Landscaping in Forrest

According to Canberra Tracks, the Forrest Housing Precinct is bounded by Melbourne Avenue, National Circuit, Hobart Avenue, Arthur Circle and Empire Circuit. The same page links the precinct’s public landscaping to Thomas Charles Weston, Canberra’s Superintendent of Parks, Gardens and Afforestation from 1913 to 1926, and notes that his use of Australian native species was unusual for the time.

Private gardens inside the precinct sit within that setting. Renewing what is there tends to suit them better than clearing and starting again. Our article on heritage landscaping in Forrest covers the questions to ask, and you should confirm what applies to your own block before larger changes. Before a large shrub or tree comes out, it is also worth checking whether ACT tree protection rules apply.

A mature garden rarely needs everything replaced. Typical work includes:

• Pruning and reshaping shrubs that have outgrown their space.
• Replanting beds where older plants have thinned out.
• Relaying paths and edges that have lifted or sunk.
• Adding drip irrigation so established beds are watered evenly.

Hedges and boundary plantings are often the oldest part of a garden. Reshaping them gradually over a season or two is gentler than one hard cut, and keeps your privacy while they recover.

Where a bigger rework is wanted, our main landscaping page shows the full range, from garden design to retaining walls and decks.

Forrest is part of South Canberra, and ACT House & Landscaping was named Best Lawn Care Services in South Canberra in the 2026 Quality Business Awards. Mowing, edging, aeration and overseeding are all part of our lawn care service, which suits an established lawn as well as a new one.

Not every Forrest home has a large block. Townhouse courtyards and the grounds of apartment buildings need the same care on a smaller scale: a few feature plants, tidy edges, clean paving and mulch that keeps weeds down. In a small space, one overgrown shrub can block light or a path, so regular trimming matters more than in a big yard. Landscaping in Forrest at this scale often comes down to choosing a handful of plants that stay compact. Shared grounds are usually booked by the owners corporation, and we quote to whoever approves the work.