The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Landscape Designer
Just as there seem to be a million options out there for how you can imagine your outdoor space, there also seem to be a million landscape pros able to help. But how do you know which is going to be the best fit for you and your vision?
Hold on to your shovels, this is the ultimate guide to finding your landscape design soul mate!
The top factors you should consider when choosing a landscape designer:
Keep reading for a quick guide on what you need to know, or click the links above for a deep dive!
Your Project
You’ve spent a ton of time dreaming and scheming about how your ideal outdoor living space will look and feel. You know which elements you must have, and you know how much you want to invest in your project.
Depending on what these elements are, there are a lot of different types of designers out there for you to choose from. Is your project straightforward or complex? Do you have complicated grading or drainage on your site? Do you have an existing landscape or is your home a new build?
Landscape Architect vs Landscape Designer
Before we dive in, there are a few distinctions to make to ensure you’re seeking out the right type of professional for your project.
Landscape Architect: These pros have Masters degrees in Landscape Architecture. Their design focus can be pointed in any direction from residential and ranch properties to large improvements like parks and commercial spaces. They drive the overall vision of the project and may bring in partner designers or other in-house teams to dial in the details. Typically, if you have a big or highly complex space you may want to consider working with a Landscape Architect.
Landscape Designer: These pros come in all shapes, sizes and experience levels. They are not usually required to have a specific degree in their field, but they may have professional certifications and other credentials that can give you more information about their experience level and expertise. They may work on residential or commercial properties of all sizes. Most of the time when you reach out to a landscape company about a design, you will reach a landscape designer.
What you need to get started:
Thinking through the below will take you a long way to being able to identify the perfect designer for your project when they come along, and will also help them to take your project to the next level.
Set clear goals for how you want your space to look and feel
Create a comprehensive wish list with everything you must have in your new landscape and anything you’d like to have that’s a lower priority
Take photos of your favorite plants
Collect photos of landscapes that have a similar style to what you’d like to create
Determine what budget range you’re comfortable investing in your new space
Decide if you’d be open to phasing your project over time to get everything you want
VISION
Your Ideas
Does your vision align with their expertise? How well can you articulate what you’re looking for? Do you have a clear picture of what you want, or how you want to experience your new landscape?
The more you can speak to these things with your designer, the better they will be able to understand and translate that into a great design for you. If you are unsure or indecisive, you may end up disappointed with some elements of your design. If this is the case, you should look to work with a designer who can give you information about your best options so that you can make confident decisions.
Learn About the Design Process
Are your priorities in alignment with their process? Review a few websites of local landscape companies to learn about how they approach a new project. Schedule an intro phone call to learn more and to ask questions.
Build a Relationship
Like an interior designer, a landscape designer may be able to design many different styles of landscapes, but usually have a point of view where they really shine. Review the previous work of designers in your area and focus on the ones who share your style.
You’ll get a significantly better outcome if you and your designer are in alignment on what looks great to you, and have a natural rapport.
How is the Design Delivered?
It’s funny, because you embark on finding the perfect designer, and learn how many other things you have to consider before you even get to the design phase! But when these other elements are in alignment, the design process is really fun and feels like a breeze.
Talk with your potential designer about what type of design they would recommend for you based on your priorities and scope. You may need a simple construction diagram and material samples, or you may need a full scale 3D modeled landscape in order to fully visualize your new space.
BUDGET
When is Budget Established?
It’s hard to know what your project will cost when you’re starting the process, but you should have a good sense of the general range you’re comfortable spending for the project as a whole. And before your designer begins drafting your project, you should nail down a clear budget target range with them.
Your designer should be able to provide you with pricing guidance based on their previous work for the elements you want to include.
How is Budget Managed?
As you interview and assess different designers, ask them how they address the balance between design and budget. This will be different from company to company - designers and clients all come to the table with differing points of view on how this should be handled. Just make sure that you feel comfortable that your philosophy and your potential designer’s are in alignment.
EXPERIENCE
Comfort Zone
When interviewing your prospective designers, compare their past projects to your wish list. Are the elements you’re looking for part of their past projects? If you don’t see some of these items in your wish list on their website, ask them about them. They often can provide you with additional project photos or information about these types of elements. They may also let you know that they don’t usually address those items and suggest to you a partner to handle that piece of the project.
Project Management
How is installation handled? Will your designer also manage your installation? This will often lead to the best outcome for you, because they are experts on your vision and every detail of your finished design, and can ensure that the finished product remains true to the design.
Full Service
You may be interviewing design and installation companies who use contractors to complete their installations, some who use all in house crews, and some combination of both. However they get your project completed, most will offer you a full service installation. But to make sure, it’s important to ask them how they handle these things in the beginning so you have a sense of how your finished project will be implemented.
Maintenance
How do you plan on maintaining your new landscape? Once your professionally designed garden is in place, it will require regular maintenance to ensure that your investment is always looking its best. It’s very common for design build companies to offer in house maintenance services. You may also be planning on maintaining your property yourself or by hiring your own crew.
No matter which route you go, it’s important to discuss the maintenance needs of your new landscape with your designer. They should be able to provide you with basic care info for your new plants and hardscape materials, and give you advice to pass along to your maintenance team.
Let’s get started!
When you’re ready we would love to speak with you to turn your dreams into reality!
We understand the importance of getting value for your investment, and don’t want you to have the hassle of working through the complex process of designing and installing a custom outdoor living space on your own. We partner with you for the entire process:
Creating a custom design through our collaborative design process
Management of every detail of your installation: permitting, inspections, contractor scheduling, timeline management
Plant and material care and maintenance information, watering schedule and strategy, support and advice as needed
You’ll be surprised at how fun and easy it is to create the outdoor living space of your dreams!
