When considering hiring a landscape architect to design your garden, you need to keep your lifestyle in mind. Do you have children or pets? Do you spend a lot of time relaxing in your garden or do you want to make it utilitarian, providing vegetables and fruits for your table? When these questions have been answered, it’s time to make a plan. This plan should be as detailed as you like, incorporating any special features, such as a pool or gazebo.
How do you find a good landscape architect? You may have a friend with a beautiful garden. Ask him the name of his landscaper. Drive around your suburb and look at particularly attractive gardens and ask the homeowner for the name and phone number of their contractor. He’ll be flattered that you admire his garden as much as he does, and he’ll be happy to provide any details you require. Write down the name of the landscaping companies whose trucks you see regularly in your area and call the companies. Failing that, look up potential landscape architects on the internet or in the yellow pages.
Invite several contractors to review your site, give them a copy of your plan, and ask for any suggestions they may have. Note how well each one listens to your ideas and incorporate them into any suggestions they may have about the best way to use your land. Then ask them to bid for the job you have in mind.
It’s also a good idea at this stage to ask them for references from people they’ve worked for. You can then drive to those properties to see if you like the job. Talk to homeowners and ask if they would recommend the landscape architect and ask why they would recommend you. Was the landscape management work carried out within the agreed budget and time frame? Did the landscaper replace any dead plants? Did the landscaper listen carefully to what the homeowner required or go ahead with his own ideas?
Ask the landscaper how long they have been in business. A more experienced landscaper will give better value for money, be more accustomed to working closely and listening carefully to clients than a less experienced man. Grades are also important. If the man has a degree in landscape architecture, all else being equal, it would be wise to choose him over someone less qualified.
When all the details have been worked out, make a contract in writing, stipulating the time the work should take, the agreed price, and details of exactly what will be done with the lot. This will save you a lot of headache in the unfortunate event that the cost or timeline for the job runs out. A well-written contract will keep the contractor up to date and give you peace of mind.
As long as you have good communication with your contractor and/or landscape architect, are clear about what you want, and have done your proper research regarding their references, experience, and qualifications, you will be well on your way to becoming the owner of a beautiful and useful landscape.
