Landscaping in Glen Iris – Design, Construction & Soft Landscaping
A garden should look good on day one, but it also needs to hold up a year later. That’s where a joined-up approach helps. At Lucida Landscapes, design, construction and maintenance sit under one team, so what’s drawn on paper is what actually gets built, and what’s built is easier to live with.
We work across residential projects of different scales, from front gardens that need a cleaner street presence to full backyard builds designed around family use. Alongside that, we take on commercial landscapes — including shopfronts, office courtyards and strata gardens — where presentation matters, but so does durability and low upkeep. As a guide, these projects usually involve defined outdoor areas rather than large-scale developments, and a clear brief around access, safety and maintenance.
What this covers (in practice)
Some clients want the full process managed. Others just need one part done properly. We handle both.
Site consultation and early design direction
Detailed plans, planting and material selection
Construction and on-site coordination
Irrigation, drainage and lighting where required
Ongoing garden maintenance if needed
Keeping this under one roof avoids the common drift between designer, builder and maintenance contractor. It also means decisions made early — plant spacing, soil prep, drainage — aren’t compromised later.
Garden renovation — Fixing what doesn’t work That includes:
Most renovations start the same way: something feels off. The layout is awkward, materials have dated, or planting has outgrown the space.
Rather than stripping everything back without a plan, we look at how the garden is actually used. Sun, soil, drainage, access as those tend to explain more than first impressions.
From there, changes are targeted:
Adjusting layout so movement through the space feels natural
Reworking planting so it has structure (not just scattered colour)
Updating materials to better suit the house
Reducing ongoing maintenance where it’s become a burden
Sometimes that means a full reset. Other times, it’s a series of smaller corrections that add up.
Landscape design — Starting with the site, not the style
The design phase isn’t just about how things look. It’s about what will hold up.
We start with how you use the space and how much upkeep you’re comfortable with. Then we look at the site itself: soil condition, drainage, orientation, existing trees. These factors tend to shape the outcome more than any single style preference. A clean design on paper is one thing. A garden that grows well into it is another.
Construction — Keeping things aligned
During construction, the focus shifts from ideas to sequencing. Paving, planting, irrigation and drainage all need to line up, both visually and practically.
We coordinate each stage so details don’t get lost. That includes:
Paving and edging that sit cleanly with garden beds
Soil preparation that supports planting long term
Irrigation laid out with actual plant needs in mind
Finishing details that don’t feel like afterthoughts
It’s not complicated in theory. In practice, it’s where a lot of projects fall apart if no one is overseeing the whole picture.
Soft landscaping, planting & lawns
Planting gives the garden its character, but it’s also where long-term issues can start if choices are rushed.
We select plants based on how they’ll perform in Melbourne conditions — soil type, aspect, water needs — not just how they look at purchase. Layering is used deliberately: trees for height, shrubs for structure, groundcovers for continuity. Where lawns are part of the brief, site prep matters more than the turf itself. Grading, soil quality and drainage make the difference between something that establishes cleanly and something that struggles.
Paving, decking & structure
Hardscape shapes how the garden is used. Paths, seating areas, steps, retaining: these elements guide movement and solve level changes. There’s a balance to strike. Too much paving can make a space feel hard and increase heat. Too little structure can limit how the garden functions, especially after rain. We plan these elements alongside planting, not after it, so the space feels resolved rather than pieced together.
Maintenance — What happens after handover
A garden doesn’t settle the moment construction finishes. The first year, in particular, matters.
Maintenance can include:
Pruning to guide shape and growth
Soil improvement and plant nutrition
Irrigation checks and adjustments
Weed, pest and disease management
Some clients prefer scheduled visits. Others just need occasional support. Either way, the aim is the same: keep the garden balanced as it matures.
Why Glen Iris clients choose Lucida Landscapes
Clients usually want clarity more than promises: who’s making decisions, how those decisions are made, and whether the job will be managed properly.
Led by James Pickering, Lucida Landscapes brings over two decades of hands-on experience, backed by formal horticultural training. That background shows up in the details: soil prep, plant selection, drainage, and how everything ties together over time.
The full-service model also simplifies things. One team handles design, construction and maintenance, which reduces miscommunication and keeps accountability clear.
A lot of new work comes through referrals. In most cases, that reflects consistent delivery rather than marketing.
The step by step process
On-site consultation to understand the space and constraints
Concept and detailed design development
Selection of plants and materials
Construction and project coordination
Handover, with optional ongoing maintenance
We make sure there’s room to adjust along the way. Site conditions change. Priorities shift. The key is making those changes without losing direction.
Get in touch
If you’re planning a garden upgrade or starting from scratch in Glen Iris, it’s worth having a conversation with Lucida Landscapes early, before decisions are locked in.
Call 0402 221 532 or email james@lucidalandscapes.com.au to arrange a site visit with James Pickering. You’ll get clear feedback on what’s feasible, what’s not, and how to approach the project so it works long term, not just at handover.