[jimbo2012]

In reading all the landscaper tales here I was thinking is going to landscaper that sells & installs the way to go rather than a landscape architect?

Would going to an architect be worth considering getting a real set of plans from a licensed professional be worth the extra cost or in the end may save money and look less like your neighbor?

But I have no idea what they charge.

I read this online - landscape designers are generally connected with a nursery, you sign an agreement for a free design to your budget and the landscape designer makes a quick sketch using the junk plants that they have in their nursery and using plants that are considered high profit plants. The final product is under whelming at best. In the end, your project was a revenue source for a landscaping company.

Now I'm not saying that opinion is correct or agree, but it does raise a valid point.

[ajbrown]

Get a few quotes, make Jamie's Landscaping one of them and then decide. caveat reader, my work was done two years ago.

Because someone has a computer and a 2 day course in design does not always mean better

[graciegirl]

It is a thing here with landscaping. The new homes come with landscaping. And according to the price/and or home series, it is good, better, best as to age of plants, size and scale. They are all healthy and they are all planted to live comfortably in this zone.

The people who are in the landscape business and I would lump the developers landscaping in with them, do a wonderful job with choices and placement and are to landscaping like an interior design person is to a homes interior and use the same general concepts.

You will see the pyramid design used and choices of three in a grouping and light green contrasting with dark green, taller, shorter, flowering, non flowering and the real clincher is that the plants planted are the plants productive to being planted in this part of Florida. (Please drive by Peter Piper's house)

You have the folks who like mini walls...and they are good to keep out the grasses that easily spread to planting beds and you have the folks who like big Palms. (That is how you can tell if they have a lot of money...or USED to have a lot of money) Palms aren't cheap. I hear from folks who have been here, done that, that they aren't having Palms again because they drop things and are tippy and hard to maintain. (That is MY excuse for keeping my money)

Just kidding. Palms are beautiful and many folks feel it is part and parcel of their tropical dream to buy into the swaying palms.

So you move in and take your time and look around for awhile and continue to ask questions and gather information. You will find the right landscaping choice.

[NJblue]

I'm not sure where you will even find a real landscape architect in the area. They may exist, but I have not seen one advertised or employed by any of the local landscapers. There are many that do design service, including a computer rendition of the final look, but none that I have run across are true landscape architects with a degree.

Some of the "designers" create beautiful plans, but some also do not take into account the mature size of the shrubs and trees that they recommend. One that comes fairly highly recommended here on TOTV gave me a design which included Chinese Fan Palms as sort of a medium level shrub (which they do look like in their immature form). They looked great in the design but they ignored the fact that these will become fairly large trees as they mature. They would ultimately have to be ripped out. Other common problems with local designers is recommending plants that are not cold hardy or placing those that can't take direct sun in areas with no shade.

In the end, I bought my own design program, did my own research and created my own design. I then had a landscape company put the big stuff in place and also take out the sod for the new beds. I then bought my own plants in 3/5/7 gallon sizes from a variety of sources and planted them myself. So far I'm pleased with the results and if somethings don't work out - the cost was so low, that I won't feel bad about ripping them out and replacing them.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by NJblue

I'm not sure where you will even find a real landscape architect in the area. They may exist, but I have not seen one advertised or employed by any of the local landscapers. There are many that do design service, including a computer rendition of the final look, but none that I have run across are true landscape architects with a degree.

Some of the "designers" create beautiful plans, but some also do not take into account the mature size of the shrubs and trees that they recommend. One that comes fairly highly recommended here on TOTV gave me a design which included Chinese Fan Palms as sort of a medium level shrub (which they do look like in their immature form). They looked great in the design but they ignored the fact that these will become fairly large trees as they mature. They would ultimately have to be ripped out. Other common problems with local designers is recommending plants that are not cold hardy or placing those that can't take direct sun in areas with no shade.

In the end, I bought my own design program, did my own research and created my own design. I then had a landscape company put the big stuff in place and also take out the sod for the new beds. I then bought my own plants in 3/5/7 gallon sizes from a variety of sources and planted them myself. So far I'm pleased with the results and if somethings don't work out - the cost was so low, that I won't feel bad about ripping them out and replacing them.

The cost is significant with a moderate landscaping job. Many friends have told me that it was more than ten thousand dollars.

[jimbo2012]

Gracie, in 2011 the average cost to create working drawings ranges from $750 to $1,000 per design.

A licensed architect charges about $70 per hour, I looked that up before I posted the thread.

.

[graciegirl]

I meant a landscaping job that was planted, built, completed.

[jimbo2012]

oh, ok but if you're spending 10K I think the cost of a plan by an architect suggesting not only the layout but plantings without regard for what inventory needs to be sold, may be worth considering.

[jimbo2012]

Ok I researched this till my head hurts, I not using any landscaping company to do a design. From reading everything here I decided to hire a landscape architect, discuss our needs, expectations, likes and dislikes pay him for a professional plan that I can go shopping with, I will only use a local guy to plant anything large or dig out the beds etc.

I don't trust any of them after reading all the horror stories herein.

But yes some are good I'm sure and you can receive value for what you spend.

1. An architect is simply better qualified not only in design layout but the trees & plants themselves, soil, sun, growth rate........etc.

2. They have no conflict in what they recommend and what they may be trying to sell from their inventory-they don't have any.

3. Too many houses have similar designs due to lack of imagination many look rubber stamped (sorry not trying to insult anyone's home).

4. The fees are not that much $$, as stated above and now confirmed with a great firm that seems to get it in many ways.

As a bonus along with several hours of consulting he's going to hook us up with several nurseries to buy at wholesale, (he gave us examples of prices of a few items, wow!) so that off sets his fee.

Now I can select - negotiate and know exactly what each item costs.


Now all I need is my salesmen to call us when new units open to pick a lot.

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Ok I researched this till my head hurts, I not using any landscaping company to do a design. From reading everything here I decided to hire a landscape architect, discuss our needs, expectations, likes and dislikes pay him for a professional plan that I can go shopping with, I will only use a local guy to plant anything large or dig out the beds etc.

I don't trust any of them after reading all the horror stories herein.

But yes some are good I'm sure and you can receive value for what you spend.

1. An architect is simply better qualified not only in design layout but the trees & plants themselves, soil, sun, growth rate........etc.

2. They have no conflict in what they recommend and what they may be trying to sell from their inventory-they don't have any.

3. Too many houses have similar designs due to lack of imagination many look rubber stamped (sorry not trying to insult anyone's home).

4. The fees are not that much $$, as stated above and now confirmed with a great firm that seems to get it in many ways.

As a bonus along with several hours of consulting he's going to hook us up with several nurseries to buy at wholesale, (he gave us examples of prices of a few items, wow!) so that off sets his fee.

Now I can select - negotiate and know exactly what each item costs.


Now all I need is my salesmen to call us when new units open to pick a lot.

your doing all that planning will pay off in the end.

[asianthree]

did my own up north after 20years just started taking out some of the bushes to plant something else. programs are so easy to use now take a picture of your house and start moving stuff around

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Ok I researched this till my head hurts, I not using any landscaping company to do a design. From reading everything here I decided to hire a landscape architect, discuss our needs, expectations, likes and dislikes pay him for a professional plan that I can go shopping with, I will only use a local guy to plant anything large or dig out the beds etc.

I don't trust any of them after reading all the horror stories herein.

But yes some are good I'm sure and you can receive value for what you spend.

1. An architect is simply better qualified not only in design layout but the trees & plants themselves, soil, sun, growth rate........etc.

2. They have no conflict in what they recommend and what they may be trying to sell from their inventory-they don't have any.

3. Too many houses have similar designs due to lack of imagination many look rubber stamped (sorry not trying to insult anyone's home).

4. The fees are not that much $$, as stated above and now confirmed with a great firm that seems to get it in many ways.

As a bonus along with several hours of consulting he's going to hook us up with several nurseries to buy at wholesale, (he gave us examples of prices of a few items, wow!) so that off sets his fee.

Now I can select - negotiate and know exactly what each item costs.


Now all I need is my salesmen to call us when new units open to pick a lot.

Jimbo, a potential issue you might run into by going this route: If there are 'quality issues' with any of the plantings (ex. - A plant craps out and dies for whatever reason in fairly short order after installation), are both the parties involved with the landscaping (the wholesale nursery and the separate labor provider) going to make you whole? I'd assume the nursery would have some type of warranty for their products (though maybe not)......but I'd think the separate labor folks would balk at replacing it for free.

Also, what if the architect specifies some plantings that aren't stocked by any of the nurseries he hooks you up with?

Just a couple of thoughts.....

Bill

[Happinow]

We are having our landscaping started tomorrow by McGowan. Our rear neighbors are also using them. So far, we are impressed with how closely they are working with us and encourage us to stay active in the process so that we get exactly what we want. Sabrina knows her stuff and her husband Patrick works with the crew to make sure everything is done exactly as we ask. We have some significant landscaping going in and changed our minds more than once with trees and plants going in. They were very accommodating. We will see how things end up. We have a lot of confidence in McGowan Landscaping.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

Jimbo, a potential issue you might run into by going this route: If there are 'quality issues' with any of the plantings (ex. - A plant craps out and dies for whatever reason in fairly short order after installation), are both the parties involved with the landscaping (the wholesale nursery and the separate labor provider) going to make you whole? I'd assume the nursery would have some type of warranty for their products (though maybe not)......but I'd think the separate labor folks would balk at replacing it for free.
Also, what if the architect specifies some plantings that aren't stocked by any of the nurseries he hooks you up with?

Good points Bill.

Sure buying this way may affect the replacement of a plant, but I would be more concerned about an expensive tree or palm. Labor I would likely pay for again but it's all negotiable I would think.

This is all in the planning stage so time will tell, if something is not available I would just ask for an alternative. I am also free to shop anyplace not only his recommendations. But since he's in central Fl he should know what's harder to get or readily available.

I can also give the plan to a reputable landscaper like McGowan or a few others for quotes on the install only or install with their fauna.
"The art of the deal"