If you manage commercial, strata or institutional property in Perth, "what should grounds maintenance cost?" is one of the hardest questions to get a straight answer to. Quotes for the same site can vary wildly, and a low number often hides a thin scope.

Rather than publish prices that wouldn't fit your property anyway, here's an honest look at what actually drives the cost — so you can budget sensibly, write a clear brief, and compare quotes fairly.

What goes into a grounds-maintenance quote

A proper quote isn't a guess off the kerb. It's built from the work your grounds genuinely need across the year — mowing and edging, garden-bed care, hedging and pruning, mulching, weed and pest management, reticulation checks, seasonal clean-ups and safety jobs. The more of these your property needs, and the higher the standard, the more it costs. The factors below are the big levers.

Site size and complexity

The obvious one. A larger site takes more crew hours — but complexity matters just as much as area. A simple expanse of lawn is quick; the same area broken up by garden beds, hedges, paths, slopes, planters and feature plantings takes far longer to maintain to the same standard. Established gardens with lots of pruning and edging cost more than open turf.

Frequency and service level

How often crews attend, and to what standard, is the single biggest swing in any quote. Weekly mowing through summer is a very different budget to fortnightly or monthly. "Service level" is the other half — a tidy, presentation-first standard for a corporate frontage costs more than a keep-it-safe-and-functional standard for a back-of-house area. Be clear about which areas need which.

Reticulation condition

This is the cost most quotes gloss over — and where the real money hides. A well-maintained, efficient system keeps turf and gardens healthy cheaply; a failing one wastes water for weeks and kills plantings that then need replacing. Factor in regular checks and seasonal adjustments, and budget for repairs or upgrades if the system is old. A contractor who builds proactive reticulation care into the programme usually saves you more than they charge.

Access and disruption constraints

Where and when the work happens affects the price. Sites that must be maintained around trading hours, school timetables, hospital operations or resident amenity — with restricted access, parking limits or out-of-hours work — take more coordination and cost more than a site a crew can roll onto any time.

Contract vs ad-hoc

Reactive, call-out-by-call-out maintenance feels cheaper but rarely is. A scheduled contract lets a contractor plan routes and resources efficiently, catch small problems before they become expensive ones, and give you a predictable cost you can budget and report against. For most property managers and strata managers, a programmed contract with one reliable provider works out better value than juggling ad-hoc trades.

How to compare quotes fairly

The headline number is almost meaningless on its own. To compare like with like:

  • Match the scope. Does each quote cover the same tasks — including reticulation, mulching and reporting — or is one just mowing?
  • Match the frequency and service level for each area.
  • Check what's excluded. Mulch top-ups, reticulation repairs, pest treatment and green-waste removal are common extras.
  • Ask about reporting. Documented visits make your reporting to owners and committees far easier.
  • Look for proactive care, not just reactive attendance — it's where the long-term savings are.

A slightly higher quote with reticulation care, clear reporting and the right frequencies usually beats a bare-bones number that balloons with extras.

How we scope a tender

At Perth Landscaping Group, we walk the site, understand your priorities and budget, and scope a programme with clear inclusions, frequencies and pricing — so there are no surprises. We cover the lot under one contract (turf, gardens, hedging, reticulation and reporting), work to your access constraints, and give you a single point of contact across every site. It's all part of our commercial grounds maintenance service, delivered the carbon-neutral, waterwise way.

If you'd like a tailored quote — or a second opinion on one you've received — get in touch and we'll scope your site properly.