From garden plans to a clear landscaping agreement
In short
Find a Melbourne landscaper by separating garden care from building work and giving each company a clear site brief. In Victoria, a landscaping contract over $10,000 that includes domestic building work requires an appropriately registered building practitioner, even if construction is only a small part of the job. Check permits for your property before committing, then compare ground preparation, drainage, materials and aftercare alongside the finished appearance.
Step 1
Identify the skills your garden needs
A planting refresh, a garden design and a retaining wall need different skills. List what you want to change and ask each company which tasks it carries out itself. If you need a design before construction, ask whether drawings and plant selection are a separate service and what you receive for that fee.
Match the company to the Melbourne job
| Your project | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Garden beds, turf, mulching or ongoing upkeep | A gardener or landscaper with relevant planting and maintenance experience, plus a clear care plan. |
| Retaining walls, decks or other built features | Landscape construction experience and building registration appropriate to the proposed work where required. |
| A new layout around established trees | A designer who can plan around the trees, with arborist advice where the works could affect them. |
Step 2
Check registration for the whole contract
The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) distinguishes planting alone from domestic building work. For a mixed job, the registration threshold applies to the total contract price, rather than just the structural component. Ask the BPC if you are unsure how your scope is classified.
Ask for the practitioner's registration details and check the BPC register. Confirm the permitted work and conditions cover your project, and establish who is contracting with you. Ask for current public liability insurance evidence and references from projects with similar access, levels and finishes.
When contacting a reference, ask how the company dealt with a problem during the job. A useful answer explains how a drainage issue, material substitution or delay was communicated and resolved.
Step 3
Resolve retaining wall and tree requirements first
BPC guidance requires a building permit for retaining walls one metre or higher, and for walls on or near boundaries where adjoining property could be damaged. Ask your council or building surveyor to confirm the requirements for a lower wall, including its relationship to other building work.
Greater Melbourne has multiple councils. Check the planning and tree controls for your address before agreeing to pruning, removal or excavation near a tree. For example, Boroondara protects certain trees through local laws and planning overlays. Its permits can cover work near protected trees, including trenching, machinery use and material storage. That example applies within Boroondara; your council may use different rules.
Ask the company to mark trees that will stay on the plan and show how roots and trunks will be protected during deliveries and construction. Record who will arrange any arborist assessment, engineering, permits and inspections before agreeing to a start date.
Step 4
Include the access route and how you use the garden
Describe the outcome in everyday terms: space for outdoor meals, a lawn children can use, or beds you can maintain with occasional watering. Include photos showing shade, existing surfaces and any water pooling after rain. Ask for plants suited to the actual site and the care you can provide.
For an inner Melbourne courtyard, measure the narrowest passage and show steps, rear-lane access and unloading space. For a larger suburban block, show the route for machinery and where soil and materials can be stored. Mention owners corporation or landlord permissions where relevant.
Step 5
Compare what sits beneath the finished garden
Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends comparing at least three written quotes for the same plans and specifications. Ask whether a site visit is needed for a firm offer. Check how changes, delays and concerns about workmanship will be handled, and keep a written record of those discussions.
For paving, compare excavation, base preparation, levels and drainage. For planting, specify species, quantities, supplied sizes, soil preparation and mulch. Ask which costs are fixed and which are allowances, and what happens if excavation reveals unsuitable ground or buried materials.
Before accepting, agree on payment stages, the work needed at each stage and how extra costs must be approved. Request a handover covering irrigation settings, watering, care instructions and any written plant replacement terms. Those details help you understand your responsibilities once the company leaves.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- BPC: landscaping
Registration for mixed landscaping contracts and building permit requirements for retaining walls.
- City of Boroondara: tree works permits
Local tree protection and permissions for work near trees; applies to Boroondara rather than all Melbourne councils.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: getting quotes
Comparable written quotes, insurance checks, references and arrangements for changes or delays.
