McDowall is a leafy residential suburb just south of Bridgeman Downs, with the Chermside Hills bushland reserves along its edge. It's around twenty minutes from our Brendale base, and we look after lawns, hedges and gardens for homeowners throughout the suburb.
It's a suburb of family homes, many with pools, big trees and gardens that have filled out over thirty or forty years. Properties close to the bushland also deal with whatever comes over the back fence: leaf litter, native seedlings and weeds spreading in from the reserve edges.
Homes and blocks in McDowall
McDowall took its name in 1975, from the newly opened local school, which honoured Colonel John McDowall, an early settler. The suburb grew quickly over the next two decades, from about 2,500 residents in 1980 to around 6,500 by 2001, and much of its housing dates from that period: brick family homes, often on sloping blocks, with pools, decks and tiered gardens.
Newer estates have been added more recently, including the Gordon Olive Estate, but the overall feel is established and green. Mature street trees and gardens that have been growing for decades need regular care to stay in proportion to the house and keep light reaching the lawn.
Around McDowall
The Chermside Hills Reserves, around 129 hectares of linked bushland in McDowall and Chermside West, are the area's defining feature. They include Raven Street Reserve, home to the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre, and form part of the council's Mountains to Mangroves wildlife corridor between the D'Aguilar Range and Moreton Bay.
From Brendale, McDowall is around twenty minutes away through Bridgeman Downs, so we often group McDowall visits with Bridgeman Downs and Aspley customers on the same day.
McDowall is around 20 minutes from our Brendale base in normal traffic. View McDowall on Google Maps.
Common maintenance issues in McDowall
What we see most on McDowall properties:
Bushland-edge weeds
Weeds and vines spread from reserve edges into back lawns and garden beds.
Leaf and bark litter
Eucalypts and other big trees drop leaves and bark onto lawns, pools and gutters for most of the year.
Sloping and tiered gardens
Retaining walls, terraces and steep banks are slower to mow and trim, and lose mulch in heavy rain.
Shaded lawns
Grass under large trees thins out and struggles to recover without the right variety and care.
Pool surrounds
Lawns and gardens next to pools need clippings kept out of the water and fencing trimmed neatly.
Living on the edge of the Chermside Hills
Backing onto bushland is a big part of McDowall's appeal, but it means the boundary needs regular attention. Weeds like lantana and asparagus fern are common along Brisbane's bushland edges, and once they get into a garden bed they're hard to remove. We cut back and spot-treat weeds on your side of the fence a few times a year, choosing products carefully next to native vegetation, and leave the reserve itself to the council.
Sloping blocks need their own care. We keep banks covered with grass, groundcovers or mulch so summer storms don't strip the soil, trim around retaining walls and steps by hand, and clear bark and leaves from paths and pool areas so they stay safe underfoot. Before the hot, dry months, it's also worth reducing the build-up of dead growth close to the house.
For owners who want everything handled under one plan, our premium residential care covers lawns, hedges, gardens and seasonal work for larger McDowall homes.
Most requested services in McDowall
McDowall customers most often book:
Lawn Mowing in McDowall
Regular mowing and edging for sloping lawns and family backyards.
Hedge Trimming & Pruning in McDowall
Keeping boundary hedges and pool-fence screens neat and in proportion.
Weed Control in McDowall
Treating weeds that spread in from the bushland reserves along back fences.
Premium Residential Care in McDowall
One managed program for larger homes with pools, terraced gardens and big trees.
All our services in McDowall
Every service we offer is available in McDowall. Choose one for the full details.
Gardens, landscaping & fencing
Commercial, strata & premium residential
McDowall FAQs
Do you service McDowall?
Yes. McDowall is around twenty minutes from our Brendale base, and we usually combine visits with nearby Bridgeman Downs and Aspley.
My yard backs onto bushland. Can you keep the weeds under control?
Yes. We cut and spot-treat weeds along your side of the boundary, a few times a year or as part of regular visits, and choose products carefully near native vegetation.
Can you mow a steep or terraced lawn?
Yes. We use suitable equipment on slopes, and trim retaining walls and banks by hand where a mower can't safely go.
How do I keep grass growing under big trees?
Shaded lawns need a shade-tolerant grass, a slightly higher mowing height, less wear and regular feeding. Where there's too little light, a mulched garden bed is often a better choice than lawn.
Will clippings end up in my pool?
We direct clippings away from the water, trim carefully along pool fencing and blow down the pool surrounds before we leave.
Nearby suburbs we service
We also work in the suburbs around McDowall: