There are basic elements to every landscaping project. These may include a driveway, paths, decking, retaining walls, plants, lights, etc.
For your project, are you looking for something extra, something unique or perhaps, more extravagant?
Would you like to add your own stamp on the garden?
This article covers some of the elements that may create a more aesthetic appeal, but also add more to your budget and so need to be considered early on.
Paving and other stonework
A design considered from a pragmatic view may function well, however, it will never excite anyone.
The water spouts shown here require the pool builder to add pipes, and the boxes were poured as a solid concrete pour and polished.
Each spout may start at $2000 and increase much more, depending on materials and finishes.
Our landscape architect team designed this as a constant feature regardless of season.
This front fence in McCrae has curved walls clad in stone and with custom gates all made.
A front fence like this starts at $50,000 and can easily rise to $70,000.
Stone cladding is slow and so expensive to do.
Our design team created this project in Ascot Vale.
Two feature walls with stone cladding and a water feature that flowed over into a lower pond would cost anywhere from $60,000.
Consider stone cladding as a wonderful feature that also requires an allocation to the budget to make sure it creates the effect you wish to achieve.
In this Greensborough project, we designed a staggered set of steps to take you to the lawn.
Steps require a great deal of work and would start at $10,000 to do this.
Then as you look at the pool, you will see it is clad in batons on two sides of the pool. This could start at $8000
Stone edging around a lawn is a smaller additional cost but is easily not allocated to your budget.
The feature seat and lawn edge would start at $5000, but the effect was one that really stood out as appealing.
Benches
Bench seats are often a later inclusion in the design process. Benches come in all sorts of designs and so of course the cost varies. A simple bench like this one that we added in the project may start at $5000, but others easily can have a backrest and custom steel finish and rise to $10,000
Entertainment areas
This pergola and wall setting created a nook for this Mornington home.
The custom pergola and wall with a bench seat may start at $35,000.
Either the wall or pergola could have been removed to save cost if required, and the firepit area would remain.
Building a curved wall that is stone-clad may cost $20,000.
Add a TV, fireplace with gas, and a metal frame behind for vines to grow, and another $25,000 may be required.
All these costs vary depending on the materials and method of creating them.
Screening out the neighbour for privacy
The walls we built on this Balwyn North project were well over $100,000.
Retaining walls were used on the street and the upper walls retained some but were more for privacy concerns.
This screen gave privacy for the pool zone on this Glen Iris project.
A Kobe Board wall was built, with the opposite side being rendered.
Depending on the height and length of this screen, the cost will vary, but this one would start at $30,000.
Features
Features like this arbour set are not likely to be your first thought on the wishlist. These arbours were to have vines growing (image shot prior) and add a dabbled shade of green. The arbor cost starts at $15,000 including lights and wires.
The addition of a basketball court like this one could cost around $25,000
Play area
This putting green in our Blairgowrie project required changing levels and a steel rim installed.
Depending on size, you may wish to allocate $7000 plus for this to be included in your budget.
Kids requirements
Be it a cubby house or play equipment, these are additional costs to consider when budgeting for your landscaping project.
A cubby house might be $2,000 upwards, while an inground trampoline could cost $10,000.
Allow a contingency for these elements.
The list goes on...
Beyond what we have covered, you may ask for veggie gardens, fruit tree enclosures, a greenhouse, a tennis court and much more.
Listing out all the elements on your wishlist will help establish a realistic budget.
I hope this has not been too confronting and that you have managed to access what you require.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, and we will help.
