Energy Efficient Landscape

When I first meet this these clients they wanted a landscape design that Featured:

• Low Water Use (xeric)
• Plants that would increase the solar benefit (Shade in the Summer Sun in Winter and Evergreens or structures to Block the Winter Winds)
• Shade Structure over the Patio
• Small Water Feature
• Rose Garden
• New Front Entry
• Vegetable Garden
• Screening from the Neighbors
• Some Boulders in the Front yard to stop cars from sliding into their property in the winter.

What I designed.

The Front Yard.

New Walkway that connects the Sidewalk along the street and Drive way to the Front Porch. Removed all of the Kentucky Blue Grass Lawn and replaced it with a Rose Garden with a semicircle seat wall that is bermed on the Street side to hold the boulders to stop the cars. Areas were filled with perennials and small shrubs.

Backyard

Large Patio in two levels, the lower level covered with a Pergola Structure. Vegetable Gardens contained by a 24" Retaining seat wall and accessed by a Breeze path and Flagstone Slab Steps. Lawn was sodded with Reveille drought tolerant turf and leveled for Bocce Ball. And Small Trees were placed to provide screening and shade.

Note the Solar Panels on the Roof to Provide energy for the house and Landscape. LED Landscape Lights were use to Extend the usage of the outdoor living space.

Benifts of a Design only Landscape Company

Landscape companies come in Several flavors.
The typical landscape company is the Design Build or "do it all" Company; These companies are "Full Service", that is they will Design, Install, and maintain the landscape. There a few down sides to this; The First is that few can afford to have a trained landscape designer on staff, this means the owner or one of the crew will draw up a design on his lunch break or after he is exhausted from pushing a shovel all day and whip out your design. Another Issues is that the title of the person while drawing a landscape design is sales and not designer, the main purpose of a landscape design for a design build company is the sell landscapes. This mentality is the root of most of the poor designs you can find in every new neighborhood, way too many plants (Profit) planted too close together or in the wrong spot. This is were I started my career and new their had to be better options.

the Next option is the Construction Only Companies; These companies usually work with independent designers and will just install landscapes. This can be a great benefit to people who have a clear idea of what they want, can draw their own design or have hired a Landscape Designer.

Design only is my recommended approach (not just because that is what i do). The philosophy of design only is much different then the other options. Since designs are our only income we must spend more time on creating the best solutions and using the most creative ideas. With out these we would have no referrals or reputation. When you hire a Landscape Designer they should have knowledge of the local climate and plants as well as other factors such as elevation, and local wildlife (Deer, Rabbits, Etc.). And on the economic side, owning you plan allows you to shop the contractors for the best bid or invest some sweat equity and install some or all of the design yourself.