Garden Soil / Veggie Mix
Best for: Raised beds, vegetable gardens, new garden beds.
A screened blend of loam, sand and aged organic matter. Aim for 300–400mm depth in new beds so roots can develop without hitting clay subsoil.
PRODUCT INSIGHTS FOR THE
DIY LANDSCAPER
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCT
Every landscaping project — from a small garden bed to a new driveway — performs better when the right material is used at the right depth. This guide walks through the main product categories we supply, what each is best for, and the practical details (depths, drainage, compaction) that make the difference between a job that lasts and one that doesn't. If anything here doesn't match what you've been told, give us a call — we'd rather get the product right the first time than save you a tonne on the wrong one.
GARDEN & TURF SOILS
Soil choice is the single biggest factor in how well plants and lawns establish. Match the blend to what's being grown and the depth you can excavate, not to whatever is cheapest per tonne.
Premium Underturf / Turf Underlay
Best for: New lawns under instant turf or seed.
Sandy loam that drains freely but still holds moisture. Lay 75–100mm, screed level, lightly compact, then lay turf within 24 hours to avoid drying.
Topdressing Sand / Soil
Best for: Levelling existing lawns and filling minor depressions.
Apply no more than 10–15mm at a time so grass blades stay exposed. Repeat after the lawn has grown through if more correction is needed.
Clean Fill
Best for: Bulk site levelling and raising low ground before topsoil.
Structural fill only — not a growing medium. Always cap with 150–300mm of quality topsoil before planting or laying turf.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- •Test drainage before ordering: dig a 300mm hole, fill with water, and time how long it takes to drain. Slow drainage means you need a sandier blend or subsurface drainage.
- •Order 10–15% more than the calculated volume to allow for settling and compaction.
SANDS
Sand is not interchangeable. Particle shape, size and silt content determine whether a sand is suitable for bedding, mortar, drainage or septic systems.
Bedding / Paving Sand
Best for: Screeded bedding layer under pavers and segmental retaining blocks.
Lay 25–40mm, screeded level. Do not use loamy or washed plastering sand — they hold water and cause paver movement.
Washed River Sand
Best for: Concrete mixes, rendering, brickies' mortar and general construction.
Sharp, clean and low in clay fines. Confirm the grade with your bricklayer or concreter before ordering.
Fill Sand
Best for: Bulk filling, backfilling trenches and pool surrounds.
Cheaper, unwashed sand suitable as structural fill. Not appropriate as a paver bedding or finishing layer.
AES Sand
Best for: Aerated Effluent Septic (AES) trenches and absorption beds.
Graded specifically to meet AES specifications. Always verify the spec sheet matches your plumber's or council's requirements before delivery.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- •If a sand clumps in your hand when squeezed, it has too much clay or silt for bedding or drainage use.
- •For pool surrounds and trench backfill, screen for sharp debris that could damage liners or pipework.
GRAVELS, ROAD BASE & DRIVEWAY MATERIALS
Driveways, hardstands and pathways fail when the base is wrong. Choose materials that can be compacted in layers and shed water away from the surface.
Road Base (CBR 80 / DGB20)
Best for: Driveways, shed slabs, pathways and base prep under pavers or concrete.
A graded crushed rock with fines that bind when compacted. Lay in 100mm layers, water lightly, and compact each layer with a plate or roller.
Recycled Crushed Concrete
Best for: Cost-effective sub-base for driveways and hardstands.
Performs similarly to natural road base for most domestic applications. Not recommended as a finished surface where appearance matters.
Drainage Gravel (20mm Blue Metal / Single-Size Aggregate)
Best for: Ag-line trenches, soakwells, behind retaining walls and French drains.
Single-sized, free-draining and angular. Wrap trenches in geotextile fabric to prevent surrounding soil from clogging the voids.
Decorative Driveway Stone
Best for: Finished surface layer on a compacted road base driveway.
Lay 40–75mm thick over a well-compacted base. Edge restraints (timber, steel or concrete) prevent stone from migrating into garden beds.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- •Always slope hardstand surfaces a minimum of 1:50 (20mm per metre) away from buildings.
- •Geotextile fabric between subgrade and road base prolongs the life of any driveway by preventing fines from pumping up into the base.
MULCHES & GROUND COVERS
Mulch reduces watering, suppresses weeds and regulates soil temperature. The right mulch depends on whether you're feeding plants, finishing a feature bed or stabilising a slope.
Hardwood / Forest Mulch
Best for: General garden beds and shrub borders.
Breaks down slowly and feeds soil over time. Apply 75–100mm thick, keeping it 50mm clear of plant stems and trunks to prevent collar rot.
Sugar Cane / Pea Straw
Best for: Vegetable gardens and seedling beds.
Fast-decomposing and high in nitrogen as it breaks down. Top up every few months through the growing season.
Decorative Bark / Pine Chip
Best for: Feature beds, playground areas and low-traffic pathways.
Longer lasting and tidy looking, but provides less nutritional benefit. Refresh the top layer annually to maintain colour.
Pebbles & River Stone
Best for: Permanent low-maintenance borders, dry creek beds and around taps.
Doesn't decompose, but reflects heat onto adjacent plants. Lay over weed mat for best results and avoid using around heat-sensitive species.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- •Never apply mulch deeper than 100mm — thicker layers become hydrophobic and shed water instead of absorbing it.
- •Refresh organic mulches annually; they typically lose half their depth to decomposition each year.
HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED?
Most bulk landscaping products are sold by the cubic metre (m³). Use this simple method to estimate, then add 10–15% for settling and waste.
Rectangular Areas
Best for: Garden beds, driveways, lawn underlay.
Length (m) × Width (m) × Depth (m) = volume in m³. Example: 6m × 3m × 0.1m = 1.8 m³.
Circular Areas
Best for: Tree rings, fire pits, round garden beds.
π × radius² × depth. Example: 3.14 × (1.5m)² × 0.1m ≈ 0.71 m³.
Common Depth Guide
Best for: Quick reference.
Turf underlay 75–100mm · Garden soil 300–400mm · Mulch 75–100mm · Paver bedding 25–40mm · Road base 100mm compacted layers · Driveway stone 40–75mm.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- •One cubic metre covers approximately 10m² at 100mm depth, or 20m² at 50mm depth.
- •If you're unsure, share your dimensions and project type with us and we'll confirm the right product and quantity.
STILL NOT SURE?
Tell us about the project — the area, what you're trying to achieve, and any site constraints (slope, drainage, access). We'll recommend the right product and quantity and arrange delivery to suit your schedule.
ENQUIRIES
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