They call me the Gangster Gardener because I don’t mess around when it comes to creating green spaces. In my last blog, I told you how a beautiful garden can help sell your home faster and for more. This claim is backed up. According to a Domain interview with Sydney landscape contractors (2024) Domain “good landscaping can increase the value of a home by 15-20% and, perhaps even by 25%.” Stay tuned in the next edition as we cross reference this with API valuers on the ground. With average house prices hovering around $970K in Canberra and $1.5m in Sydney, that’s a lot of value.

But how do you go from patchy lawn and tired paving to something that looks like it belongs on the cover of Belle magazine that buyers want to pay a premium for?

Well, it starts with a plan. A proper, layered, well-thought-out plan.

🧠 Think Like A Professional: Structure First, Style Second

My personal favourite gardens are designed with a Paul Bangay style and feel. That is, elegant, classical formal gardens. Bangay isn’t just a landscape designer — he’s a garden architect. In his brilliant “Garden Design Handbook”, (which is equivalent to a Gardening Bible) he lays out the fundamentals: symmetry, axis, structure, and flow. These are the bones of a garden that speaks to the heart.

Want to calm the mind of a future buyer or just breathe easier on your morning coffee stroll? Bangay says: start with structure. Hedges, paths, focal points – these make a garden feel designed, not thrown together.

“The most successful gardens, are those that have a strong architectural structure.”

It means defining outdoor rooms, aligning paths to sightlines, and making sure every turn reveals a view worth pausing for.

Start by asking:

  • What’s my axis? (Think of the line sight from the back door to a tree, sculpture, or water feature.) Balance is your friend as it relaxes the mind! That claim is scientifically proven, not just voodoo!
  • Where is the rhythm? (Repeating shapes, hedges, or plantings give gardens flow.)
  • What’s the ‘wow’ moment when someone steps into the space? Think of installing a garden obelisk or a collection of topiaries or a well-placed garden bench beckoning to be sat on. Basically, give the eye somewhere to land and rest.

💡 Planning Tips from the Gangster Gardener

Before you put a single plant in the ground, ask yourself:

  •  What is the purpose of this space? (Entertain, relax, grow food, impress?)
  •  Where is the sun and shade throughout the day? I personally observed the sun for a full year, to work out what plants will do best, based on their sun requirements.
  • What is the view from inside your house from every window and door?
  • What story am I telling with this garden?

Sketch it out. Walk it through. Imagine the seasons and functions of each. A great garden isn’t just seen – it’s felt.

A plan separates the pros from the plant shufflers.

So, without further ado, here is your blueprint for garden planning that boosts value and creates demand for your property.

1.🔍 Analyse the Site: Understand Your Land Before You Touch a Shovel

Before you sketch a single line, you’ve got to read the land and understanding the site.

Here’s what to analyse:

  • Gradient of the land: Is it sloped, flat, terraced? This will influence drainage, where you can walk comfortably, and how you’ll shape space. Slopes may need retaining walls or terraced planting beds.
  • Sun movement: Observe your space from morning to sunset. Where does the light fall? Most flowering and edible plants need full sun (6+ hrs), while ferns and shade-lovers thrive on the southern or eastern side in partial light.
  • Soil type: Clay, sandy, loamy? Good structure and pH can make or break your plant choices. Sydney’s soils tend to be sandy or clay-based, while Canberra has more loam but needs help with drainage in frosty areas.
  • Wind direction and exposure: If you’re in a windy part of Canberra or near the coast in Sydney, think about shelter belts and hardy boundary hedges.
  • Existing trees and boundaries: Don’t just design around them — use them. A mature tree can anchor your entire layout adding maturity to your garden which equals value.

2. 🧠 Develop the Concept: The Garden Should Reflect Your Home and Life

A good garden should reflect the architecture and function of the home seamlessly.

Here’s what to consider:

  • Architectural Style: Whether you’ve got a Federation home in the Inner West Sydney or a modern build in Gungahlin ACT, the garden must echo the home’s lines and materials. Think symmetry and formality for classic homes, and layered planting with open sightlines for contemporary builds.
  • Function: Who’s using the garden? Kids? Pets? Entertainers? Think of zones — an open lawn for play, a paved courtyard for dining, a quiet retreat for reading.
  • Visual Dimensions: Use planting layers to create depth and scale. Low borders, mid-height shrubs, and trees at the back help elongate and frame spaces. Water features or sculptures give a focal point and add intrinsic value.
  • Soft Landscaping: This is the heartbeat. Grass, trees, shrubs, perennials, even mulch and gravel — these make the space feel alive. Choose plants that thrive without too much fuss.

3. 🏗️ Ground Plans and Procedures: Layer Your Build for Long-Term Success

Planning is one thing. Execution is another. Here’s how you stage the rollout — just like the pros do it.

The Basic Ground Plan

Draw your space to scale. Mark boundaries, structures, views, and utilities. Paul Bangay always maps out strong axes and focal points — the sightlines from doors and windows that deserve drama. See example of a garden plan below,

The Concept Plan

Here’s where you detail hardscapes, paths, garden beds, levels, and plant zones. It doesn’t need to be architecturally drafted (unless it’s a big job), but it needs to be accurate and intentional.

Soft Landscaping Plan

Plant selection based on sunlight, soil, water access, and climate. Group by water needs and maintain consistency in palette for a clean look.

🔨 Construction Phases

  • Stage 1: Excavation and Earth Moving

Grade the land. Shape garden beds. Create levels and slopes. Remove debris and improve drainage if needed. This is the stage to lay down new fresh soil as it is a game changer for your plants, so don’t underestimate its value.

  • Stage 2: Concreting and Foundations

Lay down retaining walls, paths, foundations for decking or built elements. Ensure proper fall for drainage once again. From experience, use more drainage than required! Soggy lawn is a costly error once laid, and valuers penalise soggy turf and water damage.

  • Stage 3: Building and Paving, Irrigation, Electricals

Install paving, garden lighting, and in-ground irrigation. Use low-voltage lighting to highlight trees, paths, and water features. Lighting creates drama and mood in your garden space, so don’t be shy.

  • Stage 4: Soft Landscaping Preparation

Improve the soil. Add compost and mulch. Then plant — starting with trees and structural shrubs, then infill plants and groundcovers. Water deeply and consistently in the first few weeks. Larger specimens cost more upfront but translate immediately into “mature garden” premiums, so they add value to your property!

🏡 What Works Best in Sydney and Canberra?

Sydney

  • Structured formality with relaxed planting
  • Gravel paths, clipped hedges, and pops of colour
  • Hardy Mediterranean and native species
  • Courtyard designs and climbing vines for small lots
  • Feature pots and water features in shady zones

Canberra

  • Frost-hardy natives and deciduous trees for autumn colour
  • Layered plantings to block winter wind
  • Larger lawn areas for family-friendly living
  • Structured paths to guide snow melt and rain
  • Fire pits and warm-toned materials for outdoor warmth

👊 Gangster Gardener’s Final Word

Design isn’t decoration. It’s return on investment.

The best gardens are the ones that feel balanced, connected, and grounded in their place relevant to the style of the home or building structure. Your garden adds value when potential buyers see it as a natural extension of the home, and therefore lifestyle options.

Plan it right, build it smart— and let your garden do the talking come inspection day.

Dig deep. Design smart. Add value.
Gangster Gardener out. 🌱

Detailed example of a Garden Plan