Soft Landscaping in Melbourne
New beds, new plants and a refreshed garden, without the upheaval of a full renovation.
Soft landscaping covers the living parts of a garden: plants, garden beds, soil, mulch and turf. It's how a tired garden gets a new lease of life, whether that means replanting a bare front bed, creating a native garden or reshaping beds so the garden is easier to look after.
Good planting starts with the conditions. Much of Melbourne's inner-east and south-east sits on heavy clay that stays wet in winter and sets hard in summer, so beds need proper preparation with compost and organic matter, and plants need to suit the light, the soil and how much care you want to give them.
What's included
- Planning plant choices with you for sun, shade and soil
- Improving soil with compost and organic matter
- Creating new garden beds and reshaping existing ones
- Planting shrubs, natives, perennials, hedging and groundcovers
- Mulching new plantings to hold moisture
- Aftercare advice, or ongoing care as part of regular maintenance
The best time to plant in Melbourne
Autumn is the best planting season in Melbourne. The soil is still warm from summer, winter rain is on the way, and new plants get months to grow roots before they face their first hot spell. Early spring is the next best window.
Planting in the middle of summer is possible but harder going, because new plants need consistent watering through heatwaves. If you're planning a bigger refresh, getting a quote in late summer means the work can start as conditions turn in autumn.
Soft Landscaping near you
Often requested in these suburbs, and available across all of our service areas.
Soft Landscaping: your questions answered
What plants do well in Melbourne gardens?
Hardy natives like lomandra, westringia, correa, dianella and grevillea cope well with Melbourne's clay soils and dry summers. For a more formal look, English box, lilly pilly and star jasmine are reliable choices. The right mix depends on your light, soil and style.
Can you help plan what to plant?
Yes. We're happy to talk through plant choices and bed layouts with you, based on the aspect, soil and look you're after. We can also plant out an existing landscape design if you already have one.
Can you make my garden lower maintenance?
Yes. Swapping thirsty or fussy plants for hardy natives and groundcovers, defining bed edges and mulching well can cut down weeding and watering considerably. We'll suggest changes that suit how much time you want to spend in the garden.
Often booked together
Get a free quote for soft landscaping
Tell us a little about your garden and we’ll get back to you with a free, no-obligation quote.
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