8 MUST-HAVES TO SUCCEED IN YOUR LANDSCAPING
What is the key to success in designing a dream landscape garden? First, take the time to plan your development. It’s a bit of a contradiction, but before you call a landscape architect or do your own landscaping plan, here are some things that could help you save time and money.
1) WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT?
You must first define your goals and how you will use space. Are you preparing the house for sale? Do you have to do urgent repair work? Want to create new activity areas or modify existing ones? Want to entertain friends and family regularly or occasionally? Do you do the work for your main residence or your second home?
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Your use of the garden: Are you of the pool or spa type, fire with friends or gourmet epicurean? Will you always be outside or if you like to spend a lot of time growing a vegetable garden?
Transition zones: Which door will access the backyard? Is it practical, well located? The layout can include the installation of a French window, the modification of the stairs, etc., and at the same time give even more value to your property.
Maintenance: Generally, we tend to underestimate the maintenance required by a garden. Sometimes, it is better to leave this service to a trusted team, which will leave you much more time to enjoy your development.
Practical needs: It will be necessary to think about the necessary parking (sometimes, the families get bigger …), to create zones of intimacy, to find the best location for the bins, the compost, the discount … Your landscaper will offer you excellent solutions, both elegant and practical, depending on your budget.
2) IT’S TIME TO DREAM YOUR PROJECT!
Then you need to gather the necessary documents for the development of the design plan and find inspiration for your development on websites like Houzz or Pinterest or in magazines. This clearing work will be very useful at the creation stage.
3) RESEARCH BEFORE EXCAVATION
You must first locate the passage of the various networks of underground services (gas pipes, cable …). Even your own underground wires that connect the house to your shed, as an example. You will avoid being responsible for a broken equipment. It may also be relevant to release your certificate of location if you have it on hand. By doing business with a contractor, he will take care of these details. But make sure it’s clear between you, so you do not end up with the unpleasant surprise that it disengages in case of glitch.
4) WHAT ‘S THE BUDGET?
Once you have a good idea of what you want, you need to establish a realistic budget and determine the amount you are willing to pay for your project. It is on this amount that the landscape architect or garden designer will base to create your personalized plan. Although difficult to establish when you are not familiar with this type of project, budgeting is a crucial step. Remember, quality landscaping increases the value of your home , making it more attractive to potential buyers.
You will probably like to read our article: What is the return on investment of your landscaping ?
5) THE MANAGEMENT PLAN
At this stage you will be able to make a big decision for the realization of your project.
Do you make your own plan? Design your development project based on your needs, inspirations and budget. At this stage, it is suggested to take the time to check the municipal regulations that will give certain guidelines to respect in the design (height of fences and privacy panels, distance from the pool to the limits of your property, accepted materials, etc.). ). Also take a few minutes to properly plan surface water management and drainage, if necessary.
Do you contact a landscape expert? A trustworthy contractor will know how to take all the necessary time to meet you and to pin down your every wish and the stakes that your field has. His team, composed of architects and landscape masters, will move to the creation of your development plan and will orchestrate the realization of your work taking into account the type of soil, sunshine, your special needs and range of products you have selected. The delivery of your development plan will include the submission of a complete project finance document, the Plant and Materials Guide.
6) ONCE THE PLAN IS ESTABLISHED
Entrust your project to a team of professionals who will ensure the successful completion of the project until it is completed to your satisfaction and within the deadlines.
WHY HIRE A LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR?
Experts who are members of a professional association have the obligation to have a formal contract signed, clearly specifying the responsibilities of the parties, the nature of the work, the schedule, the information to be provided by the client, the duration of the guarantees and terms of payment.
Guarantees cover both plants (usually 1 year from the end of planting) and inert materials (2 years) and labor.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A CONTRACTOR IS COMPETENT AND WILL MEET MY NEEDS?
We ask ourselves what he has already done. Check his website and seeing his achievements, you will have an overview of the styles of development that he is able to conceive. Look at the number of comments or stars that you will find on Google about it, or on Houzz and Pinterest. Has the contractor won any awards lately?
You can ask for references … Is he a member of a professional association ? This is not a foolproof guarantee, but these associations have certain requirements towards their members, concerning inter alia experience, financial stability and liability insurance.
A good entrepreneur is also one who will respect your neighborhood. All his team will be comely and in the evening, your property will not look like an open pit. You will appreciate a contractor who keeps the place clean, safe for Pitou or children. Details that often make the difference during the work.
7) COORDINATION OF DEVELOPMENT WORKS
Finally, prepare your work schedule, coordinate the various stakeholders (pool, fence installer, electrician …) and apply for a permit to carry out your work.
8) AT WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR SHOULD I START THINKING ABOUT IT?
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Ideally, in the fall. Getting started early allows you to consider several scenarios with the help of your landscape architect and to specify the costs. For the completion of the work, it is best to book your time with your contractor as soon as possible if you want a development made early in the season. If you call in June, it’s a safe bet that the availabilities of the most reputable companies have already been booked months in advance.
IN CONCLUSION
Everything resides in the planning, as mentioned from the outset. Whether it is done by yourself or by a specialized contractor, we recommend hiring a landscape architect to inform you. It will help you make the right choices, and you can even get tips on how to fix some elements of your garden layout. Afterwards, you can make the decision to do your own project, develop it in phases or have peace of mind as soon as possible, according to your budget.
