Houston Landscape Designer

Can I design and general contract my own landscape?

The challenge is that, Houston Texas is one of the most difficult and challenging climates to design and build landscape gardens in the country. Because of our compacted soils, torrential rains and low lying flood areas a drainage system expert is essential to prevent flooding the house. In Houston our temperature extremes from summer drought and 100 degree days to humid fall and spring weather causes plant stress and diseases. Long and short these weather extremes take their toll on outdoor building elements such as pool and deck surfaces, arbors, and night lighting fixtures. Without the proper knowledge it is very advisable to hire a professional to complete your project.

What should I look for in hiring a Houston Landscape Designer? You want creative ideas, material know-how, local construction standards, and someone who knows the durability of materials as well. Below we will present the four types of Houston Landscape Designer services available with their positive and negative perspectives as to what they bring to the table for your particular project.

The “design-only” landscape designer
This would be an individual who will meet and provide a design for your landscape but is not involved in the supervision, construction or maintenance of designed elements.

Positives:
• An overall design of your site or master plan for the property to phase in over time and get alternate bids from various landscape contractors for proposed design elements.
Negatives:
• Plants, materials, and design ideas may not work if the designer does not have a long history with construction, maintenance and plant care.
• Construction of some elements may be more cost prohibitive if budget isn’t taken into consideration within the design.
• The designer is not responsible or does not have to concern themselves with the implementation of proposed elements.

Landscape Contractor acting as “landscape designer”.
Landscape contractors are usually at the other end of the spectrum from the landscape designers in that they may know how to implement and install a garden but may lack design experience.

Positives:
• You know what it will cost and a landscape contractor will be able to cost out several options or make several proposals to finally arrive at an acceptable budget.
• There may be a cost savings and scheduling may happen much quicker because they may do 80% of the installation.
Negatives:
• The overall design intent is often missing.
• Quality of craftsmanship is questionable even with a portfolio.
• The implementation from proposal to built vision might not be fully realized which are conveyed in design plans, material and construction methods chosen.

Horticulturalist acting as “landscape designer”.
This is someone who works at a nursery or local garden center. This person may have lots of knowledge about soil and plant health as well as the right plant for the right location. A horticulturalist or plants man may not have an overall design vision, knowledge of irrigation systems, drainage systems, patios and walks.

Positives:
• The variety of plants and proper soil preparation and planting of plant material.
Negatives:
• Often there is too much plant variety in a giving area.
• Too much of a plant lover’s garden rather than simple overall home aesthetics.
• Overall design layout of patios, walkways and other hardscape elements might not be as strong.

Design-Build Company acting as designer and installer.
In this category responsibility is taken for the overall design, supervision, management and implementation of the landscape plan through completion of all elements to their maintenance.

Positives:
• Design ideas must be able to be implemented.
• Overall costs are based on actuality construction history.
• Flexibility to phase the project in many ways.
• Intent of the design is carried through the construction process.
• Knowledge, understanding and responsibility for the project as the property continues to be maintained.
Negatives:
• May be some additional costs for over sight and general contracting of elements.
The Design-Build process is the most ideal scenario because all design decisions, construction, installation, costs and maintenance of the entire project are taken into consideration representing the most experienced view.

I didn’t know there were such different options, so what is the “quick list” in interviewing Houston landscape designers?
Choosing a Houston landscape designer is a difficult task. Here are some additional considerations that might help:

• Likeability and professionalism of the designer as well as fit with their style of work are all essential.
• The best match for your scope of work or extent of elements you are trying to accomplish.
• What your budget is and whether budget ultimately matches your expectations.

If you are interested in a professional landscape company, Exterior Worlds has been providing the design-build landscape services discussed above for the Houston and the surrounding areas since 1987.