed before work starts.
Your landscaper will thank you for sorting this early. It helps maintain the project schedule and avoids unexpected issues that could lead to additional time and expenses.
The Paperwork Side (Yeah, I Know, Boring But Necessary)
No one likes having to conform with council requirements and permits; however, the way to really stuff things up is to pretend they don’t exist. Councils have different laws about what you can and can’t do without approval.
What usually needs permits:
- Retaining walls: Anything over a particular height (this can differ by council, between 600 mm and 1 m)
- Pools and spas: Always require approval, plus safety inclusions
- Permanent space: Decks, pergolas & gazebos over a specified size.
- Significant tree removal: Many councils protect native or significant trees.
- Major earthworks: Major changes to the levels of the land
Are you replanting gardens and laying lawns? You’re generally fine without permits. For more specific requirements, check your state’s planning portal (such as the NSW Planning Portal) or your local council website.
The majority of seasoned landscaping professionals are already intimately familiar with local regulations and can take care of permits for you. If someone tells you to turn around when you enquire about a permit, take that as a warning to seek further assistance.
Furthermore, ensure that there are no easements or covenants over your property – this is especially important for new homes or heritage areas.
Money Talk (Let’s Not Dance Around It)
This is where landscape renovation planning gets real. You need a real budget, and you need to be upfront with whoever you end up hiring.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 for basic upgrades to $50,000 or more for a complete renovation. Although this is a broad range, the size and ambition of gardens can vary greatly.
Divide your budget: hardscaping (paving, decking, and retaining walls), softscaping (plants, lawn, and mulch), and additional costs or ongoing features (irrigation and lighting). Ensure you allocate a substantial buffer, not just $500, but a sum sufficient to cover any unforeseen costs that may arise due to factors such as tree roots or rocky soil that require additional prep time.
If you’re on a budget, ask your landscaper about staging the project. Please prioritise completing the essential tasks first, and consider adding the extra features at a later stage.
Please focus on the structural elements and drainage this year, and consider incorporating decorative plantings and lighting next season. You have time to live with the space and gauge how it works before you commit to doing everything at once.
Choosing Who to Actually Work With
This step is often rushed because people are eager to start, but it may be the most important in preparing for a landscape makeover.
Don’t hire the first person who makes you an offer. Get at least three quotes from carefully vetted companies. There are actual benefits, if you do it right, to hiring professional landscape designers instead of whoever is cheapest.
A service such as Landscapers Network connects you with vetted professionals who possess appropriate insurance and licensing, demonstrating their expertise in the field.
When comparing quotes, check:
- What’s included: Labour and materials are bundled or separated.
- Waste removal: Who’s handling rubbish and disposal costs?
- Permits and paperwork: Are they sorting council applications?
- Timeline: Realistic start and completion dates.
- What is the payment structure, including deposits, progress payments, and the final payment?
Ask to see photos of previous work. Better yet, ask if you can get contact details for a couple of recent clients. Anyone worth hiring won’t have a problem with this. If they get defensive or make excuses, that tells you something.
Timing Your Project (Because Weather Exists)
The Australian climate varies significantly depending on your location, which influences the timing of specific landscaping tasks.
Best times for different work:
- Planting: Autumn and spring are the most ideal times of year to plant when hot or cold temperatures aren’t as much of a factor.
- Structural work (paving, decking, retaining walls): Can occur any time but might take longer in the summer
- SE QLD/Northern NSW: Avoid large earthworks during the wet season unless you’re making a pond.
- Southern states: Work may slow down over the winter months, particularly in frost-threatened regions.
Also consider your schedule. Are you preparing for a significant event at home? Do not schedule your landscape renovation for the month before your daughter’s wedding reception in the backyard.
These projects always end up taking longer than you expect, and having your garden torn up when you want it really amps up the stress for everyone.
What to Do With Your Existing Garden
So plants and features are already there, OK? What happens to them?
Take a stroll through your garden with your landscaper before work begins, and point out anything you want to keep! Is there an ancient tree in your yard that provides shade during the summer? Mark it. Did your grandmother plant any roses in your yard? Flag them. A competent landscaper will work with these things or gently move them as necessary.
But be realistic. That crumbling hedge is likely to be destroyed. And sometimes all that preservation work will wind up being more costly and less transformative than the new design could be.
If you have pavers, bricks or timbers from previous buildings on site, think about whether any of them can be reused. Recycled materials can save money and contribute character to your new garden. Old bricks are the best edging, and weathered timber is charming in a way that new stuff isn’t.
Setting Up for Disruption (Because It’s Coming)
Let’s not pretend it’s otherwise: A landscape renovation is messy and disruptive. Your backyard is going to look like a construction zone for some time. There will be noise and dust, and strangers will be hiking through your property.
If you have pets, figure out where they’ll go during working hours. An inquisitive dog and big machinery don’t go together very well. You may need to keep them inside more than you usually would or, for that matter, find other ways to provide care on particularly intense workdays.
Let your neighbours know what’s going on as well. It’s courteous and stops them from demolishing the council if they wake up to jackhammering at 7 a.m. If you warn them in advance, most people can tolerate construction noise.
Establish clear rules regarding areas that are off-limits to workers. Provide a clear, dedicated space for storing materials and equipment. And if you have children, talk seriously to them about staying out of the work area. Tools and machinery aren’t toys.
Documenting Everything
Take pictures of your garden before work begins. Take an abundance of photos. Take pictures from various perspectives. This feature helps in several ways. If there’s any argument later about what was in there already, you have proof.” It also offers a fantastic before-and-after perspective once everything’s in place (and trust me, you’ll want that).
Save all your quotes, contracts and permits in one place. When your landscaper guides or sends you product specifications (paint colours, etc.), file them away.
You may want this information at some stage for your insurance policy, local government inspections, or just in case you want to buy more of the same paver in five years when you can’t recall what it is called.
The Home Stretch
Getting the groundwork right for a landscape makeover means your actual renovation is smooth sailing, doesn’t cost more than it should, and leaves you with a garden you’ll actually want to live in.
The most satisfied homeowners are the ones who take their time up front, think things through, research their options, and then set them up properly. They are not the ones who rush to hire the first contractor that appears.
Your garden is in place for years to come. A few more weeks on the preparation side may save you from years of regret down there. Get your paperwork in order and consult and hire trusted professionals in relevant fields if you would rather not do it yourself.
Landscapers Network can help connect you to vetted landscapers in the local directory of pros, set realistic expectations for what your budget and timeframe might accommodate, and then get your property ready for the work that has to be done.
By following these steps, you will be ahead of the curve, surpassing most people in their garden renovations. The rest is a matter of letting the professionals do their thing … and looking forward to finally enjoying your outdoor space.
