Why you should consider a design...

In the March 2003 ”Smart Money Magazine” issue, landscaping is said to increase your home’s value up to 15%. This can mean a large dollar amount, especially with the high cost of Bay Area homes. Landscaping adds curb appeal and makes your outdoor space more enjoyable.

A beautiful and functional landscape begins with a sound plan. The design process is a time where you can work with a horticultural expert, an engineer and a designer all at once. Your ideas can come to life, and a good designer will listen to your wants and needs. A plan allows the consumer to visualize the oasis that you intended your yard to be and also communicates this concept to any landscaping company.

One would not build a home without architectural plans, and this is the basis that many landscapers will recommend a plan before they begin work. A plan allows for better communication between the landscaper and the consumer, a smooth, and often, faster implementation process and a more anticipated end result.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, a landscape plan will help you organize your space, the amount of plants, hardscape items that will need to be included and other essential elements that you would like to see in your oasis.

“Why do I need a design? I already know what I want.”
Before answering this question, let's define a few terms. To begin a landscape design, an initial consultation at the site begins the information gathering and problem solving "process”, which is intended to define a plan for completing a project. A landscape PLAN is a communication device (it can be written, verbal, graphic, computer generated, etc.), which attempts to translate the results of the design process into a set of instructions for completing a specific project.

Our experience is that many people who ask this question, in fact, really don't know what they want. They may think they know what they want; however, when they go through the design process they realize that many of their ideas just won't work on their site, or do not have exact specifics of how many square feet of concrete is needed, what plants are going to work in which area, etc. Others may say they know what they want, hoping to shorten the design process, and thus reduce their design fees. Ironically, implementation fees for this type of client are usually higher because they try to skip vital steps in the design process, which leads to many time-consuming dead ends. They don't realize that good landscape design does not cost, it pays. The bottom line is that if a person has the education, experience, talent, and creativity of a professional landscape designer combined with the installation, construction, and maintenance experience of a veteran engineer, then they don't need our services; they can and should develop their own landscape. When told this, many people realize they really do need our professional help. At this point, we have a client who is committed to working honestly through the design process with us. The end result is usually a very well developed landscape.

A landscape designer may ask questions about the site and the client that the homeowner or business owner might not think to ask. These questions and listening to your desires are the basis of our design process.