- Is your garden working for the way you actually live?
- Do you feel like your outdoor space is underused, disconnected from your home, or difficult to maintain?
- Are you dealing with a sloping block that limits usable space, drainage issues after heavy rain, too much shade from established trees, or a garden that looks good in parts but does not flow as one cohesive environment?
At Custom Creations Landscapes, we design and build outdoor spaces that enhance your outdoor lifestyle.
We approach every project as a complete system, in which levels, layout, planting, materials, and construction all work together from the start.
Book a North Shore design consultation and explore ideas tailored to your site, architecture, and lifestyle.
Why Homeowners Choose Custom Creations Landscapes
Homeowners in the Upper North Shore choose Custom Creations Landscapes for North Shore landscape design because they need more than a good-looking garden. They need a landscape that is properly planned, technically resolved and built to last.
On sites across Wahroonga, Turramurra, Pymble and St Ives, factors such as slope, drainage, canopy and access need to be addressed early. If they are not, even high-end landscaping can underperform over time.
Our approach is designed to eliminate those risks.
Clients choose us for:
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End-to-end design and construction under one team
A single point of responsibility ensures the design is delivered without compromise. -
Experience across complex residential projects
Including sloping sites, pool integration and architecturally designed homes. -
Collaboration with architects and builders
Aligning levels, materials and transitions so the home and landscape work as one. -
Detailed planning around levels and drainage
Preventing common long-term issues such as water movement and structural failure. -
Performance-driven material and planting selection
Chosen for durability, site conditions and long-term growth, not just appearance. -
A focus on longevity and usability
Ensuring the garden functions well and continues to improve over time.
Luxury Landscape Design For Upper North Shore Homes
The Upper North Shore has its own landscape conditions and expectations.
This is a part of Sydney defined by established trees, layered topography, larger residential blocks and homes where the landscape must work hard both visually and practically. A successful garden here is not decoration added at the end of a build. It is a carefully planned extension of the home, shaped by light, levels, privacy, drainage, and the family’s use of outdoor space throughout the seasons.
At Custom Creations Landscapes, we bring together designers, landscape specialists and construction expertise under one team. This integrated approach allows us to create outdoor spaces that feel cohesive and highly resolved, while also reducing the compromises that often happen when design and build are separated.
The “North Shore Gap”: Why Design-Only Often Fails
In suburbs like St Ives and Killara, there is often a 20–30% “budget leak” when homeowners hire separate designers and builders. The designer creates a beautiful vision that isn’t structurally feasible, or the builder compromises the aesthetic to save on costs.
We closed that gap. By integrating landscape architects, structural engineers, and master builders under one roof, we ensure that the “Day One” vision is delivered exactly as intended, with no technical compromises.
Explore our Sydney landscaping locations to discover our unique local advantage:
Our Signature Services: From Pymble to Wahroonga
Structural Landscaping & Terracing
We specialise in “Big Stone” masonry. Whether it’s hand-dressed sandstone or modern reinforced concrete, our structures are engineered to hold back the earth for generations.
Integrated Pool Environments
A pool should be a destination. We design pools that are flush-integrated with your alfresco dining areas, utilising 316 Marine-Grade Steel and salt-tolerant Honed Basalt or Travertine coping.
High-Value Horticultural Schemes
We don’t use “filler” plants. We curate “Living Art” using mature specimens that thrive in the North Shore’s unique clay-shale soil profile. Our planting schemes focus on privacy, structure, and low-maintenance longevity.
North Shore Landscape Facts
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Soil Type: Predominantly Wianamatta Shale / Clay. Requires gypsum amendment and high-quality organic matter for drainage.
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Topography: High-gradient slopes. Requires “Structural Terracing” and professional “Hydraulic Relief” systems.
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Climate: High rainfall and heavy shade. Requires shade-tolerant species, such as Dichondra repens or Liriope, as lawn alternatives.
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Council Compliance: High “Tree Protection” priority. Requires Arborist Reports and Landscape Management Plans (LMP).
Project focus: Terrey Hills
A project in Terrey Hills shows how a larger northern Sydney property can be transformed into a private, highly functional outdoor retreat.
Designed by Sticks and Stones Landscape Design and built by Custom Creations, this project introduced a strong Mediterranean influence into the garden while remaining appropriate to the Sydney setting. The brief was to create a lush family environment that supported relaxation, entertaining and everyday outdoor living.
Key outcomes included:
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rebuilding the pool area so it worked as part of the wider garden
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integrating a floating timber deck designed for afternoon lounging
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creating a covered dining area for year-round outdoor meals
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using mature palms and layered tropical planting to create privacy and enclosure
What makes this project especially relevant to the Upper North Shore is the way it balances scale and usability. On larger residential blocks, outdoor areas can easily feel disconnected. Here, the pool, deck, planting and dining zone work together as one cohesive environment.
The result is a garden that feels generous, calm and deeply livable.
Explore our Terrey Hills landscape design project.
Project focus – Lane Cove
Our Lane Cove Breeze Block House project demonstrates another, equally important, Upper North Shore principle: restraint.
Designed in collaboration with Studio Prineas and built with Focus Build and Custom Creations, the brief was to create a garden that complemented the architecture without overcrowding it. The goal was clarity, softness and privacy rather than unnecessary complexity.
Key design decisions included:
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raised galvanised steel garden beds to define the edges of the yard
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bamboo, Silver Lady Ferns and Giant Bromeliads for soft privacy screening
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a deliberately sparse lawn area to offset the clean white exterior
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a fully automatic irrigation system for long-term garden health
This project shows that good landscape design is not about adding more. It is about making smarter decisions. Even relatively simple interventions can have a powerful effect when they are well resolved and correctly placed.
That mindset is especially valuable on Upper North Shore properties, where gardens need to feel composed, mature and easy to live with.
Explore the unique Lane Cove landscape design project.
How We Design North Shore Gardens
1. Understanding the site
We begin with sun paths, soil profile, existing trees and drainage. On the North Shore, these factors often determine success more than style choices.
2. Layout before materials
Clear circulation, usable zones and connection to the home come first. Materials and finishes then reinforce that structure.
3. Planting for shade and structure
We design with species that thrive beneath the canopy and provide year-round form rather than short bursts of colour.
4. Pools as part of the garden
A pool should be integrated with paving, fencing, planting and access so it feels like one environment, not an addition.
5. Longevity and maintenance
Irrigation, pruning access, and durable materials ensure the garden matures gracefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does landscape design take for an Upper North Shore property?
Landscape design for Upper North Shore homes typically takes 3 to 5 weeks, depending on site complexity, slope and the level of detail required.
Projects involving sloping blocks, pool integration, or coordination with architects may require additional time to properly resolve levels, drainage, and construction documentation. This stage is critical, as most long-term landscape issues in Sydney stem from insufficient planning rather than construction quality.
What makes landscape design in the Upper North Shore more complex?
Upper North Shore properties often involve a combination of sloping terrain, established tree canopy, larger block sizes and more complex drainage requirements.
Key technical considerations include:
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designing retaining systems and level transitions for usability
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working within tree protection zones (TPZ) around mature vegetation
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managing stormwater flow across large roofs and paved areas
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selecting plants suited to shaded or semi-shaded environments
These factors require a more detailed, site-specific design approach than in flatter or more uniform locations.
Do you provide both landscape design and construction?
Yes. We provide a fully integrated design and construction service.
This ensures that:
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The design intent is maintained throughout the build
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Materials and levels are executed as specified
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Site challenges are resolved early rather than during construction
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Budgets remain aligned with the design
Separating design and construction often leads to compromises, particularly on complex Upper North Shore sites.
Can you design around existing trees and council requirements?
Yes. Many Upper North Shore properties include mature trees protected under local council regulations, particularly in Ku-ring-gai and surrounding areas.
We design landscapes that:
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comply with the tree protection zone (TPZ) requirements
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minimise root disturbance during construction
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adapt planting and layout to suit canopy coverage
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maintain the long-term health of existing trees
This ensures the landscape works with the natural environment rather than against it.
How do you handle drainage on sloping blocks?
Drainage is addressed at the design stage, not after construction begins.
We assess:
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natural fall and water movement across the site
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how runoff interacts with structures, paving and planting areas
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sub-surface drainage requirements such as ag lines and pits
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integration with stormwater systems connected to the home
On Upper North Shore sites, proper drainage design is essential to prevent water pooling, soil erosion and long-term structural issues.
Can you integrate pool design with the landscape?
Yes. Pool landscaping is designed as part of the overall landscape, not as a separate element.
We consider:
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orientation for sunlight and heat management
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safe and functional access between the house, pool and garden
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material selection for durability and slip resistance
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integration with planting, lawn and entertaining areas
This ensures the pool feels like a natural extension of the outdoor space.
What budget should we allow for an Upper North Shore landscaping project?
Budgets vary depending on site conditions, size, materials and whether the project includes pools or major structural work.
Factors that influence cost include:
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extent of excavation and retaining required
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drainage and sub-surface works
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material selection such as stone, timber and steel
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planting size, density and irrigation systems
We provide clear budget guidance during the design consultation so decisions are based on realistic expectations.
How do you ensure the landscape will last long term?
Long-term performance is built into the design from the beginning.
We focus on:
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correct level planning and drainage to prevent failure
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durable materials suited to Sydney’s climate
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planting that matches light, soil and maintenance conditions
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irrigation systems to support plant health
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access for ongoing maintenance
A well-designed landscape should not decline after installation. It should improve as it establishes.
Start your Upper North Shore project
If you are planning a renovation, new build or pool project on the Upper North Shore, speak with our design team about what is possible on your site.