Sustainable landscape design combines beauty and practicality
Whether for resale value or just the daily enjoyment of your home, sustainable landscaping designs are great investments.
Sure, you can create your own garden and landscaping plan. But starting with a professional’s design ensures that all of the latest developments are incorporated. After that initial stage, handling maintenance yourself will be simpler and more enjoyable.
Rich Hayes of Green Acres Landscape in Indianapolis, IN, says homeowners should not underestimate the importance of good landscape design. “It has been proven that the well planned, landscaped and maintained exterior of a home has a dramatic affect on the homeowner’s enjoyment and resale of a home.”
For example, to help homeowners become more educated, Hayes explains the maintenance involved in installing water features. This helps the make educated choices on not only what looks good, but what will benefit the environment and work for their family’s lifestyle.
Green Acres strives to be a sustainable business working with sustainable landscapes. From a business started in Rich’s garage in 1986, today the company is a full-service, well staffed landscape contractor. Hayes says he works hard to leave the Green Acres’ “mark of quality and exceptional service in the Indianapolis landscape industry by having a clear mission of setting standards for the highest quality and sustainable landscape plants, products and professional workmanship to enhance and simplify our customer’s quality of life.”
Landscape architects and professional designers know how to incorporate sustainable products and designs to complement your family’s lifestyle. They take the information gathered from your family, as well as a complete survey of the land, climate and exposure on your property, and create a comprehensive design.
But not every landscape designer is experienced in sustainable practices, and that’s one of Hayes’ pet peeves. “Many landscape companies are doing projects with little or no expertise,” says Hayes. That type of work undermines the industry and “eventually involves cutting corners and service in some manner.”
As more homeowners continue to stay closer to home it will drive the desire to create more inviting outdoor living spaces for their enjoyment. Hayes warns homeowners that shoddy workmanship may not be obvious at first, but shows up in unstable walls or patios and substandard plantings over time.
Landscape Design for a Backyard Sanctuary
A sustainable home carries that principle from property line to property line and everything in between. The backyard is no exception. As with every home improvement investment, Hayes says homeowners must be educated before they embark on a project. He offers these 7 tips for hiring a professional landscape contractor.
- Research and know as much as possible about the contractor they are looking to hire.
- Understand the process of completing a project vs. your own expectations.
- Ask about payment details, special promotions, discounts, warranties, guarantees, maintenance, requirements before the job starts.
- Know the contact person for your job and what the schedule of completion is. Insist the workforce shows up on time, everytime.
- Offer your input is valuable. Hire a contractor who also thinks it’s important.
- Insist that the workforce be professional and courteous and leave the jobsite organized and clean at the end of each work day.
- Look for a landscape contractor who is knowledgeable in providing sustainable solutions in his design and installation.
Hayes says Green Acres Landscape holds to its core values “even when no one is looking.” They encourage homeowners to compost and haul any landscape waste to their nursery for recycling or composting whenever possible.
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