Even though a DIY landscape seems like it’d be a fairly simple project (who doesn’t love spending time in the garden?), transforming a landscape on your own may not be the best use of your time and money.

Before you pull the trigger on your DIY yard, think about these other 5 valuable things a landscaper could add to your project:

1- Determine the ‘flow’ of your landscape

• Designing your landscape for optimal functionality that suits your specific needs and home design.
• Determining the best locations for hardscapes, pools, sheds, walkways, driveways and more.
• Optimizing the use of your property by understanding spatial relationships to configure how all of the landscape elements will ‘connect’.
• Making sense of it all – creating a cohesive master plan that will look great for years to come.

2 – Add their specialized experience and landscape knowledge to your vision

• Having a professional knowledge of plant material helps landscapers select the proper plantings for the right place. This removes the possibility of expensive plants not surviving.
• Increasing the longevity of plants and decreasing the amount of maintenance required—low maintenance landscapes look great all year with little upkeep!
• Selecting hardscape materials for what will work best in your plan (for instance, many types and styles of stone and pavers are available for a patio and not all types of stone or pavers are suited to every situation). A designer can help you narrow your choices for what works for you.
• Knowing the local climate and seasonal weather patterns prevents problems down the line.

3 – Give you new ideas

• Creating a master plan of your property with a fresh perspective.
• Providing a variety of layouts and explaining the pros and cons of each.
• Including all of the features you would like and some features you hadn’t thought of.
• Introducing you to different ideas for outdoor features that are new to you.
• Offering a clear vision.
• Problem-solving seating options, drainage issues, curb appeal and more.
• Providing ideas on what to refurbish and what to replace.
• Helping you explore cost-effective options and alternatives.

4 – Prevent costly mistakes

• Helping you avoid spending money and time on plants that will underperform in your area.
• Designating hardscape areas with the correct shapes, forms and locations so problems are avoided or resolved before construction.
• Suggesting proper material selection for your region.
• Recognizing challenges inherent in your yard and providing great solutions.
• Outdoor living is an investment! It’s always best to go into it with professional guidance and support.

5 – Help plan for efficient construction

• Ensuring that your project is sustainable and developed within your budget and time constraints.
• Configuring details like lighting and irrigation that are crucial for long-term landscape usability.
• Being able to forecast the cost and timeline for your project.

To summarize, a landscape designer can plan ahead for future work, get the optimal use of your yard for family and entertaining and add greatly to your home’s value. Whether you want a designer for your entire yard or just want to refurbish your yard, a landscape designer is well worth the money.

Still not sure how to plan for your landscape? Book a free, no-strings-attached consultation with a landscape professional.

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