Plant-led garden design · Melbourne's inner north-east
Frequently Asked Questions
A few of the questions we hear most often, answered plainly. If yours isn't here, book a Garden Assessment and ask us in the garden.
The Approach
What does plant-led garden design actually mean?
Plants and soil come first, hardscape comes second. Most landscaping puts the money into concrete, paving, and features that look dated in five years. We put it into plants and soil, which compound. A well-planted garden gets fuller and more beautiful every season. Pavers don't.
Do you have to demolish my garden to start again?
Usually not. Most gardens don't need demolishing, they need understanding. We work out what's already there and worth keeping, then restructure and replant around it. Faster, cheaper, and far less disruptive than ripping everything out.
Why don't you use weed mat?
Weed mat saves time for about eighteen months. After that it becomes the most time-consuming thing in the garden. Roots grow through it, weeds grow over it, and removing it is a full day's work. We build healthy soil instead, which does the same job permanently. We never use it.
Do you use chemical sprays or fertilisers?
No. No chemical pesticides, no artificial fertilisers. We work with soil biology, which is more durable than anything out of a bottle. If something needs feeding, we feed the soil, and the soil feeds the plants.
Cost and Budget
How much does a garden transformation cost in Melbourne?
It depends on scope. A garden turnaround, working with an established but neglected garden, costs less than a blank canvas build because we're not starting from zero. A full design and build from bare ground carries soil prep, planting, irrigation, and mulch across the whole site, so it sits higher. The honest answer is that no two gardens cost the same. Book a Garden Assessment and you'll have an exact quote within 48 hours.
What's the difference between a garden turnaround and a blank canvas build?
A turnaround transforms an established garden by working with what's already there. Lower cost, faster, because we're not starting from zero. A blank canvas build is a full creation from a bare block: design, soil prep, planting, irrigation, mulch. Not sure which fits your place? That's exactly what the Garden Assessment tells you.
Timeline and Process
What happens at a Garden Assessment?
A 45-minute on-site visit, free. We test your soil, audit what's growing, ask how you actually use the space, and give you a clear design direction and a rough budget range on the spot. It's the best first step if you don't know where to start.
Is the Garden Assessment really free?
Yes. No fee, no obligation. We come out, look properly, and tell you what we'd do and roughly what it costs. If it's a fit, we go further. If it's not, you've still learned something about your garden.
How long does a garden transformation take?
Far less time than traditional landscaping. Because we lead with plants rather than months of construction, a turnaround is often a matter of days, not weeks. No mud pit for breakfast, no army of tradespeople cycling through the site. Your exact timeline is confirmed in the quote.
How soon do I get a quote?
Within 48 hours of your Garden Assessment. Most landscapers take weeks. We don't.
Aftercare and Practical
Do you offer ongoing maintenance?
Yes. After any design and build we offer ongoing maintenance — half-day bookings at $365 or full-day bookings at $695, green waste included. It keeps the garden establishing well and catches small problems before they get big. It's how a garden gets better every season instead of slipping back.
Will my garden be low maintenance?
We design around how you actually live, so yes, gardens can be built to be genuinely low maintenance. Low maintenance doesn't mean no maintenance. It means the right plants in the right places, healthy soil, and a design that works with your schedule instead of against it.
What suburbs do you service?
We're based in Ivanhoe and cover Melbourne's inner north-east: Ivanhoe, Eaglemont, Alphington, Fairfield, Northcote, Heidelberg, Bellfield, and surrounds. Just outside and not sure? Ask.
Do you do paving, decking, or retaining walls?
No. We're a plant-led garden business, not a hardscape contractor, and we'd rather do one thing properly than everything averagely. If a job needs significant structural work, we'll point you to a trade we trust. Our budget and skill goes into soil and plants.