The Landscape Design Process

Creating a beautiful garden is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight and requires inquiry, planning, research, proper execution, and maintenance. The following is an overview of the landscape design process:

Free phone consultation

We find it mutually beneficial to get to know you a bit over a short phone conversation. During this phone consultation we will discuss your landscape project and what your goals, timeline, budget, and preferences are. To set up your free phone consultation please contact us.

Tell us about your project

After our phone conversation, if it feels as though it would be a good fit for us to work together, we will ask that you fill out our client questionnaire. Your garden, like your home, should be a reflection of you: your personal style, your lifestyle, and your resources.  This survey will help us to understand you, what you want to achieve, your ideas, and how you want to use your new outdoor space.

Initial on-site consultation

The next step in the process is to schedule an initial on-site consultation. At this meeting we will walk your property, discuss what your likes and dislikes are about your garden now, make suggestions regarding layout and design elements, answer any questions you might have (about everything from gardening to the landscape design process) and get to know you a little better. This meeting is a great time to go over any photos you may have of concepts you like as well as view our portfolio of work. There is a $200 fee for this consultation.  Additional consultation time will be billed at $85 per hour.

Design proposal

A detailed design proposal will be given to you after the on-site consultation detailing the scope of the design work, elements to be included in the design, and the cost of the design. Upon agreement to the terms, a signed proposal, and a deposit we will schedule to begin work on your project.

Site survey

The next step is for us to conduct a site survey to take into account the existing garden and conditions, map out boundaries and take other measurements required for the preparation of the landscape plan. We take photographs and note existing hardscape and plant material. Client supplied site plans and/or existing survey information is helpful and can accelerate the process and possibly reduce the cost.

Conceptual designs

One or more concept plans will be created to give you visual layouts outlining our ideas combined with your requests and preferences in various layouts. We will meet to go over these concepts and to discuss proposed plant material and hardscape options to give you a feel for the space and the opportunity to select materials that appeal to you

Master landscape plan

The final step in the design process is to assemble everything that appealed to you in one or more of the concept plans, elements, and materials, and prepare the final master plan. Depending on the scope of the project the Master Plan can include one to all of the following: Site Development Plan, Planting Plan, Lighting Plan, Irrigation Plan, and 3d landscape Modeling. A packet with plant photos, botanical and common names, quantities, sizes, and maintenance guidelines are included with the Master Plan.

Landscape project management

When you are ready to implement your project, we can be with you every step of the way, from the bid process to the installation of the landscape design. The best result is obtained when we manage our landscape projects and work with the landscape contractors from start to finish to ensure the vision of the design is executed the way it was intended. We oversee the landscape installation to make sure that the work is done is up our standards and expectations. We work with several contractors who offer excellent customer service, do quality work, and have positive reputations and references. The landscape contractors we partner with are fully licensed, bonded and insured. If the installation of the project is something you would like to do yourself we can help guide you through that process as well.

Garden coaching, consulting, and maintenance

A newly installed garden must be cared for and maintained to ensure that it will grow and continue to thrive. We can connect you with knowledgeable horticulturalists who will create an individualized landscape maintenance plan for you as well as offer regular site visits to help you cultivate and maintain your garden.