Bad Landscaping

In the Garden > Gardening Tips, Books, Techniques and Tools

Rosemary Healion wrote a letter to Burke's Backyard begging Don to come and save her garden. Just over twelve months ago she and her husband, Craig, hired a local landscaper to create a curved, paved edging in their backyard. Instead, the Healions were faced with an ugly, unprofessional job. The pavers were set on top of a high mound of concrete. They were not level with the lawn and the children continually tripped and scratched themselves on the rough finish. Rosemary describes the edging as the Great Wall of China, and says enough concrete was used to build an extension on the house!

The contractor was given the opportunity to rectify the damage but has not done so, so the Healions have been forced to take legal action. When Don saw the edging he was appalled. He said it was the worst job of garden edging that he had ever seen in his life.

Don decided to redo the garden edging as a surprise for Rosemary and Craig. He enlisted the help of professional landscape contractors BNS Landscapes Pty Ltd and Auscape Pty Ltd. To save time, they used a bobcat instead of a jackhammer to remove all the concrete. Next door neighbour, Mira Sallis, very kindly gave the team permission to bring a bobcat in through her yard.

A trench for the new edging was then dug. Roadbase was laid down and compacted with a plate vibrator, and the pavers were laid on a narrow bed of mortar mix. A small paved area was created for the barbecue. Finally the soil from the garden beds was put back and the lawn was replaced. Rosemary and Craig were delighted with the result. They had an important message for anyone who is planning to have landscaping done: make sure the person you hire to do the job is a member of a landscape contractors association (contact details below). Association members must hold appropriate licenses and qualifications and they are bound by their association's code of ethics. If you are not happy with the work of an association member, the association will help to resolve any problems.

Contact information

The landscape contractors who helped save the Healion's garden were:
BNS Landscapes Pty Ltd
50 Bay Road
Taren Point NSW
Phone: (02) 9542 8900

Auscape Pty Ltd
108 Caldarra Avenue
Engadine NSW
Phone: (02) 9520 4545

To find a reputable landscape contractor, contact the landscape contractors association in your state:

NSW & ACT
The Landscape Contractors Association of NSW Ltd
Suite 101, 8 French Avenue
Bankstown 2200
Phone: (02) 9790 5151
Fax: (02) 9796 2726
Toll Free: 1800 043 571
Website: www.lcansw.com.au

QLD
Queensland Association of Landscape Industries
PO Box 491
Stones Corner 4120
Phone: (07) 3847 8365
Fax: (07) 3847 8359
Email: info@qali.asn.au
Website: www.qali.asn.au

SA
Landscape Association of South Australia Inc
Phone: (08) 8210 5211

TAS
Landscape Industries Association of Tasmania
Phone: (03) 6425 5253

VIC
Landscape Industries Association Victoria
22 Banksia Street
Burwood 3125
Phone: 1300 365 428
Fax: (03) 9808 9000
Website: www.liav.asn.au

WA
Landscape Industries Association of Western Australia
PO Box 167
West Perth 6872
Phone: (08) 92443560
Fax: (08) 9244 3560
Website: www.landscapewa.com.au

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