Gardens shaped by place, and evolving through time
Marais Landscaping designs and builds ecologically grounded gardens — living environments that respond to their surroundings, support biodiversity, and grow more considered with time.
A quieter way to think about gardens
Most gardens are treated as finished products. Installed, perfected, and maintained into stillness.
But a garden is not a static object. It is a living system — shaped by climate, soil, time, and the life it supports.
When these forces are ignored, gardens become fragile. High-maintenance. Disconnected from their surroundings.
We approach things differently.
Our Approach
We design gardens as part of a larger ecological system.
Planting is not applied as decoration, but developed as a response — to place, to climate, and to the rhythms of the site.
Spaces are composed with restraint. Not everything is controlled. Not everything needs to be.
Over time, this creates gardens that feel settled. Grounded. As though they belong.
Grounded in environment
Not imposed upon it, but shaped by the conditions of the site.
Planting with purpose
Supporting biodiversity, habitat, and long-term ecological balance.
Designed to evolve
Gardens that mature, adapt, and improve over time.
What We Create
Our work spans a range of garden types, but they are all rooted in the same thinking.
Gardens that support life. And feel meaningful to inhabit.
Indigenous and fynbos gardens
Pollinator and wildlife-friendly landscapes
Naturalistic residential gardens
Sanctuary and wellbeing spaces
Mediterranean and climate-responsive planting
Edible and productive gardens
Selected Work
Every project is an exploration of how a garden can belong more deeply to its place.
How We Work
Our process is structured, but not rigid. It allows for clarity at the outset, and responsiveness as the garden takes shape.
01
Understanding the site
We begin with careful observation — the land, the architecture, and how the space is used.
02
Design direction
We develop a clear framework for the garden — spatially and ecologically.
03
Planting and material decisions
Every element is considered in relation to the whole, not in isolation.
04
Build and implementation
We carry the work through on site, shaping each element with care and attention.
05
Ongoing stewardship
Gardens evolve. We remain involved where needed, guiding that process over time.
Why Clients Come to Us
Many of our clients arrive with a similar tension. They want something natural, but not unstructured. Ecological, but still refined.
They are often trying to move away from:
Overly manicured gardens
Artificial lawns and generic planting
Spaces that feel imposed rather than belonging
What they are really looking for is clarity.
A way to make decisions that will still feel right years from now.
We bring:
A strong point of view, grounded in ecology
A sense of restraint — knowing what not to add
Long-term thinking shaped by real gardens over time
About
Marais Landscaping is a Cape Town-based garden design and landscaping studio focused on creating ecologically grounded outdoor spaces.
Our work brings together planting, material, and spatial thinking to create gardens that feel connected to their surroundings and meaningful to inhabit.
Each project is approached with care — not as a fixed outcome, but as a living environment shaped over time.
If you’re considering a new garden or transforming an existing space, we’d be happy to explore it with you.