Procedure for garden planning for new construction?

So far, we have no ideas about the budget. It won't be cheap. But we want to do most of it ourselves and invest over the years. Only the driveway and terrace will be done immediately by professionals. We have calculated €10,000 for this. We'll see what it actually costs.

So far we have no idea about the budget. It won’t be cheap. But we want to do most of it ourselves and spread it out over years. Only the driveway and terrace will be done right away. We have estimated 10,000€ for this. Let’s see what it actually costs.

Several landscapers have told us that average outdoor facilities (garden, terrace, driveway, trees/plants, lawn etc.) typically cost around 80 EUR per sqm - when you add everything up = lawn is cheaper, trees are expensive, wooden terraces (IPE, Bangkirai, etc.) will bring tears to your eyes etc.

We have calculated just under 25,000 euros for this. If that's not enough, there is still a buffer. But it could work.

So dear ones, one more question about garden design. We are planning to move in August/September. When would you start the first work? Only after moving in? Or earlier? My question refers to specific points: 1. Have the driveway done: (leveling heights, shaping, paving, entrance steps) This definitely should be done right away to 1. avoid carrying construction site dirt into the finished house and 2. because it is not currently raised high enough to drive into the garage. 2. Filling up the garden (~50cm) with the soil that is still lying in 3 large piles. This must settle first before it can be planted. Priority is the south garden (towards the street). At the property boundary, it will get a small wall (height approx. 60-70cm, stones available - own work?) as a height compensation garden-green strip. The rest must of course wait first. But we would like to start relatively quickly with some parts of the garden, so the soil should probably be distributed soon, right? When is it sensible to do or have these things done?

Hello milkie,

We are already in the process of creating the outdoor areas. Our move-in is planned for the end of July.

Currently, our retaining wall is being built and from the day after tomorrow the parking spaces will be laid out. The usable excavated soil has been partially distributed in the future garden and has already been plowed and cultivated a few times. It still has to settle and it's still too early in the year for lawn seeding.

If you have the time and the craftsmen are working inside, I would start outside. Whatever is finished by move-in, is finished.

Great. Yes, I agree. Then we should have a look around soon. At the moment, we can't do much to help at the construction site anyway.

Thank you for your reply