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How to plan and landscape a garden makeover

Overview

If you’re thinking about creating a new garden, you can save a lot by doing the project yourself. With the right planning, preparation and some know-how, you can make the most of your budget and create your ideal garden. We'll show you the main points to consider.

Steps

1Consider your budget

The first step when planning out your new garden is to lock down the budget. Think about what features you want to include. A large lawn, raised garden beds or a playground for the kids will need different materials and have different costs attached. You can get a good idea by checking out our Landscaping Department and Outdoor Nursery and talking through your ideas with our experts.
DIY Step Image - How to plan and landscape a garden makeover . Blob storage upload.

2Choose your garden style

There are many different styles of garden you can create, so you need to decide what suits you best. You may like the look of an ornamental garden or a cottage garden. If you have kids, you may want to create spaces for them to play in. A family with pets will need a robust garden with some grass. Or you may prefer to create a secluded space to relax and unwind in. 

Other things to consider when planning your garden is how much shade you have and the local conditions. A quick walk around the local neighbourhood will show you what plants grow well locally and what may suit your own garden.

3Check for council approval

Before you begin, you will need to check with your local council to see if you need approvals for what you are planning on doing. This could relate to building a structure like a pergola or how close you can build near your fence line.

4Planning your garden

The next thing to do is sketch out your garden design. This will show you whether you can fit in everything that you are planning on. You should also consider conditions such as shade and soil quality. For example, vegies ideally need full sun so don't put them next to a large fence. You may also want to consider adding a garden path that leads to your home.

5Consider hard scapes and soft scapes

When planning your garden, you should have a combination of hard scapes and soft scapes. Hard scapes are used to define and frame areas of your garden. They can include planter boxes, raised garden beds, garden paths and retaining walls. Whereas soft scapes are the plants that your garden will feature.

6Head in-store

When you have decided on the garden you are going to create, head into your local Bunnings. There you can talk with the experts and check out the huge range of landscaping materials to create your hard scapes. Whether its timber sleepers, bricks or pavers, you'll be able to find what you need. You can also check out our D.I.Y. advice section for any help.  

Then you can also head over to the Outdoor Nursery and have fun choosing the plants for your garden. A good tip is to plant low growing plants and then add accents of colour or texture that are taller nearby. Planting the same plant in groups is also a great look for your new garden. 

7Get stuck into the garden

Now you're ready to pick up a shovel and hit the garden. Make sure that you add organic matter like a good compost into your garden beds and on your lawn for great results.

Another good tip is to install an irrigation system in your garden to care for your new plants. Then it's time to sit back and admire the garden you've created with your own hands.

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.