Thinking about upgrading your backyard or front garden? Whether you're doing a full renovation or just a weekend project, choosing the right landscaping products is essential to achieving a functional and visually stunning result.

Creating a beautiful and functional outdoor space starts with choosing the right materials. Each product can shape the way your landscape looks whether they are concrete pavers or retaining walls. That said, here are 8 landscaping materials every homeowner should know in transforming outdoor spaces:

Ideal for patios, walkways, courtyards, and entertaining zones, concrete pavers offer a durable and stylish solution for ground surfacing.

Why homeowners love them:

• Wide range of colours, textures, and shapes
• Slip-resistant and easy to clean
• Suitable for DIY and professional installation

Explore the Austral Masonry paver collection for modern and classic design options.

Retaining walls are essential for managing soil on sloped sites or creating raised garden beds. They also add definition and structure to your yard.

Options include:

• Interlocking blocks for easy DIY stacking
• Concrete sleepers and steel posts for modern structural walls
• Coloured blocks for decorative finishes

Browse Austral Masonry retaining wall products to match your landscape needs.

Concrete sleepers are one of the most durable retaining wall materials available. They replicate the look of timber or stone, but won’t rot, split or warp.

Top uses:

• Raised garden beds
• Terrace stabilisation
• Boundary and feature walls

Pair with galvanised or powder-coated steel posts for a long-lasting, professional look.

Define lawn edges, separate garden beds, or border paths using masonry blocks or narrow-format pavers.

Benefits:

• Clean lines
• Prevents grass overgrowth
• Reduces mulch loss in rain

Edge products come in different formats to match your chosen wall or paving design.

Add personality and depth to your landscape with decorative masonry blocks.

• Use split-faced or honed textures for visual contrast
• Mix colours for a modern, architectural look
• Integrate lighting or planter boxes

Decorative garden walls are ideal for entryways, pool areas, or alfresco entertaining spaces.

Create winding paths or stepping stone trails using small-format pavers. They:

• Guide movement through the garden
• Prevent muddy shoes
• Add character and charm

Pro tip: Combine with gravel or lawn for contrasting textures and easy drainage.

While not always visible, materials like bedding sand, crushed rock, and drainage gravel are critical to the longevity of your landscape.

• Ensure level surfaces
• Allow for water movement
• Support heavy loads without shifting

Your local supplier or installer can help you calculate quantities and choose the right materials.

Paving or concrete block pads form the base for:

• BBQs and outdoor kitchens
• Garden furniture and lounges

Using hard surfaces for foundations keeps timber or metal furniture level, clean and safe from water damage.

Before buying, assess your:

• Space: measure accurately and sketch a simple layout
• Style preferences: modern, rustic, native, minimalist?
• Budget: plan for both product and installation costs

Also consider function: Do you need drainage? Is slip-resistance a priority? Do you want low-maintenance finishes?

Check out more design advice or talk to a landscape designer for a custom approach.

Smart landscaping starts with the right materials. Whether you’re laying a new path, building a retaining wall, or edging your garden beds, choosing the right products makes all the difference.

Explore the full Austral Masonry product range and take the first step toward creating a landscape you’ll love for years to come.

To help you get started with landscaping, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions homeowners ask to use in their lawns:

Concrete pavers are a popular choice for its clean appearance, durability, and excellent drainage. These materials help prevent moisture build-up and reduce maintenance around the home's perimeter.

When buying materials for landscaping, it’s best to buy pavers, retaining wall blocks, edging materials, soil, mulch, and base materials. The right products depend on your design goals, site conditions, and whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a contractor.

Concrete pavers are an excellent ground cover near foundations because of its clean lines, proper drainage, and durable, low-maintenance surface. It also helps prevent moisture buildup, deter pests, and seamlessly tie into patios or garden paths for a cohesive look.