Landscaping Ideas
And Design Infromation

Searching for Landscaping Ideas and Advice...
Or Maybe You Just Have Some Questions?

Here Glen shares With You his knowledge of
Garden Designs gained over Three Decades
as a Landscape Designer...

This Month's Topic:

Landscape Designer - How to
Select the Right One for Your
Garden Designs Needs

PLEASE NOTE: I will be covering a lot of information here. You might want to Print This Article and grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and put your feet up before you begin... Enjoy!

Over the next few months I will attempt to Answer The Questions most people have when they are contemplating creating or remodeling their garden. The first questions usually relate to hiring The Right Landscape Designer...

Questions Like:

• How do You find A Landscape Designer ?

• How many Designers should You Interview ?

• What do You Need to do to prepare
   for that all important first meeting with the Designer?

• What questions should You be prepared to ask
   the Designers during the Interviews ?

• Once You've completed the Designer Interviews...
   What criteria should your final selection of a Landscape
   Designer be based on ?

• Once You've selected a Designer and the process is
   underway... What problems can you expect to arise
   during the design phase of your project... And how
   should you deal with them ?

The knowledge I gained of Landscape Designs, Client Relationships, and Landscape Construction during the first fifteen years of my career have proven invaluable. But eventually I found the long hours of trying to wear all the caps (Handling the design and construction phases for my Clients) too stressful.

So, for the last fifteen years I have concentrated my energy focusing on the Design and Budget phases of the projects (Although I do visit the sites a few times as the construction progresses). I have been able to do this by surrounding myself with a group of contractors and artisans who are familiar with my work and the high standards of quality I demand... Thus I do not have to be on-site overseeing every detail on a daily basis as I was early in my career.

This refined system, and the necessity to surround myself with the best contractors and artisans, has given me a high level of knowledge and experience... Which has served me well when it comes to selecting tradesman and suppliers to implement my Landscape Designs. More importantly it has given me the ability to read my Clients needs and match them up with the best people to help make their Gardens a reality.

It is this Knowledge, Experience and Landscaping Ideas gained in the fields of Landscape Designs and Construction over the past three decades that I will be Sharing With You Here...

Questions Like:

• How do You find A Landscape Designer ?

  The Best Way to find a Landscape Designer is through
  Friends and Colleagues. (All of my landscape design
  business over the past thirty years has been from referrals
  only... In fact, I am not even listed at 411).


  This way, You will have seen a sample of the landscape
  designer's work (via website, portfolio, or visiting
  actual completed projects) and had a good recommendation
  from someone you trust, before even calling the landscape
  designer for an interview.

  I RECOMMEND You talk to everyone you know who has
  had their garden designed in the past five to ten years...
  That way you can get the names of several
  recommendations... As an added bonus you can also see
  how the gardens have filed-in and held up over the years.

  I DO NOT RECOMMEND that you use listing/referral
  services (Like many of those found on the internet)...
  Or Landscape-Garden Designer Organization or Society
  referrals, after all they are only referring their members and
  may not have a complete knowledge of their design
  expertise or business practices.

  I personally have never been a joiner... I guess that's why I
  started my own Garden Designs Business. I prefer to follow
  my own instincts and intuition when it comes to designing
  gardens and working with my Clients... Many of whom I
  have completed multiple residences for and gone on to
  work for the children of those clients, who grew up playing
  in the gardens I designed.

• How many Landscape Designers should You
   Interview ?

  The number of Landscape Designers you decide to
  interview depends on how many are referred to you.. And
  how you respond to their completed Landscape Designs after
  you have visited... How you like their work! Keep in mind
  that just because a designer has not completed a Garden
  that is exactly what you are looking for... It does not
  mean they can't satisfy your Landscape Designs needs.

  The most important things to look for are:

1. How the designer adapted the Landscape
    Designs to the needs of their Clients... Does it
    work for them in their everyday outdoor living
    experiences?

2. How is the garden laid out... Does it flow easily
    from area to area... Does it make sense?

3. Is it aesthetically pleasing to Your eye (The
    color palette should vary and repeat in
    harmony)... Your sense of touch (The
    materials and textures selected should seem
    appropriate for the style of the residence)...
    Your sense of smell (The plants fragrances
    should blend, not compete against each
    other)... Is it interesting (As the garden unfolds
    does it arouse your curiosity... What's next
    around the corner?) Ask Yourself...Does this
    garden design Satisfy and Excite Your senses?

  After you have completed the interviews I suggest you
  narrow it down to Your THREE FAVORITE DESIGNER.

• What do You Need to do to prepare for that all
   important first meeting ?

  The Best Way to Prepare Is to Be Prepared to explain to
  the Designer What Do You Want? Usually when I meet a
  potential client for the first time and ask that question...
  Their reply is "If we knew what we wanted why
  would we need to hire You?" That's a fair question...

  But Seriously, the better prepared You are to answer
  the "What You Want?" Question... The easier it will be for
  the Designer(s) to throw landscaping ideas at you that will
  help you decide if they are the best match for You and
  Your Landscape Designs Needs.

  To Help You Prepare I have compiled a list of questions
  you can Ask Yourself to help you decide What Your
   Landscape Designs Wants and Needs Are ?

  Rather than list all of the questions you need to ask
  yourself here... I have prepared any easy to follow form you
  can print/fill in at your leisure and refine before your
  first designer meeting.

  Get Your Copy of "Being Prepared" Here...
  It will help you to narrow down the amount of
  time each interview will take.

  I guarantee, after you complete this Brain Teaser you'll be
  able to handle any questions the Designer(s) throw your
  way!

• What questions should You be prepared to ask during
   the Interviews ?

  I have compiled a concise list of questions You will need to
  ask the Designer(s) during the interviews...

  Rather than spend time having you read all of the questions
  you need to ask here... I have prepared an easy to follow
  form you can print/review at your leisure before your first
  Designer meeting.

  Get Your Copy of "Interview Questions" Here...
  It will help you to narrow down the amount of time each
  interview will take.

• Once You've completed the Designer Interviews...
   What criteria should your final selection of a
   Landscape Designer be based on?

  The most important factor Your final selection of a Designer
  should be based on is... Who you feel you will be most
  comfortable working with, and who you believe best
  understands your Landscape Designs needs.

  If you find that more than one of your potential designers
  falls into this category... a second method of narrowing
  your final choice should be based on the designer's
  landscaping ideas, experience, and how long they have been
  in business...

  The final method you can use to make your choice of a
  Landscape Designer can be based on the design fees they
  charge compared with the services they are offering to
  provide... Let me just say Your Final Selection of a
  Designer Should Never Be Based On Fees Alone!

  Again The Most Important Factor is Who You feel you will
  be most comfortable working with...

  (SPECIAL NOTE: You will be requesting proposal/contracts
  from the Designers you have decided to choose from...
  Being a novice you should have an attorney review these
  legally binding documents before signing.

  That said CLICK HERE to view a copy of the simple two
  page contract I use... Along with some tips as to what
  should be included in their proposal/contract).

• Once You've selected a Designer and the process is
   underway... What problems can you expect to arise
   during the design phase of your project... And how
   should you deal with them ?

  The best way to deal with problems before they occur is
  to discuss potential problems with your designer prior to
  starting the design process... Based on my experience, some
  of the problems which might occur during the design phase
  are:

1. The Landscaping Design Time Factor...     Most clients do not have a clear understanding
    of how long the design process can take.
    Here is a guide as to how long you should
    expect the process to take:

• You should expect a Preliminary
   Design Concept and Cost Estimate
   (Prepared by a Landscape
   Contractor of the Designer's
   choosing at this point) within 3 to 4
   weeks after signing the Designer's
   contract (Or 5 to 6 weeks if a
   professional land survey needs to
   be prepared).

• Once the preliminary design and
   estimate have been approved by
   you the Designer may need to file
   the plans with one or more local
   governing agencies (Home Owner's
   Association,City, or County)... After
   approval (Allow 2 to 3 weeks) your
   Designer will prepare the necessary
   construction documents to complete
   your garden designs... (This may
   take 5 to 6 weeks if the services of
   an Engineer are required).

    (SPECIAL NOTE: If you are planning an event
    once Your Garden is completed... Let
    your designer know up front what the deadline
    is. They will be able to tell you if the plans and
    construction can realistically be completed in
    time for your event).

2. The Unexpected Costs Factor... Most clients
    think that once they sign a contract for a fixed
    design fee that that will be the total cost. Here
    is a guide as to some additional fees items you
    may incur during the design process:

• Governing Agency Fees, such as:
   Home Owner's Association review
   fees; City or County fees for
   design/planning review(s).. To
   name a few.

• Reimbursable printing fees, such as:
   Additional sets of prints
   for governing agency filings;
   Contractor bidding plan sets;
   Additional sets required by
   contractors during construction.

Until next month, Remember to...

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• How I deal with Client-Contractor relationships when I need
   to be the arbitrator ?

• The thinking process I have developed which allows me to
   always come up with a design that serves my Client's
   lifestyle, while still relating perfectly to the site and
   architectural style of their residence...

• My favorite building materials and plants to use in a
   design... And MUCH-MUCH-MORE...

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It's That Easy! You're Now Linked to Glen's Landscaping Ideas and Design Information article for this month.

The Link Will Look Like This:

• Feng-Shui-Vibes.com : A site dedicated to helping people new to Feng Shui, learn the importance of providing everyone in their home and business with supportive surroundings. A healthy, uplifting home and business environment sets the stage for mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

• Front-Porch-Ideas.com : For porch lovers! We offer front porch ideas, front porch designs and great tips on front porch decorating and landscaping. Whether you love screen porches, have a small porch or a three season porch, we have many beautiful front porch pictures to inspire you!

• Landscape-Design-Advice.com : Landscape design advice from award winning garden designer, Susan Schlenger... Specific design ideas for creating your own spectacular landscapes… Advice on: planting design; paving choices; water features; and Much-Much-More!

• Landscape-Design-Expert.com : Landscape Design Tips and Techniques from an Expert. Landscape topics are presented and illustrated with photographs from completed projects. This information is valuable to the do- it-yourselfer or person looking to hire a professional.

• Native-Again-Landscape.com : A website that provides information on the benefits of landscaping with Californian native plants and provides valuable information on how to replace your lawn with native plants that bring immense benefits to the local ecology.

• Rose-Gardening-Made-Easy.com : Creative ideas for gardening with roses, rose garden design, rose care and maintenance, pictures of roses with growing information.

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