Landscaping After Handover
Landscaping After Handover: Costs, Choices and What to Plan Early
Landscaping often gets left until the very end of a build — but it’s one of the biggest opportunities (and potential costs) that many clients underestimate. Whether you're doing it yourself, working from a plan, or hiring a full-service team, the decisions you make early will shape your budget, outcome and long-term liveability. This guide unpacks the real options, hidden costs, and practical things to think about before the fences go up.
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Why It Deserves Early Attention
Most people know landscaping isn’t included in their build — but very few realise just how expensive it can be to finish properly. The cost of doing it right often surprises people more than the exclusion itself.
Landscaping involves far more than turf and plants. It includes excavation, drainage, retaining walls, concreting, decking, structural timber, lighting, irrigation and proper soil work. When this is left to the very end, costs can compound quickly — especially if you have limited access or sloping land.
Whether you’re planning to stage it yourself, manage it with a design, or hand it off to a professional, the earlier you start thinking about it, the more flexibility and control you’ll have.
Guardian Tip: Treat landscaping like any other major part of the build. Have a plan, know your budget, and understand your access before the fences go up. Doing this early protects your budget and helps avoid compromises later.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Three Main Ways People Approach Landscaping
1. Do It Yourself or Manage It Stage by Stage
The most affordable option but also the most time-consuming. You coordinate the trades, make the decisions, and often do some of the work yourself. This method works well for basic designs or small spaces but can become overwhelming for complex or sloped sites.
2. Get a Professional Landscape Plan, Then Manage the Build
A great balance between cost and clarity. A landscape designer creates a full site plan including layout, materials, and planting suggestions. You then get quotes from trades using the same plan, which keeps pricing consistent and execution aligned with your vision.
3. Engage a Full-Service Landscaper or Landscape Architect
This is the most streamlined option. The landscaper or landscape architect designs the garden and manages the full construction process. It costs more but delivers a high-quality, cohesive outcome with minimal effort from your end.
| Landscaping Approach | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Do it yourself or stage it with individual trades | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Pay for a professional landscape plan and manage the build | $60,000 – $150,000 |
| Full-service landscaper (design and build) | $120,000 – $250,000 |
| Architectural landscape design and delivery | $200,000 – $600,000+ |
Guardian Tip: Even if you are planning to stage your landscaping yourself, starting with a professional plan helps you avoid rework, inconsistent materials, or costly mistakes. It is one of the smartest investments you can make after handover.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Things to Think About When Planning Landscaping
Access and Machinery
Will a bobcat or excavator fit through your side access? If not, any heavy excavation must happen before the house is built. Poor access adds time and cost. On narrow blocks or sites with steep fall, delays or double handling can blow out the budget.
Pool Planning
If you are planning a pool, know where it is going early. Pools require engineering, access planning, and soil testing. Trying to install one post-handover often means cutting through finished paths, fences, or services.
Trees and Screening
Are you planting for privacy, street appeal, or sun protection? There is a big price jump between saplings and advanced trees. You also need to understand the mature height, root zones, and proximity to fencing or underground services.
Irrigation and Garden Maintenance
Will your garden be watered manually or automatically? If irrigation is needed, it should be planned before turf, paving, or planting begins. Maintenance expectations also matter — low-care natives and gravel gardens are very different from lush lawns and hedging.
Retaining and Site Levels
Do you understand where your site will be cut and filled? Retaining walls are easier and cheaper when built during the construction process, not after. Poor planning at this stage can affect drainage, access, and privacy.
Utility and Function
Where will your clothesline go? Is there room for bins, a shed, or a second car on the driveway? Thinking through these basic use cases early avoids frustration and makes your outdoor space genuinely functional.
Guardian Tip: Landscaping is not just about planting. It affects how you live in your home, how much ongoing work it requires, and how well the property performs for resale. The more you plan ahead, the more value you’ll unlock from your outdoor space.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Planning Ahead Saves More Than Just Money
Landscaping is one of the final steps in the journey — but it deserves your attention from the very beginning. Whether you're installing it in full or tackling it in stages, the key is to plan early so nothing gets overlooked or built over.
From driveway width and fence heights to tree screening and pool placement — the decisions you make now can either create flexibility or limit your options later.
Guardian Tip: Treat your landscaping like a second build. Whether you go DIY or hire a professional, starting with the right plan will help you protect your budget, your privacy, and your peace of mind.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Looking for land in an Estate instead?
This guide covers land in knock down rebuild — but if you're purchasing within an estate:
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
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