Base Design

This is the base plan of a landscape design that delineates the shape and flow of the landscape indicating hardscape elements such as: paths, patios, decks, garden beds, lawn area, water or fire features, play equipment, raised beds... and usually elevation contours. It depicts the hardscape spatial proportions and relationships. This option does not indicate plant materials.

>> Who Chooses Base Design?

• Compentent gardeners and DIYers who know gardening & plants, but not art & design.

Simple Design

This option begins with Base Design, and adds trees & shrubs. It does not include flower bed design, though I may use some evergreen or shrub-like perennials (like lavender or fuschia) and note a few places for annual, perennial &/or bulb flowers.

This option could be viewed as a ‘minimalist’ version of Complete Design. All elements, including plants, are labeled on the plan. This design solution ordinarily results in an easier-to-maintain, simpler look. Most annual & perennial flowers are omitted because they require higher levels of maintenance than do shrubs & trees.

>> Who Chooses Simple Design?

• Owners of rental property
• Anyone whose landscape will be contractor-maintained on a budget
• Those who desire a lower level of maintenance
• Those desiring a more minimal look/feel in their landscape
• Coaching clients

Complete Design

This option includes the elements of Simple Design, and adds the flowers and other details. All elements and plants are labeled on the plan. This option generally fulfills my cover-the-earth-completely view of how a landscape should be designed… richly textured, lush and full.

I can meticulously design the flower bed areas... specifying every plant and it's position. Or, I can decide only the key items letting you fill in with plants of your own choosing or ones selected from my general plant lists. Your project’s final price is determined by how much detail you desire.

>> Who Chooses Complete Design?

• Those who want all or most of the details clearly defined, and don’t want to make many plant selection choices on their own
• Those who don't mind a higher level of maintenance
• Coaching clients

Conceptual
Design

This option may appear to be the same as Complete Design (hardscape, trees & shrubs, and flowers). But the main difference is that with this option I don't choose many specific plants. The design will be my conceptual vision of what your landscape will look like once it’s populated with trees, shrubs & flowers. Because of this option's conceptual nature, all labeling is general in nature… allowing you to choose most plants and surface textures on your own (or through later coaching).

For example: An area of the design may show unidentified plant icons but only be labeled ‘Hummer Garden’ (see above). This is where the hummingbird garden is located, and the client either chooses the plants on their own, refers to my general plant lists for suggestions, or schedules a coaching visit for assistance.

>> Who Chooses Conceptual Design?

• Novice gardeners wanting to learn by doing
• More experienced gardeners who want a clearly-illustrated, artful concept, and only minimal guidance regarding plant selection
• Many clients follow up this option with Coaching in order to learn about plant selection, placement, and other gardening practices
  
• DIYers on a budget that requires them to install their new landscape over a long(er) period of time
• Coaching clients

Gardening Coach

Coaching is where I walk around your lot with you, hear your concerns, and give advice and gardening tips off the top of my head. I usually have my laptop and other resources to aid me.

Depending on your specific requests, I can ID plants, teach techniques regarding culture and maintenance issues (like mulching or pruning), make general design suggestion, etc.

Important Note:
Coaching sessions do NOT include a formally drawn plan.

I occasionally do sketch smaller area concepts, but I don't draw more than simple, very-small garden borders at coaching visits… and even that is rare. If you want/need a design plan, I will make a written estimate. I make plans for small garden areas as well as for entire yards. I just don't do it while you wait. For more reasoning on why I'm not a fan of while-you-wait design, see my More On Coaching page.

>> Who Chooses Gardening Coach?

• New homeowners or people new to the area or gardening in general who need to know what is growing in their garden
• Experienced gardeners who want fresh eyes on their projects
• People wanting to take on more of their own gardening, but don’t have extensive knowledge or skills
• Many clients use Coaching in order to learn about plant selection, placement, and other gardening practices as a follow-up to other design options
  
• Great wedding, birthday, anniversary, or first-time-homeowner gift!