The cost guide — how the number is built
What landscaping costs in Adelaide
Every project is priced from the site visit, not a phone guess. What follows is what actually decides the number on an Adelaide job — the factors we look at, service by service, and why each one moves the quote.
The short answer — what moves the price
There is no single price for an outdoor project, because no two blocks are the same shape, slope or condition. What we can tell you plainly is how the number is built.
Priced from the site visit
The site visit comes first; the quote is worked out from what is actually on the block — levels, access, soil and what is already there.
Fixed written quote
The scope is written down and priced before the work starts, so nothing appears mid-job that was not on the quote.
Area and extent
Paving, turf and garden work are priced by the square metre, measured on site.
Levels, slope and access
A sloping block, tight side access or a long cart distance all add machine time and labour.
Materials and finishes
Paver, sleeper, turf and edging choices differ in material cost and how long the build takes.
Drainage and preparation
What has to be dug out, drained and prepared underneath decides how much of the budget goes under the finished surface.
Service by service — what drives each quote
Retaining Walls
Wall length and height
Retaining walls are priced by the linear metre and by how high the wall has to hold back — height drives the engineering and the block size.
Engineering and council
Walls over a metre usually need engineered design and council approval, and that work sits in the quote.
Ground conditions
Reactive clay, rock and a slope all change the footing, the excavation and how long the job takes.
Drainage behind the wall
A retaining wall without drainage fails early, so ag-drain, gravel and outlet are part of a correct scope.
Access for machinery
Tight side access means a smaller machine and more hand work, which changes the labour.
Excavation & Site Clearing
Volume of material
The cubic metres cut and carted away is the biggest single line on an excavation quote.
Site access
Wide street frontage takes a truck and machine easily; narrow access means smaller equipment and more trips.
What is underground
Services, old footings and rock are only certain once digging starts, and each changes the work.
Spoil disposal
Carting spoil to a licensed facility is charged by the load.
Levels and tolerances
A rough cut and a laser-levelled pad to the drawings are different jobs.
Paving & Driveways
Square metres
Paving and driveways are priced by area, and the total area is the first thing the quote needs.
Base preparation
The sub-base and compaction under the pavers decide whether the surface stays flat, and they are part of the cost.
Paving choice
Standard concrete pavers and imported stone differ sharply in material cost.
Drainage and falls
Getting water away from the house needs falls, pits and sometimes a connection to stormwater.
Access and cartage
Pallet delivery and how far the material has to be moved by hand both add to the labour.
Landscaping & Garden Design
Scope of the design
A soft-planting refresh and a full front-and-back rebuild are priced from what the plan actually contains.
Hard versus soft
Paving, retaining and structures carry different costs to planting, turf and mulching.
Plant and material choice
Mature specimens and premium materials cost more than tube stock and standard grades.
Irrigation and lighting
Automated watering and garden lighting are separate systems with their own material and labour.
Staging
Landscaping around an existing home is often staged, and the programme changes the price.
Concrete
Slab area and thickness
Concrete is priced by the square metre and by the depth of the pour.
Reinforcement
Mesh and bar are specified to the load — a shed slab and a driveway take different reinforcement.
Excavation and sub-base
Getting to a firm, level base is part of the job and part of the cost.
Finish
A broom finish and an exposed-aggregate finish are different labour and different material.
Access for the truck
Pump or chute access affects how the concrete reaches the formwork.
Pergolas & Decking
Size and span
The area and how far the structure spans decide the timber sizes and the footing layout.
Timber choice
Treated pine, hardwood and composite decking differ in material cost and in how they age.
Footings
Deck and pergola footings are engineered to the structure and the ground.
Roof or open
An open pergola and one with a solid or louvre roof are different builds.
Existing services
Working around downpipes, gas and electrical runs adds care and time.
Fencing
Linear metres
Fencing is priced by the metre, and the run length sets the posts, rails and panels.
Fence height and style
A standard 1.8 m fence and a taller or slatted feature fence are different material and labour.
Material
Colorbond, timber and aluminium differ in material cost and in maintenance over time.
Ground and posts
Rock, roots and old concrete in the post line make setting posts slower.
Removing the old fence
Demolition and disposal of the existing fence is part of the scope.
Artificial Turf
Square metres
Artificial turf is priced by area, and the shape of the area affects how much cutting and waste there is.
Base preparation
Turf laid on a properly compacted, drained base lasts; the base is part of the cost.
Turf specification
Pile height, backing and the grass type differ in price and in how they feel underfoot.
Drainage and edges
Drainage under the turf and a fixed edge to hold it are separate line items.
Access and cartage
Rolls are heavy, and how far they have to be carried changes the labour.
Earthworks & Drainage
Cut and fill volumes
The cubic metres moved decide the machine hours and the cartage.
Drainage design
Stormwater, ag-drains and the connection point are designed to the block and priced from it.
Ground conditions
Rock, clay and high water tables change how the ground has to be worked.
Levels required
A building pad to the drawings and a rough regrade are different scopes.
Disposal
Spoil leaving the site is charged by the load.
Sheds & Carports
Size and span
The footprint and span of the structure decide the steel and the footing design.
Slab and footings
The concrete slab or footings the structure sits on are engineered to the shed and the ground.
Council approval
Sheds and carports usually need approval, and the documentation sits in the quote.
Open or enclosed
An open carport and an enclosed shed with roller doors are different builds.
Access and services
Getting the structure in and working around existing services affects the labour.
Straight answers on price
How is a landscaping quote worked out?
From the site visit, not a phone guess. We look at the levels, the access, the soil, the drainage and what is already on the block, then price the work from there — the factors listed on this page are the ones that decide the number on every Adelaide job.
Can you quote from a photo or over the phone?
Every project is priced from the site visit, not a phone guess. A photo can tell us what kind of job it looks like; it cannot tell us what is under the surface, and that is what the quote turns on.
Does the site visit cost anything?
No. We come out, walk the block with you and work out what the job actually involves before any number is put on it.
Is the quote fixed?
Yes. The scope is written down and priced before the work starts, so you know what the job costs before we begin.
Why is there no price per square metre up front?
Because the same area can be two different jobs. Area is one driver; levels, access, drainage, what has to be dug out and the materials chosen all move the number too. A per-square-metre figure given before the site visit would be a guess dressed up as a price.
Your block, your site
A site visit first, then a fixed written quote.