Landscape Design Services are a critical first step in creating an attractive earth-friendly landscape. Your landscape should fit your lifestyle and meet the challenges of your site, including erosion control, privacy screening and water conservation.
It is recommended to ask friends, neighbors and coworkers for recommendations for a tried-and-true landscaping pro. A good reference can help avoid surprises and minor snafus during your project.
Site Analysis
Site analysis is a crucial part of the design process. It identifies opportunities, challenges and constraints that impact or enhance design decisions and outcomes. For example, it might determine that a particular aspect of the landscape needs protection (such as a heritage tree) or that a new living area should be designed around a natural feature that is significant to the client, such as a rocky outcrop.
A thorough site analysis will also include research into the local area, community and cultural landmarks to ensure that any designs are sympathetic to the context of the space. This may involve incorporating elements that reflect the area’s historical significance, like buildings, walkways or foliage. Site analysis can also help to establish the feasibility of a project by identifying any restrictions that could limit its scope. The resulting information is then used to develop a conceptual design for the landscape. This is then further refined by creating functional diagrams.
Design Concepts
Professional landscape designers consider a lot of factors when creating your design. Among them are your personal preferences, the topography of your property, how you want to use your yard and the local climate.
The result of all these considerations is your final landscape design concept. This is usually supported by a number of different types of drawings and includes sketches that describe layouts, views and design elements.
Color is an important part of a landscape design. You can create contrast by using flowers of both warm and cool colors, or you can keep everything in the same color family for a more unified look. Form is also an important design element. Flowers come in many shapes, and trees range structurally from the upright branches of lombardy poplars to the drooping form of weeping willows.
Water conservation is another important design consideration for a landscape design. For example, a designer might recommend a xeriscape design to reduce your yard’s water and fertilizer needs.
Planting Plans
As part of the landscape design process, a planting plan is created. The plant selections are based on the site’s physical variables such as climate, soil conditions, and water management. The planting plan also takes into consideration the expected mature size of each tree or shrub.
Aesthetics, visual characteristics and color are a priority when developing the planting plan. The designer should consider how the plantings will enhance and frame desirable views, as well as screen undesirable ones.
Keeping in mind the landscape construction budget is a big component of the planning phase. The design can help you choose the most cost-effective construction materials such as hardscape, paving and plant material. Using resource-efficient plants and implementing rainwater catchment systems are other ways to reduce your environmental impact. Considering the use of non-toxic preservatives, stains, paints and cleaners in the construction phase is another way to protect natural resources.
Construction Specifications
Landscape design is a highly specialized field. Professionals offer a comprehensive array of planning and design services tailored to a wide spectrum of client needs. A well-executed design plan can increase both the enjoyment and the actual square footage of a property’s valuable usable space.
Construction specifications are the primary contract documents required by professional landscape contractors. These detailed plans, notes and details provide the contractor with information on how to price and construct a project. The landscape contractor also uses the plans and specifications to perform a plan “take off” a method of counting and recording all of the materials, quantities and details proscribed in the plans and specifications.
It is generally considered improper for non-licensees to hold titles such as “principal” in entities other than licensed design professional service corporations. Such titles may mislead the public into believing that such persons are licensed landscape architects.