Using excavation equipment in your landscape garden

Whether it’s to create a new lawn, or to increase space in the outdoor area, using excavation equipment may be the right choice for you. Here are a few pointers in getting the most out of your renovation budget.

1. Assess the landscaping design

If you're planning some major garden landscaping, assess carefully the excavating requirements for your garden. If you only need a few sections of the yard modified, then you might be able to get away with manually doing the job.
If major digging is required - for example to build retaining walls or to level large areas - then it's time to call in the professional earthmoving contractors.

2. Consult a landscape architect or designer

Landscape professionals are able to assess a site and its architectural design - in consultation with you - for levelled areas, retaining walls, garden beds, outdoor paths and steps.
Whether the designs are rough sketches or detailed design plans, once they are set in place, the excavators can then be brought in at the appropriate time in the project begin the excavation.

3. Plan the excavation areas

Part of a garden designer's job is to picture the end result of the landscaping works, and to calculate what earthmoving is required to achieve that. With careful planning, the excavating contractors can arrive at the appropriate time to do their work, and can efficiently complete their part of the project. This will save you time and money.

4. Consider how garden earth can be recycled

Transporting earth away - or getting earth delivered - is an expensive process, so any earth that is removed from your garden that can be re-used on your property will save you money.
Consider the "robbing Peter to pay Paul" technique - taking garden earth from one area and using it to build up other areas.

5. Excavation equipment and space

It's pretty basic, but some people forget: can an excavator get into the section of your yard that requires earthmoving? Some small excavators can fit through narrow gates and doorways, but these machines obviously have less capacity than the larger ones.
Discuss access issues with your earthmoving contractor to decide which machine is best for your job - and if practical restrictions apply to excavating for your property.

6. Choose the right excavation machine for the job

In general, the larger the excavation equipment you are able to use, the more cost-efficient it will be. Larger machines can move more earth more quickly, but cost only slightly more.
For example, a two-tonne excavator might cost $65 per hour to hire. A seven-tonne machine might only cost $85 per hour, but could do the job in half the time. Earthmoving contractors can offer equipment for hire or provide a full earthworks service.

Contact a specialist for advice on excavating equipment: