Hiring a landscaper in Adelaide — what to expect and what it costs
Landscaping covers everything from a simple garden tidy-up to a complete outdoor transformation with paving, retaining walls, and irrigation. Knowing what type of landscaper you need — and what it should cost — helps you get the right person for the job.
Gardener vs landscaper — what's the difference?
A gardener handles regular maintenance: mowing, edging, weeding, pruning, mulching, and planting. A landscaper designs and builds outdoor spaces: paving, retaining walls, garden bed construction, irrigation systems, turf laying, and structural features like pergolas and decking. Some businesses do both, but they're different skill sets and price brackets.
If you just need the lawn mowed and hedges trimmed, you want a gardener ($50–$80/hour). If you want to redesign your backyard, you want a landscaper.
Types of landscaping work
- Soft landscaping — garden design, planting, turf laying, mulching, irrigation. No licence required.
- Structural landscaping — retaining walls, paving, concreting, drainage. Requires a contractor licence for work over $5,000 in most states.
- Outdoor living — decking, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, fire pits. Often involves multiple trades (carpenter, electrician, plumber, concreter).
Typical landscaping costs in Adelaide
- Garden clean-up and mulch — $300–$800 for a standard residential block
- Turf laying — $25–$45 per m² including soil preparation
- Garden bed construction — $50–$100 per lineal metre including edging and soil
- Paving — $80–$150 per m² for supply and install
- Retaining wall — $200–$500 per lineal metre depending on height and material
- Irrigation system — $1,500–$4,000 for a standard residential system
- Full backyard makeover — $10,000–$40,000+ depending on scope
Adelaide-specific considerations
Adelaide's Mediterranean climate means drought-tolerant planting is practical and increasingly popular. Native gardens, gravel mulch, drip irrigation, and waterwise plant selections reduce maintenance and water costs long-term. If you're in the eastern foothills (Mitcham, Springfield, St Georges), sloped blocks may need retaining walls and drainage planning before any planting.
Adelaide's water restrictions also affect irrigation design — make sure your landscaper designs a system that complies with current SA Water rules.
Get landscaper quotes
On Find A Tradie, describe your landscaping project and we'll match you with up to 3 verified local landscapers. Compare quotes and choose. Free, no obligation.
Get free quotes from verified tradies →