You've engaged a builder and now your focus has turned to the garden
What should you budget for your landscaping? And how do you go about budgeting for something that hasn't yet been designed?
Most gardens consist of essential elements, with additional custom features that can be incorporated. This article will guide you through the options, enabling you to choose what to include in your garden and estimate the associated costs. By doing so, you will establish an approximate budget to work with.
The following are costs based on years of experience in designing and constructing gardens for those with refined tastes. Let us begin...
At least half of our clients will ask for a front fence to be included as part of their landscaping. These typically include automation for the driveway gate and a pedestrian entrance. An intercom may be included.
Below are images of past projects showing a variety of styles that are often selected.
Picket fencing and steel blade fences have similar costs of around $25,000 to $35,000.
Adding masonry increases the cost and typically involves an engineer to specify footings and may increase the cost between $30,000 and $45,000.
When you add custom gates and stone cladding the cost may be $50,000 to $70,000.
With some projects a new crossover may be required and even a new footpath. As a contingency for this, putting aside $10,000 would be prudent.
The one shown here in our Malvern project journeyed to the basement.
Typically you would assign $10,000 to $30,000 for concrete.
If you choose to pave it you would double or triple the amount set aside.
Having a paved path to your front door rather than walking up the driveway to access the front door adds a more elegant way for your guests to arrive. Depending on the slope of the land, you may require retaining walls to be incorporated as part of the design.
A simple straight path may start from $10,000 to pave.
Adding steps and retaining walls may increase the range from $20,000 to $40,000 depending on the complexity.
Due to the sloping nature of the block, you may require retaining walls to be installed. This cost is a wild variable and one easily not given the attention it requires.
So you may require a few sleepers to be installed, costing a few thousand dollars. You may however require extensive engineered walls costing in the range of $100,000 as shown in our Balwyn project below.
Additional costs are engineering, a building permit, plumbers for drainage, and major excavation works.
How much you should assign at this stage for your project may be difficult, but hopefully this helps to guide you.
The remaining elements of a front garden are of course plants, irrigation, soil and mulch, lighting, and lawns.
Depending on the size of your block you may wish to set aside $20,000 to $40,000 to cover this.
This can be broken up into zones.
Assigning $30,000 to $60,000 would be a good range to work within.
Variables such as paver selection, sealing requirements, etc, all affect the overall cost.
You may have your builder include pouring a concrete foundation for the alfresco which will reduce your landscaping costs.
If you assign $10,000 - $20,000 for a typical alfresco, this would be wise.
Pathways linking to other areas add additional paving footage.
Areas where paving is laid in amongst the garden may be another area to consider.
A contingency could be $10,000 but it could also be $50,000 or between.
Decking is of a similar cost to paving. If you intend to add decking, use the figures above in paving to gauge this.
Balustrading and handrails may be required.
And of course, you need a building permit, perhaps engineering or even a planning permit.
A pergola is an open structure that vines typically climbs over and is used as a relaxing retreat
Costs vary from $15,000 and up.
If under 20m2 usually do not require a building permit.
They can be painted as shown or left natural to age for a more rustic feel.
Closed when it rains and open when hot, it really caters for all seasons.
Usually the most expensive option it can range from $50,000- $100,000 on projects we have used them.
In the Malvern project shown here there was extensive engineering required. You could expect to invest $30,000 to $70,000 depending on the complexity, in more complex structures.
Typical homes will have concrete on both sides and either one or both sides will have a small fence and gate section.
If side fences are more elaborate, eg blade metal fence or batten fence, you could add several thousands of dollars to the budget.
Often metal screens or artwork might be incorporated to view from windows, so allow $1,000 - $10,000 for this.
Additional concrete may be for sheds or pool equipment, so add a contingency for this.
Planting, irrigation, lawn, lighting, etc are variable but a cost of $30,000 to $60,000 would be a reasonable amount to assign to the budget.
As mentioned for the front garden, this cost varies wildly.
You may have no need at all for walls to be added. You may be required to have some sleeper walls costing $10,000. You may be on a sloping block and require $40,000 of concrete block walls. And then you may like to have all those walls stone clad for a further $20,000. And up it can go. Walls are in part a necessary and in part a feature, so the cost can vary enormously.
There is a definite trend for basketball courts over the past few years.
Budget $15,000 - $25,000 for this.
There are costs that increase the budget which are more luxury than necessity.
In the images below you may have simple water features that cost $2,000.
Or more elaborate water features costing over $10,000
Elements like small feature walls that act as a step may add $5,000
Or you may wish to add a TV, heaters in pergola, fireplace, and stone-clad feature wall and invest $30,000 and upwards.
These are the costs that can only be known once the design is underway.
The cost of a pool varies too much to add a cost here, but what should be considered is additional costs like an inground pool cover (Allow $10,000) or pool fencing ranging from $10,000 to $30,000
You may buy a simple one for BBQ Galore for $5,000 or you may wish to use someone like Limetree Afresco (who we recommend) that may vary from $10,000 to $30,000 for typical kitchens. Additionally, you may need to add plumbing and electrical works to this.
On any new-build site there is usually clay to clear away, and excess waste to remove while excavating the various levels required. Some are a minor clearing and what remains is workable soil but in most cases, there is no top soil left and so excavation and adding of imported soil are required.
The below Daylesford property was one we required using the vacant block next door to access and remove up to 30 truck loads of waste. There were literally a team for two weeks excavating and moving the earth.
When you get into this type of scale, $30,000 could be a starting point for consideration.
The costing within this article may be applicable or maybe not. If your block is an acre, then it changes everything here. These costs are for a typical suburban Melbourne block.
However, I am sure you will be able to get your wits around how some costs do apply and some need increased. Budgets are something that should start wide and narrow to a final fixed contractable amount. during this transition, clarity is gained and costs are refined.
To these costs could be added any of the below costs too.
A realistic budget allows you to determine and control outcomes.
Your garden can play a major role in the enjoyment of life and with careful planning you can gain confidence in the decisions you make.
The following articles may be of further use but if you have a question in mind, please reach out as we are happy to help direct you to the right information.
What you need to know about landscaping when building a new home
How to calculate an accurate budget for landscaping
How we work with Melbourne's best architects & builders