Here’s Who Can Help With a Landscape Project : Expertise varies among gardeners and others who work with plants and garden design.
These are some of the professionals you can turn to for landscaping assistance, along with an explanation of what each of them can and cannot do. It’s important to understand their capabilities and shortcomings.
Gardeners--Because there are no state-regulated qualifications, anyone who chooses to do so may call himself or herself a gardener.
The range of expertise varies greatly, from someone who mows and edges lawns and does weeding, to a person with a great deal of knowledge about plants. Generally speaking, however, experts advise that gardeners are best utilized to maintain established landscaping.
Nurserymen--The expertise of people working at nurseries also varies greatly.
According to Jack Wick, spokesman for the California Assn. of Nurserymen, “40% of people in nurseries don’t know the things they should. But it’s much better now than 20 years ago,” before the association established the California Certified Nurserymen program.
To be certified, a person must pass a 4 1/2-hour exam covering general gardening, landscape design and plant identification. More than 2,600 nursery salespeople around the state have satisfied the requirements of the three-part voluntary test.
In the past, some nurseries offered planning by landscape designers when people made major purchases, but according to Wick, the bookkeeping involved made most nurseries eliminate or replace this service with discounts or other options.
For example, Colorscape, the landscape department of Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, will credit a percentage of design fees when they handle all aspects of the landscaping project.
“Usually 50% is credited back,” said Tim Fiskin, a landscape designer and project manager at Colorscape. However, Fiskin explained that at slow times of the year--such as January and February--and in certain situations, it’s possible to get up to 100% credit.
Don Zimmerman, assistant general manager for Armstrong Garden Centers, explained that his company offered design services 15 or 20 years ago, but “that part of the business has become very specialized, and we now concentrate on just giving advice on plants--what goes where, which varieties do best in the area people live and how to properly maintain them.”
Landscape designers--Here again, there are no set qualifications a person must have in order to be called a landscape designer. Some designers have taken courses in landscape architecture or horticulture and are simply unlicensed; others are strictly self-taught.
The advantage to using a landscape designer is that they are generally less expensive than a landscape architect; the disadvantage is that they do not guarantee their work, according to designer Brad Ficks. Only a licensed professional can be held responsible for such problems as poor drainage, concrete cracks and plant guarantees.
A landscape designer’s fees are based on the size and complexity of the project, but can range from $50 for a consultation to $500 for development of a fairly complicated plan.
Some designers are listed in the telephone directory, but Ficks suggests you can also find them through community or other colleges that have horticulture/design schools. Annie St. Claire, president of the UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Student Assn., confirms that the school’s department will refer inquiries from the public to students and alumni.
Landscape architects--A consumer guide published by the American Society of Landscape Architects explains that these professionals have completed six years of job training and/or education in the field of landscape architecture.
The curriculum of the UCLA Extension Professional Designation Program in Landscape Architecture is representative--including a series of technical and studio courses in drawing, drafting, design, graphics, grading and drainage, irrigation and plant materials.
Following their education, landscape architects must pass the five-part written Unified National Exam. “Here in California there is also a sixth section of the exam covering plant identification and an irrigation performance problem,” explained Jeanne Brode of the state board.
Six months after passing the written portion, the candidate must also pass an oral exam of primarily consumer-oriented questions. The panel of examiners may pose questions such as what elements are included in a complete bidding package or how to work with different types of soils.
A free guide, “How to Hire a Landscape Architect,” will be available after June 1, said Brode. Write or call State of California, Dept. of Consumer Affairs, Board of Landscape Architects, 1021 O St., Room A-151, Sacramento, Calif. 95814, (916) 445-4954.
There are slightly more than 800 members in the Southern California chapter. Some specialize in commercial projects, others do residential landscaping.
Fees of landscape architects are typically higher than landscape designers, but they can be held liable for their work.
According to landscape architect Richard Yanez of Edward Hume & Associates Inc., “Most architects have flat fees. They give a bid that includes travel costs and plan revisions. Another way is to go by the percentage basis, for example 10% of the construction costs. They can also work on an hourly basis with an estimate of the hours it will take to do the job.”
Landscape contractors--These are the people who execute the plans of landscape architects or designers. Sometimes a contractor will hire subcontractors to do portions of the work. If licensed, they are liable for their work, as well as that done by subcontractors.
Things become confusing because often duties overlap--a landscape contractor or nurseryman may also be a designer. Be certain you understand who you are dealing with, their capabilities and liabilities. In all cases ask for references and take the time to check them out. Shop around; get more than one estimate. Then get a written contract before work is begun.
