Whether you're redesigning your backyard, laying a new lawn, building raised garden beds or setting a paved driveway, the quality of your landscaping supplies determines the quality of the finished result. Choosing the wrong grade of sand, under-ordering soil or picking a mulch that doesn't suit your climate can all cost you time and money down the track.
At Martins Building & Landscape Supplies, we've been helping Sydney home owners, landscapers and builders get their material selections right since 1970. This guide walks you through the full material toolkit for a typical Sydney landscaping project — what each product does, when to use it and how to get the right quantities.
The Core Landscaping Supply Categories
| Material Category | Key Products | Common Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Sand | Sydney sand, Nepean, bush sand, fill sand, uni sand | Concrete, bricklaying, paving, rendering, earthworks |
| Soils & Mixes | Garden fine mix, turf underlay, lawn mix, potting mix | Garden beds, new turf, lawn establishment, containers |
| Mulches & Barks | Pine bark, hardwood chip, cypress, sugar cane, eucalyptus | Garden beds, weed suppression, decorative landscaping |
| Aggregates | Blue metal, river pebbles, road base, recycled concrete | Drainage, driveways, sub-base, decorative |
| Building Products | Cement, concrete mix, mortar, mesh, hebel | Structural work, retaining walls, shed slabs |
Planning Your Sydney Landscaping Project: A Material Checklist
Before you order anything, work through these questions:
- Are you laying turf? You'll need turf underlay (100–200mm depth) plus a lawn mix for top-dressing.
- Are you building garden beds? Budget for fine garden soil mix and then a layer of mulch on top (75–100mm depth).
- Are you paving or building a driveway? You'll need road base for the sub-base, coarse sand for bedding and jointing sand for paver joints.
- Are you building retaining walls or structures? Add cement, mortar mix and possibly mesh reinforcing to your list.
- Are you adding drainage? Blue metal aggregate is the go-to material for sub-soil drainage and behind retaining walls.
A well-executed Sydney landscaping project draws on the right mix of soil, sand, mulch and aggregate — in the right quantities.
Landscaping Supplies for Sydney's Climate
Sydney's warm summers and moderate winters create specific demands on landscaping materials. A few local considerations worth knowing:
- Mulch is essential — Sydney summers are dry and hot. A 75–100mm mulch layer across your garden beds significantly reduces watering frequency and protects roots during heat waves.
- Free-draining soil matters — Sydney's clay-heavy soils in many suburbs need amendment with a quality garden mix to prevent waterlogging in winter.
- Termite-aware mulching — in areas with active termite pressure, choose cypress pine mulch and keep all mulch well clear of timber structures.
- Drainage aggregates — adequate drainage behind retaining walls and around foundations is critical in Sydney's heavier rainfall events. Blue metal aggregate is the standard drainage layer material.
How to Calculate How Much Landscaping Material You Need
The basic formula for all bulk materials: Area (m²) × Depth (m) = Volume (m³). Add 10–15% for compaction, waste and uneven ground. Not sure? Use our Quantity Calculator on the website or call our team — we'll work out the quantities before you order.
Bulk Bags or Loose Tipped: Which Is Right for Your Project?
Martins delivers landscaping supplies in several formats to suit different project scales:
- Bags (20–60L) — ideal for small residential jobs, top-up orders or tight access properties.
- 1-tonne bulk bags — suited to mid-size residential and trade jobs. Easy to shift with a forklift or truck arm.
- Loose tipped (rigid trucks and truck & dog) — the most cost-effective option for large landscaping jobs, civil projects or full backyard makeovers. We can tip to 3, 6, 9 or 12-tonne loads.
Why Sydney Landscapers Choose Martins BLS
We've been a trusted landscaping supplies supplier in Sydney since 1970. Here's why landscapers, builders and home owners come back to us:
- One yard, one call — sand, soil, mulch, aggregates and building products all in one place
- Expert advice from staff who know the products and understand construction and landscaping applications
- Reliable delivery across the Sydney metro area Monday to Saturday
- Competitive pricing on bulk orders with special quotes available for large projects
- Decades of experience supplying residential, commercial and civil landscaping projects
Explore Our Full Range
For landscaping design inspiration and plant selection guides for Sydney gardens, visit ABC Gardening Australia or the Royal Horticultural Society.
Frequently Asked Questions: Landscaping Supplies in Sydney
What landscaping supplies do I need for a new garden?
For a new residential garden, you'll typically need: garden fine mix for beds (200mm depth), turf underlay for lawn areas (100–200mm depth), mulch for garden beds (75–100mm depth), sand for any paved areas, and road base for driveways or paths. Our team can help you put together a full material list based on your project size.
Do you supply landscaping materials for commercial projects?
Yes. Martins BLS supplies landscapers, builders and developers on commercial-scale projects. We offer special pricing for large orders and can deliver truck and dog loads for high-volume requirements. Contact us for a custom quote.
How do I work out how much landscaping material I need?
Use the formula: Area (m²) × Depth (m) = Volume (m³). Add 10–15% for compaction, waste and uneven ground. Our Quantity Calculator on the website makes this easy, or call us and we'll calculate it for you before you order.
Can you deliver landscaping supplies across Western Sydney?
Yes. We deliver across the Sydney metropolitan area including Western Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, the Hills District, Blacktown and surrounding suburbs. Delivery is available Monday to Friday 6am–5pm and Saturday 6:30am–2pm.
What is the best mulch for a Sydney garden?
For most Sydney gardens, pine bark or hardwood chip mulch are the best all-round choices. Pine bark is clean, slow-decomposing and holds shape well. Hardwood chip is more durable for high-traffic areas. For veggie gardens, sugar cane mulch breaks down quickly and enriches the soil. Cypress pine is the best choice near buildings.
Do you stock recycled landscaping materials?
Yes. We stock recycled road base, recycled concrete aggregate and recycled crusher sand — all cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternatives for sub-base, drainage and earthworks applications.
What is the minimum order for bulk landscaping materials?
We can supply from a single 1-tonne bulk bag. For specific minimum order quantities on individual products, call our team on (02) 9651 1055. For very small quantities, individual bags are available for most products.
How far in advance should I order landscaping supplies?
For most orders, we can arrange delivery within 1–3 business days. For large or multi-product orders, booking a few days ahead is recommended to ensure everything arrives together and suits your site schedule.
Plan Your Landscaping Project with Martins
Sydney's trusted landscaping supply yard since 1970. All materials, one call, reliable delivery across the metro area.
