Helping Mother Nature Design the Perfect Yard
While there are gardeners who have the knack for creating fantastic gardens, most of us need a little help--whether with the technical realm of plumbing and hardscape or with plants.
The big question is, where do we turn for assistance in making our garden dreams a reality?
Unfortunately, the process of creating a landscape can be confusing and daunting for the average person, because there is no clear blueprint for who you should use in a landscape project, Placentia landscape architect Carey Orwig says.
In general, there are three types of landscape professionals: landscape architects, landscape designers and landscape contractors. Whom you use depends on the work you need done. You may need one or more of these specialists.
Landscape architects are trained in all aspects of safe, functional, aesthetic exterior design, including grading, irrigation, lighting and structures such as pools, water features, decks, spas and balconies. Some become involved in plant selection, while others do not.
Such a person has a degree in landscape architecture and is licensed after working as an apprentice and passing a rigorous, three-day exam.
You pay for their design services, which includes preliminary plans, revisions and the final construction plans. Depending on the size of the yard and the complexity of the project, such plans generally range from $2,000 to $4,000, experts say.
Landscape designers generally focus on softscape--plants--and leave hardscape to the architects and contractors. Many work for contractors. A designer’s training will vary from certificates to horticultural degrees and years of professional experience. They are hired as consultants for their plant expertise and generally charge from $35 to $55 per hour.
Landscape contractors have a contractor’s license and specialize in hardscape and softscape installation. While they often design hardscape, most leave softscape to designers and architects. They generally make their money from materials and the labor involved in installation. Their fees vary widely, depending on the size and scope of the project and the type of materials used.
Although every job is different, in general if a project requires the integration of many different elements such as retaining walls and grading, irrigation, water features and plants, many experts suggest starting with some good plans from a landscape architect.
If you mainly need plants and softscape elements such as paths, arbors and trellises, a landscape designer is often sufficient, Irvine landscape designer Barbara Deed says.
Whichever expert you decide to use, there are several considerations that can make the experience pleasant and productive.
First, realize that the process of creating a landscape can be a long one, Orwig says. “There are a lot of elements that must come together to make a landscape work,” he says. “Initially, there is the planning and design phase, which includes approval of plans and selection of colors, materials and plants.”
Once construction begins, the situation gets worse, Orwig says. “It will seem like a pain when everything is torn up and a mess, but I remind clients that they will eventually have the environment of their dreams.”
Realize, too, that delays are common, says Patti Ferner of Orange, who has training in landscape architecture. “If you have an important date by which you’d like the landscape finished, give the contractor a deadline a month before your final date, because there will be delays,” she says.
Before meeting with a landscape professional, make a specific list of what you want, including color choices and issues such as privacy, Deed says. Gather pictures from magazines.
Also consider what type of environment you’d like. “Do you want an outdoor entertainment space with a barbecue, spa and patio cover, or are you looking to attract birds and butterflies?” Ferner says. “Is it an informal or formal yard that you want?”
Despite your likes and dislikes, it’s also important to consider the practical question of how much time you actually have for maintaining your garden.
“If you’re really busy and don’t have much time to spend outside, I suggest a lower maintenance landscape,” Deed says. “If you have time to garden, consider higher maintenance plants.”
Ferner suggests walking the neighborhood and taking photographs of likes and dislikes.
It’s also important to give the landscape professional critical information about the yard. “Where are the sunny and shady areas?” asks Ferner, who will sit in her clients’ yards to get a sense of each space.
“I note where the hot spots are and where there is very little sun,” she says. “I also keep an eye out for things like windy conditions.”
Talk to several professionals before making a final decision, Orwig says.
“One of the most important things that should come out of a meeting with a landscape professional is that you establish a good rapport,” he says. “It’s important that he or she spend some time with you and find out specifically what you want in your yard. The person should then be able to translate those desires into a design that is creative, cost-effective and tailor-made especially for you.”
Finding someone to listen to what you want is no easy feat, says Katie Weissberg, who hired Ferner to create the softscape in the front and backyard of her Tustin Ranch home.
“We were very frustrated to find that a lot of people didn’t listen to what we had to say,” she says. “Many offered what looked like a cookie-cutter design.”
It’s also important that the person chosen to create the softscape is knowledgeable about plants “and likes working with them,” Orwig says. “Some landscape architects get a softscape consultant, but I’ve always enjoyed working with plants, and I keep current on what’s new and available. It’s critical that the softscape interacts well with the hardscape.”
A good softscape consultant will offer plenty of plant choices, Ferner says.
She has an extensive library of plant photographs, and she takes clients on nursery tours to have them show what they want or don’t want. This enables her to create an individualized plant palette that she uses in each garden’s design.
Weissberg found Ferner’s nursery tour to be invaluable.
“It was wonderful to be able to point out the plants we liked and to actually see them end up in our yard,” she says. “Seeing those plants every day is one of the main reasons we enjoy our yard so much.”
* Carey Orwig, Placentia, (714) 993-1747.
* Barbara Deed, Irvine, (949) 786-4055.
* Patti Ferner, Orange, (714) 771-4006.
refer for n1
Do You Need Help?
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
How to Cultivate the Best Landscapers
Ten tips for successfully working with landscape professionals, according to the experts:
* Get at least 10 references from each landscape professional. View yards that are at least a year old. Talk to owners to learn about their problems and experiences.
* Make sure that the contractor you’ve chosen is bonded and licensed and that his or her employees are experienced, covered by appropriate insurance and legally employed.
* Shop around. Prices for landscape construction vary. If you had a landscape architect draw your designs, you own them. You can take them to several contractors for estimates.
* If cost is an issue, create your landscape in stages. Once you have the landscape plans, complete one area at a time.
* Realize that landscape architects, contractors and designers have different perspectives, and they may not agree on how the job should be done. When there are differences of opinion among them, do what you can to encourage communication.
* Don’t assume anything. If you have questions, ask. If your landscape professional is put off by your queries, find someone else.
* Make sure that the person in charge of softscape is using a wide variety of plants. Thanks to plant breeders, there are thousands of plants from which to choose. See that your plant specialist has many plant sources and spends enough time on the selection process.
* For plants to thrive, proper planting is critical. Monitor soil preparation and planting yourself or have a plant specialist monitor it.
* Plants should be guaranteed for at least 90 days after planting. Notify the contractor immediately when a plant isn’t thriving. It’s normal for as many as 10% of plants to fail, but higher losses indicate improper soil preparation and planting.
* Allow time for the process. An attractive landscape will not sprout overnight.
