Landscape architect vs. landscape des...

Log Out | Lost Password? | Topics | Search Contact | Register | My Profile | SO home | MOL home

Thread Originator Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message   Redheadgirl Citizen Username: Redheadgirl Post Number: 11 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 3:37 pm:        From what I understand, landscape architect stands at the top of the heap in terms of training and knowledge (and costs). Can anyone add to my knowledge here? And can anyone recommend a landscape architect, either from reputation or personal experience? Thank you in advance for your help!   Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 3089 Registered: 10-1999 Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 5:17 pm:        It depends on what you want to do. If you want to design the selection and location of plants, use a landscape designer. If you want to change the physical characteristics of your property (the slope, drainage, etc.) you may want to consider a landscape architect (for "hard-scaping", not just landscaping). Or, to think about it another way - if your property is perfectly flat, go with a designer. If you have a slope (as a lot of us do in this town) you may want to consult with a landscape architect, to see about drainage, etc. We have the latter, needed a landscape architect, and used Birch Hill Landscape Design, 973-761-6161.   Handygirl Citizen Username: Handygirl Post Number: 49 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 2:24 pm:        I'm in the process of hiring a landscape architect to come up with a plan for my entire yard. There are basically two kinds of landscape architects that I have encountered; those affiliated with a design and build firm and those that just do the plan, but have connections with contractors should you want to contract the work out. In addition to designing the plan for you, they will also (for extra money) supervise the work on your property to make sure that it is being done properly. We had serious drainage issues in our backyard and last year we had our landscaper (who also does some design work in the area) address the drainage. He put in three drains in the back yard and claimed to regrade as well. Unfortunately, he did not regrade the back yard properly and there are lots of pockets of water that have no way of making it to the drains. If we had hired a landscape architect initially, we would have gotten a plan by someone who really understands how to address drainage issues and we would have saved ourselves the money and aggrivation of having to redo the drainage work in our backyard. Landscape architects can also save you money and aggrivation in other areas as well. I live in Newstead in S.O. and we have 3 million dear that roam the neighborhood looking for dinner. There's also a lot of shade (mature trees). LA's can address both of these issues. Also, a good LA will measure the ph etc. of the soil in different locations in your yard and recommend plantings that will work with your yard. I wish that I had hired a LA initially, before I put thousands into some initial front landscaping and drainage work that will, now, have to be reworked. LAs, generally charge between $75 and $100 an hour. I have two quotes that I am deciding between (1/2 an acre with lots of special areas to design); one quote is $2,400 and the other is $3,300. Expensive, but then I will have the finished blueprints for the entire yard to hand off to a contractor in pieces or implement myself over time. Handygirl   doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 540 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 2:47 pm:        Handygirl: Are you by any chance next door to the house that has a lake in the rear when it rains hard?   Handygirl Citizen Username: Handygirl Post Number: 54 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 4:00 pm:        I may actually BE the house with the lake in the rear. Things that you miss when you are buying a house... Handygirl   Redheadgirl Citizen Username: Redheadgirl Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 5:45 pm:        Dear Handy: Which LAs are you considering? And what are your impressions so far?   Melonious Citizen Username: Melonious Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:07 am:        OMG, this thread is exactly what I was looking for!!! I am especially interested in landscaping that does not get chomped to bits by those 3 million (I personally thought it was more like 12) deer, and other assorted critters (gophers? beavers? I have no idea what they are). Also, when you begin meeting the LA's, do they just walk and talk with you about what they would do or do they do a sort of outdoor "Designers Challenge" and give you more concrete sketches? I'll be eagerly watching this thread for any reco's, also. Thanks.   Spare_o Citizen Username: Spare_o Post Number: 28 Registered: 9-2003 Posted on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 12:33 pm:        Trying to revive this thread as I am interested in hiring a landscape architect to address drainage issues as well as general design issues (lots of shade and a sloped backyard). Recommendations or things to look for when selecting a landscape architect are most appreciated.   Melonious Citizen Username: Melonious Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2003 Posted on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 12:44 pm:        Shameless bump! So is Birch Hill the one to call, then? If no reco's come up I guess I will just start touring the neighborhoods and slipping cards into the mailboxes of well-landscaped houses...   Handygirl Citizen Username: Handygirl Post Number: 59 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 2:28 pm:        Hi guys. Sorry I've been MIA. So far, I've interviewed two LAs and I've really liked them both. Now I have to decide between them. The first, Barry Greenberg of Birch Hill (973-376-0538) came to my house the week before the meeting and took quite a few pictures of my house and yard. I then met him at his offices in Millburn on a Saturday and we spent a little over an hour talking about the various areas that I wanted attention to and looking through magazines that I brought. I showed him lots of examples of what I liked and what theme or feeling I wanted from the finished product. He seemed to "get" me right away and showed me additional examples that were right on. We also talked about ideas that he had for various parts of the yard. He provides a finished drawing of the yard and a plant list. This can then be given to a contractor to implement. Birch Hill is also a design/build firm so he can handle the contracting of all or just a portion of the final plan. The second person that I met with is named Carol Huber (973) 292-8522. She is just a design firm and works alone. She came to my house for the first meeting and we walked all over my yard and looked at every area that I think needs attention. She also brought a portfolio of her work. I showed her my pile of magazine examples of palatial estates that I want replicated in my .5 acre yard. Versailles, Alahambra etc... We talked through various ideas as well. If I select her she will come out to my house, take pictures, and provide me with two options for the front and back yard (in sketch form). From her two options, I will decide how I want the finished plan to look (I get to keep the two sketches). The finished plan is a large and completely professional blueprint with a separate page / key for each planting showing how high they grow, how much light etc. I get three copies of the blueprint. Additional copies are available for a small fee. She has relationships with various contractors should you want to hire someone to implement the plan. She is a teeny bit more expensive than Birch Hill. I was very clear in both of my meetings that I had certain "issues", one being the dam#$*& deer and the others being drainage and too much shade. They will address these issues in their plans. Just make sure that you have a punch list of what you want to practically get out of the design and also what sort of feeling you want to evoke astetically. I haven't hired either one yet, but they've both come up with excellent ideas that I don't think that I would have thought of. Not sure how I am going to decide they both seem very talented.   newtoallthis Citizen Username: Newtoallthis Post Number: 101 Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 3:46 pm:        Birch Hill worked for us last summer, creating a totally new yard where there once were tattered shrubs. We too had to deal with deer and drainage issues. They also put in some lovely steps that look like they're as old as the house. They listened to what we wanted and were great to work with.   Handygirl Citizen Username: Handygirl Post Number: 75 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - 9:58 am:        I'm going with Carol Huber, although I am convinced that Birch Hill would do just as good of a job. I'll keep you all posted as to how it goes!   Redheadgirl Citizen Username: Redheadgirl Post Number: 16 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - 1:24 pm:        Good luck and have fun! Looking forward to seeing before and after PICTURES!