We recently completed a front and backyard landscape design and construction transformation for a new home in Mornington on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

Our clients had a small backyard but big ideas on transforming this outdoor space into something they would love and use regularly.

The backyard had an existing back fence and a small deck already constructed, but the backyard sloped downwards and the space was unusable. 

The first step was to construct a retaining wall across the whole back boundary fence and part way along the side boundary fence. This would provide a wall to build up and level the existing free space in the backyard.

A box retaining wall was constructed to provide a space to house the clients Thin Tanks (www.thintanks.com.au) and plumbing. The tanks were positioned in ground to hide the plumbing equipment and view for our clients and surrounding properties. 

The backyard was back filled with soil to create a level backyard ready for the next phase. 

The side boundary fence was also prepared by installing upright posts and then attaching the palings. The fence was 1.9 meters high on our clients side. 

With the backyard levelled and fence constructed, we extended the existing deck out by an extra board to ensure the decking covered a previously laid protruding concrete slab. 
We extended the deck vertically by constructing a merbau screen to create a beautiful flow on effect.

Sand stone crazy paving steppers were laid along the side of the house.  

We had a lot of rain during this project which is one of the challenges of landscaping through the winter months. Our goal is always to minimise projects getting messy and sometimes that means holding off construction on very wet days. 

Overall we were happy with the level of mud created during the project.

The sand stone crazy pavers were surrounded with 20mm gold beach pebbles. 

During the construction process the fence was painted by our client. Fence height extenders were also installed to increase privacy in the backyard. 

The astro turf was installed which created a WOW effect in the backyard. 

Our clients are huge golf fans and play regularly so it was an easy and brilliant idea to turn their small backyard space into a golf putting green. 

Two lengths of synthetic grass turf were installed and blended to create a natural golf putting green effect. 

We think the Thin Tanks ( www.thintanks.com.au) are a brilliant idea. And for a little bit extra you can get the vertical planter pockets install which are a great way to hide the tanks and add extra plants to a small space backyard. You can fill the planters with your favourite plants or even create an outdoor herb garden.

With the Thin Tanks in place and the plumbing connected, we only had to install stepper pavers in front of the Thin Tanks and surround them with 20mm sunset rock which was also placed at the bottom of the tanks and along the other side boundary fence. 

With the backyard complete and looking fantastic, we then moved on to the front-yard of this Mornington property. 

Our clients wanted to create a front courtyard that was low-maintenance but still looked great. 

The front yard and home entrance is the first things people notice when they arrive. Having great curb appeal can really add value to your home and is a wise investment. We loved that our clients wanted to create a unique and creative landscape design. 

We first constructed a retained box which would become a planter box for the small front courtyard. 

Framing for a new front fence was constructed by installing one sleeper across the bottom and 4 vertical posts along which would hold the new horizontal aluminium slats to be installed. The new fence will be 1.5metres high and allow for partial viewing into the front court yard. 

The area was then prepared for paving. 

50mm thick granitic sand pavers were laid in a staggered creative paving layout. These pavers are concrete with a granitic sand finish. 

14mm white and cream pebbles were placed around the paving. The client has chosen to plant his own plants around the pavers and in the planter box along the border of the courtyard space. 

Our client loved the paving design and so did we!

A thin retaining wall planter box was also constructed along the drive-way and filled in with the 14mm white and cream pebbles. Small plants will also be planted along this short fence line to add some colour to the space. 

Lastly the front nature strip was levelled out and topped with soil then seeded. 

Our clients loved their front and back transformation and look forward to enjoying more time outdoors!

We just finished installing a custom built rustic steel screen with a cyprus border for our lovely clients in Rye on the Mornington Peninsula. Our clients wanted to create interest and a focal point at the back of their house. 

We were excited to fill up this blank canvas space!

We constructed a 2x3 metre steel screen using 50mm x 3mm flat bar steel and 125mm x 125mm cyprus posts with 150mm x 50mm capping as the border. 

The steel screen was woven using 50mm spacing squares, which is a fairly tight weave for steel construction. 

Our lovely clients will be planting a local native climber at the base of the screen to give the area greenery and pops of colour when it flowers. 

The steel is designed to rust which in time will create a great rustic effect for this space. 

We recently completed landscaping for two brand new properties in Bittern on the Mornington Peninsula.

Side by side these two properties only had mud and dirt, but were finished with a complete landscape design and construction. 

Both properties had different owners, one was looking to sell and the other would be a rental. Both owners wanted a low-maintenance garden design with quality concreting in the front and back. 

Property A. 

Charcoal colour crete was used to concrete the drive-way and garden beds were constructed. Weed matting was laid and topped with black mulch. Our clients chose to plant their own plants. 

The front yard was seeded and with all the rain should grow well in no time.

This home is now ready to sell!!

Property B.

Exposed aggregate concreting was laid in this drive-way and a low-maintenance rock garden design was implemented. 

The retained garden beds were constructed and weed mat was laid, topped with river pebbles to create a low-maintenance garden design for this rental property. 

Drought tolerant plants were chosen that could survive in the clay soil present in the area. Our client wanted to have native plants in the garden and so we chose a contemporary style of landscaping and included plants that would soften the rock garden and create a visual impact from the street. 

Electric Pink Cordyline were planted to give the garden a focal point and create an instant sculptural statement to the garden design. These plants are low-maintenance and in time will clump, creating a stylish contrast to the brick work and rock garden. 

We added this small plant with the commercial name Silver Nugget. This silver cushion bush is very hardy and will grow to a 50x50cm clump. This beauty is great for coastal areas and in time will make a striking contrast to the garden design with its silver foliage and tiny yellow button flowers in spring. With low water requirements these nuggets are perfect!

The front garden design was completed with  4 x Lime Tuff from the Lomandra species which are a bright green native grass, have low water needs and will grow to 50cm wide.  

We also added three red fountain grasses, a native know as Pennisetum setaceum "Rubrum". This beauty has burgundy coloured foliage and will bear pink flower spikes in the summer months creating bold and dramatic colour to the rock garden. 

Out the back


The back of the house will be kept tidy and mud free with pebbles and square pavers.

The backyard was laid with exposed aggregate concreting and a wrap around garden bed was constructed with a wood platform landing. 

This small courtyard landscape design is perfect for entertaining friends, just add a table and bbq to finish it off. 

Out the back we planted more Lime Tuff grasses and 3 bright green cushion like plants known as "Scleranthus biflorus". 

Along the fence we also planted some "Everygreen Baby" and "Patersonia- long purple flag" along the fence. 

The tenants to this house will be very lucky!

We want to wish both our clients all the very best on these two homes. We definitely had fun working in the wet, rain and mud!! 

We recently completed a side path landscaping makeover for a lovely house in Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. Our clients are getting their house ready to sell and wanted to transform their side path into a space that looked great and was easy to access. 

A modern landscape design path was chosen that was low-maintenance and allowed our clients to add their own plants.

The project involved removing the old wood edging and constructing a new retaining wall edging to hold the path toppings in place and create a garden bed. 

Next a bamboo screen was installed to cover the neighbours garage wall and create a feature wall which could be viewed from the main bedroom. A side gate was also installed which was constructed using cyprus paddle pop pickets. 

The ground was levelled out and weed mat was laid down. The garden bed was filled with black mulch topping and golden beach screenings was laid over the side path walk-way area. 

Lastly 40 x 40 cm square charcoal pavers were placed on the top of the screenings. 

Our lovely clients will be adding their own plants to the garden bed and bringing colour to the bamboo screen feature wall by adding their own large planters and filling them with their favourite plants.

We think the space looks great! All the best with selling your house guys!

 

We recently constructed a standard paling fence on a not so standard property in Frankston. The property was situated in Frankston hot spot area, Oliver's hill. 

The beautiful ocean views were counterbalanced with super steep slopes, sliding soil and the enquistive neighbours. This was definitely one of those landscape construction jobs that they don't include in the manual. 

The weather was great and moving the posts up the hill felt like we had signed up to a boot camp. 

With people walking and running up the adjacent stairs for exercise, it was heaven sent when the Mt Eliza junior boys Redlegs football club came across us in their training. The young, fit and very kind boys helped us move all our upright posts up the hill via the stairs, Paul Vosti the coach, you are an absolute legend!

Tackling the steep slope was our greatest challenge. Moving the materials , digging holes and placing materials into position all became a bit trickier. We definitely had fun chasing our shovels, levels and posts from sliding down the hill. 

We dug the upright posts in deeper to give the fence more stability.  When dealing with slopes like this, quality construction is even more important to ensure that the fence is built to stand the coastal elements.  

We got the job done in two days and we think it looks great. Thanks to everyone involved! 

Our great clients in Bittern who both have busy schedules, the wife a Nurse and husband in the Navy, needed some landscaping help to tidy up their newly built property in Bittern on the Mornington Peninsula. 

With two very active dogs who like to get up to mischief,  the couple wanted a landscape design that was not only very functional but practical as well.  

When we first started the project, the backyard was a blank canvas, aside from rubbish left over from the build. A patio was first constructed using timber for the posts and frame,  and the roof was covered with colour bond sheets. Next concrete was laid. The result of the area was a low-maintenance outdoor space that can be now used for outdoor activities and entertaining.

The last stage of the transformation involved clearing out the backyard and laying down fresh grass. We then built a low-maintenance garden bed that wrapped around the border of the fence and filled it soil and topped with river pebbles. 

Our clients have been delighted with the results. They are choosing to plant their own plants and see how their dogs behave in their new, fresh and clean backyard. 

All the best guys!!

Before

Preparation for concreting

 Concreting and a free standing water tank which was also installed 

Backyard before transformation

Old grass has been removed and a wrap around garden bed constructed.

Soil preparation for turf

Finished Product!

A clean, tidy and low-maintenance backyard landscape design, perfect for a home with dogs!

Our clients came to us with a vision of a fence they wanted. They had seen a fence that they loved in Flinders and wanted to replicate it on their Dromana beach side property. They fell in love with a white paddle pop picket fence with country gates. 

And so the construction began. 

Before

Due to the sloping block of our clients we chose to create slight step ups in the fencing line to give a nicer visual effect. 

125mm x 125mm cyprus posts were used with treated pine sleepers to hold the dirt and treated pine rails.

1.2 metre paddle pop pickets were used. Country style gates "spring spring" were attached which had a 90 degree in and outward swing range. The gates were pre-painted with a base and top coat by the manufacturer. 

The clients had chosen to paint the entire fence themselves and we were very excited to see the final result.

Stay tuned for the finished fence!!

Our lovely clients in Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula, had a round-a-bout in their front yard that had become overgrowth with stalky and dead plants. Their was a path design through-out this round-a-bout defined with timber edging, but the timber had rotted away and the path was in need of a make-over. 

The goal was to restore the existing round-a-bout area using steel edging to create clean and strong borders, then filling the path with torquay white rock pebbles which had been used previously. 

The clients wanted to keep the feature tree and plant a few extra olive trees in the garden too. 

It took 3 people to bend the steel edging around the tree, which was then welded into place using steel pegs. 

The clients loved the end result. What do you think?

When it comes to your backyard it's amazing how much things can change over time. We have a classic example here where a retaining wall was constructed years ago and was covered quickly by a creeper. One day our clients decided to cut back the creeper, and found that the creeper was all dead and stalky underneath. 

Our clients cleaned up all remnants of the creeper and found that they didn't like what was staring back at them, an old retaining wall that they thought looked ugly. Not only was the retaining wall old, it didn't suit the design of the house and surrounding lovely pool area.

Our clients had two goals:

1. Give their retaining wall a makeover
2. Create something to hide the ugly pool pumps and pipes.

We came up with a solution. 

1. Create a retaining wall that was all one height and not jagged like the existing design structure.
2. Hide the pumps and pipes by extending the retaining wall.
3. Give the retaining wall a fresh look that complemented the house by creating a rendered retaining wall look that matched the colour of the house.

Progress

• Blue-board (a cement sheeting used for the outdoors) was first used to create the new retaining wall. 
• Treated pine was used as a frame behind the blue-board to add support.  
• A free standing wall was built to extend the existing wall past the pumps and pipes. 
• An extension pipe was added to the existing tap to bring it forward.
  

A preparation base coat was then added to the blue-board.

After two top coats the rendered retaining wall was complete and looking great! 

We recently installed 127 metres of steel edging for our clients Balnarring Beach house on the Mornington Peninsula. 

Although our clients did have a low-maintenance landscape design they found that over-time their bushes had slowly grown over their drive-way, their grass lines weren't looking as sharp and mulch easily moved onto their roads.  

Our clients had natural edging throughout their property but wanted their landscaping back to how it was about 4 years ago. 

With the construction of steel edging, having a great looking property has now become so much easier. 

Steel Edging-
1. Makes mowing or wiper snipping easier.
2. Contains mulch and toppings from garden beds.
3. Gives you a border along which you can spray weeds and cut back trees.  

Steel edging in your landscaping will make your outdoors look neat and clean = smiles all year round :)

With the size of blocks getting smaller, we are finding more people  looking for smart landscaping designs to maximise their outdoor living space on the Mornington Peninsula.  Our clients are designing their outdoor landscape to enhance their lives and personal interests, whilst really thinking about what landscape design would suit them best.
 
We recently built a new picket fence for a young family in Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula. With two young girls who love to play outdoors in the fresh air, this young family needed a fencing solution. Their house was built on a corner block and their backyard was pretty much taken up by their outdoor deck. This mean't the girls trampoline was positioned on a grass area in their front yard. Like a lot of corner blocks, space is often wasted through the front yard.

This lovely family wanted to create a safe and secure area for their daughters to play and we did just that.  

We built a 1.5 metre picket fence with capping, which complemented the existing picket fence that set the boundary of their property. A side gate was also installed to give easy access to their carport. 

The family was delighted with their new picket fence and loved the privacy and security it gave to their family. The girls were also excited as having a new fence mean't that they could finally get the little dog they wanted for Christmas. 

The family have chosen to paint the picket fence themselves and will be concreting their driveway in the near future. We wish them all the best!

We recently transformed a small backyard space that was over growing with weeds to a lovely low-maintenance courtyard landscape design for our clients in Mornington.

Our clients main objective was to have an outdoor space that was tidy and easy to maintain. This great space has good morning and afternoon sun, and the soil constitutes of about 200mm of top soil and below that is clay. 

A wrap around raised garden bed was constructed then filled with river pebbles and drought tolerant plants that are easy to look after. The centre space was cleared and laid down with synthetic grass which is a great solution for a low-maintenance and beautiful lawn. 

Our client was delighted with the end result and can't wait to start enjoying that great afternoon sun in his new courtyard. 

Before Photos

We recently transformed our clients side yard into a private and low-maintenance personal sanctuary in Mornington. 

The original vision for the area was to create a space with
- Low levels of direct sunlight to safe guard our client against strong sun rays
- Low maintenance garden and lawn
- Greater privacy as one of the fences was adjacent to a walk-way
- A feeling of a personal and private sanctuary, but also large enough to host family and friends

The solution to our clients vision was
-Removal of the old pergola and replace it with a new, larger pergola
-To construct a second pergola large enough to provide shade for a large lounge suite
-Laying down synthetic grass which is low maintenance, visually attractive and looks and feels real
-To build a wrap around raised garden bed with drought tolerant plants
-Insert bamboo screens for added privacy and visual aesthetics
-Insert a low-maintenance water feature to enhance the spaces tranquil feel

Overall the project went as planned and now our client has a fresh slate to add his personal touch. Our client can't wait to sit on his lounge and gain inspiration for his writing. 

We love landscaping on the Mornington Peninsula and love creating a special outdoor space for our clients to relax in. 

Before photos

Construction photos

After photos

We recently built a new deck and created new access to the backyard for a property at Moonah Links Golf Course, in Rye. The outdoor area consisted of a sunk-in courtyard and our client wanted to be more elevated to enjoy the great views of the course. Our goal was to create a platform deck that flowed more naturally from the outdoor paved area, whilst still maintaining a slight sunk-in courtyard feel.

There was no access to the back of the property and out onto the golf course. We create a neat path and used AA Grade Recycled Sleepers to built natural looking steps to complement the property and natural surroundings. 

A side deck platform was also built adjacent to the larger deck so that our client could use his BBQ in a more open space and cook out in the open nature. The side deck platform also created more space so that the BBQ and cooking area wasn't impinging on the dinning area. 

Our client was delighted with the transformation and has more plans currently in place for a new pool. Stay tuned to see the finished transformation.

Here we have a project for new steps which started with our clients basic need for wheelbarrow and general access to the backyard, but finished in creating a beautiful, structurally built feature outdoor staircase for our clients to enjoy. 

Not only do these new steps now provide easy and safe access to a backyard on a sloping property, they have extended the useable space that extends from an existing deck, whilst also providing multiple platforms for functional use.

The biggest challenge in this project was access to the property which required all materials to be hand carried to the back. The dimensions for the steps were 2.1 metres wide with a 190mm step height. The steps ran approximately 8 metres long. 

The owner of Coastal Creations Landscaping, Regan was excited to create a unique and contemporary feature letter box for a property on Old Cape Schanck road. The owners allowed Regan to let his creativity go free, and that's how the solid Horse Shoe 3 Tier Cube letter box was formed.

Made out of approximately 150 recycled horse shoes, it weights over 100kg and stands 1.4 metres tall. A striking feature to anyone's property, this unique design add's appeal and interest. Held together by individual wields to each horse shoe, the boxes have been fixed to an angle iron frame. This beauty will last for years and years. The design has been finished with a small square pad for the electronic gates, a newspaper holder and square letter box. Coastal Creations Landscaping is excited about recycling horse shoes and creating wonderful outdoor metal art for our clients on the Mornington Peninsula. 

You've got mail!

If you are looking for something different and unique to add to your property, we would love to hear from you.

A young couple recently purchased a house in Rye with no existing front fence. With two small children and a dog, the couple wanted a front fence and gates to provide security for their children, whilst utilising their front yard as a play area. The couple wanted a fence that suited their house and property, plus allowed them views to their natural landscape environment outside their home. Two drive-way gates and one pedestrian gate were also built as access points to the property.

The style chosen was a 1.7 metre Cypress Picket Fence with 125mm x 125mm Cypress Posts and 75mm x 200mm Treated Pine Sleepers. 

The couple have chosen to stain the wood themselves to add a final finish to their natural looking picket fence. 

Coastal Creations Landscaping has been working on a residential property transformation in Craigieburn, Victoria. The property is downward sloping, very rocky and in a high winds area. The client wanted a low maintenance and clean looking front and back. 

The project was commensed in November 2013 with much of the initial work involving levelling out the soil with sand. A few days of heavy rain held the project back and made the work quite muddy and wet.

A retaining wall was added to create two distinct areas in the front yard, along with steps from the front porch to the letter box. The front path was completed with sleepers to create a visually appealing path to the front door.

River pebbles were added to the planter box and another planter box was added to the front for the clients feature tree.

We look forward to doing future work on this project and seeing it to completion.