DESIGN 09Forward LookingJapanese
Japanese Entry Garden
Raked gravel, a maple, moss mounds and a stepping stone approach to the door.
- Raked gravel
- Japanese maple
- Stepping stones
- Granite lantern
Typical build range: $11k – $20k
Design guide
See Your Garden Design
Looks Before you build
A garden reads as designed when it repeats. Three or four plant species used in deliberate groups will always look better than twenty single specimens, and it costs less to buy and maintain.
Cinematic garden showcase
Four stunning garden designs in full width
Four garden-first properties, each presented full bleed so you can read every planting decision and detail. Use the viewpoint buttons on each banner to switch between the aerial plan, the street approach, the view back from the house and both side boundaries.
Featured 01 · Front yardFirst person, on the ground
MODERN CLEAN HOME GARDEN
Pure Geometry Garden
A minimalist white cubic house wrapped in clipped lawn panels, sculptural boxwood and wide limestone paths. The design is pared back to hedges, stone and a single feature tree so every line reads cleanly from the aerial plan to the side boundaries.
- Limestone pavers
- Sculptural hedges
- Feature olive tree
- Minimalist planting
- $32k – $65k
Featured 02 · Front yardFirst person, on the ground
MODERN HOME WITH PINK AND YELLOW FLOWERS
Painter's Palette Garden
A contemporary single-storey home set in a front-to-back flower garden. Pink roses and yellow daylilies weave through curved perennial beds, while white gravel paths and green hedges give the colour a crisp frame.
- Pink roses
- Yellow daylilies
- Curved gravel paths
- Green hedges
- $28k – $55k
Featured 03 · Front yardStreet side view
BRIGHT BEACH HOUSE GARDEN NEAR BLUE OCEAN WATER
Coastal Dune Garden
A bright white beach house with timber decks and a coastal garden that blends into the sand dunes. Native grasses, coastal planting and casual outdoor furniture open straight toward the turquoise ocean.
- Timber deck
- Native grasses
- Sand dune planting
- Ocean views
- $45k – $90k
Featured 04 · Front yardLooking back from the house
MEDITERRANEAN TUSCANY GARDEN EUROPEAN STYLE CHATEAU
Tuscany Estate Gardens
A stone European chateau with terracotta roof tiles and formal parterre gardens. Cypress trees, olive groves, lavender drifts and a central fountain create a classic Tuscan arrival from every viewpoint.
- Stone chateau
- Terracotta roof
- Lavender parterres
- Central fountain
- $85k – $180k
Structure
The five planting layers
Large Trees forming Canopy and Shade
One or Two Trees for Shade, Character and Screening from Neighbors. The Positioning and Choice of Trees, Shrubs and Hedges can really Transform the Entire Vibe and Structure of a Homes Landscape and Layout Design
The Middle-Ground Under Storey
This is the Section where Small Trees and Shrubs, Approximately 2–3m in Height and Diameter that really hold the Middle of the picture. These are often times the Quiet Heros of Garden Landscape Designs, setting the stage for other Organics
Ground Level Shrub Hedge Layer
Massed Shrubs at Ground Level usually Growing to 60cm to 1.5m at most are the workhorse layer that often get little recognition but are essential for Hiding Fences, Reticulation Boxes and bare stems. Choose wisely as these really create frame. Keep in Mind the Growing Patterns and Maintenance
Colorful Flowers, Perennials & Grasses
These really are the Recognized Heros and Shining Lights of the Feature Garden. Often Standing-out with Bold Colors that are a Painters Palette Delight. With Vibrant, Reds, Pinks, Oranges, and Magenta the Right Flower and Perennials can Really Create a Visual Spectacular that Wows your Audience
Ground Level "Groundcover" can be used to Soften Lins of Hardscapes and Paving
Many Visitors may not be focusing on Ground Level, however these Unsung Heros provide a version of Living Mulch that functionally suppress weeds and Finish bed edges. With a Huge Variety of Styles, Looks and Species the Ground Level Organics Choices are Vast and Hearty, hard-wearing solutions to frame and set the stage for Large Trees, Colorful Flowers, Large Pools, Feature Pergolas, Outdoor Furniture and Paving Choices
Worked examples
Concepts led by planting
DESIGN 09Forward Looking
DESIGN 11Forward LookingShade
Woodland Shade Front
Ferns, hellebores and bark mulch under an existing canopy tree.
- Fern understorey
- Bark mulch
- Shade tolerant beds
- Timber edge
Typical build range: $5k – $11k
DESIGN 12Forward LookingNaturalistic
Prairie Meadow Verge
Drifting grasses and perennials mown to a crisp lawn edge for a tidy wild look.
- Perennial meadow
- Mown edge
- Seasonal colour
- Pollinator planting
Typical build range: $6k – $13k
DESIGN 27Forward LookingProductive
Kitchen Garden Backyard
Raised vegetable beds, espaliered fruit, a compost bay and a potting bench.
- Raised beds
- Espalier fruit
- Compost bay
- Potting bench
Typical build range: $9k – $19k
DESIGN 37Forward LookingSustainable
Native Habitat Backyard
Indigenous planting, a frog pond, log seating and a rainwater tank.
- Native planting
- Frog pond
- Log seating
- Rain tank
Typical build range: $12k – $25k
DESIGN 41Forward LookingFuturistic
Future Gardens
A tropical backyard designed for tomorrow: clean architecture, LED-lit paths, an infinity pool and lush planting that feels like a private resort.
- LED pathway lighting
- Infinity pool
- Tropical palms
- Outdoor lounge
- Sculptural pergola
Typical build range: $65k – $130k
Spacing and Quantities
Getting the Numbers right at Planting stage is what separates a Garden that fills in beautifully within one season from one that looks thin and patchy for years. Buy Bigger Quantities and set them in Deliberate spacing taking into consideration the Future Growth Patterns.
- Groundcovers: Usually 4–6 per Square Metre for full cover within a season.
- Perennials and Grasses: 3–4 per square metre, planted in odd numbered groups.
- Shrubs Knee Height: Space at two thirds of mature width so they knit together, not touch.
- Box Hedges: Use 3–4 Plants per Metre for a fast, dense low hedge.
Choosing a Colour and Foliage Palette
Pick a Foliage Palette first, Greens, Silvers and one Dark Accent, then add Flower Colour such as Pink or Yellow no more than two. Foliage carries the Garden for fifty weeks of the year and Flowers are the Bonus. In hot climates, silver and grey foliage reads as cooling. In Shade Vary Between Lime foliage and Orange Blossoms can Lift the Space and Brighten dull corners.
Low Maintenance without Looking Bare
A Garden that looks after itself is the result of decisions made before Planting, not extra work.
Simplify the species list, get water to the roots, and let mulch do the weeding for you.
- Mass plant instead of spot planting: fewer species, fewer decisions, fewer failures.
- Use 75mm of Mulch on all beds and top it up annually.
- Install Drip Irrigation under the Mulch on a timer before planting.
- Group plants by Water Need so one zone is not overwatered to keep another alive.
Looking forward
The Future of Things to come in Garden Designs
Tomorrow's gardens are not only greener; they are smarter, more connected, and designed as living systems. The next wave of garden design blends climate-responsive planting, embedded technology, and resort-like comfort into everyday homes.
Vertical Gardens & Sky Gardens
As urban blocks become smaller, the only way to expand green space is upward. Rooftop and vertical gardens will turn bare walls and unused roof areas into private sky parks, complete with pools, lounges, and layered planting that looks out over the city skyline.
Biophilic Indoor-Outdoor Living
The boundary between home and garden is disappearing. Smart glass walls, climate-controlled courtyards, and living walls will bring the garden inside, allowing homeowners to feel surrounded by nature every day of the year.
Water-Integrated Garden Architecture
Water will not just be a pool or a pond; it will be woven into the structure itself. Cascading terraces, floating decks, and reflective pools will merge with planting to create gardens that feel like living sculptures above the water.
Sustainable Edible Landscapes
The future of garden design is productive as well as beautiful. Vertical herb walls, raised vegetable beds, fruit trees, and solar-integrated pergolas will allow homeowners to grow food while keeping a sleek, modern entertaining space.