Are you looking for a landscape design or are you looking for a landscape company? With my background in Landscape Architecture, we have the ability to design your entire property but we aren’t in the business of producing landscape designs for your ‘guy’ or the DIYer. We are in the business of installing landscapes. If you’re looking for a landscape company, we prefer you interview a couple of companies whose work appeals to you and choose one of those companies. We’re hoping you choose us but if it’s not us, that’s fine too. You’re landscape company should become your trusted advisor. Once you choose a company, you work with that company throughout the project, from design through the installation of your garden. This is called the design/build process. You can read more about Landscape Designers vs Landscape Architects here. If you are just looking for a landscape design, there are people we can refer others to you that offer design only services.
Do you live in our service area? The reality is, it takes a lot of work to create a successful landscape. To keep an eye on things through establishment, it’s best if we have other clients close by so we can monitor your garden while it’s establishing. After decades of installing gardens, I will tell you that a lack of water is the only reason a garden fails within the first growing season and it usually happens within a couple of days under the right conditions. Of course, most of our clients keep us around once we’ve installed their garden for our yearly garden maintenance service but if you don’t, having other clients in the neighborhood, we will hopefully see issues before they become a problem. Another reason to only take clients in the towns we’re already in.
Does your project involve creating or renovating gardens? My goal as a designer is to keep our guys busy in the field, building gardens. We can and will help you hook up your entire property from pool to walls, patios, walkways, fire pit or fireplace, outdoor kitchen and a shade structure but if your dreams don’t involve a significant amount of new gardens in relation to the overall scope of the project, we’re probably not a good fit.
You understand we don’t work for free. After speaking with you, if I decide you’re a good fit for us and you think we are a good fit for you, I will come out to your property for a free consultation. During this meeting, you’ll do most of the talking. I’m there to listen, add an occasional idea and to guide the conversation. This meeting will usually last an hour or so. After that meeting, we will send you some type of proposal, either for design services or for the work you are hoping to accomplish. If you agree to move forward, we start charging for our time. Additional meetings, our design, anything that involves your project will be invoiced to you. So we don’t waste each others time, it’s important to give you an idea of costs ahead of time. Landscape designs for a small project will cost around $600. Our average design fees usually fall between $1400 and $2800. Larger designs that involve a lot of amenities or large garden spaces are $3000 and up. Although we have the capabilities to offer full Landscape Architecture services, it’s important to remember, we are landscapers. Our design process is typically very different than it would be with a Landscape Architecture firm. We will supply one sheet of paper. Since we are the designers and the landscapers, that is all that is needed. We eliminate the cost and need for a large set of plans telling you how to plant a tree or how to build a stonewall or what it will look like. Those decisions will be made through pictures and a quick conversation. Elements of your project we don’t supply, pools, structures, fencing and masonry, we can recommend contractors or you can bring in your own people. Style and details are communicated with involved parties, not designed. The cost of landscape projects vary. For a rough idea of what things cost, the total cost to send a crew to your house for one day to plant $1000 worth of plants is approximately $3500.
Your timing? After 40 years, I’m still amazed at the amount of people that call and expect an installed landscape in 2-3 weeks. If you have a small, simple project that doesn’t require a landscape design and you’re calling in mid summer or late fall, we might be able to install your project within a month. In most cases, especially in spring/early summer we have a backlog that is typically months long. Below is a timeline for a design and installation project as well as a simple installation that wouldn’t require a design. The typical process for a landscape project from start to finish will look similar to the process below.
You inquiry about our services.
We have a conversation and decide whether we’re a good fit.
If we decide we’re a good fit, we meet onsite to further discuss the project.
I send you a design proposal (1 week) or an installation estimate (1 month).
You agree to move forward and send a deposit (1 week).
We start your design or schedule the work if a design isn’t needed. (1-3 months depending on season and backlog).
Procure the plants or present the landscape design.
Start the project or make revisions to the plan based on your comments during the presentation of design.
Project completed (dependent on size and scope) or send the revised plan for review (2 weeks).
Create estimate from landscape design (2-4 weeks)
Schedule work and procure plants (1-3 months based on backlog).
Start project.
As you can see, it’s a long and extensive process to go from your initial inquiry to a completed project. Most of the work we take on is planned at least a season in advance. Our spring/early summer projects are always designed and sold in the fall/early winter.
If you have a project in mind that meets the criteria above, we are probably a great fit! Fill out the form below to get in touch with us today.
