Your Landscape: From Rendering To Reality - Part I: Design

For additional articles in the series please click the following links (NOTE: Links will become active as articles appear online.):

• Part II: Installation
• Part III: Maintenance
• Part IV: Upgrades and Modifications

What Are The Significant Considerations In Creating The Design For A New Construction?
The design must be in keeping with the surroundings. We must look at the neighborhood and be cognizant of the materials to be blended (hardscape and softscape). There must be transitions. It must also be as environmentally sound as possible. City ordinances must be included in every step.

Maintenance is a factor. For instance, suggested Zunino, if you design a colonnade of palms and one dies, the space it leaves is obvious. A new tree has to match the others in size, or there is a visible hole. A less formal, “clumped” group of trees would be easier to maintain.

We meet with the client and find out about the building - the architecture, the exposures and the functions of its space. The ideal situation is to work with the building architect early in the project so we can design a landscape that really enhances the space. If we are left to deal with leftover spaces, there isn’t as much we can do.

The landscape must coordinate with the architecture. The size of the area also affects the plants that will be used. Stevenson walks the client through his greenhouse to show them what is available. Desert plants are the better choice in the southwest. Soil type and water supply are also very important.

Climate restraints are critical in the desert, though commercial properties take a beating in any situation. We have to plan for reflected heat from the building and pavement and restricted root zones. If someone makes a mistake in these areas, you’ll know it within a year.

What Should A Client Look For In A Landscape Architect/Designer?
What architects do for interior spaces, landscape architects do for exterior spaces. Look for experience in the kind and size of project you are undertaking. Ask for references, and visit design sites. Look for someone who understands what you want; communication is imperative. Registration and licensing indicate competence.

What Can The Client Expect The Landscape Design To Cost?
There is usually a “per square foot” figure that can be estimated, depending on the sophistication of the design. Basic landscaping won’t cost as much as a deluxe, resort-type setting. Meetings in the project’s infancy go a long way to ensure that enough money is set aside to create a landscape that really enriches the property.

What Plant Material Is The Best Investment For The Client?
For impact, low maintenance, and longevity, it has to be trees. Size and quality are important, especially in the front of the property. Larger plants are more expensive, but they have a better survival rate and fill out the space sooner. It is critical that we consider what size a plant will grow to be.

If The Availability Of Plant Material Is Limited, Does That Affect Your Design?
It can. We try to design with flexibility, outlining the most important plants and concentrating on getting those, then filling in with workable species. The key is for the landscape architect/designer to do his/her homework. It’s important to stay informed as to what is available. The more time we have to locate material, the better our chances of getting what the client wants.

Does Using Smaller Plants Significantly Compromise A Design?
Where we have the option (city contracts don’t allow substitution), smaller plants can do well if properly maintained - but maintenance is key. However, knowing the market and suppliers, we can usually find what we have designed for, especially when landscape design has been considered from the beginning. Some landscape contractors, including The Groundskeeper, will help us find the best material.

How Do You Handle Design Requests That Are Out Of Local Climate Considerations?
Educating the client is crucial. Sometimes they want designs that weren’t meant to exist in the desert. In some cities, those are not allowed. Where they can be constructed, the maintenance costs are very high. The client needs to know what he/she is getting into before a design like this goes forward.

Have You Noticed Any Industry Trends In The Last Five To 10 Years?
More desert plantings. Fifteen years ago, people thought it was crackpot idea. Now they realize how water-efficient it is, and (as Connor put it) “drought-tolerant” doesn’t mean crushed rock and a cactus every 25 feet. The down side of that trend is that native plants are harder to find. McGann sees an emphasis in nurseries on growing more of those species to meet demand.

Contract growing is a positive answer to shortages. Clients pay to have plants grown and held for their landscapes. This is another reason that the landscape architect/designer should be included early in the project. Designers should also be involved in harvesting native plants on construction sites.

Another positive is that clients are more educated. They are recognizing the fact that the lowest bidders aren’t always going to give them quality service.

Subsurface irrigation systems are very popular. They’re great for some areas; unfortunately, they don’t work well in all soils. People need to be sure they are getting what their property needs, not just what the trend dictates.

A negative trend is in city regulations. Twenty years ago there were no rules; now they have gone overboard and too often don’t consider the expertise of people in the field.

How Much Input Do You Have On The Selection Of Landscape Contractors For Installation?
We have lists of people we recommend for private clients. Unfortunately, many projects overspend on building construction and have very little left for landscaping. As a result, the client chooses the contractor who bids lowest, too often sacrificing quality in the process. The companies on our lists are all proven to do quality work.

What Should One Look For In A Landscape Contractor?
Make sure the contractor works to follow the design. Look for someone who communicates well and responds to service requests promptly. It is a good idea to get references, check the work done on their sites, and talk to clients about the contractor’s effectiveness. Also make sure the contractor uses the most recent methods for installation of plant materials.

What Are The Most Common Weaknesses You Encounter In An Installation?
Questions about the installation should be addressed during the bidding process. It is important that the contractor understand the designer’s and the client’s intentions. A preconstruction meeting on the site can prevent problems like improper installation of irrigation systems and plant material.

How Much Should Maintenance Be A Consideration In Landscape Design?
Maintenance is a high priority. There’s nothing worse than seeing your design fall apart because it was not taken care of properly. Warner likes to have the contractor prepare a maintenance plan for the first year, then meet with the installation contractor and the maintenance contractor on the site.

Campbell said, “My dad was a nurseryman. He taught me that if you design something your client can’t maintain, you’ve done nothing for him [or her].” Therefore, a bad design results in overgrowth and removal. We must plan for plants to reach maturity in the space where they are planted.

Can You Determine Maintenance Costs For Your Design?
We can estimate a figure per square foot based on other jobs, but it is impossible to determine what the client will allocate as a maintenance budget. The most important thing is to help the client understand how important it is to have quality maintenance. It doesn’t make sense to spend money on a landscape design, and then go to the cheapest contractor to maintain it.

As A General Rule, Do Maintenance Practices Conform To Your Intent?
Very often, they do not. Even when we provide maintenance guidelines, a lot of contractors don’t use them. For instance, they’ll blow the debris out of an area, but never check the irrigation system for leaks or plugged lines. They’ll “lollipop” the shrubs, when we’ve specified natural pruning. Flanagan explained that bad maintenance can ruin a plant. If somebody whacks the thorns off a young Acacia tree, for example, the tree will be stunted. If the tree is pruned properly, the thorny branches will grow high off the ground, where they are out of the way.

What Are The Challenges A Landscape Architect/Designer Faces?
Educating clients as to what really goes into the planning and care of a landscape. Done properly, a good design can save money and keep a property looking terrific all the time.

What Makes A Landscape Design Great?
One that works for several years after it is designed and installed is a great design. It must be functional, attractive and water efficient. A design that becomes important to the area - something people notice - is also a great design.

What Are The Most Rewarding Parts Of Your Work As A Landscape Architect/Designer?
Getting to see our designs being used, seen and appreciated. Southwick said, “It’s great to go back three, four or five years later and see a project looking fantastic, and then to talk to the client and find him/her excited about how it has worked out.”