landscape design process

We will talk on the phone together about your project and decide the best path forward. Normally the first step is a paid consultation ($100 / hr) to suggest ideas and concepts and to discuss the best path forward for your landscape design project. This meeting is an opportunity to tour your existing landscape and to determine requirements and objectives. This is a working session, and David will provide specific ideas on how your new landscape can be laid out. To help you prepare for this meeting (or any designer), please complete the “ideas & dreams” survey. 

After the proposal has been accepted, a second visit is an opportunity to measure the property and gather specific site information such as sun and shade patterns, evaluation of existing plants and the influence of surrounding properties. Measurements and photographs are used to create a base map, which becomes the basis of your design. Depending on the complexity of the site, you may be referred to a professional mapping service.

We can help with material selection, plant sizing and other design elements to make sure everything is compatible with your budget. While every design is different, most design packages include the following:

Landscape Plan – Provides a detailed, scaled, working drawing that your contractor uses to install the design.

Planting Plan – Indicates botanical and common names of all plants, location, and quantities. notes on planting and irrigation follow environmentally sound principles.

Hydrozone Plan – Groups plants by water zone usage for efficient installation (note: this is NOT the same as an irrigation plan).

Lighting Plan – Shows location and fixture type for low voltage lighting plans. Lighting is one of the most under appreciated elements in a garden, and extends and enhances your enjoyment of the garden.

At the end of this process, you’ll have everything required to work with a contractor on installing your design. David stays involved with most projects to provide assistance with design details, plant placement and site observation (in consultation with the contractor). If you need help in finding a licensed contractor, David is happy to provide recommendations.

We love to be on board at the pre-design or design stage of projects so we can advise on how best to create beautiful, functional landscapes that marry the desires of our clients with their budget to ensure projects are buildable, cost-effective and of the highest quality craftsmanship.

We know that successful landscape projects depend on excellent teamwork. We work closely with our clients / designer / architect at all stages of the project. 

Our goal is to provide our clients with the very best realization of their dream landscapes on time and on budget, every time. We attend to any problems in a

timely manner. We offer both continued seasonal reviews as well as seasonal maintenance of the gardens that we install. This is all part of providing the very best service 

to our clients.