Garden Construction & Lawn Installation | Nelson & Tasman

Creating a beautiful garden or lawn starts with proper groundwork. We handle everything from initial earthworks to irrigation installation and hydro-seeding – delivering ready-to-enjoy outdoor spaces or prepared gardens ready for your planting vision.

Complete garden construction services

While we're earthworks specialists at heart, gardens and lawns need more than just dirt moved around. We've expanded our services to deliver complete garden infrastructure – everything you need except the actual plants. Think of us as the contractors who build the stage for your garden performance.

Garden & lawn services we deliver

Site preparation & earthworks

Every great garden starts with proper levels and drainage. We strip existing vegetation, establish proper grades for water runoff, and create the contours that make gardens both functional and attractive. This includes building raised garden beds, terracing sloped sections, and ensuring water flows away from buildings while still reaching planted areas when needed.

Quality topsoil supply & placement

Good soil makes the difference between struggling plants and thriving gardens. We supply screened, weed-free topsoil from trusted local suppliers, delivered and spread to the depths your garden needs (typically 300mm for lawns, 400-600mm for garden beds). We can also improve existing soil with compost blending and conditioning.

Professional hydro-seeding

Through our partnership with specialist hydro-seeding contractors, we offer efficient lawn establishment for everything from residential lawns to large lifestyle blocks. Hydro-seeding provides better germination rates than traditional seeding, reduces erosion on slopes, and establishes faster than traditional methods. We handle the site prep, coordinate the seeding, and ensure proper establishment.

Instant turf laying

When you need an instant lawn, we prepare the base and lay quality turf. This includes fine grading to eliminate bumps and hollows, applying starter fertiliser, and ensuring tight seams between rolls. We'll advise on initial care to ensure successful establishment.

Basic irrigation systems

Water is crucial for garden success. We install straightforward irrigation solutions including pop-up sprinklers for lawns, soaker hoses for garden beds, and timer systems for automation. While we don't do complex commercial systems, we handle most residential irrigation needs. We also trench for irrigation lines, ensuring proper depths and protection.

Garden construction & hardscaping

We build the bones of your garden: retaining walls for terraced beds, concrete or timber edging, gravel or bark pathways, and basic pergolas or garden structures. If you have a garden plan (or even a rough sketch), we can build it. If you need basic design help, we can suggest practical layouts based on your site and preferences.

Working with your vision

Many clients come to us with:

• Landscape plans: We work from professional designs, handling all groundworks and construction
• DIY sketches: Your rough ideas are enough – we'll help refine them during construction
• General concepts: "We want veggie gardens here and lawn there" – we make it happen
• Bare blocks: Starting from scratch? We'll suggest practical layouts based on sun, slope, and drainage

The construction process

1. Site assessment

We evaluate existing levels, drainage patterns, soil quality, and sun exposure. This informs decisions about garden placement, retaining needs, and irrigation requirements.

2. Earthworks & shaping

Using our excavators and skilled operators, we create the levels and contours your garden needs. This might include cutting in level platforms, building up low areas, or creating gentle slopes for visual interest.

3. Infrastructure installation

Before topsoil goes down, we install drainage where needed, run irrigation lines, lay weed mat, and build any retaining walls or edging. Getting infrastructure right before soil placement saves money and disruption later.

4. Soil placement & preparation

Quality topsoil is spread to specified depths, leveled, and prepared for seeding or planting. For lawns, we achieve a fine tilth and smooth finish. For garden beds, we create appropriate soil mixes and depths for intended plants.

5. Lawn establishment

Whether hydro-seeding through our partners or laying instant turf, we ensure your lawn gets the best possible start. This includes starter fertilizers, initial watering, and clear maintenance instructions.

Why choose earthworks contractors for garden construction?

We have the right equipment

Garden construction involves serious earthmoving. Our excavators, trucks, and compaction equipment handle jobs that would take landscapers weeks to complete by hand.

Drainage expertise

As earthworks specialists, we understand water movement. Your garden will have proper drainage built in from the start, preventing waterlogged soil and flooded lawns.

Volume material handling

We regularly move hundreds of cubic metres of material. Bringing in 50m³ of topsoil? That's routine for us but challenging for smaller operators.

Cost efficiency

Our equipment and processes make large-scale garden construction cost-effective. Why pay hand labour rates for machine work?

Projects we excel at

• New build properties needing complete landscape construction
• Large lawn areas on lifestyle blocks
• Terraced gardens on sloping sites
• Commercial properties needing grounds establishment
• Subdivision developments requiring lawn and garden areas
• Property renovations with complete garden rebuilds

What we don't do

We're upfront about our limits:

• Detailed plant selection and planting (though we work with landscapers who do)
• Complex irrigation design for commercial properties
• Ongoing garden maintenance
• Specialist work like tennis courts or golf greens

Ready to build your outdoor space?

Whether you need a simple lawn on a new build or complete garden construction on a lifestyle block, we have the equipment and expertise to deliver quality results efficiently. We're happy to work from your plans, collaborate on basic designs, or simply build what you envision.

Discuss your garden project – call 027 KIWIBUILD (027 549 428) to explore how we can transform your outdoor space.