Landscaping Cost in Australia: Turf, Retaining Walls, Gardens (2026 Prices)

A landscaper in Australia charges $60 to $120 an hour, but almost every real job is quoted as a fixed price. In 2026, turf is $15 to $35 per m² laid, a retaining wall is $300 to $900 per lineal metre, and a full backyard makeover is $15,000 to $50,000. The detail is below, along with what pushes prices up and how to get comparable quotes.

Prices are typical 2026 metro ranges including GST and materials.

Landscaper rates

Common landscaping job prices

Turf laying: $15 - $35 per m²

Supply and lay. A 100 m² lawn is $1,500 to $3,500. Includes basic levelling and a thin topsoil layer; heavy site prep (removing old lawn, bringing in soil, drainage) is extra.

• Couch: $8 - $12 per m² for turf alone
• Kikuyu: $8 - $12
• Buffalo (Sir Walter, Sapphire): $12 - $18
• Zoysia: $14 - $20

Retaining wall: $300 - $900 per lineal metre

For a wall around 600 mm to 1 m high, installed with drainage and backfill.

• Treated pine sleepers: $300 - $500 per metre
• Concrete sleepers: $400 - $700
• Besser block (rendered): $500 - $900
• Sandstone or natural stone: $700 - $1,200+

Walls over 1 m high (or 600 mm in some councils) need engineering and approval. Budget an extra $1,000 to $3,000 for that.

Garden clean-up: $300 - $1,000

Half a day to a day for a crew of two with a trailer. Overgrown blocks that need a skip bin or two can go to $2,000.

Irrigation system: $1,500 - $5,000

Automated drip and pop-up system for an average suburban garden. Wi-Fi controllers, multiple zones and large lawns are at the top.

Paving: $80 - $200 per m²

Supply and lay, including base preparation. Concrete pavers at the bottom; natural stone and large-format porcelain at the top.

Garden beds and planting: $50 - $150 per m²

Soil, edging, mulch and plants. Mature trees and advanced shrubs change this quickly - a single advanced tree can be $300 to $1,500 planted.

Synthetic turf: $60 - $120 per m²

Installed, including base prep. Popular for small areas, side yards and dog runs.

Full backyard makeover: $15,000 - $50,000+

Typically includes design, demolition, paving or decking, lawn, garden beds, irrigation, lighting and planting. Add a pool, spa or outdoor kitchen and it moves into six figures.

What makes landscaping cost more

• Access. If a mini excavator can’t get through the side gate, everything is done by hand and wheelbarrow.
• Slope. Sloped blocks need retaining, steps and drainage before anything decorative.
• Soil. Clay and rock add excavation time and often need soil brought in.
• Drainage. Not glamorous, but skipping it is the most common reason a $30,000 garden fails in the first winter.
• Plant maturity. Tubestock is cheap and takes three years. Advanced plants look finished on day one and cost ten times more.
• Council approvals. Retaining walls, pools, structures and tree removal may all need permits.

How to get comparable landscaping quotes

1. Have a plan, even a rough one. A sketch with measurements lets landscapers quote the same thing. Or pay for a design first ($1,500 to $5,000) and get construction quotes on it.
2. Get three quotes. Post the job once with photos and your sketch and local landscapers will price it.
3. Ask for an itemised quote: demolition, earthworks, hardscape, softscape, irrigation, waste, margin.
4. Ask about the plant list - species, size and count.
5. Check the licence for structural work. Retaining walls and pergolas above the state threshold are building work.
6. Agree on maintenance. Who waters the new turf and plants for the first six weeks? Turf that dies from under-watering is not a warranty claim.

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