How to Work with a Landscape Designer

Having an outdoor space where you can enjoy activities while surrounded by beds of favorite plants is a goal of many homeowners. Yet deciding on the right plants and features, and making it all come together, can be a daunting task. Working with a landscape designer can alleviate the anxieties and hangups that come with designing an outdoor space. A professional landscape designer can guide a homeowner through each phase of the process, helping to make outdoor dreams a reality. Here are a few ways to make the most of the experience when working with a landscape designer.

Clippings or pictures

Instructions

- 1
  Decide how the outdoor space will be used. Consider what activities will take place -- a play space for kids, outdoor cooking, raised beds for flower or vegetable beds, and water features such as a fountain or swimming pool.
- 2
  Start a clipping file of pictures that capture the overall look and specific plants that you like. Make a list of your favorite colors as well as colors to avoid. Share these clippings and lists with the designer during the initial meeting to discuss the overall goal of the space.
- 3
  Establish a budget and share it with the landscape designer. Answer the designer's questions thoroughly and honestly to better help her develop a realistic plan to meet your needs and budget.
- 4
  Ask the designer what phase(s) of the project he handles, such as the preliminary planning, installation and maintenance. Request a written estimate for his services, a deadline for preliminary drawings and a list of sub-contractors for portions of the project that he does not provide, if necessary.
- 5
  Visit the site(s) of other projects, either completed or underway, that may help you to better visualize some ideas recommended by the designer and to get an up-close look at her work.

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