Make Plans for Landscape Improvement
I would like to get some help in making plans for improvements in my landscape. I don’t have enough money to hire a landscape architect. Could you give me some suggestions on getting less expensive landscape design help?
I’m glad to see that you are already looking ahead to improving your landscape. So many people wait until it is time to do the work and then find that landscape designers and contractors are already obligated with projects for months in advance. Now is a good time to contact professionals.
Landscape design help is often available from larger nurseries and also from many landscape contractors. Their fees are usually a lot less than landscape architects. Sometimes you can contact a nearby community college or university horticulture department and find landscape design students who are interested in part time work. I do a lot of landscape design and remodeling design and installation.
You may also want to check out several books on landscape design from the library to get ideas. A number of inexpensive landscape design software products are available on the internet starting at about $100. You will also find landscape design professionals on the internet by googling “landscape design and your location or city”
It would be helpful if you would sketch out some of the designs you like on graph paper as applied to your residence. Jot down color preferences and features you would like to include. A nursery or landscape contractor can help you select plants to fit the sketch.
Important things to check on when selecting plants are hardiness zones, sun and shade tolerance and mature height and width. For example, if you are selecting plants for the south or west sides of a building, you need to pick plants which are heat and sun tolerant. East and north sides need at least some shade tolerance.
Make note of the height and width of any planting location. Leave enough space between plants to accommodate their mature size.
Allen Wilson
Allen has been writing about gardening for over 30 years. He is a retired professor of Horticulture.