Have you wondered about the benefits of getting a professional landscape design before making major changes in your landscape? Well, let me ask you some questions. Have you ever driven across the country without a map? If so, how many times did you have to stop and ask directions? If you drove with your partner did you both simultaneously approve of the routes you were taking?
Landscape Design is a tool that helps create an overall goal or framework that allows you to work methodically, and in an organized way. When thinking about a larger project, it’s a good idea to have a road map illustrating how you want your project to take shape.
The first steps would be for a Landscape Designer to work with you to create a site and design analysis. A site analysis is the preliminary phase of design dedicated to the study of the climatic, geographical, historical, legal and infrastructural context of a specific site. Being in the mountain West there are many different micro climates that exist in one geographical area. For example, a home with a north-facing entry will have a totally different site analysis than a home with a south facing entry.
A design analysis is a decision-making process between the client and designer that utilizes your site analysis to create the landscape design. These decisions are based on client preferences, the functionality of indoor and outdoor spaces, plant selections, and the functionality of the overall site (water harvesting, wind screening, and view sheds, to name a few) to create the best design outcome possible. Phasing and cost of the project are also carefully taken into account during this time period.
While a landscape is a dynamic system that will change and grow over time, the design helps create the framework to ensure the overall success of a landscape through its lifetime. Having a client fully appreciate the potential of their design and installed landscape is the ultimate goal of the landscape designer.
By Meg Hearding
BS of Landscape Architecture
