Architectural Landscape Design

Why is architectural landscape important?
You need more than a lawn and a garden to make a landscape. A professional landscape master plan is developed with several priorities in mind. The most important of these is the priority of extending personal lifestyle into outdoor space. People want interest, activity, and comfort when they step outside, and architectural landscape design is needed to accommodate this.

Does this mean I have to pay for outdoor buildings to be built?
Not necessarily. Outdoor buildings like summer kitchens are popular forms, to be sure. What is the most important thing to keep in mind here is the need to add vertical impact to your yard, regardless of whether it be in the form of a building, per se, or some other structure. This is because the Houston landscape is flat and requires variation to look truly appealing and inviting to you and your guests.

What other ways can you ad vertical impact?
Other structures besides actual buildings fall into the category of architectural landscape design. Outdoor rooms can be built that offer full views of the open sky and partial views of the surrounding Houston landscape. These rooms can be built very economically if you are on a budget. Walls can be built out of masonry or hedges and only be a few feet high. This is often all that it takes to add a third dimension to your property.

What are some other examples of architectural landscape design?
Any type of hardscape that is used to enhance the organic presence of a yard or garden can technically be called outdoor architecture. While this technically includes patios and driveways, we prefer to use this term to distinguish structures that have some degree of vertical rise. There are more vertical forms that we can build than you might initially have thought of. These forms can have either an exclusively aesthetic value, or they may play an important functional role in Houston outdoor living.

Examples of such include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Retaining walls
• Planters
• Custom fountains
• Masonry fireplaces
• Courtyard walls
• Architectural walls around entry gardens
• Boundary walls on either side of a walkway or driveway
• Architectural walls around large estates or private areas of a yard
• Waterfalls cascading over a series of descending terraces

The list goes on. In fact, many times our clients already have a list waiting for us when they get to their house, or they have pictures from magazines or Internet landscaping resource sites.

Regardless, we get to know them as people and then create architectural landscape designs that unify home and yard, garden and patio, lifestyle and landscape into one unique and highly personal expression.

Yard Landscape Design Ideas

Plan, plan, plan—the beginning of any good yard landscape design. The end result will be a beautiful a vista that gives you daily pleasure. And it comes with a big pay-off in that attractive landscaping provides a return on investment when it comes time to sell your home. At Exterior Worlds, we think of this time, effort and money as the big three of a yard landscape design project.

One early decision on your part needs to be whether to hire a designer such as the ones you’ll find at Exterior Worlds. While you will find a range of fees for landscape designers, bear in mind that the artistic talent that they bring to the table can turn your place into a showcase. Trained in principles of design and best horticulture practices, these professional planners of yard landscape designs pay big dividends.

Early discussions will also center around which elements to add to your landscape and how to enhance what you’ve got. To begin with, you need to understand your environment. In general, your Houston landscape benefits from a relatively mild climate, nutrient-rich native soil (even though it does need amendments) and a variety of indigenous plants that are naturally lush and verdant. Also, landscape design tree elements cannot be over-valued. Trees give your yard height, shade, color, movement and interest. With consistent and reasonable maintenance, we have seen trees increase in value by as much as 400 percent over a 5-7 year period.

Water elements are another prized element in Houston landscaping. We have found that luxury pools are an expected amenity for upscale homes. Pools provide hours of fun (at any time of the year, but particularly in our hot summers), are a perfect setting for entertainment and delight the senses even when you’re not in them. If you own an older home, perhaps a pool renovation is in order, a project that requires considerable effort, but creates real value for your property.

A water fountain, such as a garden wall fountain or contemporary garden fountain is another visual and auditory treat. It gives a focal point to the eye and soothing sounds to the ear. Fountains are extremely versatile in landscape design. You can place them in front yards, back yards, in small, odd-shaped plots and at entry ways.

Masonry hardscapes unite your architecture with the landscape by projecting out into the yards, thus linking these two disparate zones together. Masonry that rises from the ground also adds a vertical element to your design. Examples of Houston masonry run the gamut from a minimalist brick planter or stone wall to an elaborate pool and patio area with an outdoor kitchen.

However, your ideas and schemes don’t have to be elaborate. At Exterior Worlds, we believe that some of the best yard landscape design ideas are simple and elegant. When we plan and execute a landscape design, we focus on the concept that the landscape is the framework for your house and, just like with artwork hanging on your wall, the frame serves the main attraction.

Landscape Pool Design

The first thing to consider in landscape pool design is the size and shape of the pool. It must be constructed in the complex of a larger and more comprehensive landscape master plan. Home architecture must be respected above all things. Next, softscape elements and outdoor buildings must appear appropriately complimented by the pool’s appearance.

What is my first consideration in landscape pool design?
You want to decide on the size and shape of the pool. It is always better to talk to a professional landscape designer about this than the pool contractor. This is because the pool itself is going to fit into the context of a larger landscape master plan. The geometry of the pool must respect the architecture of the home and proportionally compliment the hardscapes and softscape elements of your yard.

How large should my pool be?
Think about your lifestyle and your plans for future events. If you have children, or if you plan to host parties around the pool, you will need a larger swimming pool than you will if you only plan to use it as a couple or entertain a handful of close friends.

Where should I have the pool built?
Landscape pool design is all about relationships to other points of interest. You not only want the pool to look good when you look at it from the home, the arbor, the outdoor kitchen, or the morning garden, but you also want these same features to appear unique and clearly visible when you look out into your yard from the vantage point of your swimming pool patio.

Should special safety features be included in my landscape pool design?
If you have children, yes. If you plan to invite elderly guests or people with disabilities to your home, handrails and special steps that lead down into a shallow part of the pool need to be built into its design.

What recreational features can be incorporated into landscape pool design?
One of the most popular features that we often build into our pools is a spa. Spas are normally heated and lit so people can feel a blend of comfort and luxury when reclining within them. Spas can also be designed with special jets that will help those with arthritis or other physical challenges get safe and healthy water exercise.

If you have such a physical challenge, get your doctor to describe in detail what you need in terms of water exercise and share it with our design staff. We have all sorts of custom designs we can adapt to your needs.

Do you recommend special water features?
That is a matter of personal preference, but the decision to incorporate special water features needs to be made at the onset of landscape pool design. Waterfalls add excitement and vertical impact to pools, and when lit with underwater lights, a sense of magic. Water jets can also add drama and impact to both daytime and nighttime pool activities, as well as giving children something to play in.

What type of patio should I have built around my swimming pool?
You can have anything from decorative concrete to something as elaborate as cut stone that is hand-laid and made to imitate something in the natural world. The shape of your patio should aesthetically compliment both the pool and the surrounding landscape. The size of your patio should reflect your anticipated number of guests for planned outdoor events.

How to Add Movement and Interest to Narrow Spaces

How do you define a narrow space?
A narrow space is any area between two forms that is longer than it is wide. Mathematically this is generally approximates to a 5 to 1 ratio. However, there is not hard fast rule to this. These places are typically so narrow very little can be done with them, and many developers simply leave them alone hoping no one will notice they are there.

Our goal is to make these erstwhile eyesores into special points of interest on the Houston landscape.

Do such narrow spaces occur more in residential environments or commercial environments?
We find them in both of these environments. In commercial environments, they may be found between buildings or in the areas between buildings and atriums. In residential areas, you will often see them between a house and some other outdoor structure. Sometimes they even occur between a home and a stone wall that surrounds the back yard.

In these settings they are a particular eyesore, because while the rest of the yard looks great, these linear spaces are simply sitting there with nothing in them, creating emptiness in the midst of a diversity of forms.

What parts of the Houston have more narrow spaces in landscapes?
Narrow spaces are more common in the urban areas of our city than in the more spread out parts of the Houston landscape. In commercial environments they are most commonly found between office buildings and atriums. This often presents an awkward appearance for the office park management, because while the atrium itself appears superb, the space around it looks drab and wasted. Something has to be done here to make it more presentable to visiting clients and more inviting to tired employees on break.

In residential areas you always see narrow spaces around townhomes. By nature these dwellings are taller than they are wide, and they typically reside on lots that are small to begin with. Many are surrounded by stone walls and have mini-garages. Some are practically side-by-side with other townhomes. Every time we see adjacent structures like this, there is some area between them that is fallow from a vegetation perspective and very challenging to work with from the standpoint of deliberate forms.

However, without some very creative landscaping techniques, these narrow spaces found in both residential and commercial Houston landscapes are typically unusable areas from a developmental perspective.

What hardscape elements do you use to add movement and interest?
In areas where the ground lies partly covered in shadow for much of the day, and where planting a garden may prove impractical, there are other things we can do to turn an otherwise drab narrow space into a point of interest. One favorite method of doing this is to build a curved walkway through the area.

This breaks up its linear narrowness. This can then be further magnified by adding gravel or texture patterns to either side of the walkway. When done correctly, this not only breaks up linearity, but it also adds a feeling of dynamic movement.

What are some other specific things you can do to make narrow spaces keynotes of Houston landscape design?
Custom wall planters and custom trellises both provide excellent support for the existing linearity of the space. In some businesses and schools, scenes of the surrounding Houston landscape can be painted on a wall in the form of a mural. For Italian homes this also works very well because many of these houses are very tall structures and the suggestion of vegetation growing up the sides of the wall is very reminiscent of Mediterranean hillsides. Mirrors can also be installed to reflect a custom garden.

Designer Gardens

Designer gardens are places of beauty and retreat. They call upon us to let go of the pressures and responsibilities of the outside world. Across all cultures and time, gardens have a natural ability to calm us. They help us see where we belong in this world.

At Exterior Worlds, we believe that designer gardens are hard to define because each garden takes on the unique personality of the gardener. It can be seen in the relationship between the different spaces within a landscape design. Likewise, plants, arrayed thoughtfully and fully or austerely as mere accessories, reflect the owner’s sensibilities.

As professional landscapers and designers, Exterior Worlds works with the best landscape designers and landscape architects in the region to create garden paradises that fit the lifestyles of our clients. Following is a sampling of the different elements you might find there:

• Infrastructure. Drainage systems and sprinkler systems are fairly indispensable to a Houston landscape design, especially since our climate continually astounds us with its ability to go from not enough water to too much water in the space of a single day. Our clients have also found that retaining walls help with drainage and erosion issues. Residential landscape lighting is another feature to plan for—it lets you enjoy your environs 24 hours a day, while also providing security and safety. We work hard to design our clients’ infrastructure so that it blends seamlessly into their overall plan.
• Hardscapes. Prominent items in this group include outdoor lounges, luxury pools and covered outdoor kitchens. These entertainment areas can be tailor-made to fit your specific needs, whether you do formal entertaining or simply use it for your nuclear family. Other ideas, elements that look good on any property and have for centuries, include wrought iron fences and wrought iron garden gates.
• Accessories. This category includes garden structures, such as a wrought iron arbor, a garden gazebo or antique ornamental iron element, which provide interest and variety. Also water elements, including a waterfall landscape design, a contemporary water fountain, or a large water fountain, that add pleasing auditory and visual notes to your garden.
• Ongoing maintenance. To further your enjoyment of your designer garden, let Exterior Worlds provide a turn-key landscape maintenance contract for your grounds. From the mundane to the complex, our experienced and skilled crews can take care of the hard work and the best practices.

Our goal is to create designer gardens that engage the senses, that bring about both aesthetic and emotional responses. The slant light from the morning sun drenching the azalea beds. Songbirds at full throttle. The fragrance of lilies and roses wafting through the air. The will to live as seen in a budding peach tree.

At Exterior Worlds, we acknowledge that “garden” is a noun and a verb. It seems to us that the twofold meaning was intentional since a garden is a place of action. Life happens here and, since time immemorial, humans have appreciated this ideal. A garden is a process, a becoming. It is life in motion.

Since 1987, Exterior Worlds has provided discriminating clients in the Houston area with high-end landscape services. Call 713-827-2255 for a consultation.

Residential Architecture

French Homes
French residential architecture can be accented by an ordered arrangement of shrubs and bushes that establish order and symmetry. The most famous French landscaping design is a parterre garden. Its cross-shaped design creates paths of gravel through walls of green. From a pedestrian point of view, it surrounds a person with rising walls of life. From an elevated vantage point, it divides the landscape into living quadrants of green. The modern parterre garden and French gardens are usually based on elements of the original, traditional form.

Italian Two Story and Townhomes
Italian residential architecture owes a great deal to the Roman Empire. Rome loved its structures so much that it often developed lifestyle itself around structure. Modern Italian art and architecture are much more opulent and somewhat Romantic compared to their Imperial predecessors, but there yet remains a touch of the classical in today’s Italian gardens that personify a fascinating blend of opulence and discipline.

Modern and Contemporary Homes
Modern and contemporary residential architecture are dedicated to man’s attempt to understand himself in relationship to himself alone. It relies heavily on geometric hardscapes, clear lines, sharp angles, and curious forms of 3D art. Only small areas of green are permitted on a modern landscape due because of its contention that Nature is neither something to be cherished nor destroyed, but rather ignored in pursuit of the supremely mathematical and rational.

Colonial Homes
Colonial residential design has a great deal of Old World formality still present in its design. However, like it is with most things American, you see find a relaxation of certain elements. Flower beds do not have to be perfect, but they do have to be neat. Trees do not need to be furiously trimmed every day, but they do need consistent maintenance and care. Walls and fountains should rise up more that hug the ground to mirror the archetypal columns that symbolize the whole essence of Colonial forms.

Traditional American Homes
Traditional residential architecture is characterized by a love for the beauty of simplicity and the practicality of daily life. It projects an essence of conservatism that is also curiously blended on the option of free thinking at the drop of a hat.

Accordingly, the landscape designs around traditional homes consist of basic elements like gardens, pools, fountains, flower beds, patios, and decks. Their uniqueness is generated in consultation where actual materials and arrangements of such things are determined by the personal values and tastes of the homeowner.

Residential Landscape Architect

Residential landscape architects really are true architects in every sense of the word. They know theory and home design and have been trained in working with the basic geometric forms that are common to both the natural world and manmade worlds. This knowledge enables them designer to better organic forms with home architecture and construct outdoor structures that compliment the house and blend harmoniously with organic elements. This knowledge is gained through extensive formal study and years of field experience.

Knowing the essentials of home building enables residential landscape architects to create complimentary forms and outdoor buildings throughout the entirety of the lot. Patios, hardscapes, entry gardens, ornamental walls, custom fountains, outdoor kitchens, and custom swimming pools are built with respect to home architecture in mind. By making the house the focal point of the landscape, professional outdoor designers unify the natural with the man-made and transform the outdoors into an outdoor living experience.

Residential landscape architects also pursue formal education in botany and plant biology. After all, vegetation is the foundation of almost every landscaping style (with the possible exceptions of contemporary and modern designs). It is therefore essential that landscapers know what plants, flowers, shrubs, and tree species will best support the outdoor theme being developed.

These experts must understand which plant species will best grow in Houston landscape environment and which species will grow best together. This knowledge goes beyond flowering plants and shrubbery and includes a thorough knowledge of trees and tree preservation techniques. Trees give the landscape vertical dimension and provide shade for outdoor gathering spots. All of these elements have to be blended together into a living system that will compliment and work toward enhancing homeowner lifestyle and entertainment requirements.

Home landscape design is so sophisticate that outdoor lighting is essential to its completion. There is no point to professional landscape design if the forms created cannot be seen after sunset. Outdoor lighting lets you enjoy your garden, pool and patio, or outdoor building at any time of night regardless of natural lighting levels.

Residential landscape architects do not have to be technical experts in every form of light fixture, but they do have to know the essentials of both the equipment and its use to effectively work with lighting experts brought in to support the landscape design with outdoor lighting solutions. Such joint expertise is necessary to ensure that all technology employed to illuminate a particular property remains true to the ultimate design theme at hand.

Just as lighting is a key visible element of landscape design, the infrastructure of any such design is just as vital to its ultimate success. We are specifically speaking here of irrigation and drainage networks which have to built custom to the specific organic and inorganic elements of the specific property at hand. Residential landscape architects must build water management systems that accomplish two things to make the homeowner’s investment viable and secure. They must maintain the vitality of vegetation in order to keep the yard green and colorful. Secondly, they must see to it that when heavy rains shrike Houston unexpectedly and suddenly, the drains in the yard will move excess water off the property at a faster rate that it accumulates.

These irrigation and drainage systems not only have to work, but they also have to work behind the scenes in order to prevent raw mechanics from diminishing aesthetics. The construction of these systems requires the residential landscape architect study engineering theory and basic water management techniques in order to build effective irrigation and drainage networks.

Call Exterior Worlds now to learn more about this dynamic and important asset you can invest in when you work with a professional landscape design firm that adds value to your property and lifestyle.

Landscape Designer Or Landscape Architect

What is the value of hiring landscape designers and landscape architects?
A competent landscape designer or landscape architect walks you through the entire landscape project, from development to design to installation. Using fundamental design principles, they take the vision in your head and make it real. In short, the best landscape designers and landscape architects can deliver a landscape design solution that flourishes in the Houston climate over the long term.

They can add value whether your project is a simple design that only encompasses landscape planting or is a complex technical undertaking. A true pro will reflect your unique style, as opposed to an off-the-shelf landscaping design program. Therefore, always ask to see a portfolio and visit the website to determine if the firm under consideration has a style you appreciate and is one that complements your home and lifestyle.

Additionally, we also recommend that you hire a landscaping design company that does project management and landscape maintenance as well as the design work. In other words, you want someone who not only has great ideas, but also knows the local contractors and their methods of construction, availability and best use of materials, overall cost and budget development, and can then maintain the finished product.

What is the first step in working with such professionals?
The initial consultation with landscape designers and landscape architects usually begins with a walk around your property. It hopefully becomes a two-way, free-flowing discussion covering your wants, needs and desires, including your likes and dislikes. We encourage our clients to be as specific as possible. After these meetings, the professional develops a program of uses that organizes areas by their relationship to one another.

What comes next?
Your design professionals use their findings to come up with a conceptual design that conveys the different elements, such as swimming pools and other hardscapes, drainage systems, lawn areas, and plantings. This phase winnows out the wish list items that are possible and those that are not. A cost study is usually developed at this point, too.

What about permits and regulations?
It is important to remember that each city has its own unique requirements for landscape plan approvals. Usually the permitting package is submitted to a committee board for approval or rejection. For this reason, it is important to hire a landscaping company that is experienced in these areas, one who knows what vital information to include and what unnecessary information to omit. Having a knowledgeable professional working for you helps you win approval as quickly as possible.

What can Exterior Worlds tell us about the implementation phase?
Once you have agreed on the overall design intent, sizes of use areas, general material selections and their applications, you are ready to begin the landscaping construction phase. Here landscape designers and landscape architects use their drawings and documentation that detail the existing site survey, elevation plan, tree disposition and tree preservation plan, demolition plan, swimming pool layout plan, irrigation systems, outdoor kitchens and outdoor water fountains, landscape planting plan, landscape lighting plan, and construction details and turn your visions into actualities.

Houston Landscaping Businesses

What services do landscaping businesses provide?
Landscaping businesses like Exterior Worlds provide landscape services such as consultation, design, installation, project management and ongoing maintenance. Usually, companies in our field specialize in one or more areas, like outdoor water fountains, luxury swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, and landscape lighting and then subcontract out related areas of expertise.

How do I begin working with a landscaping business?
A qualified professional should work diligently to help you define the scope of your outdoor project, coordinating, material selections, construction methods, and project cost. The process typically begins with an initial interview where you discuss your overall goals, aesthetics, design intent and budget. In the next meeting, they present their designs and conceptual plans, permitting documents and cost estimates.

After you have approved the design, the landscaping business begins the installation phase. At Exterior Worlds, we act as the general contractor and oversee the entire project installation, including any drainage systems and irrigation systems. Our fees vary from project to project, but normally are charged as a percentage of the total cost of the project.

What happens during installation?
Landscape contractors will then get to work putting in all the elements of the approved plan as specified in their contract. Once the hardscapes are installed, such as paths, retaining walls, and garden structures, the planting of shrubs, groundcover, and seasonal color is completed. After this step, mulching and cleanup commence. Often, the irrigation and lighting subcontractors then return for final adjustments and the installation is complete.

During installation, we emphasize tree preservation. The foresight to understand the impact of changing grades on mature trees is critical, so make sure your landscape service company is well versed in this area of expertise. Meticulous pre-construction activities include protective tree fencing, borer applications on sensitive trees, temporary drainage and elevated walks to protect tree roots.

What if I want to be my own general contractor?
While some homeowners want to act as general contractors in order to save money, it is often counter-productive and ultimately more expensive. Confusion can arise from the misunderstanding of trade terminology, scheduling and coordination. Additionally, subcontractors generally respond much better to a seasoned general contractor who understands the work to be performed and with whom they have a good relationship based on past experience.

What about ongoing maintenance?
Landscape maintenance is one of the most important ongoing services we provide to insure that your investment develops into your desired outdoor environment. The services of Exterior Worlds include mowing of all lawn areas and proper trimming of plant material. We also have a regular feeding program that boosts the health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants, as well as spring and fall aeration of lawn areas. We continuously inspect any irrigation controller, heads, and seasonal watering times since proper watering is the foundation for good lawn, shrub and tree health. Regular observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of our complete and proactive maintenance program.

Landscape Design Plan

How do I get started with a landscape design plan?
The best garden landscapes begin with an overall plan that addresses your wants and desires, your preferred financial outlay and a sound, regular maintenance program. Your total landscape—the green, growing environment surrounding your home and the attending hardscapes—sets the tone and creates an ambiance. Its purpose is to provide visual, auditory and sensory pleasure for you, your family and your guests. Further, your garden landscaping distinguishes your property from all others—something that is particularly welcomed when it comes time to sell your home.

During the planning phase, you get to dream. What colors and textures do you prefer? Perhaps have a theme in mind, such as a formal landscape design, a Japanese garden, or an English garden design. You want to factor in how you and your family live in the space. Will your garden landscape fit your needs—whether that means a children’s playground or an outdoor room for business entertainment? We remind our clients that good landscape design supports and enhances the architecture of the home. It also does practical things like addressing the way you get on and off the property. It evokes emotion and creates an experience as you approach the home.
A landscape designer or landscape architect can develop an encompassing plan that works with the natural features of your property such as drainage, soil composition, and sun positioning. They will accentuate your view, or, if you don’t have one, they can help create focal points such as outdoor water fountains. In short, these professionals help you maximize your enjoyment of the landscape, while avoiding long-term problems and minimizing any naturally-occurring disadvantages.

What’s the next step?
The installation of your garden landscape is critical and begins with the demolition of existing features you no longer want. As for those you want to keep, Exterior Worlds, advises tree preservation—building barricades around trees you want to preserve so that roots don’t get compacted or severed during construction.

Other aspects of the landscape installation involve installing irrigation systems, drainage systems, and landscape lighting. This phase also includes the building of garden structures, such as outdoor gazebos or garden arches; also other items like gates, retaining walls, pathways and luxury swimming pools. Next comes the planting of trees, shrubbery, groundcover and any seasonal color. The final step consists of mulching and cleanup.

Once the installation is done, can Exterior Worlds help us with maintenance?
Garden landscapes are living entities and thus require ongoing maintenance. From mowing to watering, regular landscape maintenance protects your investment, preserves the quality of the space and enhances your enjoyment of a lush, healthy landscape. Our Houston lawn services entail 52 or 42 visits a year that include regular lawn mowing and trimming, shrub and tree pruning, fertilization and management of pests and diseases.

At Exterior Worlds, our standards go beyond those of our competitors and even of our clients. We do everything for you. You don’t have to micro-manage us or worry about the job getting done and being done right.

How to Estimate Landscape Costs

How to Estimate Landscape Costs
Understanding how to estimate landscape costs will go a long way toward improving the quality of life and the investment you have made on your home. As a general principle, it is a good idea to invest 10-20 percent of the home value in landscaping projects. Home value is often maintained or improved by landscaping investment. There are several things to consider when it comes to knowing exactly how to estimate landscaping costs.

Your personal values will shape the forms and the aesthetic impressions of your new property design.
Different homeowners have different sensibilities. They look at like from varying points of view, and seek out forms and experiences that embody those sentiments in a concrete manner. Clients who prefer calm and serenity love fountains and Asian-style gardens suggestive of meditation. People with a festive approach to living want vibrant colors. Nature lovers want structures built around trees in a manner that protects them, and they want outdoor elements, such as natural swimming pools, that closely mimic those found in the wild. People who take pride in the appearance of their house need outdoor structures and hardscapes that will compliment and reflect the design and structure of the home.

Aesthetic preferences also play a major role in how you estimate your landscaping investment.
You may be one of those individuals with a strong preference for organic elements. If so, both traditional and custom garden designs will constitute the bulk of your landscaping master plan. Gardens, flowers, and trees will be developed in proportion to one another and in respect to home architecture. Outdoor lighting will need to be installed so these features can be enjoyed throughout the evening as well as during the day.

On the other hand, you may prefer to have a more decorative landscaping theme with an emphasis on ornament and structure. Custom fountains are popular elements in both traditional and contemporary landscaped design. Outdoor rooms play a big role in ornamenting the landscape as well. They contribute both geometry and function to a yard, and they help unite the organic surroundings with the characteristic features of the home itself.

Entertainment is a third factor in determining your landscape costs.
If you are planning to host any type of events at your home, then the number of guests you anticipate, and the types of events you plan to host will play major contributing roles in how you should ultimately estimate your landscape investment. Formal events will need plenty of seating room and a great deal of amenities to create a quality outdoor living experience. Less formal gatherings need a great deal of pool side space and plenty of room to move around the yard. Such elements as outdoor buildings, pool patios, and special walkways are all designed to accommodate an expected number of guests so that no one ever feels cramped or uncomfortable.

If you have children, or if guests plan to bring children, it is paramount that you put their safety first. Kids tend to want to play by themselves when adults gather, so building safe play areas and structures just for them is one of the chief priorities of our design team. We need to know what your children like so we can accommodate them as much as you. By combining interest levels with high levels of safety, we can ensure peace of mind for parents attending any event at your home.

Professional Landscape Estimating

Professional landscape estimating involves a number of factors essential to landscape architecture. Materials are among the most important of these factors, as they heavily influence both the aesthetic and functionality of structures and forms. Cost studies have to be conducted to determine in which materials are best suited to build certain structures. If budget is a concern, basic materials will have to be used in order to trim costs.

Some people are willing to pay more to have an opulent or luxurious look. For these clients, landscape estimating has to factor in the customization factors of both the design and construction phases. It takes much more time draw up plans that feature a high level of craftsmanship and ornamentation, and the cost of the materials needed for such sophistication is almost always higher.

One highly variable component of professional landscape estimating is labor costs. Depending on the complexity of structural design, the amount of time needed to complete the project will vary significantly. Larger structures are naturally going to feature more square footage and open vertical space, and this, of course, will directly impact project completion time. Also, certain structures may require the expertise of subcontracted professionals who bring their own labor costs to the table.

It may be necessary at this stage of the landscape estimating process to pause and take a step back. We may need to scale down the size of some of these structures in order to keep costs within client budget. Or, we may need to implement the project in phases so that the client can pay for each stage of the project in an installment plan.

Because so many variables factor into the final price of landscape design, estimating this total accurately would be impossible without first developing a master plan. This is why Exterior Worlds takes so much time in the consultation process to develop every detail of the plan before cost are every finalized. There are two reasons for this. First, laying a detailed schematic in front of the client allows us to see where the project can either be scaled down or completed in phases if the client has a fixed budget to work with. Secondly, it shows our team exactly where additional expertise will be required from subcontracted professionals in specialized disciplines.

There are many different types of subcontractors that can be brought in on any given project. Lighting design professionals are hired to illuminate landscape elements so they can be clearly seen and enjoyed at night. Many hardscapes require specialists in concrete or masonry. Pools are always built by pool contractors hired to construct a design we have already specified in the master landscape plan.

Estimating the costs of subcontractors requires us to add their price for labor and materials to the final invoice. It also involves factoring in the number of subcontract layers that constitute the entire labor force for the project, and the amount of management time we must invest in overseeing multiple specialists to ensure their product is developed in accordance with the scope and vision of our master plan.

Landscape Contractors

Who are landscape contractors and how can they be of service to us and our landscape design?
Landscape contractors take the plans and documents prepared by your landscape designer or landscape architect and put them into action. They organize the workflow and hire the tradesmen and subcontractors. Project management is the skill that proves their worth. We tell our clients that, in general, the more complex the project, the more important it is to have a single experienced professional as manager of your landscaping project.

Does Exterior Worlds think they are worth the additional expense—and if so, why?
Yes! We think residential landscape contractors earn their fee with their construction management skills, which begins with implementing the project’s steps in the correct sequence. The project list may include:

• Landscape installation, including tree preservation or tree removal
• Hardscapes (driveways, sidewalks, retaining walls, gates, fences)
• Outdoor rooms
• Water elements, such as luxury swimming pools and outdoor water fountains
• Landscape lighting
• Drainage systems
• Irrigation systems

Some people mistakenly think that a landscape project is as simple as doing the different parts in some kind of order—put in the patio, then call the outdoor gazebo guys, for example. However, in most landscape projects, one piece of the overall design is rarely installed in its entirety at one time; rather, it is installed in several steps with the subcontractor returning to the project several times before completion of his part. We have managed projects in which a single subcontractor has been called back five times to perform the incremental steps leading up to the completed installation.

Landscape contractors are really worth the money when you want all the spaces and elements to relate to one another. The more complex your design, the more important your landscaping contractor becomes. Exterior Worlds is frank with our clients as to where we can add the most value. If a client only wants a garden arbor installed, we may refer them to an arbor builder. But if they want, say, the arbor wired with landscape lighting and integrated with the patio design—then we can be of service.

When we start the interview process, what questions should we ask?
Here are some of the things you will want to know:

• How long has the firm been in business? Do they know Houston’s particular climate and environment?
• Request references.
• Request proof of insurance for liability and workers' compensation.
• Ask to see their portfolio.
• Does the firm use subcontractors? If so, how long have they been working together?
• Request your bid in writing. It should include the scope of work and estimated completion time.
• Is the contractor professional? Is this someone you want to do business with?

Once the installation is complete, will we still work with the same contractor?
Many general contractors, like Exterior Worlds, provide ongoing landscape maintenance of the projects we install. It creates a long-term partnership from which you benefit because the integrity of the original landscape design will be maintained.

Contemporary Backyard Design

Contemporary backyards follow the same mentalist and minimalists design principles as contemporary front yards. There is a de-emphasis on Nature itself, with architecture and human design being emphasized as the preeminent elements of the landscape. Contemporary backyards work to both extend the themes of home architecture into the landscape. They also work to reflect the basic geometric designs latent in the aesthetic of the home itself, shaping structures, minimalist plantings, and hardscapes into patterns congruent to homeowner mindset, values, and lifestyles.

Vegetation is maintained at minimalist proportions in a contemporary backyard. This is not to say that these landscapes are completely barren. Quite the opposite is true. Landscapes tend to feature a significant amount of greenery, but the aesthetic of the greenery itself is markedly different from what we typically see in the average backyard. There is a distinctive emphasis on color and a deliberate shaping of form to match human structures. Plants are trimmed to keep them close to the ground to make them look less organic. In most contemporary backyards, this practice creates the impression that Nature is a frame to human development, design, and construction.

Contemporary backyards are very often linked to art and art collecting. The contemporary design itself is very eclectic and admittedly not for everyone. Aficionados of this aesthetic tend to be people with a personal passion for art. Many are professional artists, art collectors, or art consultants themselves who want a home and a landscape that reflects their personal tastes and values. Most of these people prefer to decorate their backyards with abstract sculptures and three-dimensional forms that work to extend their private collections into public space. Outdoor displays of art are also emblematic of profession and personal mindset, and help to further distinguish a particular property as a direct extension of the consciousness of the individual owner.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature in a contemporary backyard is the emphasis on strong forms. While contemporary design is admittedly abstract in many ways, this is not to say that form is abandoned or that objects themselves are unrecognizable. Instead, the intention behind most contemporary art of any kind is to combine basic geometric patterns and morph the conglomerate image into a new form independent of those that exist in Nature itself. This emphasizes human intention and deliberate action as key contributors to the final outcome, and reinforces the ideal of human supremacy over Nature. Nature has to be shaped in a contemporary backyard, not done away with.

This is often done by contrasting one element against another in order to create a sense of sharp deviation between concepts. Human consciousness is multi-dimensional, so combining contrasting design patterns throughout the landscape works to express the complexities of both conscious and unconscious forces within the mind. Strong angular lines and perfect arcs are often used in patio design, custom hardscape construction, and the building of boundary and decorative walls that reflect the form and aesthetic of the home. Gravel is heavily used both as a substitute for lawn grass as well in contemporary backyards, providing of contrasting shades of light and darkness, or even absolutes of black and white. Trees can measure a variety of heights, but the limbs of most trees are deliberately trimmed in order to give them a clearly sculpted shape that better supports the emphasis on human structure and design.

Landscape Remodeling Contractors

Many people invest in a home with the intention of remodeling it. They want to personalize the architecture and the landscape of their new residence so that it becomes a reflection of their sensibilities, values, and individual lifestyles. There are many remodeling contractors in Houston that offer a variety of services to this end. A large percentage of them focus on redesigning interior space and expanding the square footage of the house. A few, however, like Exterior Worlds, offer landscape remodeling services that involve redeveloping landforms, gardens, and outdoor structures in front and back yards. These contractors focus on creating an outdoor living environment that compliments home architecture, extends amenities into the exterior, and completes the process of personalizing the entirety of the property.

When we are called to a home to discuss a remodeling project, we invariably find that almost all of them have an existing swimming pool in the back yard. Most of these pools were installed by contractors who specialize exclusively in pool design and installation. Our experience has taught us that virtually all Houston pool companies have impressive skills and expertise when it comes to making a pool both aesthetic and functional as a self-contained unit. At the same time, however, we find that swimming pool companies, being specialists in a specific industry, have little awareness of architecture or landscaping forms external to the pool itself. We have found that it serves the homeowner much better if a landscape architect will first design—or in this case, remodel—the swimming pool to scale and geometric appropriate to the proportions and appearance of both the house and surrounding yard. Then, the pool contractor, working with the specifications handed down by the landscape architect, can apply his expertise toward developing a win-win outcome for all parties involved.

Once the pool has been redesigned and remodeled, contractors are then brought in by Exterior Worlds to redesign the surrounding patio and make improvements to hardscape structures throughout the yard. Very few custom swimming pools are installed without some sort of custom or luxury patio. This is because people need seating and lounging areas around the pool so that guests and visitors can comfortably gather and mingle around the water. While this practical function is very important, care must be taken as well to ensure that the aesthetics of the landscape are preserved in the process of remodeling a patio. Hardscape contractors will be commissioned to lay down special forms of concrete, flagstone, or limestone on various properties, depending on what works best for the overall concept of landscape design and entertainment requirements of the homeowner.

Remodeling the patio helps us also helps contractors establish a definitive theme for hardscape redesign and improvement throughout the premises. Larger homes often have two or more patios in addition to the one surrounding the pool. These custom patios can be built to any scale and designed for everything from quiet contemplation by a fountain to hosting large gatherings of people congregated around key points of interests throughout the yard. Homes on large lots in exclusive Houston neighborhoods like certain parts of Memorial, or River Oaks, may want to increase the feeling of privacy by commission our team of contractors to build custom walls around portions of their yards, patios, and even motor courts in the front. These walls can be as ornamental and decorative as they are functional and practical, and can be integrated into custom garden design and landscape lighting themes to create space within space that makes a yard look much larger than it is, and that contributes a sense of mystique to the property when visited at night.

Landscape remodeling contractors also work very hard to improve and redesign existing outdoor structures located in front and back yards. Some of these structures, such as custom fountains and wall fountains, are purely decorative in nature. Others serve specific purposes. Arbors provide seating areas under trees. Outdoor kitchens bring the convenience of the custom kitchen into the exterior space of the home. Outdoor fireplaces add warmth in the winter and decorative lighting in the summer. Some of these structures may already exist on a property but may not have been built to proper scale by previous contractors. It is our mission to ensure that the architectural and geometric forms of these structures always remain in balance with the aesthetic of the home itself and other structures and forms located throughout the surrounding landscape.

French Courtyard Garden Design

Earlier this year, Exterior Worlds was contacted by the owner of an Arabian horse farm located in New Ulm, Texas, just outside of Houston proper. This man is known throughout the world, and clients visit his estate frequently to buy the horses he is famous for breeding. He wanted to create a special vantage point that would better help his clients get a better view of the horses that they travelled so far to consider buying. After consulting with him, we all agreed that the best addition to his property would be a two-section a French courtyard that would create a relaxed state of mind on the one hand, and offer a magnificent view of the landscape and the horses on the other. Since his home sits atop a hill that overlooks the prairie where the horses run, such a setting would be ideal for both personal visits and business negotiations with travelling clients.

The genius of this French courtyard design lies in the fact that it is actually two courtyards in one. The courtyards are slightly from one another, but are connected by a limestone pathway that bisects the center of both sections and runs all the way to the back of the home. A formal vegetable garden lies just to one side of one section, and the side of the hill drops down to the valley below just to the side of the other section.

We designed the first section of the French Courtyard with tranquility and contemplation in mind. To give the area a sense of repose and formal seating, we built two stone benches on either side of the gravel walkway, and built a limestone wall on the far end as a terminus for the entire structure. We installed a wall fountain in this location constructed from an antique spout and an antique limestone trough. The fountain is operated by a silent, remote pump that masks its mechanical nature and allows visitors to only hear the soothing sounds of the flowing water. This creates an aura of serenity for people sitting to either side of the fountain, and adds to the aesthetic of the formal vegetable garden that lies just to one side of the structure.

We then built the second section of the French courtyard conversation and comfort foremost in mind. Because the owner makes his living by selling Arabian horses, a view of his magnificent herd is crucial to the success of his business cycle. This was the primary motivation for building this portion of the courtyard as an observation point that would allow for a scenic overlook of the herds grazing below, and discussion of the attributes and value of each horse in the herd. We wanted these negotiations to flow more like conversation than hard-driven business deals, so we deliberately created a very austere setting for the host to entertain his guests. The patio was not paved, but rather built out of limestone chips identical to those used in 18th Century French gardens. We further expanded this historical theme by decorating the patio with an antique table and chair set that established a very strong Old World sensibility that was strongly suited to the discussion of the finer things in life.

Both parts of the French Courtyard are enclosed by an iron fence that creates a sense of seclusion and separation from the stress factors of the outside world. We wanted to magnify this sense of spatial separation with a separation for time as well, so we decided to make the fencing appear antique to match the furniture. We used some special painting methods to color the panels, and then let them rust a bit to make them mimic 18th Century ironwork. We also added some of the organic basics of French garden design to the courtyard by planting boxwoods and clipped hedges around the fence, patio, and stonework.

Among the more notable features in this French courtyard are its skillful blend of contrasting shades of light and dark colors, and the multiple points of view it offers both visiting clients and friends. The limestone path that bisects the two portions of the enclosure is made from a much darker color of limestone than the surrounding patio limestone. This lends a very strong feeling of symmetry that balances all of the many organic and inorganic elements of the surrounding garden, and provides an ideal aesthetic environment to host either a formal (albeit, very relaxed business meeting), or to entertain a few close friends and relative who drop by to chat for a few hours in the beauty of the garden.

French Country Garden Design

A couple by the name of Claire and Dan Boyles commissioned Exterior Worlds to landscape their back yard with a French Country Garden Design theme. The design we ultimately developed for them was not a traditional French country garden per se, but was rather a derivative of the symmetry and color scheme associated with this style.

The most notable feature of the design was the custom swimming pool we installed just to the rear of the home. It featured linear movement, right angles, and a luxury spa and pool fountain. We used limestone for the pool coping, and we built the custom pool patio using concrete pavers. In various locations around the patio and yard, we also added French pottery to balance the stonework against the structure of the home.

We planted a formal garden parallel to the pool to support its linear movement. Like most French country gardens, it is bordered by sheered bushes and emphasizes linear movement, angles, and symmetrical structure. The interesting thing about this garden is that it is completely green, with no other colors. It is bordered by a taupe colored cedar fence that blends with the stonework.

Around the corner from the back entrance to the home lies a double door entrance to the master bedroom. Here, we built a small patio just beyond the threshold of the door. Along the walls of the home on either side of the glass windows, and between the patio itself, we planted boxwood hedges. Boxwood species are typically used in French country garden and provide an excellent organic frame for the patio.

We deviated slightly from the strict linear forms and emphasis on symmetry in this location by adding pavers that ran out like steps from the patio into the grass. We also added rosemary and mondo grass as ground cover to the space between the patio, the corner of the house, and the back wall that frames the yard. This design is derivative of those found in morning gardens, and it provides the Boyles with a place where they can step directly from their bedroom into a private outdoor space and enjoy the early mornings and evenings.

We also landscaped the front of the Boyles’s house with a symmetrical design consistent with that of French country gardens. We began by creating a sense of entryway by adding a stone walkway that ran straight to the front of the home and extended on either side into an entry patio. The home has a covered porch area in the very front that extends slightly outward from the rest of the house. Along the left wall of the home, to further the connotations of a French country estate, we planted a small parterre garden that can be seen and enjoyed from the porch.

On the other side of home, we built a circular drive motorcourt around a large oak tree. We used special tree preservation techniques to design this motorcourt in order to keep the pavement above the root zone of the tree. The interesting thing about this motorcourt is its color. It features a colored, concrete-acid finish that compliments the brick in the home. We used limestone gravel chips for the parking area. We then planted San Augustine grass around the oak tree to create a sense of organic vitality year round.

Landscape Design Build

Exterior Worlds is a residential landscape design build consulting firm specializing in landscape architecture, design, and custom landscape maintenance. We prefer to operate under the design build model of construction for a number of reasons. It offers us more direct control over the promised outcome of the project, and thus guarantees that clients will be satisfied with the results they have invested in. It also streamlines process in a way that expedites project completion and thus keeps labor costs—and the ultimate cost of the landscaping design—within the anticipated budget of the homeowner.

Design build construction is the oldest model of construction service in the world. It is based upon the principle that the architect, or Master Builder as he was called in many cultures, was the supreme authority to oversee the building of monumental structures. Palaces, temples, and public forums were constructed by such men for millennia. A modified version of this model is still used today. Basically, it means that a general contractor develops the design for the landscape or home, then brings in subcontractors to build out the specific elements of that design under the strict supervision of the general contract management team.

In the commercial world, many companies use the design-bid-build model, where the designer sells the concept to the company, which then bids it out to a general contractor and respective subcontractors who develop it. This is too complicated and expensive for even wealthy homeowners, and it often leads to errors in the final project. If a landscape design is bid to a landscaping firm who did not develop that design, they will most likely interpret it differently than from what it was originally intended, and in all likelihood, cost the homeowner much more money with problematic or a disappointing outcome at the end of the project.

It is for this reasons that most landscape companies like Exterior Worlds prefer to serve the custom home residential marketplace from a design build perspective. We begin by consulting extensively with the client and getting to know as much about their lifestyle, aesthetic sensibilities, and predetermined expectations for their home and yard. We then develop a landscape design that includes every element of form and function necessary to creating an outdoor living experience that respects the architecture of the home and compliments the lifestyle lived within the home itself. Once this model is complete (and we use graphic design software to create it), we then either build each element of the landscape ourselves, or we subcontract a specialist firm who will build specific outdoor structures and forms strictly according to the design plan we have already finalized with the homeowners.

The accountability this creates is incredible. Subcontractors brought in on the project are handed specifications and a list of materials in advanced that ensures they remain within the parameters of the intended build. Pool contractors, hardscape experts, and lighting design firms all work under the umbrella of our project management to seamlessly produce a finished project that embodies the conceptual in a form that typically exceeds the expectation of the client at the end of the day.

By acting as a landscape design build firm, Exterior Worlds is able to act as a single source of delivery of consultation, planning, design, and implementation. With a vision in mind combined with a plan on paper, we can forego the complexities and multiple layers of detail needed to produce the detailed schematics used by design-bid-build firms, and we can finish the project sooner as a managing, hands-on, single source design-build solution provider acting for the benefit of all parties concerned.

Custom Landscaping

Custom landscapes require design and construction methods based specifically on the lifestyle of the homeowner. Properties are shaped around the themes of home architecture and the interests and activities of the occupants. Custom landscapes require more than a just a simple knowledge of botany and hardscape design, however. They require in-depth consultation with the client, sophisticated planning and design skills, and leadership skills for managing teams of specialists brought to build specific outdoor structures and forms.

One of the first things we take into consideration is the size of the family itself. A large percentage of our clients have children, so their desires have to factor into the equation just as much as those of their parents. We need to know what these kids are interested in, and how best to accommodate their interests. We may build them a natural swimming pool separate from the custom swimming pool we build for the adults. Or, we may bring in sports experts to construct a special ball court or grassy play area to use as a soccer practice field.

Home entertainment also plays a big role in custom landscape design. How people intend to use their yard literally shapes the proportions and forms within it. People who expect to entertain large numbers of visitors will need a landscape that expresses expansiveness and variety, while people who want to entertain small groups of relatives or friends will need garden designs and exterior structures such as arbors, private patios, and trails that create a feeling of intimacy, privacy, and special treatment.

Custom landscaping also has to factor in the convenience of arriving guests by creating parking areas that will accommodate the anticipated number of people arriving at hosted events. Without some practical considerations in this area, overflow parking creates an eyesore in front of the house and a nuisance for the neighborhood. Knowing how many people normally show up for events, and how often those events are held, enables us to build driveway areas that meet the demands of attendance and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the home and property. Many properties also have service vehicles that show up at the residence, and we must make certain that any access points or parking areas we create for other vehicles

Personal lifestyle is obviously a major part of any custom landscape. Every client is different and has unique tastes and proclivities that need to be addressed throughout the entire scope of the aesthetic. While we consider it foundational to the entire design process to respect home architecture in the many forms and structures we create, we also make it a point to develop these features in patterns and forms that reflect personal and stylistic traits.

While custom landscaping is a very deliberate science that reflects the subjective mindset of the homeowner, it is always done in harmony with Nature. Trees, soil conditions, natural topography, and natural light conditions all help us with parameters that we can use as guidelines for planning and construction.

Houston Garden Designers

Houston, TX presents one of the most challenging environments in the nation for garden design. The compacted, high-clay content of the Houston landscape makes it difficult for the roots of many plants and trees to gain a viable foothold in the ground. Additionally, heavy seasonal rains can suddenly flood yards and streets in a matter of hours, drowning and killing garden plants that lack proper drainage. These are not the only challenges facing garden designers, either. In the summer, the humidity can push the heat index well over 100 degrees – creating a breeding ground for plant stress and disease.

Such extremes in climate take their toll on both organic and inorganic landscaping elements. Pools, decks, outdoor lights, masonry, stonework- all suffer as much as plant life during these times. In order to effectively counteract these negatives, Houston garden designers need more than simple cultivation skills. They need an understanding of construction and architecture, and they need to know what materials will best hold up in the Houston landscape. Irrigation and drainage know-how are also critical skills they must be able to integrate into any organic designs they create, so that ornamentation, functionality, and structural components all blend together into an aesthetic that will continue to grow and thrive despite wild swings in weather and temperature.

There are four basic types of garden designers, each of which offers varying levels of expertise and service.

1. Conceptual Garden Designers
These professionals draft a master plan for your garden, but they do none of the construction or planting involved in garden installation. While it is great to have such a master plan, complications normally develop when the homeowner then attempts to transfer the conceptual to the actual. Unforeseen variables such as the viability of building materials, the costs of construction, and ongoing maintenance soon make the simplicity of such a plan a nightmare of logistics when homeowners attempt to contract these services on their own.

2. Landscaping Garden Designers
These individuals understand the installation and cultivation of garden plants, and they are very good at giving you what you desire within your budget. However, few have any advanced design experience. If you are looking for a parterre garden, traditional French garden, Italian garden, or Japanese garden, you will probably have to look elsewhere to find an expert in such forms.

3. Horticultural Specialists in Garden Design
Normally such experts consult from nurseries and garden centers and know a great deal about soils and plants. They also can be the first to tell you what plants will do best in what parts of your yard. Many of them also have a great deal of knowledge in building irrigation and drainage systems, and some have basic construction skills in planter and patio design. You have to be careful, however, not to be oversold on the number of plants you ultimately purchase. Horticulturalists love to create as much variety as possible, and you also must be aware that any construction work such individuals do will only be basic.

4. Landscape Architects as Garden Designers
These professionals combine advanced design and horticultural knowledge with a sophisticated understanding of construction and the ability to subcontract and manage independent teams in the construction of outdoor buildings and hardscapes. These companies can integrate the inorganic elements of structure with complex, organic patterns of carefully selected vegetation, weaving the entire landscape into an outdoor living experience that compliments home architecture and combines functionality with superior aesthetic sense. Landscape architects plan, initiate, supervise, complete, and maintain the garden as a single-source of outdoor design. The only negative for many people is the higher cost these companies tend to charge, making these service offerings very much a niche, high-end market in the wealthier neighborhoods such as River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, and Rice Village.

Always remember that you have a choice when it comes time to decide which type of garden designer you ought to go with. Carefully think your decision through, considering who can best address such factors such as plant life, maintenance, aesthetics, and uniqueness design elements before you make your final decision.

Landscaping Architectural Services

Schematic design is the foundation of landscape architectural services. We begin with a series of consultations with the homeowner where we discuss the essentials of the project. Most homeowners have a definite sense of what they want, but they frequently have difficulty articulating specifics of design, form, and structure. It is our duty to clarify these specifics by asking the right questions, then putting the answers we glean down into a landscaping plan that can function as a graphic frame of reference to the entire plan of action.

The next phase of landscape architectural services is the publication of construction documentation. Since most of our work involves building various types of structures on the landscape, we frequently bring in subcontractors to handle the specifics of construction. It is essential to have all contracts and insurance forms completely filled out and itemized in the form of checklists prior to the subcontractors actually coming onsite. This saves money and time, prevents confusion, and streamlines process flow by getting everyone on the same page before the project gets underway.

Landscape architectural services also require the publication of detailed layout plans prior to the inception of any construction work. Subcontractors need to be fully aware of what we ultimately plan to do on the property from an aesthetic perspective. It helps them better concentrate their energies when they see how their specific expertise fits into the big picture. This is particularly true when it comes to building structures near large trees that require unique tree preservation strategies that ensure the health and longevity of trees. It is also particularly true for custom pool design. Pool contractors must be made aware of other elements that we intend to add to the landscape so they will build the pool proportional to surrounding back yard landscaping, custom gardens, outdoor structures, and home architecture.

Hardscape plans help separate the inorganic elements of landscape architectural services from the organic aspects of design. Plans for structures such as paved driveways, brick walkways, patios, seating areas, fences, and walls have to be carefully designed so as to respect home architecture and act as forces that actually sculpt the organic appearance of the landscape (such as trees, bushes, and gardens) into an order and system of form and theme.

Elevation drawings come next. Even though Houston is built in one of the flattest areas of the country-the Gulf Coast Plain- there are nevertheless variations in elevation throughout the city. Areas around bayous sometimes lie beneath the floodplain and are at high risk of going underwater during heavy rains. The heavy clay content of our soil also makes it very prone to shifting. This can cause subtle variations in elevation within a yard that could put vegetation and structures at risk of water damage if too much rainwater collects on the property. Knowing where the high ground and low ground is, so to speak, helps us then develop strategies for the mechanical aspects of landscape architectural services: grading plans and irrigation plans

Grading is the science of altering land elevation for the purposes of better drainage. Its goal is to conceal drainage systems as much as possible so they do not diminish the aesthetics of the landscape. Building custom and concealed drains is a relatively simple matter for our team. However, getting the water to these drain areas may require certain alterations in terrain and hardscape forms. We may need to add fill dirt in the yard in order to get the water to run in a certain direction. Or, we may need to build a small stream that will add both a decorative element and a much needed water runoff area. For paved areas and custom patios, we have to slope the concrete or stone very precisely and in a very subtle degree that will be unnoticed by people standing on the hardscape, but that will be nonetheless sufficient to drain the water consistently from the surface.

The final phase in planning our landscape architectural services is the implementation of irrigation networks to water gardens, trees, hedgerows, and flower beds during the hot, dry months of the year. These systems are needed due to the fact that many of the species we plant are not indigenous to our area and cannot survive in an area like ours where rains are more seasonal than they are consistent. Again, the art of concealment is paramount here to preserve the appearance of the greenery. Our irrigation systems deliver water beneath the leaves of the plants and are therefore out of sight from admiring viewers. This is also more beneficial to plants than hoses and sprinklers because it prevents fungus from growing on the leaves.

In conclusion, we can say that the operative root word in landscape architectural services is architecture. Just as an architect develops a building project schematically, step by step, so too does our team develop each phase of professional landscape design as a series of documents and drawings that ensure all elements of the landscape blend together at the end of the day to create an experience that is truly unique and personalized to the sensibilities and lifestyle of the homeowner.