Transforming an overgrown backyard into a tranquil retreat in Northcross, Auckland

The Initial Consultation

As youngsters, Susanne’s children loved playing in her backyard. Now all grown up, the remnants of good times in the garden were in the form of old trampolines and overgrown shrubs. 

Susanne had decided the time was right to create a stylish and sophisticated space that could be enjoyed for many years to come, so she contacted Zones Landscaping Consultants Louise Reeve and Logan Bridgens to discuss creating a peaceful area where she could sit and relax after a busy day.

The space was fairly large but set over several different levels. Susanne wanted to maximise the potential of her yard and find a way to use these to her advantage. She met with Louise and Logan to discuss her options and explore different ideas. 

Creating A Plan

After gaining a thorough understanding of Susanne’s priorities, Louise and Logan presented concept designs to show how the finished backyard could look. Susanne didn’t have a specific budget in mind but wanted to find a cost-effective solution that would enable her to have the beautiful outdoor space she dreamed of.

It was decided that rather than levelling the terrain, the tiers would be retained. This would reduce the overall cost while presenting an exciting opportunity to design a unique yard that could be split into different areas. Susanne was also keen to install outdoor lighting so the garden could be used after dark, and an irrigation system to reduce the time spent on maintenance.

Once Susanne was happy with the concept designs, more in-depth working drawings were created. These were approved and came with two quotes, one for the main landscaping project and the other for some Gabion work. These both came to $125,000 which Susanne confirmed she was happy with.

Knowing the cost before any work began provided peace of mind that all the materials and labour required had been accounted for, and there wouldn’t be any unexpected expenses later on. With the planning stage complete, it was time to get to work bringing Susanne’s new backyard to life.

Bringing It To Life

The project involved landscaping, installing a power supply, and laying a new patio area and decking. This required the work of several different contractors but Louise and Logan were on hand to oversee the work and ensure everything ran smoothly.

While as many supplies as possible were secured before the work began, unfortunately, some were delayed. There was also extremely bad weather, with the ground becoming so wet that work had to be put on hold. These factors meant that although the project was initially estimated to be completed within four weeks, it ended up taking almost double that.

Susanne was kept updated on the delays and when the work was expected to continue. The project was completed during the wettest July on record, so she was very understanding and knew the finished results would be worth it.