| 55 T T Kelly Deeks Well-designed landscapes a worthy investment Landscape construction specialist Sam Lawson says more homeowners are starting to realise the benefits of bringing a landscape architect or landscape construction company into the process early. Visual Wonders Landscaping CONTRACTING Landscaping is often the last thing homeowners think about when they build, renovate, or upgrade their homes, yet it can be one of the biggest contributors to a property’s value and livability. As Christchurch heads into 2026, landscape construction specialist Sam Lawson says more homeowners are starting to realise the benefits of bringing a landscape architect or landscape construction company into the process early. Sam owns Visual Wonders Landscaping, working throughout Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri. While the company does commercial work, most of its energy goes into residential projects, where Sam says there is more joy in creating family-focused outdoor living. Visual Wonders Landscaping partners with builders like Benchmark Homes, whose bespoke designs often lead naturally into personalised landscapes. “Benchmark gets their clients thinking about landscaping from day one, even at a basic concept level,” Sam says. “When people consider how their house connects to the outdoors early on, they end up with better indoor-outdoor flow and better lifestyle outcomes.” Timing, however, remains one of the biggest traps for homeowners. Sam says October to December is always intense, yet many people don’t start planning until spring. “Big projects need time. On a recent redevelopment in Merivale, we began planning in March. The design, consent, and pool installation took us into September,” he says. “If you leave it until spring, you risk not getting the landscaper your project deserves.” Sam says complex landscapes involve multiple trades – concrete, pools, decking, masonry, planting – all arriving at different times. Without one person overseeing the entire outdoor space, projects can become fragmented. “We’ve been on sites where the builder is trying to coordinate everything, and there’s no one focused on how the outdoor areas connect,” he says. “When we manage the whole project, it’s seamless. You don’t end up with five different ideas fighting for space.” Good supplier relationships support that consistency. Visual Wonders Landscaping is a preferred installer for One Stop Deck Shop, and works closely with concrete, stone, and turf suppliers to keep projects moving. Sam says reliability matters more than ever. “Supply has been up and down across the industry. Having reliable partners protects our timelines and keeps quality high.” One project illustrating the value of early landscape involvement was a lifestyle block in Tai Tapu, completed at the start of 2025. Designed by ID Architecture with landscape design by Kawakawa Landscapes, the home and outdoor environment were planned together, resulting in level lawns for kids to play, a low-maintenance internal garden, and a self-cleaning lagoon pool as the social hub. Sam says homeowners often underestimate how much value a well-designed landscape can add over time. “People want functional, low-maintenance spaces that suit how they live. If you get the design right early, it future-proofs the property.” With a background spanning large civic projects through to residential design-build, Sam has run his own company since 2020 with a focus on integrity, perfection, and communication. His clients now range from first-home builders through to rural lifestyle owners looking to invest in outdoor living. CREATE YOUR DREAM BACKYARD 0508 4 DECKS | sales@onestopdeckshop.co.nz | onestopdeckshop.co.nz CHRISTCHURCH | WANAKA | AUCKLAND We are your outdoor timber, decking and landscaping experts with products and solutions for everything decking, under your deck, around your deck and above your deck. LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION HARD & SOFT LANDSCAPING & NEW BUILDS +64 27 740 0444 info@visualwonderslandscaping.co.nz www.visualwonderslandscaping.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=