Landscaping Pricing Guide
Maintenance landscaping, design-and-install, and full transformation pricing — plus why a good designer pays for themselves on bigger jobs.
Landscaping spans a massive range — from a $60 weekly lawn mow to a $60,000 backyard rebuild with retaining walls, decking, and irrigation. Pricing depends hugely on scope and whether you're hiring a gardener (maintenance), a landscaper (install), or a landscape designer (design + project management).
For anything over $5,000, getting a landscape designer involved — even just for 1–2 hours of advice — usually saves more than their fee by avoiding plant selection mistakes, wrong hardscaping, and poor layout.
What landscaping typically costs
$60–$140
What's included
Mow, edge, whipper-snip, blow. 30–60 minutes on a standard 400–600sqm block.
When this tier fits
Fortnightly during growing season.
$80–$200/hr
What's included
Weeding, pruning, mulch spreading, general tidy. Green waste removal extra.
When this tier fits
Monthly upkeep, or quarterly seasonal tidy.
$150–$800
What's included
Power trim, shape, clean-up. Hedge size and height drive price.
When this tier fits
Seasonally — usually after winter growth and before summer.
$500–$2,500
What's included
Mulch delivered and spread, existing lawn treatment, minor planting.
When this tier fits
Spring freshen-up of established gardens.
$3,000–$12,000
What's included
New garden bed, pathway, simple deck, or small retaining wall. Design + install.
When this tier fits
Refreshing one area without full overhaul.
$20,000–$80,000+
What's included
Design, hardscaping (deck, pergola, paving, retaining), irrigation, planting. Multi-week job.
When this tier fits
Renovation, moving in, or when the space doesn't work.
Prices are indicative AUD ranges based on typical Australian metropolitan pricing. Actual quotes depend on scope, access, and local market.
What affects the price
Hardscape vs softscape
Paving, decking, walls, stairs cost 3–10x more per sqm than garden beds and lawn.
Access
Narrow side-access or steep blocks need wheelbarrows and bobcats. Tight-access surcharges can double trenching costs.
Materials
Hardwood decking vs composite, natural stone vs concrete pavers, established plants vs seedlings — each choice can double or halve a category.
Design fee
Standalone landscape designers charge $1,500–$8,000 for a full concept and plan. Design-build landscapers often include design in the build price for larger jobs.
Before you book — what to check
Hire the right person
Gardeners maintain, landscapers build, designers plan. Asking a gardener to design hardscaping usually produces regret.
Retaining walls over 1m need engineering
Most councils require engineering certification for retaining walls over 1m and sometimes permit approval. Budget for both.
Plant selection is local
Australian conditions punish the wrong plant choice — water-hungry exotics die in a heatwave. Good designers pick for your specific microclimate.
Irrigation pays back fast
A $2,000–$4,000 drip irrigation system saves plants, water, and weekly hand-watering. Especially valuable if you travel.
Maintenance plan
A new garden needs 6–12 months of establishment care — weekly watering, mulch top-ups, weeding. Factor this into the total cost.
Common landscape materials
Brand and product names you're likely to see in quotes.
Sir Walter / Buffalo turf
Most common lawn types in AU residential.
Trex / Modwood / EkoDeck
Composite decking brands.
Versiwall / Boral / Austral Bricks
Retaining wall systems.
Hunter / Rain Bird
Irrigation controllers and drippers.
Frequently asked questions
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