Our Design Process

Step 1: Initial Consultation & Vision Assessment

Our journey together begins with a personal consultation at your property. We’ll walk through your landscape with you, discussing your wants, needs, and overall vision for the space. This initial meeting is all about understanding your goals and how we bring them to life. We’ll also assess the practical aspects of your property to ensure our design is both beautiful and sustainable.

Step 2: Discovering Your Style & Preferences

To create a truly custom landscape design, we take the time to understand your personal tastes. We’ll discuss your likes and dislikes when it comes to specific plants, colors, and textures. Do you prefer a classic, formal garden or a more natural, locally sourced and inspired look? By understanding your preferences, we can develop a design that you’ll love for years to come.

Step 3: Site Analysis & Information Gathering

Next, we’ll conduct a complete site analysis, which includes photographing the plantable areas around your home’s foundation and property periphery. This detailed information gathering is essential for creating a design that features strong curb appeal and four-season interest. We’ll consider factors like sun exposure, soil type, and existing vegetation to ensure the right plants are chosen for the right places.

Step 4: Hand-Crafted Design & Phased Planning

We then create a custom design set, which starts as a detailed, hand-drawn overlay. You’ll receive a full-color copy on cardstock, providing a tangible vision of your new landscape. Each drawing corresponds to a section in your typed estimate, breaking down the project into manageable “bite-sized” phases. This approach makes it easy to see the specific plants and materials for each area and allows you to implement your Master Plan in stages if that best suits your budget and timeline. Our estimates also clearly outline optional extras like Custom Planters, Specialty Plants, or Specimen Trees.

Step 5: The Design Reveal & Collaborative Refinement

This is the exciting part! We’ll present your custom design and detailed estimate, walking you through the plant choices and design decisions. We bring photos of the selected plants to help you visualize their growth habits and appearance in your garden. Your feedback is essential, and we’ll work with you to make any adjustments needed to ensure you absolutely love every element of your new landscape. You can see examples of our completed projects in our portfolio.

Step 6: Project Approval & Scheduling

Once you’re ready to move forward, you can decide to implement the full Master Plan or select specific phases. We’ll provide a revised estimate and contract based on your decision. Upon signing and receipt of the initial deposit, we’ll order all necessary materials and plants and schedule the start date for your installation. As a hands-on company, we are present on-site to ensure your installation is executed to the highest standard and perfectly aligns with your wishes.

Step 7: Collaboration with Expert Partners

A complete landscape often involves more than just plants. We work with a team of experienced local professionals for services like irrigation systems, excavation, landscape lighting, and custom hardscaping and masonry. We can help coordinate their role in the overall design and installation, ensuring a cohesive and beautifully executed project from start to finish.

Step 8: Enjoyment & Ongoing Support

The final step is to relax and enjoy your beautiful new landscape! We’re here to support you long after the installation is complete. It’s important to contact us if any issues arise, and we recommend scheduling maintenance visits during the first year to ensure everything is healthy and thriving. We also offer ongoing landscape maintenance services to our clients for years to come, protecting your investment and keeping your garden looking its best.