Questions
My yard needs help and I need to hire a designer. What should I/we consider before hiring a landscape designer or architect?
Answer
The design process is exciting but can also feel overwhelming when you’re just starting to figure things out. Winter is a great time to slow down and examine what it is you’re looking for in a designer and what you’re needing from your outdoor space. Thinking through these topics and answering these questions will help you find the right fit in a landscape designer or architect.
Portfolio – Look through the designer’s portfolio. Do their projects and pictures align with the style and vision you’re trying to go for in your own garden? Or, if you’re not seeing the exact style you’re wanting, do they have high quality work across other styles? Do they have a specialization that stands out to you?
Credentials – Look at what licenses and certifications they hold. Have they won any past awards, recognized by any design organizations, or featured in any magazines? Are they members of professional organizations?
Process – Get to know the designer’s process via their website and phone consultation along with how they prefer to communicate and ask how you will receive your deliverables (aka designs). A landscape designer should have a clear process so that you know what to expect at every step.
Goals – List out the goals for your outdoor space. How do you want your space to be used (entertaining, relaxing, dining, playing, etc)? Are there utility areas that need to be included or addressed (storage, maintenance paths, garbage & recycling, drainage issues, etc)? Do you need irrigation and lighting included? Do you have existing elements that you want to keep/remove?
Timing – The time it takes to go through the design phase to a completed garden installation is longer than most people think. If you’re phasing the construction, that will also add in extra time. If you have any events coming up that you need the garden space to be ready for by, this will also be something you’ll want to communicate to your designer during your initial meeting.
Budget – Settle on (at least a rough) budget, including both design & installation. Depending on how you plan to complete the installation, your budget may be broken down by phases or as a full project budget. Being upfront about your budget with your designer will save yourself a lot of headaches when it comes time for bidding and construction.
Aesthetics – Do you like clean, organized spaces or do you prefer more flowing, organic shapes? Do you lean towards cool color tones or vibrant and bright hues in the garden? Manufactured materials (pavers, concrete, etc) or natural materials (flagstone, wood, etc)? We love when clients use Pinterest or similar sites to find and organize all these ideas in one place and send us a link to view their boards.
Maintenance – Do you love being in your garden and tending to it or would you rather enjoy it from the patio with a drink in hand? No garden is going to be maintenance-free but it’s good to know how much time you want to spend caring for your garden so that your designer can plan accordingly. On the flip-side, does the designer offer any maintenance visits after installation or any warranties?
Construction – Do you plan to install the project yourself or hire a contractor? Do you intend to install the project in its entirety or phase it in? Do you already have a contractor that you plan to work with, or will you need help finding a contractor?
Testimonials – Look for testimonials both on and off the designer’s website to see what real people are saying about their experience working with them.
When you’ve considered these topics thoroughly, it will give you a better idea of what you’re looking for in a designer and what you’re hoping to accomplish with your garden. You might even find new ideas and ways of achieving your garden goals.
If you’re ready to get your design started, please feel free to reach out to us or you can tell us about your project by here.
