One area to look at if you want to completely change how your home looks and feels is your landscape. A great landscape can not only improve your curb appeal, but also create more usable outdoor living space and increase your privacy. However, getting results like that starts with choosing the right landscape designers.
Not all landscape designers approach projects the same way, so it’s important to find one that’s the right fit for you. Before hiring anyone, ask these five questions to your potential landscape designer to learn more about what the experience and final result will be like.
1. Do You Design for My Lifestyle or Just My Property?
This is one of the most important questions to ask potential landscape designers. A landscape could look completely gorgeous, but if it doesn’t support the way you really live, it’ll get frustrating fast.
Good landscape designers ask you questions like:
- Do you entertain frequently?
- Do you have children or pets?
- How much maintenance are you comfortable with?
- Do you want privacy?
- How do you use your outdoor spaces today?
- How would you like to use them in the future?
The best designs start with people, not plants. If what you really need is a place for neighborhood cookouts, having the prettiest petunias around won’t make a bit of difference.
2. How Will the Landscape Connect to My Home’s Exterior?
One big mistake we see is designers treating the landscape as a separate project from the house itself. However, the strongest exterior designs happen when the home and landscape work together.
Ask your potential landscape designers questions like:
- How do you incorporate the home’s style into the design?
- How do you create visual balance between the house and landscaping?
- How do you choose materials that complement the exterior?
The goal isn’t to just add plants around the foundation – anyone can do that. The goal is to create a cohesive property where everything feels connected. A modern home, for example, should have a much different landscaping approach than a traditional cottage.
3. How Do You Balance Beauty and Maintenance?
It’s easy to fall in love with a landscape design just to find out six months later that maintaining it feels like a part-time job. The last thing you want is for your landscaping to become a burden!
Before hiring landscape designers, ask them questions like:
- How much upkeep will this design require?
- Are there lower-maintenance alternatives?
- Which plants perform best in my climate?
Great designers understand that the best landscape isn’t always the most elaborate one. It’s the one you can realistically maintain over time and enjoy for years to come. Because of that, fewer plants and smarter placement tend to create better long-term results than filling every inch of your yard with flowers and bushes.
4. Can I See How the Design Will Really Look?
Landscape plans are difficult to visualize from technical drawings alone. You may find yourself struggling to picture how mature plantings or pathways will come together just from this. That’s why you should ask your landscape designers if you’ll get visual renderings, and how you can compare different options before making decisions.
Being able to visualize that final result can help you make more confident decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
However, keep in mind that the rendering itself isn’t the only product you’re getting. When you hire landscape designers, the real product is the expertise behind that gorgeous design – the rendering just helps communicate that expertise.
5. What Happens After the Design Is Finished?
Not all design services end the same way. Some offer a design concept and leave the rest to you, but others (like brick&batten) provide detailed plans, product recommendations, and guidance to implement the vision.
Before hiring landscape designers, ask questions like:
- What deliverables are included?
- Will I receive material recommendations?
- Will I know which plants to use?
- Can local contractors easily implement the design?
- What support is available after the design is delivered?
Believe us – the middle of a landscaping project is the worst time to discover there are missing pieces.
What Sets Great Landscape Designers Apart?
When you think about your home’s landscape, you’re probably thinking mostly about aesthetics. But great landscape designers do more than just make things look pretty. They consider details we don’t always think of, like:
- Traffic flow
- Privacy
- Drainage
- Maintenance
- Outdoor living
- Property value
- Architectural consistency
- Long-term growth
Expert landscape designers solve problems while creating beauty. That combination is a result of years of expertise that sets them apart from just “good” designs.
Hire the Right Landscape Designers For Your Exterior
Hiring landscape designers is truly an investment in your home. Before choosing a designer, take the time to look into your options and ask thoughtful questions about the process. The right designer will help you create an outdoor environment that feels perfect for your lifestyle, not just pretty plants.
At brick&batten, our Premium Landscape Design service combines professional design expertise with a complete vision for your outdoor space. Our designers consider everything from plant selection and privacy to outdoor living, circulation, and long-term maintenance to give you a plan that’s the culmination of years of thoughtful expertise.
Ready to ask us questions? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our team to get the answers you’re looking for.
