There’s a moment in every garden transformation that rarely gets spoken about. The design has been approved, and the construction team has arrived on site. For several weeks, everything has looked considerably worse than when we started. Inside the construction phase of our Glen Iris transformation – a great example of why this stage shapes the final result.
This phase isn’t just unavoidable. It’s necessary.
While the lush planting is what defines the finished result, it’s the bones of the project. The demolition, drainage, and hardscape – that determine how your garden ages, performs, and presents itself year after year.
Our Glen Iris project is a clear example of this principle at work. Before a single plant was placed, our team began exactly where every project should: at the ground level, working through each foundational detail with care. Excavating and installing drainage so that rainfall is managed correctly in every corner of the site. Assessing and preparing the existing soil. Running conduit for garden lighting so the space can be enjoyed not just through the day, but well into the evening.
From there, the construction team moves into the structural phase of the build – laying pavers, pouring concrete, and introducing elements like a steel pergola, timber deck, or outdoor fireplace if applicable to the landscape design. Every detail at this stage is checked and cross-referenced against the original landscape design. Levels, heights, setbacks, finishes. Nothing is assumed.
Finally, the garden beds are built up with an imported soil blend, bringing the planting areas to the correct finished heights and preparing the ground to receive what comes next.
The plants are coming. But this is the work that ensures they thrive and that the garden earns its place for years to come. Where the seeing inside the construction phase really showcases the details and effort that go into building a garden.
Discover one of our completed gardens, Hawthorn Rose, that could be your end result after this construction stage.
