Landscape Design Services are the creative processes that translate a client’s desires into an earth-friendly, functional, and sustainable landscape. Some designers work independently, while others find themselves employed by large garden or plant nursery centers where they offer consultation services to shoppers.
Claudia is Lavender’s expert when it comes to drafting landscape and construction CAD plan sets. She loves the accuracy that this process brings and enjoys working closely with clients during their design meetings.
Master Plan
A well-designed landscape increases property value and is a great addition to any home or commercial building. However, landscaping can also be a lot of work and is not for everyone. Investing in a master plan before starting the project can save time and money. It also helps to avoid costly mistakes later on in the process.
A plan can also be a tool for the contractor to work within your budget and design goals. It can also give you the flexibility to complete the project in phases. It is important to include all the elements of the plan in the working drawings, specifications and construction details.
Finally, a master plan can help you work around existing features, such as a tree, a shrub or an area of your garden. It can also make note of items you may want to leave intact — or move somewhere else — to create the look you are envisioning for your property.
Site Analysis
When starting a landscape design project, it is important to begin with an in-depth site analysis. This allows landscape architects to understand the project’s environment, which is critical for creating designs that harmonize with natural surroundings and contribute to environmental sustainability.
This process involves determining a client’s goals and needs for the site, including factors such as activities, sun/shade conditions, water and soil conditions. In addition, landscape architects evaluate the existing built features of the site. These include paved areas such as patios, driveways and sidewalks; fences; walls, outdoor rooms and performance areas, gazebos and other structures; and plant material.
It is also helpful to review the site’s zoning restrictions, as these may affect the scope of work and construction. Additionally, a surveyor’s plat of the property should be reviewed to verify property lines for future hardscape features such as walkways or patios. An app such as My Measures and Dimensions is a great tool to use to record and share dimensions during the site inventory.
Concept Plan
After the initial meeting, your landscape design pro will take measurements and study photos to form ideas for space function. This phase is known as concept development and may include a variety of different types of drawings.
These drawings might include digital perspective renderings which allow you to see the design in relation to its natural setting and surrounding structures. The designer might also create a collage of inspirational images to help bring together the patterns, colors and historic garden precedents that will inform your design.
The concept plan might also include a plant palette showing different options for the blooms, foliage textures and color of planting areas. At this point, you can give feedback on which plants you like and don’t like so that the design can be refined. The concept plan will also identify any existing trees to be retained or removed from the site and provide their locations on a diagram indicating Tree Protection Zones.
Final Design
The final design takes into account everything the designer has learned about your property, your needs, your goals and your budget. It will also incorporate the principles of time-tested landscape design – proportion, balance, order, repetition and unity.
A well-executed landscape increases the value of your home. It can also create an attractive outdoor living space that you will enjoy using day in and day out. Studies show that a thoughtfully designed outdoor space can increase your property value by up to twenty percent.
After a complete consultation, your Stauffers Home & Garden Store will create a 2D or 3D conceptual design and send it to you for review. Then, you can schedule an appointment at your local store to go over the final design and select materials for your project. You will receive an estimated budget at this point based on hiring us to install your project.
