Why Perth Landscaping Projects Take Longer Than That Instagram Post Suggested

You've seen the posts. A stunning backyard transformation condensed into a 30-second reel. "Three days start to finish!" the caption proclaims. The comments overflow with heart-eye emojis and people tagging their partners with "honey, we need to do this!"

Then you call a landscaper. They tell you your project will take four to six weeks. Your heart sinks. What's going on here? Are Perth landscapers just slower? Less efficient? Or is something else happening?

The truth is both simpler and more complicated than you might expect. And understanding the reality behind those Instagram transformations could save you thousands of dollars, weeks of frustration, and the heartbreak of a project that falls apart six months after completion.

What That Instagram Post Didn't Show You

Let's start with a confession from inside the industry: those "three-day transformation" posts are technically true. The visible work did happen in three days. What the post conveniently left out was everything else.

Most quick transformation videos skip over the weeks of planning that happened before cameras started rolling. Site assessments. Council approvals for retaining walls over 500mm. Dial Before You Dig calls. Soil testing. Material ordering and supplier lead times. Design consultations and revisions. Quote approvals and scheduling.

They also skip what happens after the glamour shots. The irrigation system being programmed and tested. The soil settling period before final grading. The plant establishment phase where careful watering prevents your new garden from dying in Perth's unforgiving sun. The electrical inspection for any outdoor lighting or power points.

A colleague of mine puts it bluntly: "Anyone can make a backyard look good on day one. The question is whether it still looks good on day 365."

The Hidden Stages That Actually Matter

A quality Perth landscaping project typically runs through several distinct phases, each critical to the end result:

Discovery and Design (1-2 weeks)

This is where a professional landscaper learns about your property's specific challenges. Perth's sandy soils behave differently across suburbs. Drainage patterns matter enormously. Existing trees might have root zones that affect where you can place paving. Your home's orientation determines which plants will thrive and which will struggle.

Skipping this phase is like a doctor prescribing medication without examining the patient. You might get lucky. More likely, you'll be paying to fix problems that could have been avoided.

Permits and Preparation (1-3 weeks)

Retaining walls over certain heights need council approval. Electrical work requires licensed contractors and inspections. Dial Before You Dig prevents you from accidentally severing the gas line that runs through your backyard (yes, this happens more often than you'd think).

Materials also need ordering. Quality suppliers don't always have everything in stock. That specific paver colour you fell in love with might have a two-week lead time. Rushing this phase means either compromising on materials or risking delays once construction starts.

Construction (2-6 weeks)

This is the part Instagram shows. But even here, quality takes time. Proper compaction of base materials can't be rushed without compromising long-term stability. Concrete needs curing time. Electrical work requires inspection sign-offs before you can proceed with backfilling.

Weather also plays a role in Perth. A week of unexpected rain can halt earthworks entirely. Trying to lay turf or install plants during a heat wave sets them up for failure.

Establishment and Handover (1-2 weeks)

New lawns need careful watering schedules. Irrigation systems require fine-tuning to match your specific water pressure and plant zones. This is also when any minor adjustments happen—adjusting sprinkler heads, tweaking lighting angles, addressing any settling that's occurred.

Why Cutting Corners Costs More

Every experienced landscaper has stories of being called in to fix projects that were rushed. The retaining wall that started leaning within six months because the base wasn't compacted properly. The paving that cracked because it was laid on inadequate bedding. The irrigation system that never worked efficiently because nobody tested the water pressure before designing it.

These fixes typically cost more than doing it right the first time. You're paying to demolish the failed work, dispose of materials, and then redo everything properly. Not to mention the frustration and time spent managing the remediation.

One of our clients came to us after a "quick and cheap" landscaper had installed a deck that started rotting within two years. The subframe hadn't been protected from ground moisture. The posts weren't seated in proper footings. What should have been a 40-year deck became a 24-month headache. The remediation cost nearly as much as the original project.

The Coordination Factor Most People Miss

Here's something that rarely appears in those transformation videos: most landscaping projects require multiple trades. Electricians for outdoor lighting and power points. Plumbers for irrigation connections. Sometimes carpenters, concreting specialists, or even structural engineers.

Each trade needs to be scheduled at the right point in the project sequence. The electrician can't run cables until the earthworks expose the pathways. The irrigation can't be tested until power is available for the controller. The paving can't happen until underground services are complete.

Coordinating multiple contractors is where many projects fall apart. Missed handovers. Conflicting schedules. Blame-shifting when something doesn't connect properly. This is why projects with multiple subcontractors often experience delays and cost blowouts.

It's also why we made a deliberate decision years ago to bring electrical capability in-house. Having landscaping and electrical under one roof eliminates an entire category of coordination problems. One team. One schedule. One point of accountability.

What Realistic Timelines Actually Look Like

For a typical Perth residential landscaping project—let's say a backyard transformation including lawn, garden beds, paving, and basic lighting—here's what you should realistically expect:

• Simple front yard refresh ($10-15k): 2-3 weeks total including planning

• Standard backyard transformation ($25-35k): 4-6 weeks total

• Comprehensive outdoor living space ($40-60k+): 6-10 weeks total

• Complex projects with significant structural elements: 10+ weeks

These timelines include design consultation, permitting where required, material procurement, construction, and establishment. They assume reasonable weather and no unexpected site complications (though experienced landscapers build contingency into their schedules).

Questions to Ask Any Landscaper About Timelines

Before signing with any landscaper, these questions will help you understand whether their timeline is realistic or optimistic:

• What's included in the timeline you've quoted—just construction, or the full project from consultation to completion?

• How do you handle electrical and irrigation work—in-house or subcontracted?

• What permits might be needed, and who handles obtaining them?

• What's your contingency plan if weather or supply issues cause delays?

• How will you keep me updated on progress and any schedule changes?

A landscaper who gets defensive about these questions or gives vague answers is waving a red flag. The good ones welcome the conversation because they know proper planning protects everyone.

The Real Transformation Story

Here's what we wish those Instagram accounts would show: the client six months later, enjoying their outdoor space with friends. The lawn that's established thick and healthy because it had proper soil preparation. The lighting that works flawlessly because the electrical was done right the first time. The retaining wall that hasn't moved a millimetre because the engineering was correct.

That's the transformation that matters. Not the "day three" glamour shot, but the "year three" reality of a space that still performs as beautifully as it did on handover.

Yes, quality landscaping takes longer than Instagram suggests. But the difference between a rushed job and a properly executed project isn't measured in weeks. It's measured in decades of enjoyment versus years of problems.

Your outdoor space deserves better than a three-day transformation. It deserves a transformation that lasts.

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Ready for a Realistic Conversation About Your Project?

Book a free consultation with RH Landscaping. We'll give you honest timelines, clear expectations, and a plan that's designed to last—not just to look good on social media.