Ann Arbor Landscape Design, A Project Guide

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Chapter 1:

Common Pitfalls In Your Landscape Project

When you are in the beginning stages of landscape planning, there are several things that you need to consider before you take the plunge. How you approach your project can either save you from making mistakes or it can create costly errors. Don’t be in such a hurry to make a change that you overlook some very important aspects of landscape planning. Avoid the following common pitfalls so that your project is a success from start to finish.

1. Not having a clear design with an overall goal. As tempting as it is to just start doing something, it can be a big mistake to dig in without a clear plan. Before you start any projects, you need know to what you want to accomplish with your outdoor space. Is your goal to enhance curb appeal? Do you want to create a family-friendly retreat? If you don’t have a clear vision of what your space is supposed to achieve, miscalculations can be made, resulting in a disappointing landscape. Creating a list of what you want can help guide the decisions you, resulting in a landscape that fits your needs.
2. Having unrealistic expectations. Having a beautiful picture in your mind of the backyard of your dreams can be a great place to start, but if it conflicts with the reality of the space you have, prepare yourself for disappointment. If you fail to work with the space you have, your design could be a flop. To have a successful design, you need to take your yard space and it’s terrain into consideration. Sometimes it’s something that can be overcome with smart planning, like building a retaining wall for a steep slope. Other times, it’s better to just work with what you have.
3. Underestimating cost. One of the biggest factors that will determine your final design plan is cost. Underestimating the time and materials you will need can delay the entire project. Take time to carefully review what will impact your design, such as terrain, existing structures, and irrigation issues. Realistically, things will come up that were not accounted for during the planning process, so be prepared to have some flexibility with your budget.
4. Aesthetics over practicality. Magazine after magazine display swoon-worthy photos of picturesque landscapes. While those are great for inspiration, they are oftentimes not practical for the average homeowner. Ideally, a good landscape design doesn’t have to favor functionality over aesthetics, but sometimes ideas just don’t work with either your yard or your lifestyle. If a certain feature is too difficult for you to maintain, or compromises the safety of your yard, it’s best to go with what will make you and your family more comfortable.
5. Not designing for your location. The changing seasons in Michigan make for some beautiful scenery. It can also make designing an outdoor space that works year-round more difficult. There are a wide variety of plants and shrubs that works with the changing of seasons and provide your yard with beauty all year long. Not taking into account the climate before you come up with a design plan can end up wasting time and money.
6. Not choosing a trusted landscaper. Hiring the right landscape contractor can work with you to achieve a vision for your outdoor space while being mindful of your budget. One of the biggest mistakes people can make is hiring a landscaper who doesn’t have the experience or expertise to handle their project. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Research the company’s background and check out examples of their past work. A professional should be able to clearly explain their process, provide you with a detailed estimate of cost and be able to intelligibly answer all of your questions and concerns.

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Chapter 2:

Creating a Landscape On A Budget

Developing a financial plan for your landscape project is one of the most critical steps in the process. By evaluating what you want and need, you can prioritize the landscape projects that require immediate attention and what can be focused on later. Doing this will help guide your decisions and help you understand the costs involved.

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Chapter 3:

Project Preparation

All landscape projects are unique as there are certain parameters you must work within. Surroundings, climate, and topography can dictate what you can and cannot accomplish with your design, which is why preparations can vary from project to project. Whether your landscape projects are simple or challenging, the process will generally be the same. The various steps involved in landscaping will be under one of two phases, the landscape design phase, and the landscape construction phase.

Landscape Design Phase

This is the stage where you can let your creative juices flow. Be on the lookout for inspiration and gather information on landscape ideas, then get to work with the following:

1. Make a list of what projects you want to be completed
2. Come up with a landscape budget
3. Create a design that complements your lifestyle and needs
4. Research landscaping companies
5. Research landscaping companies
6. Have a site analysis completed
7. Finalize design plans

Construction (Preparation) Phase

This phase is a lot of hard work, but it more than pays off in the end. Even if you have landscape contractors to do most of the dirty work, you can still help out and get things ready before the crew digs in. You can also save time and money by clearing some things out yourself.

1. Remove debris from your yard. This means fallen branches, dead leaves, rocks, weeds, old plant material.
2. Declutter your outdoor place. Put all patio furniture and children’s toys out of the way into storage. If you have any lawn decor that could interfere with the project move them to another area.
3. Call water, electric and gas utilities to mark the location of lines.

Construction Phase

1. Demolition and removal of structures and hardscapes that interfere with the design will need to be done. Any unwanted landscape will also be removed.
2. Topography and grading issues in the yard will be addressed.
3. Run utility lines at this time.
4. Irrigation systems should be installed if applicable to the project.
5. Patios, decks, walkways and other hardscapes are ready to be created.
6. It’s time to plant.

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Chapter 4:

Questions to Ask Your Landscape Contractor

Choosing the right landscape contractor that best fits your needs comes down to knowing what questions to ask. Familiarizing yourself with the basics of what the landscape contractor can provide beforehand can help you know how to approach the conversation. Have your list of project goals, landscape design ideas, and your budget prepared before you meet. This helps you and the contractor be on the same page while you discuss the following qualities you are looking for in a professional landscape service.

What services do you provide?

While a company website can be helpful in providing information on what services they provide, it might be outdated or missing important details. Some landscape companies are limited in what they can offer or lack the experience needed to complete your project goals. The common services landscape companies provide can be broken down into four types:

• Landscape design only
• Landscape design and construction
• Landscape design, landscape construction, and landscape maintenance (full service)
• Landscape maintenance only

Also, consider the number of workers employed by the landscape companies you’re researching and if they have the specialized equipment necessary to complete your project. Larger landscape companies might be able to finish your project quickly, but you might not have direct access to the landscape contractor in charge, whereas, a smaller company might take a little longer to complete, but the boss is there every day to oversee the process. Is it important to you that everything is done in-house, or are you okay with subcontractors?

What are your qualifications?

Look for a landscape contractor that has affiliations with other organizations, like the Landscape Contractors Association. This is a good indication that they are committed to offering you the best because they are going the extra mile to stay current and educated.

Insurance is non-negotiable. Verify that the landscape company is fully insured and has a valid business license to operate. Check that they are an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau.

Can I see examples of your past work?

It’s always a bad sign if the company won’t show off previous projects that they have completed. If they are good at what they do, they should have lots of satisfied clients that would be happy to provide you with reviews of the finished work. Seeing their work can also give you a feeling for their style and whether or not they will be a good fit for you. If you are looking for a more organic look, knowing they have experience with that can give you confidence that your project will turn out how you envision.

What is your warranty procedure?

If you hire a trustworthy landscaper, this shouldn’t be an issue to worry about. However, reputable landscape companies will stand by their work and the products they use. Ask what type of warranties they offer and how long they last.

What is the estimated cost?

Always share with the landscape contractor before any process gets started what the landscape budget range is. Before you sign any contracts, you need to know how much the project will cost with labor and materials. If they are creating a design for you, once it’s finalized, you will receive a final projected price. Allow for some wiggle room in the budget for unexpected expenses. While good contractors will do their best to keep that from happening, sometimes things come up that are out of their control. If that happens, ask about other ways to reduce costs in other areas to make up the difference.

When can the project be started/completed?

The one question everyone wants to know is when the project will be completed. Once a start date is decided, a projected landscape project completion date should be provided. Things that can detain a landscape project are not being upfront about your landscape budget, not accurately conveying your expectations or material delays.

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Chapter 5:

More Than Green

Designing with plants is an important part of any landscape. Plants increase the beauty of the natural surroundings and add pops of color. But there is so much more to a landscaping than planting azaleas and shrubs. Other elements, such as lighting and hardscapes contribute to the functionality and overall ambiance of a design. Let’s dig into a few examples of some projects that are just as important to landscaping as greenery is.

1. Hardscapes

Hardscapes refer to non-living, man-made materials used for landscaping purposes to enhance the function and appearance of your home. Decks, walkways, retaining walls, and patios are all examples of hardscapes. In addition to design services, you may want to look for either a retaining wall contractor or a paver patio contractor.

There are many benefits to incorporating hardscapes into your design, such as defining separate spaces, providing privacy and reducing your landscape maintenance. There are many different materials that can be used for hardscapes. Let’s go over some of the materials commonly used in hardscapes.

2. Lighting

Outdoor lighting is the finishing touch to any good design. Besides the obvious benefit of being able to see at night, it adds to the overall beauty and ambiance of your outdoor living space. Without appropriate outdoor light fixtures, walkways can be difficult to find at night and can make evening entertaining a challenge.

Consider hiring a professional to install the outdoor lights on your property. There is a lot of expertise and effort involved in planning and installing outdoor lighting. If you make a mistake it can be a pain to fix at best, unsafe at worst. An experienced outdoor lighting professional is trained to install your lighting system safely and within your budget.

3. Drainage

Do you get standing water in your yard every spring? Good water drainage is crucial to every landscape. Without proper drainage, your yard can flood or erode, destroying all of your hard work. But, how do you fix the standing water in your yard?

Short answer: If water moves across your yard and doesn’t damage it, then let it continue without impeding it.

If water is doing any of the following to your yard, it’s time to call in an expert:

• Water is washing away parts of your yard, called erosion.
• Water is collecting in spots that stays even after the rain has gone.
• Water is getting into the basement of your house.

Once you know that you have water drainage issues, you need to know why the problem exists. Hiring a team of yard drainage contractors can evaluate your yard and pinpoint what the drainage problem is. Residential drainage contractors can solve not only your yard drainage problems. They can also pull water away from your home or create unique drainage solutions for your home. Commercial drainage contractors have experience in dealing with commercial properties landscape and parking lot drainage.

Here is a list of the most common reasons your yard is becoming oversaturated and soggy:

• Improper grading, which means your property doesn’t have the proper slope necessary to encourage water to drain away properly.
• Your landscape and hardscapes are directing water towards your home or another area.
• Runoff from a neighbors house.
• Your soil is impeding water flow.

With the proper solutions implemented, like those listed below, a drainage contractor can solve your water problems once and for all.

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Chapter 6:

The Twin Oaks Difference

Since 1993 Twin Oaks has provided trusted expert and professional landscaping services in Ann Arbor and surrounding areas. Our team of dedicated landscape contractors has the knowledge and experience to handle all of your landscaping, retaining wall, paver patio, and drainage needs. We are a full-service landscaping company that can customize your landscape project from start to finish. The goal of our landscape company has always been exceptional customer service while providing the highest quality and innovative work for our clients. We are dedicated to turning your vision into the outdoor living space that fits your lifestyle and needs. You can count on us to be there when you need us. Your satisfaction is our number one priority.

Contact us today and experience the Twin Oaks Difference.