Serving Mernda since 2004. Drainage and soil preparation specialists. Built to last on Mernda's clay. 7 year warranty on every project. FREE consultations.
Your Local Landscaper That Understands Mernda’s Backyards
Mernda is full of young families who moved here for the space, the schools and a fresh start, not for a backyard that’s still bare clay eighteen months after handover. Maybe your lawn won’t survive a second summer, your garden turns to mud every winter, or you’re simply ready for somewhere your family can use properly.
At Contemporary Landscapes & Maintenance, we’ve been transforming gardens across the area since 2004. Two decades in, we know exactly what this ground needs before anything goes on top of it, which is why our work stays the way it should.
Clay Soil: What It Means for Your Garden
Heavy clay sits under most of Mernda, especially across the newer estates. Unlike sandy or loamy soil, clay drains poorly. After rain, it stays saturated for days. For most households, it means winter brings boggy corners, mud the moment the kids run across your lawn, and water sitting against the fence after a downpour. When summer arrives, it leaves you with failing turf in the same spots each year.
And, as the ground shifts between wet and dry, the soil puts pressure on your hard landscaping. Over time, this leads to cracked concrete paths and stressed driveways. Even pavers can settle unevenly and start to lift.
These aren’t bad luck outcomes. They’re the result of surfaces attempting to sit on this challenging soil type.
New Build Conditions
It’s a normal part of the build process for the subsoil to end up heavily compacted, with very little topsoil left near the surface. Most Mernda properties are handed over this way, in conditions that are unlikely to support grass, paving or planting without some work first.
The temptation after handover is to get something down quickly. We understand that. However, turf laid straight onto compacted clay will struggle through its first summer and fail in patches by the second, leaving you to pay for the job twice.
Block Size and What Suits Your Site
Mernda blocks vary widely. Newer releases around Mernda Village often sit on compact 300 to 400 square metre lots, while established pockets can run to 800 or 1,000 square metres or more.
A small estate block and a larger established property present completely different structural challenges. Each requires a different approach to drainage, materials and scope of work. Overlooking these details is where most projects face their first hurdle.
Mernda's Ground Conditions … What You're Working With
Preparation Is What Makes the Difference
We plan every job around what’s actually on your site, not a template. Before any turf goes down, we assess the drainage and soil conditions. Before any paving or concrete is laid, we check the base and the fall of the block. Before any retaining wall goes up, we plan the drainage behind it.
This isn’t an optional extra. It’s where the work begins, every time. A millimetre-perfect finished surface only stays that way when the groundwork underneath has been done with the same precision and care.
That’s the difference between a result that looks good for six months and one that’s still holding up two decades later. It’s also why most of our work in Mernda now comes through referrals from people whose gardens we’ve already transformed.
Get It Right From the Ground Up!
Landscaping Services in Mernda
Whether you’re starting from a blank canvas block or transforming an established property, our services create landscapes that perform for the long term.
Tailored to your site conditions, requirements and vision, delivering a finished space built to last.
Concrete sleepers, timber or natural stone, engineered where required and drained correctly behind them so they hold their ground for decades.
Paths, patios, driveways, and entertaining areas laid on the right base with correct falls, ensuring the surface stays level and water is directed away from your home.
Hardwood, treated pine and composite, built to extend your living space outward and handle Melbourne’s seasons without lifting or warping.
Driveways, paths, slabs and alfresco areas, reinforced properly and finished with control joints that manage movement over time.
Australian-made Synturf with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, installed over a compacted crushed rock base for an even finish that keeps its colour for years.
Buffalo, Kikuyu and Tall Fescue, with full soil preparation and drainage correction completed first, so what goes down has the best start to survive its first Mernda summer.
Scheduled programmes for residential properties, from fortnightly visits through to one-off seasonal cleanups and full garden refreshes.
Life in Mernda
Mernda’s growth is driven by families seeking space, good schools, and genuine community. With a growing network of parks and walking trails, it’s built around an outdoor, family-first lifestyle. And, for many households, the backyard matters just as much as anything inside the home.
Whether it’s creating somewhere for the kids to play after school, a space to host family and friends over summer, or simply a garden that’s as functional as it is inviting, your outdoor space should work as hard as the rest of your home. That’s the gap we’re most often called in to close.
A Mernda Project: From Unusable to Outstanding
The Challenge
Fourteen months post-handover, this Mernda backyard was still bare, compacted clay. With two young children unable to step outside and mud tracking through their home every time it rained, the family was left with a yard that only offered a constant cleanup headache.
The Project
Before any turf went down, we assessed the drainage and found that the block was directing water straight towards the house. To resolve this, we regraded the site and installed a robust subsurface drainage system.
Once the drainage was in place, we prepared the soil with sandy loam and organic matter. We then finished the space with lush Buffalo turf across the main yard and poured a concrete path to the clothesline and back gate.
The Outcome
Within three weeks, from installation to established turf, the family had a functional, mud-free area for the kids to play, complemented by a practical pathway that finally provided easy access to the house. What was once a drainage disaster is now a durable, low-maintenance yard that the family can enjoy, whatever the weather.
What Our Mernda Clients Say
Chris and Fab from Contemporary Landscapes did a very professional and efficient job transforming my shabby looking garden beds into a more pleasing and eye-catching feature. Chris provided very valuable advice to assist me, and the project was completed in a very timely manner.
Jim, Mernda
Mernda Landscaping FAQs
Why Does My Lawn Keep Failing in the Same Spots?
Most new builds in this area are handed over with compacted subsoil, minimal topsoil and heavy clay that doesn’t drain freely. Turf laid over this without preparation will struggle through summer and fail in patches, often in those same places each season. The answer is ground preparation before installation, not just replacing the turf.
Do You Fix Drainage Problems?
Yes, and it’s one of the most common jobs we do here. We assess the fall of the block and correct drainage before any finished surfaces go down. This ensures water moves away from your house rather than pooling against it.
What Turf Variety Works Best on Clay Soil?
For Mernda, Buffalo is the most reliable choice for residential properties. It handles heat, tolerates moderate shade and requires less water than most alternatives once established. For full-sun, high-traffic yards, Kikuyu performs well but needs managing at garden edges. We’ll provide a specific recommendation based on your site conditions during our visit.
Do I Need a Permit for a Retaining Wall?
In Victoria, retaining walls over one metre in height generally require a building permit, and walls near boundaries may have additional requirements. We check what your project needs before we quote and handle the process with you from the start.
How Long Does a New Build Landscaping Project Take?
A typical estate block covering soil preparation, turf, a concrete path and garden beds usually takes two to five days. Projects with retaining walls, paving or decking naturally take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline before work begins and stick to it.
We Also Work Across Melbourne's Northern Suburbs
Contemporary Landscapes brings the same approach to gardens right across Melbourne’s north, prepare the ground properly, then build it right.
Our landscaping and garden maintenance services reach:
Doreen
Epping
South Morang
Wollert
Bundoora
Ready To Get Your Project Moving?
A free consultation is the right place to start. We’ll walk your block, check the soil and drainage, and talk through your ideas for your space. You’ll receive a detailed, transparent quote, backed by a 7-year warranty.
No hidden costs, no obligation, no pressure. Just honest, local advice to help you create a backyard that you’ll love for years to come.