Landscaping
Landscaping: from a design to a finished garden in Malta
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A landscaping project is mostly groundwork. The planting and the paving people notice come last; before that there are levels to set, soil to move, drainage to plan and waste to take away. Getting those early decisions right is what separates a garden that still works in ten winters from one that floods by the back door. Describe your garden once and the request goes to one landscaper who covers your area.
- Exactly one business. Your request is handed out once. After that, no other business sees it.
- You know who will be in touch. Before the business receives your contact details, we send you its name, address and phone number.
- Withdraw at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time – using the link in our email.
Design first, or design and build
Some people commission a garden designer, get a scaled plan and planting scheme, and then ask landscapers to build it. Others go to a landscaping firm that designs and builds. A separate design gives you a fixed document that any contractor can price and makes it easier to phase the work over several years. Design and build is simpler to manage, but the design is then tied to that firm.
Either way, the plan should show levels, not only shapes. A lawn that looks flat on paper may fall towards the house; a raised terrace changes how rainwater runs. A survey of existing levels, services and drainage runs is money well spent before anything is dug.
What a new garden build usually involves
The order of work matters. Clearance and removal come first, then groundworks and drainage, then hard landscaping such as walls, steps and paving, then topsoil, planting and turf. Lawns laid from turf give an instant result; seeding is cheaper but needs time and the right season. Planting is best done when the ground is workable and not frozen or baked dry, which is why many landscapers plan planting for autumn or spring.
Ponds need a liner or preformed shell, a sensible depth and a plan for overflow in heavy rain. If young children live in or visit the house, talk to the landscaper about a grille, a raised edge or leaving the pond until later. Irrigation systems connected to the mains must meet the water fittings regulations, which protect drinking water from backflow; your water company can advise on what is needed.
- site survey: levels, existing drains, services, soil
- clearance, muck-away and how waste is disposed of
- drainage for lawns, paving and retaining walls
- hard landscaping: walls, steps, edging, paving
- topsoil depth and quality, turf or seed
- plant list with sizes, and who replaces plants that fail
- ponds, lighting, irrigation and outdoor power
Rules that can apply to a garden project
Most garden work needs no permission, but a few elements do.
Trees are the other trap. Hedge work also needs care in spring and summer, because it is an offence to damage or destroy an active wild bird nest.
Waste, access and the neighbours
Landscaping produces a lot of spoil, old paving and green waste. If waste from your garden ends up fly-tipped, the householder can be held responsible, so ask where it goes.
Access decides a good part of the price. A garden reached only through the house means everything goes through by hand or with small machines, protected floors and more labour.
What a landscaping quote should make clear
Two quotes for the same drawing can differ because one includes drainage and the other does not, or one allows for a depth of sub-base the other skips. Ask for the scope in writing, the materials by name, and what is excluded. Staged payments tied to finished phases are common on larger jobs; avoid paying most of the price before work starts. Ask whether planting comes with any replacement if plants die in the first season, and what aftercare the firm expects you to do.
In Malta: permits, licences and the business behind the quote
Whether the garden project needs a development permit from the Planning Authority depends on what is built and where; in apartment blocks, the rules of the condominium also apply. Ask before you commit, and let the business tell you which documents it needs from you.
Electrical installation work is carried out by licensed electricians; ask to see the licence and the certificate for the finished installation. Maltese businesses are registered with the Malta Business Registry, so ask for the company registration and VAT numbers, and check whether the quote includes VAT.
Source: mbr.mt
What happens to your request
You confirm your mobile number with a text code and your email address with a link. We then show the request to businesses in your area, without your name or contact details. Only one business can take it on; it pays Offrano for the request, and it costs you nothing.
Before that business sees your details, we email you its name, address and phone number. We check only that it is a registered business, for example through its Malta Business Registry entry or VAT number, not the quality of its work. We cannot promise that a business will respond; if nobody takes the request within 21 days, we withdraw it. Offrano is not a party to any contract for the work.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a garden designer as well as a landscaper?
Not always. For a simple layout, a design-and-build landscaper is often enough. For a complex garden with level changes, a planting scheme or work phased over years, an independent design gives you a plan you own and can have priced by any contractor.
When is the best time of year for a garden build?
Hard landscaping can go ahead most of the year, although heavy rain and frost slow groundworks. Planting and new lawns do best in autumn or spring. Many landscapers book up for spring, so asking in late winter helps.
Can the landscaper remove trees at the same time?
Large or awkward trees are a job for a tree surgeon with the right training and insurance.
How do I check a business in Malta?
Ask for its company registration number, which you can check with the Malta Business Registry, and its VAT number.
Source: mbr.mt
Can I withdraw my request?
Yes, through the link in any email from Offrano. If a business has already taken it on, we pass your withdrawal to it straight away.
What does the request cost me?
Nothing. The business that takes on your request pays Offrano for it. Whether you accept its quote is entirely up to you.
Ready to make your request?
Describe your project – your request goes to exactly one business.
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