Project Management

Timeline Management

Keep your landscape projects on track with timeline management and progress tracking tools.

Creating Project Timelines

Smthy helps you create realistic timelines that account for plant availability and contractor schedules.

🚀 Coming Soon: Weather-Smart Scheduling

We're developing weather integration that will automatically adjust timelines based on Australian weather patterns and seasonal constraints.

Timeline Planning

• Set project start and end dates
• Plan for seasonal planting windows
• Schedule contractor availability
• Include buffer time for delays

Smart Dependencies

• Hardscaping before planting
• Irrigation before plant installation
• Council approvals before construction
• Site preparation before delivery

Australian Seasonal Considerations

Best Planting:Autumn & Spring

Avoid Planting:Peak Summer

Hardscaping:Year-round

Wet Season Delays:Jun-Aug (varies by state)

Milestone Tracking

Set up key milestones to track progress and keep clients informed throughout the project.

Design Phase Milestones

• Initial site analysis complete
• Concept design presented to client
• Design revisions completed
• Final design approved by client
• Council submission lodged (if required)

Tender Phase Milestones

• Tender documents prepared
• Invitations sent to contractors
• Quote submission deadline
• Quote evaluation completed
• Contractors selected and notified

Construction Milestones

• Site preparation completed
• Hardscape installation finished
• Irrigation system installed and tested
• Plants delivered and installed
• Final inspection and handover

Managing Delays & Changes

Common Delay Causes

Weather Related

• Extended wet periods
• Extreme heat warnings
• Storm damage

Supply Chain

• Plant availability issues
• Material delivery delays
• Contractor scheduling conflicts

Delay Management Tools

• Automatic timeline adjustment based on weather forecasts
• Alternative supplier suggestions for delayed items
• Client notification templates for delay communication
• Impact analysis for schedule changes

Progress Tracking & Reporting

Keep clients and stakeholders informed with automated progress updates and visual timeline reports.

Automated Updates

• Weekly progress emails to clients
• Milestone completion notifications
• Photo updates from site visits
• Budget tracking and alerts

Visual Reports

• Gantt chart timeline views
• Progress percentage indicators
• Before/during/after photo galleries
• Budget vs actual cost tracking

Weather-Smart Scheduling

Smthy integrates with Australian weather data to help you plan around weather conditions and seasonal constraints.

Smart Scheduling Features

• Suggests best planting windows based on local climate
• Alerts for upcoming extreme weather events
• Automatic rescheduling for rain-affected tasks
• Seasonal availability warnings for plants

Australian Climate Considerations

Summer (Dec-Feb)

• Avoid planting in extreme heat
• Focus on hardscaping work
• Early morning/late afternoon work

Winter (Jun-Aug)

• Ideal for deciduous tree planting
• Watch for frost in southern regions
• Reduced watering requirements

Critical Path Management

Identify and manage the critical tasks that could delay your entire project if they fall behind schedule.

High-Risk Tasks

• Council approval processes (can take 4-8 weeks)
• Custom plant orders (may need 6-12 weeks lead time)
• Specialist contractor availability
• Site access and utility connections

Risk Mitigation

• Start approval processes early
• Have backup plant options ready
• Book contractors well in advance
• Identify alternative access routes

Standard Timeline Templates

Use these proven timeline templates as starting points for your projects.

Small Residential Garden (Under $20k)

Week 1-2

Design & client approval

Week 3-4

Tender & contractor selection

Week 5-8

Construction & planting

Large Commercial Project (Over $100k)

Month 1-2

Design & approvals

Month 3

Tender process

Month 4-6

Construction

Month 7

Final planting & handover

Timeline Communication

Keep clients informed and manage expectations with clear timeline communication.

Automatic Client Updates

• Weekly progress emails with photos
• Milestone completion notifications
• Weather delay explanations
• Timeline adjustment notifications

Client Portal Access

• Real-time timeline viewing
• Progress photo galleries
• Upcoming milestone alerts
• Direct messaging with project team

What's Next?

With your timelines under control, learn how to collaborate effectively with your team and contractors.