The best scenario is to discover an individual who has all of the qualifications necessary to design and build your project.  However, of your project is multi - faceted, you may require more than one professional on the job.  My advice is to put together the very best team of professionals that you can.  Then convey what you want to accomplish.  Use books and magazine clippings that can communicate what style you like.


As a designer, I don’t tell a client what I think they should have. Instead, I ask how the family will be using the space.  For instance, if a pool designer pressures you to buy a particular pool shape, a red flag should go up.  They have not considered designing the environment, just selling a pool.  If you would like to have an inviting pool incorporated into your backyard, I encourage browsing through www.gensis3.com to find the level of designer you are looking for.


Meet with two or three different designers and establish a similar list of questions and a scope of work for each professional.  During your consultations, find out each designers educational background and construction experience.  Ask for references and more importantly see projects they have completed.  Most of my clients become my friends and are eager to show our creations!


Remember a degree in horticulture or construction management is not the same as a formal education in landscape architecture, industrial design, or art. There are many people in this industry who call themselves designers but do not have a formal education in design.  Just because someone tells you they have been designing and building these types of projects for a long time does not mean they have been doing it right.



Start by gleaning referrals from friends and colleagues that have designed and constructed projects similar to what you want.  Is the professional you are considering a member of an accredited body?  For starters, you can search several sites for a landscape architect including the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) www.landscapearchitects.org

Spring has arrived, magnolias are blooming, and so are your ideas for creating outdoor environments.  Now is the time to organize your desires for any new projects.  In last month’s column we established the need to use a professional designer to create your exterior utopia.  The goal is to assure that all of your elements: landscape, pool, hardscape, and drainage, etc. work in unity.  The big question is how do you find an educated and experienced designer.  A little investigating is in order.

The designer you choose should have an understanding of the township rules and regulations.  Because each community is governed by their own set of guidelines, this knowledge will expedite the process.  Ask the question: will other licensed professionals - such as architects, civil engineers, geologists, or structural engineers - be required to complete the design process?


Talk budget.  Establish what you are willing to spend before meeting with each professional.  Firm pricing will be available only after the design / construction drawings are complete and all materials have been selected.  Seek out a break down of costs per item and avoid snags and hidden costs by ensuring that the designer has consultants in place that can clarify any questionable issues about who is responsible for what.  Also, inquire about the structure of design fees.


A free design and estimate may not be worth the paper it is written on.  Qualified designers charge for their time because their time is valuable.  Fees vary based on the designers education and experience.  The most qualified have the ability to develop your ideas into reality and the expertise to challenge convention.


Finally, a good designer should have a passion for what they are creating and consider each project a work of art.  More importantly, be compatible with the individual you select.  Let’s face it, you will be spending time and money with this person...you need to like them.


Know Who is Designing Your Outdoor Environment


by Kevin Fleming