Landscaping in Cockatoo

Nobody in Cockatoo needs reminding about fire. The town was one of the worst hit in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, and the old kindergarten on McBride Street is now the Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre. These days it's a leafy Cardinia Shire town about 48 km south-east of the city, with Puffing Billy stopping in town. Fire is part of life up here, and it's worth keeping in mind when you plan a garden.

Cockatoo station name board and timber shelter on the Puffing Billy Railway in Cockatoo, with gum trees behind

Photo: Alan Samuel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Timber raised vegetable garden beds with gravel paths in a backyard

Good to know: bushfire planning

Many Cockatoo properties have bushfire planning controls. You can check yours with a free VicPlan property report. For ideas on plant placement, mulch and keeping the area around the house easier to manage, the CFA's free "Landscaping for Bushfire" guide is a good read. We don't do bushfire assessments or bushfire-rated construction, so check any specific requirements with your council or building surveyor.

The platform and red-roofed shelter at Cockatoo station on the Puffing Billy Railway under a clear blue sky

Photo: Effluvium1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What we do in Cockatoo

Cockatoo blocks are often sloping and wet in winter. Typical jobs:

  • Retaining walls and terracing to turn a slope into usable lawn or garden beds. See our retaining walls.
  • Drainage so winter run-off goes where it should, not under the house.
  • Paving, gravel paths and steps that stay safe in the wet.
  • Concrete slabs for sheds and outdoor areas.
  • Turf, planting, mulch and irrigation.
  • Clean-ups, with rubbish, green waste and spare soil taken away.

There's no minimum job size, and we'll check access when we visit and plan the job around it. See our services, the Dandenong Ranges page and the gallery.

Nearby: Emerald, Gembrook and Mount Burnett.

Travertine-look paving around an in-ground swimming pool with timber fence

FAQ

What retaining wall materials do you use? Timber, concrete sleeper, block or rock. We'll talk through what suits your block and budget at the quote.

Can you take away the old garden and soil? Yes. Rubbish, green waste and soil removal are part of what we do.

Is the quote free? Yes.

Planning a Cockatoo garden? We're often booked a month or two ahead, so it pays to get in touch early. Call 0466 211 273 or contact us.