Garden beds and planting
New garden beds, soil, plants, mulch and irrigation for Mickleham homes, with watering rules, estate plant lists and published Melbourne prices.
A new garden bed is mostly groundwork: getting the soil right, setting an edge, choosing plants that suit the aspect, and mulching so the bed holds moisture through summer. Melbourne price guides list a new garden bed with soil preparation, edging, plants and mulch at $45 to $160 per sqm, and an automatic multi-zone irrigation system covering front and back at $2,250 to $5,400. When you enquire here, a local landscaper or garden contractor who runs their own business does the quoting and the planting.
Why do new beds in Mickleham struggle?
- Compacted clay. House construction and estate earthworks leave dense subsoil with little organic matter. Roots cannot get through it and water sits on top.
- Wind and summer heat. Open new estates have little shelter until fences, houses and trees grow in.
- Wrong plants for the spot. Shade-loving plants on a west-facing fence, or sun-lovers in a narrow side yard.
- Mulch too thin, or none at all. Bare soil dries out and weeds take over.
- Beds built against the house slab. Soil or mulch piled over weep holes or the slab edge can let moisture and termites reach the building.
Options for a new bed
| Bed type | Suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-ground bed with imported garden soil | Most front yards and fence lines | Cheapest per square metre; needs a firm edge |
| Raised timber or steel edged bed | Veggie gardens, poor drainage areas | Better drainage, easier to work; more material cost |
| Native or drought tolerant bed with gravel mulch | Hot west or north aspects, low maintenance | Can help meet permeable-surface rules in estate front yards |
| Mass planted low groundcovers | Banks and slopes | Holds soil; slower to fill in |
For soil, AS 4419 is the Australian Standard for soils for landscaping and garden use. It sets requirements so that soils can support plant growth. Ask what blend the provider plans to use and whether it is a recognised landscape mix.
Estate and council planting rules
Estate guidelines often say what the front garden must contain. The Merrifield Design Guidelines require vegetation selection to include drought tolerant species and point to a preferred species list. They also require a planting strip between the driveway and the side boundary and say plants should not affect neighbours through overshadowing or intrusive roots.
On the nature strip outside your fence, Hume City Council allows only low growing plants under 400 mm, mulch or gravel, or warm season grass, with its consent. Residents cannot plant trees there. In Beveridge, Mitchell Shire Council asks residents to get its approval before planting anything other than grass on a nature strip. See the Beveridge area page for more.
Irrigation and watering rules
Victoria’s Permanent Water Saving Rules apply all year. According to Yarra Valley Water’s page on the rules, a garden watering system may only run between 6 pm and 10 am, and hand watering with a trigger nozzle hose, watering can or bucket is allowed at any time. Fountains and water features must recirculate. Setting a drip system timer for early morning keeps you inside the rules.
Most garden systems run off an existing tap. Any new pipework connected to the mains supply should be done by a licensed plumber, not the planting contractor.
What a provider will check before quoting
- Sun and shade through the day, and wind exposure.
- Soil condition: a spade test, drainage after rain, any builder’s rubble.
- Bed sizes in square metres, and the edging material (timber, steel, concrete or brick).
- Plant list and pot sizes. Larger pots cost more but fill in faster.
- Mulch type and depth.
- Irrigation: number of zones, tap location, timer and whether rainwater is available.
- Estate guideline approval, if the front design must be submitted.
Planting around a new house in an open estate
On a new Mickleham lot the back fence line is often the only place for screening plants, and space is tight. Narrow, upright shrubs and climbers on wires take less room than wide hedges. Keep anything that will grow large well away from the house, the sewer line and the stormwater pipes, and check the property plan or ask the builder where those pipes run before choosing tree positions.
What the work involves
Remove rubble and weeds, rip or dig over compacted subsoil, add imported soil and compost, shape and set edging, plant to the plan, lay drip line if irrigation is included, water in, then mulch. A good provider leaves a short care sheet covering watering frequency through the first summer.
What a careful provider will not do
- Pile soil or mulch over weep holes or against the slab edge.
- Plant large trees close to the house, pipes or boundary fences without considering root spread.
- Plant on the nature strip without council consent.
- Use cheap fill sold as garden soil.
Related guides
Beds are usually the last step after paving and paths and retaining walls. See instant turf and synthetic grass for the lawn, the Mickleham landscaping cost guide for budgets, and the Craigieburn area page for established gardens that need renewing.
What to do next
Mark out the beds with a hose, measure them, and note the aspect and any estate plant list. Then request a garden bed and planting quote, saying whether you want irrigation included.
Frequently asked questions
- What plants suit new gardens in Mickleham?
Hardy, drought tolerant plants do best in open new estates exposed to summer heat and wind. Many Australian natives and Mediterranean plants suit, and some estates publish a preferred species list. A provider can match plants to your aspect and soil.
- How deep should mulch be in a new garden bed?
Deep enough to cover the soil fully and keep weeds down, while staying clear of plant stems, the house slab and weep holes. Ask the provider what depth and product they will use and include it in the quote.
- Can I plant on the nature strip outside my house?
In Hume you need council consent, and only low plants under 400 mm, mulch, gravel or warm season grass are considered. Trees cannot be planted by residents. Mitchell Shire, which covers Beveridge, asks for approval before planting anything other than grass.
- Is drip irrigation worth it for garden beds?
For new beds through the first summer it saves a lot of hand watering, and a timer set for early morning keeps the system inside the Permanent Water Saving Rules. It needs flushing and checking each season.
- Can garden beds go right up against the house?
They can sit beside the house, but soil and mulch must stay below the weep holes and clear of the slab edge. Beds built too high against the wall can let moisture and termites reach the building.