The drawing comes first

Landscape Design

Every good garden we have ever built started as a measured drawing. We design your whole outdoor space on paper, levels, structures, planting and budget together, so you can see the garden and its real cost before committing to a build.

Photo: landscape design job
Scope

What this job includes.

  • Measured site visit: levels, soil, sun, salt and drainage
  • Scaled concept plan of the whole space
  • Planting schedule by species and pot size
  • Itemised build pricing against the drawing
  • Approvals scoping (DA, CDC or exempt) where structures need it
Our system: Designing like a kitchen, but outdoors: you sign off the drawing and the itemised price before a shovel hits the soil, which is why our builds land on budget.
How we quote it

Seven lines, every job, no allowances.

Whatever the service, the proposal itemises the same way, so you always know what you are paying for.

The 7-line quote
  1. 1 The scaled design. A measured plan of your block, drawn to scale and signed off by you before anything is dug or ordered.
  2. 2 Site prep & drainage. Excavation, soil improvement and where the water goes. Priced as its own line, never buried in "site costs".
  3. 3 Structures, itemised. Deck, pergola, retaining walls and steps, each with its spec, footing detail and engineering where required.
  4. 4 Materials, named. Spotted gum or blackbutt, sandstone or block, named in the proposal so nothing gets quietly substituted.
  5. 5 The planting schedule. Every plant by species and pot size, chosen for your soil, sun and salt exposure, not a "$3,000 planting allowance".
  6. 6 Approvals & certification. DA, CDC or exempt, stated up front. Where approval or engineering is needed, the path and the cost are in the proposal.
  7. 7 Warranty & handover care. The 5-year structural warranty in writing, plus a 12-week establishment plan so the planting actually survives.
If a quote doesn’t show these lines, you can’t compare it, and you don’t know what’s been cut.
How it runs

What happens, step by step.

1

Design visit & measure

We walk the block with you, measure it properly, and talk budget honestly. How you live outside drives the design.

2

Design & itemised proposal

A scaled plan with structures, materials and a full planting schedule, priced line by line. You sign off the drawing, not a guess.

3

Build, staged and tidy

Earthworks, drainage, structures, then planting, in that order. The site is left safe and tidy every single evening.

4

Plant & hand over

Planting to the schedule, mulch, irrigation checks, then a walkthrough against the plan and a 12-week establishment guide.

Insured, covered, guaranteed

The paperwork behind the price.

Public liability to $20M, and a 5-year structural workmanship warranty, all in writing, all on request.

Structural landscaping over $5,000 in NSW legally requires a licensed contractor, and our licence number is on every contract. Public liability to $20M protects your property while we work, and the 5-year structural workmanship warranty covers the decks, walls, paving and drainage we build. Every plant on the schedule is backed by a 12-week establishment guarantee. Certificates of currency are yours on request before any deposit.

The cover, the guarantee, and how to check each one.
Questions, answered

Landscape Design: common questions.

Do I have to build with Fernline if you design it?
No. The design fee buys you the drawings and they are yours. Most clients do build with us, because the proposal is already itemised against the plan, but the design stands on its own.
How much does a landscape design cost?
Most Northern Beaches designs run $1,500 to $4,500 depending on block size and complexity. If you build with us, half the design fee comes off the construction price. That is stated in writing up front.
Can you design in stages to suit a budget?
Yes, and we recommend it on bigger blocks. The design covers the whole space, then the proposal stages the build so each stage is usable and nothing gets demolished later.
Get started

Start with a design visit, not a guess.

Tell us about your block. We walk it with you, talk budget honestly, and design the garden on paper before anyone digs.

✓ Licensed structural landscaper✓ Landscape Association member✓ Licensed & insured✓ 112 five-star reviews✓ 5-year structural workmanship warranty
Book a design visit Call