Landscaping

How cute is this pic?! It’s Blair and Nat Edwards, the dream team behind Blair Edwards Landscaping and their little fam bam. I’ve loved watching this business grow over the past few years – and the Edwards family grow at the same rate! They are bloody good at what they do and are awesome people too.

So I chatted to Nat, to get some inside scoop on the biz and what’s trending in the landscaping world right now. Here’s what’s what people:

For the viewers following at home, tell us a little bit about the business:

Blair has been a landscaper for 16 years and the business has been operating for 8 years. It’s a tight team of four… There is Blair (of course!), our two full-time apprentices Jacson and Joel, and me… Nat, the office manager. Though, let’s not forget our three sons who are the real ones calling the shots these days! [I hear ya sister!]

The business started when Blair was a sub contractor to his old boss at a large landscaping firm. Blair then decided to open his own business as a sole trader and his work consisted of small jobs around the Inner West. The business has evolved into a company now working on much larger projects (still in the Inner West). Blair finished his Builder’s course last year and is on the way to becoming a registered builder.

For those that haven’t worked with a landscaper before, what does the process look like?

The first step is an initial consultation with you at your property. From there, you can decide if you would like a design drawn up. Blair designs using computer and rendering software. You can make as many changes as you like until a final design in agreed upon. The last step is to quote your design. Each section is itemised so you know exactly what each part of your garden will cost. From initial consultation to quote it can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks depending on how many changes you have.

I know it’s a case of ‘how long is a piece of string’, but how much time and budget should people allow for the works on an average family sized home?

Most of our projects these days are either knockdown rebuilds or large renovations so they usually need everything including fences, driveways and crossovers. I would allow a minimum $50k and expect 8 weeks. But yes, it is very much how long is a piece of string for sure! Many projects cost much more than this and some are less.

What’s trending in the garden these days? Are there any differences depending on the type of home i.e. new modern homes vs period style?

There isn’t that much of a difference between modern and period style homes as most of our clients in Inner West prefer modern styled landscaping with the exception of front fences. Most clients with period style homes decide to keep the front fence traditional.

Concrete is still very much on trend for bench seats, BBQ benches, and exposed aggregate for paths and driveways.

Veggie gardens are something more and more clients are making space for in their backyard or even front yard (like we do at our home!)

Outdoor entertaining is at the heart of most of our designs. Most clients have small spaces and want to maximise their homes with an outdoor/indoor living area.

Let’s talk driveways and pathways… what are some of the most popular materials people are seeking?

Exposed aggregate concrete (concrete with exposed rocks) is by far the most popular for driveways and paths. Almost all of our projects have an element of exposed aggregate concrete. Bluestone is also very popular for paths and we still have requests for the traditional red brick paving every now and then!

What are some of the biggest differences in people that are landscaping to sell and those that are landscaping to move back into their home following a new build or reno?

Expectations and budget! Haha.

Clients that have rebuilt or recently completed a reno usually know what to expect, how much it will cost and know how long it takes. We usually find these clients are very easy to work with because they have had many hurdles along the way and working with us is much easier. They generally need major work done and want to invest in quality materials so their landscaping will stand the test of time. These are our ideal clients!

People looking to resell are usually looking for a tidy up and more planting aspects of landscaping. They tend to focus more on the front of house to improve their street appeal.

Do you have any recommendations on local fence companies that could put the finishing touch on the facade?

Us! We build all our fences including electronic sliding and swinging gates. Blair is a master of all trades.

Any parting words of wisdom to home owners in the West?!

Always trust your gut when choosing your trades and don’t go for the cheapest quote as there is usually a reason why they are cheaper. Also remember you generally have to wait for a good tradie. So if a tradie is booked out for a while that is a good sign. Choose the tradie that give you lots of detail in their quote. The more information the better.