August 04, 2005

Services

The landscaping industry is full of people offering a variety of services, from the twelve-year-old down the street that mows lawns to the licensed landscape architect that rebuilds Magnolia Bluff when it slides into Puget Sound. I have a certificate in ornamental horticulture and a degree in garden design. I offer the following services because I am most passionate about them:

Garden Design and Renovation Planning

A garden design starts with a detailed site analysis, noting such things as soil conditions, microclimates, residential characteristics, and other elements critical to a successful design. The site analysis is followed by a preliminary design to identify activity areas, traffic flow, focal points, areas that need screening, and plant types. From the preliminary design comes the planting plan, a detailed list of what plants go where in the landscape. You might benefit from one piece or the entire process. I also offer construction details, layout plans, and color renderings.

Landscape designs are billed as a flat rate. Simple designs — a front or back yard — generally begin around $500. Larger projects — entire landscapes or challenging sites — start at $1,000. For budgetary purposes, I often tell people that landscape installations generally cost 5-20% of the value of your home, depending on the scope and quality of installation. This is a guideline for a complete landscape remodel. When thinking about remodeling your garden, think of it in much the same way you would as an interior remodel!

Extra drawings or presentations not included in the original design proposal and requested by you are billed at my hourly design fee, as are the costs of additional resources such as land surveyors, landscape architects, structural engineers, meetings with landscape contractors, etc. I am happy to refer you to showrooms, nurseries, and other material suppliers. If you would like me to accompany you on these trips, I bill this time separately at $75 an hour.

Note that very small areas — the planting bed by the front door or a small perennial border — generally do not require a design drawing that is drafted and to scale. These can often be billed as an hourly consultation.

There is a $75/hour charge for our initial meeting. However, if we develop a contract for landscape design services, I deduct the initial meeting fee from the design bill. If you would like to schedule a meeting, please drop me a note or, if you are ready to get started, please submit my client survey.

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Project Management

You may want to build your garden yourself. Or you may want to go on vacation and return to a newly installed garden complete with head gardener. I will work with you to identify how much you want to be involved. And I will take care of the rest, utilizing skilled and licensed contractors and my years of project management experience.

If you would like me to manage your landscape installation or tell you how to do your own installation, I bill $75 per hour for this time. Please let me know if I may help you with your project.

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Horticultural Consultations

If you have a horticultural question, I would be happy to come take a look at your garden. I can take soil samples for laboratory analysis, identify insect or disease damage, and make plant and design recommendations.

Consultations are billed at $75 an hour with a two-hour minimum. Consultations may or may not include a written report and site map, depending on your need and budget. If this sounds helpful to you,  please let me know.

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