I don’t know if you’re like me when it comes to landscaping and gardening. I love working in my front and back yards, but don’t have a clue about all the intricate details of landscaping. That’s when it pays to know professional landscape designers like Jim Meiners of Prestige Landscaping & Nursery in Chesterfield, MO.
Landscape design is more than just finding the right plants, shrubs, stones and other materials that can make your yard look like a picture postcard and give your home the ultimate curb appeal. With landscaping, like most things in life, you must have a plan to reach your goals.
Jim spends lots of time talking to homeowners before implementing their landscape design. At his first meeting, he discusses aesthetics, property use and preliminary budget. He also asks targeted questions that help him complete his initial design recommendation to meet the homeowner’s expectation of the look and feel they have in mind.
He believes the right landscaping expert can creatively think outside of the box and give you ideas on how to turn a troublesome drainage issue into a beautiful asset. In doing so, Jim says, “Always make sure to get a detailed bid which shows all aspects of what the bid will cost and consider staging projects to end up with that ‘WOW’ look.”
Here are Jim’s suggestions for the 10 conversations you should have with your favorite landscape designer:
- What yard features are you considering adding? Swimming pool? Spa? Waterfall? Landscape lighting? Fencing? Cooking area? Fireplace? Fire pit? Columns? Entrance monuments?
- Is backyard privacy an issue? Yes? No?
- Are there any house or yard drainage issues? Yes? No?
- Do you have a preference for a more natural or or a more formal look? (Note: Some people want one look for the front and another look for the back)
- What are your favorite colors? White? Pink? Red/orange? Blue/purple? Yellow?
- What patio surfaces do you find more visually appealing? Brick? Stone? Travertine? Block? Stamped Concrete?
- Do you prefer to have more or less lawn? (Note: This is a maintenance question for some folks)
- What type of wall material do you prefer? Boulders? Flagstone? Mortared stone or brick? Block wall?
- Which of the following ground covers do you prefer? Mulch? Gravel? Decorative grasses? Perennials? Annuals? No ground covers?
- What mood do you want to convey in your overall landscaping? Serenity? Harmony? Peace? Tranquility? A safe haven? A retreat?
- BONUS tip: Jim also advises that a good landscaper wants homeowners to know as much as possible about how the landscape design should be maintained as the landscape matures. How will each hardscape choice look one year, five years, even 20 years from now?
Jim says an important criteria for selecting the right landscape designer is making sure he or she is someone you want to have a lasting, ongoing relationship with. “Find someone you can call on a Saturday two years after the work is done. When your contractor completes your project, you want him to move you from his customer file to his friend file,” Jim says.
Originally posted 2010-01-21 09:42:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
