COURTYARD SOLUTIONS
Jasper Green plans courtyards for terraces, semis and strata homes across the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore. In these enclosed, mostly paved spaces, walls, shade and drainage decide more than plant choice does. Each project starts by understanding what the site is actually doing, so the courtyard works throughout the year, in July just as well as in January.
Who this service is for
This service is for owners of terraces, semis and townhouses with an enclosed rear, side or internal courtyard. It also suits strata owners with an exclusive-use courtyard, and people renovating where the courtyard sits between the new rooms and the boundary. Most of these spaces are paved and under 50 m², and they are reached through the house or from a rear lane.
If your project is a front garden, often with heritage overlay, see Front Gardens. For balconies, rooftops and apartment terraces, see Rooftops + Balconies. For larger backyards or a whole property, see Residential Landscapes.
Courtyard issues we regularly resolve
- Winter shade: where the sun falls in each season decides where you sit and what will grow, so the layout follows the shadows. Our guide to what works in Sydney courtyards covers this in more depth.
- Drainage: water has to leave by the side path to the street or towards the rear. The falls are set before any paving is chosen, and existing pipes and pits are checked rather than assumed.
- Limited soil: slabs, footings and services below ground limit root space. Planter depth is matched to the plant, not the other way round.
- Overlooking: screening is placed where the view from upstairs windows lands, which is often not at the boundary fence.
- Strata rules and neighbouring trees: changes to a strata courtyard usually need owners corporation approval. A neighbour’s large tree can also be protected under council tree rules even when its trunk is next door. In some councils that applies to trees with a branch spread over 3 m or a height over 5 m.
- Access and storage: without a laneway, materials, bins and plants all come through the house, which affects what can be built and kept there.
How a courtyard project runs
- Discovery Call (free, 30 minutes). We talk through what you want from the courtyard. Afterwards you receive an email outlining a Site Diagnostic as the next step.
- Site Diagnostic. A structured investigation of the site before any decisions are made. You receive a report setting out what was found, what it means for the courtyard, and a recommended project pathway. The Site Diagnostic page explains what it covers.
- Scope of Works. You receive a list of deliverables and a fixed fee, set according to the complexity the diagnostic found.
- Reverse Brief. This is a written confirmation of your goals, priorities and constraints, so we agree on the problem before any solutions are developed.
- Concept. You receive a layout and planting approach that responds to the site’s conditions.
- Working plans. You receive final plans, a planting schedule, materials and guidance for landscaping.
- Construction support (optional). On site visits as required to resolve questions as the courtyard is built.
Each step is set out in more detail on our process page.
Fees
Fees for a courtyard project start from $2,000. The Discovery Call is free. Every project starts with a Site Diagnostic, and the fee is then fixed in a Scope of Works. This means you know the full cost before work begins, and you pay in stages as the work progresses. For what drives the cost of a project, see our guide to landscape design costs in Sydney.
Where we work
We work across Sydney. Courtyards are most common where terraces, semis and older apartment blocks sit close together, so much of this work is in Balmain, Birchgrove, Rozelle, Leichhardt and Glebe; Paddington, Woollahra, Double Bay and Bellevue Hill; and Kirribilli, McMahons Point and Crows Nest. Most are terraces and semis with laneway access, or strata homes with an exclusive-use courtyard.
Who you’ll work with
Damian Norton founded Jasper Green on the view that good outcomes start with understanding people, places and the problems that connect them.
With a degree in design and a postgraduate certificate in garden design, he brings decades of experience in strategy and problem-solving to landscape work, based around careful investigation of each site and client needs.
Damian leads every Jasper Green project, from the first call to construction support, and brings in arborists, engineers and other specialists when a project or site needs them.
Frequently asked courtyard questions
Why is nothing growing in my courtyard?
Usually several conditions are working against the plants at once: shade from walls and neighbouring buildings, soil that stays too dry or too wet, root competition from nearby trees, and water with nowhere to go. They affect each other, so replacing plants or fixing one condition rarely solves it. Working out which apply to your courtyard, and how they interact, is what the Site Diagnostic is for.
Why is my courtyard always damp?
Most damp courtyards have water arriving faster than it can leave, combined with shade and still air that stop surfaces drying out. The source might be the paving, the downpipes, the pits or the neighbouring property, and each calls for a different fix. Finding the actual source comes before choosing paving, planting or drainage.
How do I get rid of mosquitoes in my courtyard?
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so in a courtyard they are usually a drainage and detailing problem rather than a pest problem. We deal with it as part of the plan, so the finished courtyard doesn’t hold water where they can breed.
Can my courtyard be made cooler in summer?
Yes. Paving and brick walls store heat during the day and release it into the evening, which is why enclosed courtyards stay hot after sunset. The answer lies in shading and changing those surfaces, balanced against keeping the winter sun that most Sydney courtyards are short of.
Do I need council or strata approval for courtyard work?
Often, yes. Strata schemes generally require owners corporation approval for changes to common property, and council rules can apply to protected trees (including a neighbour’s), heritage conservation areas and some structures. The Site Diagnostic identifies which approvals apply to your courtyard before you commit to anything.
How long does a courtyard project take?
The Site Diagnostic site visit takes one to two hours, and the report follows within 10 to 14 days. Once the fee is agreed in the Scope of Works, a courtyard concept takes two to four weeks, and working plans a further four to six weeks. Timing depends on the courtyard’s complexity and the client brief.
Can I use my own landscaper?
Yes. The plans and documentation are prepared so any qualified landscaper can price and build from them. Many clients already have a builder or landscaper they trust. Construction support is available if you’d like help keeping to the plan while the courtyard is being built.
Start with a conversation
If your courtyard is damp, dark or rarely used, a free 30-minute Discovery Call is the place to start.
