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Landscaping Ideas for Melbourne Backyards

By Antonio PrimeScape  |  April 2026  |  63 five-star reviews

A well-landscaped backyard adds genuine value to a Melbourne property — and it's something you enjoy every day. Here are the practical ideas and approaches we use most often for south-east Melbourne homes.

Start With the Ground Level

Before any planting or turf, get the grading right. Water should flow away from the house and towards drainage points. If your backyard is flat or falls towards the house, the first step is earthworks to correct the grade. Skipping this creates ongoing drainage problems that no amount of plants will fix.

Retaining Walls — When You Need Them

If your block has any slope, retaining walls let you create level usable areas (for turf, gardens, or a patio). Timber sleeper walls ($250–$400/m²) are cost-effective and look natural. Concrete block walls ($350–$600/m²) are more formal and structural. Both must include drainage behind the wall — without this, hydrostatic pressure will push the wall over within a few years.

Turf vs Garden Beds

For Melbourne's climate, Sir Walter DNA Certified or Kikuyu are the most popular turf varieties — both handle shade reasonably well and recover quickly from Melbourne's hot summers. Plan for garden beds along boundaries and at least one feature area — an all-turf backyard looks flat and is harder to maintain than a mixed design.

Irrigation — Worth Every Dollar

A drip irrigation system on a timer is one of the best investments in a new landscape. It saves water, keeps plants established during summer, and takes the guesswork out of watering. A basic system for a standard backyard runs $1,200–$2,500 installed. We include irrigation in most of our full landscape jobs.

Combining Paving and Landscaping

The best outdoor spaces combine hard landscaping (paving, retaining walls) with soft landscaping (turf, gardens). We handle both, which means you get a more cohesive result and deal with one contractor rather than coordinating multiple trades.