10 Costly Mistakes to Avoid with Pre-Build Landscaping
Author: Jay Shelling
Date Published: 17.06.2025
Approximate Reading Time: 5 Minutes
Building a new home build on the Mornington Peninsula?
If you’re deep in floorplans, building materials, and tradie timelines, it’s easy to forget about your outdoor area.
This is a huge mistake we see many home owners making.
If you treat landscaping as an afterthought, you could be ripping up your brand-new driveway just to get machines through the side gate.
Ouch.
At Flo Landscapes, we’ve helped homeowners avoid these dramas with smart, early-stage landscape design. With 10+ years of experience in residential and commercial projects, from modular homes to large blocks. We understand the landscape construction process and how to integrate landscaping from the initial design to the final plant.
Here are 10 things you NEED to know before starting your landscaping project.
Save yourself time, hassles and heartache.
1. Landscaping Starts Sooner Than You Think
Forget “after the build.” Your landscaping services should begin before the slab is even poured.
Some of the most important calls, like where the retaining walls go or how machinery will access the building site, need to happen during early planning.
Why it matters:
- Matches your landscape design with the site plan and floor plan
- Prevents future blockages and costly changes
- Allows time to plan a low-maintenance garden that suits your lifestyle
We’ve heard the horror stories. Homeowners who couldn’t get the machinery in post-handover. Their fences were up, the driveway was done, and they had to rip it all out to get started on their garden design.
2. Your Landscape Designer Should Be in the Group Chat
Breathtaking landscapes require careful planning and communication.
A great garden designer doesn’t just sketch a pretty plan. They collaborate with your builder, site supervisor, engineer, and architect.
At Flo, we handle coordination between all parties. That means your landscape construction aligns with everything else in your construction project, from elevations to stormwater drainage.
Imagine. A clothes line was installed before the yard was levelled. A rear path laid where a water feature was supposed to go. Avoidable issues, if the right people are involved from the start.
3. No Concept Design? That’s a Risky Move
Your concept design is the blueprint for the whole process. It outlines your green space, utility areas, front yard layout, and connections between zones.
It helps you:
- Make informed decision-making early
- Flag construction limitations
- Avoid rework mid-build
Think of it as a walk-through of your dream garden on paper. No more guesswork.
4. It Always Takes Longer Than Expected
Just like the rest of the building industry, landscaping comes with approvals, weather delays, and unexpected hold-ups.
At Flo, our typical time frames look like this:
- Initial design and concept: 4 to 6 weeks
- Documentation, council overlays, permits: 6 to 10 weeks
- On-site landscaping work: 1 to 3 months
Don't want to stare at a patch of dirt when you're ready to move in? By starting early and planning thoroughly, you will reduce budget overruns, stick to timelines and maximise your land's value.
5. Every Block Has Secrets
We’ve worked across sandy soils, bush blocks, tight access lots, and split levels.
A good landscaping team plans for:
- Drainage and runoff
- Site prep and soil health
- Proper staging for construction methods
- Access routes for machinery during the construction phase
Skipping this leads to expensive surprises. And no, it’s not just for first-time builders, it catches seasoned ones too.
6. Your Garden Impacts Your Home (and Vice Versa)
We’ve worked across sandy soils, bush blocks, tight access lots, and split levels.
From our 10+ years of experience, we find that you'll need to plan for:
- Drainage and runoff
- Site prep and soil health
- Proper staging for construction methods
- Access routes for machinery during the construction phase
Skipping this leads to expensive surprises. And no, it’s not just for first-time builders, it catches seasoned ones too.
7. Don’t Count on the Builder’s Landscaping Budget
Those allowances? They rarely match what a high-quality garden actually needs.
Landscaping costs depend on:
- Size and slope of your building site
- Scope of features like retaining walls, paths, lighting, and water features
- Labour intensity based on your chosen landscape solutions
Flo Landscapes helps you prioritise with honesty and clarity. No hidden fees, no inflated promises
8. Early Planning Means Smarter, Safer Gardens
Live in a bushfire-prone area? Want privacy from neighbours? Planning for kids or pets?
All of this needs to be built into your design process, not bolted on later.
We design for:
- BAL compliance
- Slopes, easements, and fall control
- Long-term function across home improvement phases
- Sustainable and durable materials
When it’s all planned from the start, it looks good and works better
9. You Need a Project Manager (and It Shouldn’t Be You)
Managing a build is hard enough. Add multiple trades, weather setbacks, and supply delays, and the garden becomes overwhelming.
That’s why at Flo, we assign a site manager to every landscaping project. They handle:
- Trades
- Sequencing
- Budget tracking
- Quality assurance
- Communication with you
This way, you enjoy the result without the headaches of being the middleman
10. More Time = Better Results
Early planning gives you the flexibility to:
- Explore best practices in layout and design
- Choose materials that suit your home
- Review plans and make changes
- Avoid last-minute compromises
Whether it’s a modular home, a knockdown rebuild, or commercial spaces, giving your garden the same attention as your kitchen pays off.
We’ve worked with clients buying land who didn’t even have a builder yet. That’s how early you can (and should) begin.
Don’t Let the Garden Be an Afterthought
Too many people overlook landscaping until it’s too late. That leads to stress, compromises, and missed potential.
With Flo Landscapes, you get a landscape architect-led team that understands the full picture. From buying land to new home landscaping, we’re there every step of the way, from design to build, through to long-term care.
Avoid Costly Mistakes and Get Crystal-Clear on Every Decision, Before You Break Ground.
Ready to take the stress out of landscaping your new build?
We’ve created a practical, easy-to-follow 29-page resource for homeowners on the Mornington Peninsula planning a pre-build landscaping project.
Whether it’s your first time, or you’re after a more strategic approach this time around, this guide will help you:
- Understand key timeframes in the design process
- Coordinate with your builder and construction team
- Avoid the most common (and costly) landscaping mistakes
- Prioritise high-quality, functional features from day one
- Plan with confidence using industry-backed best practices
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Flo Landscapes is a design and construction team that brings your outdoor vision to life from start to finish.
We manage all the trades, spot missed opportunities in the design phase, and stay in close contact throughout the construction process to ensure your space comes together exactly how you imagined.
Our end-to-end landscaping solutions are designed around your lifestyle and delivered with expert care, creativity, and craftsmanship.
Book a free garden design consultation today, and let’s explore how we can increase the value of your home and improve your quality of life with
low-maintenance native landscape design.
Flo Landscapes Design Consult. We'll Show You How To Create A Beautiful, Low-Maintenance Garden In The Peninsula
Our complimentary design consult is made for garden lovers:
- No More Guesswork – Avoid costly mistakes. We give you a structured plan that works for your specific space.
- Receive Clarity on Specifics - Budget + timeline so you can plan ahead
- Designed for Busy Homeowners – Love your garden without having to babysit it every weekend.
- Aesthetic + Functionality Combined – Every plant, pathway, and feature is placed with purpose—so your space is both beautiful and practical.
- Innovative Design Concepts - Forward-thinking designs crafted from years of experience
- A Roadmap to Your Dream Garden – Whether you want a full landscape transformation or just key upgrades, this consultation gives you clarity and direction.
