Plan the work before choosing a landscaper
In short
Choose a Sydney landscaper with experience in the work you need and access to your site. Separate planting and garden upkeep from construction before asking for quotes. For residential structural landscaping worth more than $5,000 including labour, materials and GST, NSW requires a contractor licence. Resolve council and tree requirements before work begins, then compare the preparation, materials, drainage, removal and aftercare included in each offer.
Step 1
Decide whether you need garden care or construction
Describe the tasks rather than asking for a general garden makeover. A company that maintains lawns may not build retaining walls, while a landscape construction company may not offer regular garden visits. Ask which parts it does itself and which need another trade.
Who to approach for your Sydney garden
| Work you want | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Mowing, weeding, mulching or refreshing planted beds | A gardener or landscaper offering those maintenance and planting services. Specify a one-off visit or ongoing care. |
| Paths, paving, retaining walls, decks or pergolas | A contractor experienced in landscape construction. Check the licence needed for the scope and value of the residential work. |
| Tree pruning or removal to make room for the design | Council advice on tree controls and an appropriately qualified arborist for tree assessment and work. |
Step 2
Check the business against the proposed construction
NSW lists retaining walls, paving, driveways, fences, decks and pergolas among structural landscaping work. The contractor licence requirement applies to residential building or trade work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. Ordinary mowing and weeding are different tasks; do not use the label landscaper alone to decide which checks apply.
Ask for the contracting business's name and licence number, then use the NSW licence register to check its current status, permitted work and conditions. Match the holder to your quote. Ask who will handle any electrical or plumbing work and check the relevant specialist licence for that work.
Look for completed projects with similar ground levels, access and materials. Ask for relevant insurance evidence and a reference you can contact. A photograph of a finished garden does not explain how its drainage or retaining structures were built.
Step 3
Check approvals with the council for your address
Greater Sydney spans multiple council areas. Check with the council responsible for your property before agreeing to excavation, retaining walls or tree work. Ask the contractor to identify the approval pathway and who will obtain any plans, engineering or permissions needed.
The NSW Planning Portal sets conditions for earthworks and retaining walls to qualify as exempt development, meaning work that can proceed without planning consent. Conditions include heritage restrictions and not redirecting surface or ground water, or carrying sediment onto neighbouring land. A small wall is not automatically exempt; confirm all applicable conditions for the site.
For properties within the City of Sydney council area, pruning or removing a private tree generally requires permission unless an exemption applies. Protected and heritage trees can have different approval requirements. Other Sydney councils have their own controls. Include trees to retain on the brief so excavation and deliveries can be planned around them.
Step 4
Show the garden and the route into it
Send the suburb, approximate areas, photos and a sketch showing what stays and what changes. Describe the outcome you want, such as a usable outdoor dining area or garden beds you can maintain yourself. Record ponding after rain, steep ground and existing damaged walls without guessing the cause.
Access can change the method of work. For a Sydney terrace courtyard, include the narrowest gate or passage width, steps and any rear-lane access. For a sloping site, show where materials can be unloaded and how they reach the garden. Explain parking restrictions and any strata or owner permission needed.
Step 5
Compare preparation and aftercare as well as finishes
Give each contractor the same brief and ask whether a site inspection is needed before a firm quote. Compare excavation, soil preparation, paving base, drainage, materials and waste removal separately. Specify plant species, quantities and supplied sizes so different planting offers can be compared.
Ask what happens if excavation reveals rock, buried materials or unsuitable soil. Have the contractor explain any allowances and exclusions, and agree how additional costs will be approved. NSW guidance requires changes to residential building contracts to be written and signed by both parties.
Before accepting, record who obtains approvals, the payment stages and the completion criteria. At handover, walk through the work and get plant watering instructions, any irrigation settings, care requirements and the agreed process for reporting defects or failed plants. Keep the accepted quote, approved changes and product information together.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- NSW Government: structural landscaping work
Construction categories and the residential contractor licence threshold; updated 23 June 2026.
- NSW Planning Portal: earthworks and retaining walls
Conditions for exempt development, drainage restrictions and council checks for tree work.
- City of Sydney: apply to prune or remove a tree
Tree permissions and exemptions within the City of Sydney council area, not all Greater Sydney.
- NSW Government: getting quotes for contractors
Common job briefs, written scope and materials, and signed changes to residential building contracts.
