Our FAQs

Nazscapes is a Sydney landscaping company that handles design and construction in-house. Every service is delivered by the same team from site visit to handover.

• Backyard landscaping and full backyard makeovers
• Front yard landscaping and kerb appeal upgrades
• Pool landscaping, surrounds, and poolside design
• Garden landscaping, garden design, and planting
• Turfing — natural and synthetic lawn installation
• Retaining walls in timber, concrete block, sandstone, and natural stone
• Paving and pathways across concrete, stone, and premium pavers
• Tree services including pruning, lopping, removal, and stump grinding

Most projects combine several of these scopes, which is why Nazscapes runs them under one team rather than coordinating between separate trades.

Yes. Nazscapes manages the project end-to-end — site visit, design conversation, written scope, construction, planting, and final handover. Design and construction are handled by the same team rather than handed between separate consultants and contractors.

That keeps layout decisions, material choices, drainage, and finishes aligned, and it usually produces a cleaner finished landscape than projects pieced together from multiple trades.

Nazscapes works across the major residential regions of Sydney:

• North Shore — including Chatswood, Lane Cove, Lindfield, and Roseville
• Northern Beaches — including Manly, Dee Why, Mona Vale, and Avalon
• Hills District — including Castle Hill, Bella Vista, Kellyville, and Dural
• Parramatta District — including Parramatta, Carlingford, Epping, and Eastwood
• Ryde District — including Ryde, Gladesville, Putney, and Tennyson Point

Suburb-specific landscaping pages with local context are available throughout the site. If you are unsure whether your suburb is covered, get in touch and Nazscapes will confirm directly.

Landscaping costs in Sydney vary based on scope, materials, site conditions, and access. As a rough guide:

• Front yard refresh — from around $3,000
• Focused backyard upgrade — from around $5,000
• Garden makeover or planting design — $5,000 to $40,000+
• Full backyard rebuild with retaining, paving, turf, and planting — $15,000 to $50,000+
• Pool surrounds and pool area design — $8,000 to $40,000+
• Retaining walls — $300 to $1,500+ per linear metre depending on material and height
• Paving — $100 to $300+ per square metre depending on paver type
• Turfing — $25 to $50 per square metre for natural turf, $80 to $150 for synthetic

Final pricing is confirmed in a written quote after a free site visit. Nazscapes does not work to fixed price lists because every site behaves differently — levels, drainage, access, and existing materials all change the scope.

Yes. Nazscapes provides free site visits and written quotes for residential landscaping projects across Sydney. There is no obligation to proceed after the quote.

You can request a quote by phone, email, or through the online form. Including the suburb, a few site photos, rough measurements, and what you want the space to do helps the first conversation move faster.

A Nazscapes quote sets out the scope, materials, staging, and price in writing so there are no surprises during construction.

• Itemised scope of works for each part of the project
• Material specifications — paver type, retaining wall material, turf variety, plant list
• Site preparation, excavation, and disposal where relevant
• Drainage, edging, and finishing details
• Plant supply, planting, and mulch
• Site clean-up and final handover

Anything outside the agreed scope is treated as a variation and discussed before any extra work starts.

Quotes are accurate when the scope is well defined, the site has been walked, and the materials are confirmed. Most Nazscapes projects are completed within the agreed quote.

Variations usually come from changes the client requests during construction, or from genuine site discoveries — old footings under a lawn, blocked drainage, or unexpected ground conditions. These are flagged early so decisions can be made before the cost grows.

Nazscapes uses staged payments tied to project milestones rather than asking for the full project cost upfront.

• A deposit is collected before construction begins to secure the schedule and order materials
• Progress payments are tied to defined stages (for example, after demolition, after retaining is complete, after paving is laid)
• A final payment is due on completion and handover

Full payment terms are set out in the project agreement before any deposit is taken.

Yes. All Nazscapes quotes include GST. The total quoted price is the price you pay — there are no separate tax line items added at invoicing.

Yes. Many Nazscapes clients stage their projects across one to three years to spread cost without compromising the finished landscape.

When staging is part of the brief, the design accounts for it from day one. Drainage, levels, paving lines, and retaining are planned so a later stage can be added cleanly without re-doing earlier work. Common staging splits are: structure first (retaining, paving, drainage), then planting and turf, then finishing details like lighting and outdoor structures.

Big price differences usually come down to four things: scope, materials, site preparation, and who is actually doing the work. Two quotes can look like the same project on paper but differ significantly underneath.

• Base preparation — proper excavation and compaction adds cost but stops paving and retaining failing
• Drainage detail — drainage that is genuinely engineered into the build vs. added as an afterthought
• Material grade — paver thickness, sandstone quality, plant size and species selection
• Insurance, licensing, and warranty — included in the price or carried by the client if something fails

Cheaper quotes often skip one or more of these. Comparing scope item by item is more useful than comparing total prices.

Yes. Nazscapes carries the licensing and insurances required for residential landscaping construction in NSW, including public liability cover for work on client properties. Documentation can be provided on request before the project starts.

Project timelines depend on scope, weather, site access, and material lead times. Typical durations:

• Front yard refresh — 1 to 2 weeks on site
• Focused backyard or garden upgrade — 2 to 3 weeks
• Pool surrounds rebuild — 3 to 5 weeks
• Full backyard makeover with retaining, paving, planting, and turf — 4 to 8 weeks
• Larger structural projects with significant retaining or excavation — 8 weeks or longer

Lead time before construction starts depends on quote acceptance, material orders, and current schedule. Nazscapes confirms staging and expected timelines in writing before any work begins.

The site visit usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Nazscapes walks the property with you, measures the relevant areas, photographs site conditions, and talks through what you want the space to do.

• Review the site — levels, drainage, soil, sun, access, existing materials
• Discuss how you actually use the space — entertaining, kids, pets, storage, privacy
• Talk through scope priorities, must-haves, and budget direction
• Identify any constraints — neighbour fences, trees, services, council issues

A written quote and scope follows the visit, usually within one to two weeks depending on project complexity.

Most projects follow the same five stages, scaled to the size of the job:

• Free site visit and brief conversation
• Written scope, material specifications, and quote
• Project agreement, deposit, and material ordering
• Construction — staged on site, with progress check-ins
• Final clean-up, handover, and aftercare guidance

You have a single point of contact through the entire process. Updates on staging, material deliveries, and any decisions needed happen directly with the project lead, not through a layered office.

Most residential landscaping projects can be lived through. Nazscapes plans staging to keep the property usable wherever possible — maintaining access to entries, garages, clotheslines, and outdoor service areas.

Noisy or dusty work (excavation, demolition, saw cutting) is grouped where it can be, and material deliveries are scheduled to minimise impact on the street and neighbours. Larger projects with significant excavation may need short periods of restricted access, which is flagged in advance.

Yes, within reason. Minor adjustments — moving a planting bed, swapping a plant variety, tweaking a paver layout — are common and usually absorbed without changing the schedule.

Larger changes, such as adding a retaining wall or changing paver type after material is ordered, are treated as variations. Cost and timing impacts are confirmed in writing before any extra work proceeds, so there are no surprise charges at the end.

Yes. Sustained rain affects excavation, concreting, paving, turfing, and planting. Sydney summer storms and extended wet periods can add days to a project schedule.

Nazscapes builds reasonable weather contingency into project timelines and reschedules weather-affected work to keep the overall program on track. Staging is also planned so dry-weather work (like retaining, structures, or garden bed prep) can continue when other tasks are paused.

Landscaping construction can be done year-round in Sydney. Different seasons suit different work:

• Autumn (March to May) — ideal for planting, lawn establishment, and most construction
• Winter (June to August) — good for hard landscaping (paving, retaining), reduced rain pressure on schedules
• Spring (September to November) — strong planting window, busy season for outdoor builds
• Summer (December to February) — possible but planting and turf need extra watering attention

If a project is large or schedule-sensitive, getting the quote and design conversation done in winter often means construction can start at the best part of the year.

Focused backyard upgrades in Sydney typically start from around $5,000. Full backyard transformations involving retaining walls, paving, planting, lighting, and a new lawn usually fall between $15,000 and $50,000+ depending on size, materials, and site conditions.

Larger or more complex backyards with significant excavation, premium materials, structural retaining, or pool integration can sit higher than that range.

Pool surrounds and pool area design in Sydney usually start from around $8,000 for focused upgrades — repaving an existing surround, refreshed planting, and lighting. Full pool area rebuilds with new paving or decking, retaining, fencing, and feature planting typically range from $15,000 to $40,000+.

Pool fencing must comply with NSW pool barrier regulations, and Nazscapes coordinates the design to meet compliance without compromising the look of the finished space.

Sydney retaining wall pricing varies significantly by material and height:

• Treated timber sleeper walls — $300 to $500 per linear metre
• Concrete block walls — $500 to $1,000 per linear metre
• Sandstone block walls — $700 to $1,500+ per linear metre
• Natural stone or premium architectural walls — $1,000 to $1,500+ per linear metre

Walls above approximately 600mm typically need additional drainage detail, deeper footings, and compliant construction. Walls above 900mm may need engineered design and council approval depending on the location.

Paving costs in Sydney depend on paver type, pattern, and base preparation:

• Concrete pavers and standard finishes — $100 to $180 per square metre
• Brick pavers and budget options — $80 to $120 per square metre
• Premium and large-format pavers — $180 to $250 per square metre
• Sandstone, bluestone, travertine, and natural stone — $200 to $300+ per square metre

Driveway paving sits at the higher end of these ranges because it needs a thicker base to handle vehicle loads.

Sydney turf installation pricing depends on turf variety and site preparation:

• Natural turf (buffalo, kikuyu, couch) — $25 to $50 per square metre installed
• Synthetic turf — $80 to $150 per square metre installed

The price covers site clearing, soil preparation or base build, and turf supply and installation. Steep sites, poor soil, or limited access can add to the cost.

The best turf depends on sun exposure, foot traffic, and how much maintenance you want to do:

• Sir Walter buffalo — best all-rounder for Sydney, handles part-shade and family use
• Kikuyu — fast-growing, hard-wearing, full sun, needs regular mowing
• Couch — fine-leaf, full sun, popular for premium lawns
• Synthetic turf — zero mowing, suits shaded courtyards, dog runs, and rooftop spaces

Nazscapes recommends a variety based on the actual site conditions during the quote, not a default choice.

Often, yes. Most Sydney councils have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or equivalent regulation that requires approval before removing trees above a certain size, height, or trunk diameter. Rules vary between councils.

Some exemptions apply — dead trees, certain pest species, and trees within a defined distance from a dwelling — but you should not assume an exemption applies without checking. Nazscapes can guide you on what is likely to need approval and help with the application where required.

Tree pruning is the selective removal of specific branches to improve tree health, structure, light penetration, or safety. Cuts are planned and made at the right point on the branch.

Tree lopping is more aggressive cutting — usually to reduce tree height or remove a major problem branch. Lopping stresses the tree more, leaves larger wounds, and can trigger weak regrowth. For most healthy Sydney trees, pruning is the right approach. Lopping is reserved for cases where it is genuinely necessary.

Sydney has a temperate coastal climate that suits a wide range of natives and exotics. The right plant depends on aspect, soil, water access, and the look you want.

• Hardy structural plants — Lilly Pilly, Westringia, Magnolia Little Gem, Frangipani
• Native and drought-tolerant — Banksia, Grevillea, Lomandra, Dianella, Kangaroo Paw
• Feature trees — Jacaranda, Crepe Myrtle, Tibouchina, Magnolia
• Hedging and screening — Lilly Pilly varieties, Murraya, Viburnum, bamboo (clumping only)

Nazscapes selects plants based on the actual conditions of your site and how much ongoing maintenance you want — not a one-size-fits-all plant palette.

Natural turf suits most Sydney backyards and front yards. It is cooler underfoot, handles family use well, and fits most aesthetic styles. Sir Walter buffalo and other modern varieties are far more shade-tolerant and durable than older lawn grasses.

Synthetic turf works well in tightly shaded courtyards, dog-heavy areas, rooftop spaces, and around pools where natural lawn struggles. It needs no mowing or watering but heats up significantly in direct summer sun and lasts roughly 10 to 15 years before needing replacement.

When the site and brief suit them, yes. Native and drought-tolerant species reduce ongoing watering, suit Sydney soils, and support local wildlife. Common picks include Lomandra, Dianella, Westringia, Banksia, Grevillea, and a wide range of native grasses.

That said, Nazscapes does not push natives over exotics or vice versa. The plant list is driven by the actual site conditions — sun, soil, drainage, exposure — and by what you want the garden to look and feel like.

Drainage is planned at the design stage, not added at the end. Sydney soils, particularly clay-heavy soils across parts of the Hills District and inner-west, can hold water badly and damage paving, retaining, and lawn if drainage is ignored.

• Surface falls — paving and lawn graded so water moves away from the house
• Subsurface drainage — agricultural lines (ag drains) behind retaining walls and through wet zones
• Pit and pipe systems — connected to existing stormwater where required
• Soil amendment — drainage gravel, sand, or organic matter where soil structure needs help

Drainage solutions are sized to the site rather than applied as a default — over-engineering is unnecessary and under-engineering causes problems within a year or two.

Material choice depends on the look, budget, longevity, and how the surface will be used.

Common paving materials: concrete pavers, large-format porcelain pavers, sandstone, bluestone, travertine, and brick. Common retaining wall materials: treated timber sleepers, concrete blocks (with rendered, capped, or cladded finishes), sandstone blocks, and natural stone.

Premium materials cost more upfront but usually look better and last longer. Nazscapes recommends materials that match your house, suit the conditions, and stay within budget rather than defaulting to the cheapest option or the most expensive.

Yes. Site clearing, demolition, and disposal of existing paving, retaining, soil, plant material, and rubble is part of the standard scope on most Nazscapes projects.

Disposal happens through licensed waste facilities. Recyclable materials — clean concrete, timber, soil, and green waste — are diverted from landfill where possible.

Yes. Mature trees are often the most valuable feature on a property and are protected through the construction process — root zones are kept clear of compaction, machinery is routed to avoid trunks, and any required works near trees are planned to minimise impact.

Where trees are protected by council Tree Preservation Orders, Nazscapes flags this at the quoting stage and ensures any required protection measures are in place during construction.

Most residential landscaping work — planting, turfing, paving, garden beds, smaller retaining walls — does not require council approval and falls under exempt or complying development.

Approval is usually required for: retaining walls above approximately 900mm, structural work near boundaries, work in heritage zones, work that changes site drainage in ways that could affect neighbours, and tree removal under council Tree Preservation Orders. Nazscapes flags any approval requirements at the quoting stage so they are factored into timing and cost.

Yes. Sydney properties with steep terrain, narrow side access, no rear access, or sites accessible only by stairs are common. Constrained access affects the equipment used, the way materials are moved, and the project timeline — but it does not stop the project happening.

Solutions include hand-barrowing materials, using compact track machinery that fits through standard side gates, mini-crane lifts over the house, and staging deliveries to suit the access. Access is reviewed during the site visit and factored into the quote.

Underground services are identified before any excavation begins — usually through Dial Before You Dig, on-site detection, and visual inspection of meters and connection points.

Where landscaping changes need to integrate with services — new outdoor taps, garden lighting, irrigation, pool equipment relocations, or paving over service runs — Nazscapes coordinates the work and brings in licensed trades for any electrical or plumbing requirements.

Some stages of landscaping are noisy — excavation, demolition, saw cutting, and concrete work in particular. Nazscapes works within standard residential construction hours and groups noisy work where possible to limit ongoing disturbance.

For larger projects, letting neighbours know the project is starting (especially if there will be material deliveries blocking the street briefly) is a small thing that goes a long way. Nazscapes can advise on this at project start.

At handover, Nazscapes walks you through the finished landscape, explains how to look after the planting and turf, and provides written aftercare guidance covering watering schedules, plant establishment, and any ongoing care notes.

Any final site clean-up is completed and the project is signed off. From that point, the landscape is yours — though Nazscapes is contactable afterwards if questions come up about a specific plant, paver, or detail.

Yes. Workmanship is backed by Nazscapes for a defined period from handover. Specific terms — covering hard landscaping (paving, retaining, structural work), planting, and turf establishment — are set out in the project agreement and depend on the materials and scope involved.

Plant warranties typically cover initial establishment when watering and basic care recommendations are followed. Hard landscaping warranties cover construction defects rather than wear, weather damage, or modifications made later by others.

Newly laid turf needs heavy initial watering — typically twice a day for the first two weeks, then tapering off as the roots establish. Avoid heavy foot traffic for the first three to four weeks while the turf knits into the soil.

First mow is usually around three weeks after installation, set high. After that, regular mowing and seasonal fertilising keep the lawn healthy. Full aftercare instructions are provided at handover and tailored to the turf variety installed.

New planting needs consistent watering for the first six to twelve weeks while the root system establishes — daily during the first two weeks in warmer months, then tapering as the plants settle in. Mulch helps retain moisture and reduce weed pressure.

Most plants will look established by the end of the first growing season. Pruning, fertilising, and mulch top-up timing depends on the species, and Nazscapes provides species-specific aftercare notes at handover.

Ongoing maintenance services such as mowing, hedging, and weekly garden upkeep are not currently offered as a service line. Nazscapes focuses on landscape design and construction.

That said, the landscapes are designed to be manageable with standard garden upkeep. If you need a recommendation for a maintenance contractor in your area, Nazscapes can usually point you in the right direction at handover.