Much like everything else in life, landscape design is a process; there is a defined set of steps that you should take when implementing a landscape design in a client’s yard. Landscape designers can’t just barge into a client’s property and start planting trees wherever they’d like! To make a great design that will be visually appealing and please your client, you have to follow these three major steps.
The three steps in the implementation of landscape design are design, construction, and implementation. Each of these steps may have its own smaller steps, but as a whole, it is these three main steps that you will want to consider.
By following these three steps, you can ensure that your landscape design job goes smoothly, your design looks great, and your customers are satisfied! Read on for more about these great tips.
Design
One of the most important aspects of landscape design is right in the name- the design! As with most artistic projects, a worthwhile final product requires a thorough design phase. In this phase, you can iron out any wrinkles in your plan without delaying actual construction, along with getting opinions and approval in advance.
There are no hard rules for landscape design; remember that this field is an art, not a science. You will have to use your artistic abilities to visualize what works best in your given space, but thankfully, you will be able to adjust things however you’d like!
Your artistic skills will be paramount in this endeavor, and occasionally, clients may give you free rein to design their yard as you see fit; however, there are several things you must consider unless explicitly told otherwise. To learn more about the nuances that come with the designing phase of this great career, read on!
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Recognizing Your Client’s Desires
When you’re designing anything for somebody’s yard, whether it be a yard, a painting, or even a home renovation, the second most important thing is that your client is satisfied. The most important thing is, of course, safety- you don’t want your creation to injure anybody! However, customer satisfaction is a very close second. In any industry, safety should be instinctual; thankfully, this means that you can focus more on making what your client wants and needs!
Your client will likely have a few things they want in their yard, whether it be a specific type of tree, a certain central color for flowers, or a structure such as a firepit or a gazebo. As a landscape designer, it is your job to work these structures into the yard’s design in a fluid and aesthetically pleasing manner, if possible.
Sometimes, some things won’t be possible due to a lack of budget or space- in these situations, you may have to disappoint your client. However, give your client the choice of what to cut if need be! Make sure you know your client’s priorities so that you can give them the best yard they could ask for.
Privacy Elements
Not every yard is made equal- some of them are far more open than others, whether it be because of a lack of tree coverage, partially open fences such as chain links, or even an entire lack of fences. When working with an open yard like this, you will want to include privacy elements, such as large, shady trees, hedges, and thick bushes, or a structure like a gazebo.
As privacy elements are typically far larger than most flowerbeds, you will have to be very careful when designing a privacy element and deciding where to place it. Privacy elements are some of the most vital parts of a project, so you can’t ignore them unless your client specifically does not want one; they help your client feel secure in their backyard!
Privacy elements also help hide ugly sightlines or anything that may clash with the flow of the yard. Larger privacy elements, such as walls or hedges, can act as sound barriers to block off noise from nearby roads or neighbors. With all these benefits, you can understand why including a privacy element in your design conversations is a great idea!
Artistic Elements
The artistic elements of landscape design are where you get to flex your design muscles- by taking your client’s tastes and desires into consideration, you can paint their yard with beautiful plant species that will make their yard pop!
The design phase is a great place to consider which plants will survive best in your climate and hardiness zone, along with picking out plants based on size, shape, and color to best fit into your design.
Of course, artistic elements extend far beyond plant life and pretty flowers; anything you put in your landscape design, from plants to rocks, bricks, chairs, and gazebos, qualify as ‘artistic elements.’ This design phase is the space where you get to have fun and express your talents!
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Client Approval
Of course, you won’t want to go straight into the next phase without clearing your plans with your client! After all, you are working on their property, whether it is a home, a business, or a public space. Whoever hired you is in charge of that expanse of land, and you want to make sure that they are satisfied!
While it is a good idea to keep clients informed throughout the design process, it is also a good idea, to sum up, all of your plans in a final meeting for the design phase. In this meeting, you can outline your design and any applicable details for your client to approve.
Once you have approval from your client, it is time for the next step!
Construction
The next step is, physically, the hardest one- putting everything together! The construction phase is where everything physically falls into place. Or, rather, is put in place- if something falls during construction, it may not be a good thing.
Anything implemented during the construction phase may require hardware, such as shovels, screws, a drill, washers, or any other tool. This all depends on your tasks!
During the construction phase, you may want to hire some employees to help put everything together, especially for a larger project. After all, it can take quite some time to build a gazebo by yourself.
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Materials
When constructing a project, you must consider what materials you wish to use. Different materials have their advantages and disadvantages, and certain materials are better suited for certain tasks than others.
For example, when building a gazebo or a patio, you may want to use treated lumber. On the other hand, a fire pit should be constructed out of stone or brick.
The best trick for deciding on materials is another art trick- imagine the design you want to end up with. If you do not have a material immediately appearing in your mind’s eye, choose the material that would best help you achieve the desired appearance while also being sturdy and reliable!
Implementation
The final step is implementation. In this step, you want to make sure that everything you have works; both on a technical level and an aesthetic level. If the design stage is where the idea is created, and construction is its in-progress stage, then implementation is the birth of your design.
With implementation, everything is finalized. Grasses are laid, bushes and plants are trimmed, and you place any finishing touches that you think you need. Once you have completed implementation and adjusted your project to your liking and the satisfaction of your client, you are finished! Congratulate yourself on another job well done!
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now understand just why these three steps are such a huge benefit to any landscape designer. These three steps outline a clear path any designer can follow for great results on any of their projects!
As a landscape designer, your livelihood depends on your ability to make a patch of land gorgeous, functional, and catered to your clients. By following these three steps, you ensure that you will create an excellent landscape every time!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I revise my design during the construction phase?
You can revise your design as much as you would like, or as much as you would need to. If you want to put in the effort, you could even change things that have already been planted, constructed, or installed; it simply will be a bit of a hassle to do so. This is why the design phase is so important, but if you find that you missed something in your design phase, then the construction phase is a good place to fix it!
Do I have to follow these three steps?
Ultimately, no, you do not have to follow these steps. Technically speaking, you do not have to follow any rules at all remember, landscape design is an art, so you can express yourself however you feel. These three steps may not be mandatory, but they are certainly a huge help for any landscape designer!
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Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Landscape Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a landscape business owner at a job site, driving down the road or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Landscaping Business Boss: I want to help landscape business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.