Award-winning landscape design and construction for Kew’s heritage and contemporary homes. Forty years of experience across Melbourne’s east — and a free on-site consultation to start the conversation.
Why Kew Homeowners Choose John French Landscape Design
Kew is a suburb of strong character. Its heritage streetscapes, mature canopy and architecturally significant homes have shaped the way gardens have been designed here for generations. We have been designing landscapes across Melbourne’s east since 1981, and our work in Kew reflects a clear understanding of that character — gardens that respect the architecture, complement the streetscape and last well beyond the next decade.
John French Landscape Design is multi-award-winning and rated five stars on Houzz. Our team handles every stage of a project in-house, from initial concept through construction and planting, so your Kew garden is delivered without the handovers and miscommunication that can stretch a project out by months.
From Studley Park through to Cotham Road, we design landscapes that suit Kew’s character and stand up over decades.
Four-tile feature block (small icon or image + heading + 1 line each):
- 40+ years designing gardens in Melbourne’s east
- Multi-award-winning, 5-star on Houzz
- Heritage overlay and Boroondara Council experience
- Full design, construct and project-manage service
Speak to John about your Kew garden — call 0419 725 344
Designed for Kew's Heritage Streets and Established Gardens
Most Kew gardens come with constraints that less experienced designers underestimate. Heritage overlays, mature root protection zones, established hedging and Boroondara Council planning requirements all shape what is possible — and a designer who understands those constraints from the first site visit will save you months on the project.
Heritage Overlay and Boroondara Council Permits — Handled With Care
Kew has substantial heritage overlay coverage, particularly through the streets surrounding Studley Park and across the suburb’s older Federation pockets. Permits are often required for significant tree removal, retaining walls, deck construction and structural changes. We have worked through Boroondara’s planning process repeatedly, and we prepare landscape plans that meet the council’s guidelines first time. Where a permit is required, we manage the application and council liaison for you.
Working With Mature Trees, Period Homes and Established Gardens
Many Kew gardens feature mature European trees — plane trees, oaks and elms — that anchor the entire design and cannot be touched lightly. Working around tree protection zones, respecting Federation, Edwardian and Victorian architecture, and choosing plantings that complement period homes rather than compete with them is a craft we have refined over four decades.
Soil, Aspect and Microclimate in Kew
Kew’s soils tend toward heavy clay-loam, with drainage that varies markedly between the elevated streets near Cotham Road and the lower blocks running down toward the Yarra. Aspect matters. A north-facing courtyard will reward Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ and clipped Buxus beautifully, while a hot west-facing slope is better suited to drought-tolerant plantings such as Westringia, Lomandra ‘Tanika’ and structural ornamental grasses. We choose every species deliberately, for both performance and visual character.
Our Landscape Design and Construction Services for Kew Homes
We deliver every stage in-house, from concept to construction, so your Kew project moves smoothly without handovers between contractors.
Custom Garden Design
Every Kew home is different, and every garden design we begin with the property — its architecture, aspect, soil and the way you want to use the outdoor space. We deliver detailed landscape plans suited to your home, your lifestyle and the long-term character of the suburb.
Pool Landscaping and Pool Surrounds
A well-designed pool surround transforms a swimming pool into the centrepiece of the outdoor space. Our expert approach to Landscape Architecture and pool landscaping combines limestone, travertine, bluestone, and timber decking with carefully selected planting, lighting, and shaded living areas to create a seamless and inviting outdoor environment.
Heritage and Period-Home Garden Restoration
Restoring a heritage Kew garden requires both horticultural skill and architectural sensitivity. We work with clipped formal hedging, parterre layouts, period-appropriate species and existing structures to bring tired gardens back to life without losing their character.
Hardscaping, Patios and Outdoor Living
Stone paving, retaining walls, fire pits, timber decks and outdoor kitchens — the structural elements that make a garden usable year-round. We design and build hardscape that fits your home’s material language and stands up to Kew’s climate over decades.
Drought-Tolerant and Native Garden Design
Sustainable design is not a trend for us — it has shaped our work since the early 1980s. We select plant palettes that thrive on Kew’s natural rainfall, reduce ongoing maintenance, and contribute to the wider ecology of Melbourne’s east.
Construction Project Management
Managing a landscape build means coordinating trades, schedules, permits and material deliveries. We handle all of it directly, so you have a single point of contact from the day construction starts to the day we hand the finished garden back to you.
Recent Landscape Projects Near Kew
Our project history across Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and the inner east covers everything from compact courtyard restorations to large heritage estate redesigns. We bring photographs and references to every consultation so you can see how our approach translates to gardens of comparable scale and style. The gallery below shows recent projects from across Melbourne’s east — feel free to ask about anything you would like to discuss in more detail when we meet on site.
Ready to transform your outdoor space? Call John French Landscaping on 0419 725 344 or book your free on-site consultation today.
What Kew Clients Say About Working With John French
We are five-star rated on Houzz with a track record of multi-award-winning projects across Melbourne’s east. The reviews below come from real clients describing real work — design conversations, construction experience, and the way the garden has lived since handover.
What Our Kew Customers Say
john walsh
We’re thrilled with the final result. The design completely transformed our home. The team at John French Landscape Design along with their installation team did a fantastic job and exceeded expectations.
Marleina Vella
We engaged the team at John French Landscape Design to create a landscape design following the construction of our house in Eltham. They delivered an excellent response to the brief, incoporating thoughtful design lines in addition to use of tiered rockwork and a stunning variety of plants and trees. We're extremely pleased with the outcome and happily recommend this business to anyone seeking a similar outcome.
Cathy Evans
Russell did a fantastic job with our mums new landscaping in Eltham. From start to finish was very professionals and gave us some great options to choose from. Amazing result.
John Calleja
Russell and his team did such a great job on my backyard. From start to finish Russell was professional and very easy to deal with. His hard work and high quality just showed exceptionally through my background when it was finished.
Raju Singh Rathore
When we employed them to landscape our backyard, John French came and sat with me to find out what ideas I had and how I wanted it to look. John arranged everything, he was very professional, friendly and made everything so easy. The sub-contractors he used were very nice people. There were no problems whatsoever and they did a sensational job.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscape Design in Kew
How much does landscape design cost in Kew?
Costs vary with scope, site complexity, hardscape extent and chosen materials. Most Kew design-and-construction projects we deliver fall in the $40,000 to $250,000 range, with full estate redesigns sometimes reaching higher. Every Kew property is different — book a free on-site consultation for an accurate quote.
Do I need a permit from Boroondara Council for landscaping in Kew?
It depends on the scope. Heritage overlay properties, retaining walls above one metre, significant tree removal, large decks and substantial structures usually require a planning permit from Boroondara Council. Minor garden changes generally do not. We assess the specifics on site and handle the permit process and council liaison for you.
How long does a landscape design and construction project take in Kew?
Allow four to six weeks for the design phase and detailed documentation, then eight to twenty weeks for construction, depending on scope, materials and weather. Heritage overlay properties may add time for council approvals — we factor that into the schedule from day one.
Do you design for sloping blocks and heritage homes in Kew?
Yes. Sloping blocks, retaining, drainage, period-appropriate planting and heritage architecture are at the centre of much of our Kew work. We have been resolving these challenges for forty years across Melbourne’s east.
What does a free on-site consultation include?
A site walk through your garden with John or one of the senior team, a discussion of your brief, ideas and budget, an early view on design feasibility, and a written follow-up summarising what we have discussed and what the next steps look like. There is no obligation and no cost.
Areas We Also Service Near Kew
We work across Melbourne’s east and inner east. If you live near Kew, you may also want to look at our work in Hawthorn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Balwyn, Surrey Hills, Ivanhoe, Heidelberg or Templestowe. Each suburb has its own character and our pages for each describe how that shapes our approach.
- Hawthorn
- Camberwell
- Canterbury
- Balwyn
- Surrey Hills
- Eltham
- Ivanhoe
- Heidelberg
- Templestowe
Book Your Free On-Site Consultation in Kew
Tell us about your Kew property, your garden ambitions, and your timeframe. John or one of the senior team will get back to you within one business day to arrange a free on-site consultation. There is no cost, no obligation, and no pressure — just a clear, useful conversation about what is possible.
