What to Ask an Expert about Landscaping?

As one of the leading landscape companies in the Bay Area, we at Landscape Pros have often seen how people are at a loss when it comes to asking experts the right questions to get their dream landscape design done. Once we had a client who wanted us to do too many things - an open air sit-in, a pool, a trellis and a BBQ installation, in their small space, which was simply not feasible. On the other end of the spectrum was a couple who wanted to give their spacious backyard a makeover to include a pool area, a lawn, a fire pit and a patio, but didn’t know what they should ask us to get the work started. In both these cases, we had to handhold our clients, and organize several consultation sessions, before we finally arrived at a feasible plan. This experience set us thinking – What is it that our clients should ask the experts that would set the ball rolling?

So, here’s our take on some questions, which you should ask your Bay Area landscaping expert:

• What’s the best utilization of my space? This question is especially important for owners of small spaces. If you own a small space, you should ask your landscape expert about the best way to utilize it and incorporate some of your dream elements (if not all) into the limited yards. Even owners of sprawling greens would do well to consult their landscape designers to ensure that every inch of space is utilized wisely. 
• What landscape design should I choose? Mark Twain once spent a summer in San Francisco and said that it was the coldest winter he had ever spent. This refers to the greatest challenge of landscaping in SF Bay Area – modifying the climate through good design to create comfortable outdoor places. Therefore, starting from the right design for your landscape to choosing native plants and shrubs, you should ask your landscaping expert about everything. Deciding on the right placement of your landscape features, choosing the most fitting plant palette, the most ideal materials and décor items to use are other factors that these professionals can help you with. After all, creating a spectacular outdoor space is best done with the advice of experts.
• Can you share some ideas about green landscaping? As people across the world are trying to go green to save water and conserve energy, it pays to opt for green landscaping. You should ask your landscape expert about tips and steps that can help you get started with green landscaping. Since a complete makeover may not be possible for all, the emphasis should be on asking about small steps that can help create an environment-friendly landscape. Be it installing turf grasses that need less water, using natural fertilizers and recycled items for landscaping, or opting for drip irrigation and microspray/rotor technologies, small steps advised by landscape experts can go a long way in helping you create a green landscape.
• What would it cost me? Most people get carried away by the entire process and end up spending a lot more than what they might have planned initially. Therefore, it’s best to get a quote from your landscape company or ask the experts about a rough estimate for the entire job. You may also ask about the additional amount, if any, which may be incurred to include certain aspects that you wish to, in your landscape. We at Landscape Pros believe that our clients should have a budget before they get the work started and keep a close eye on the progress. This will ensure that the expenditure doesn’t overshoot their budget.

To make the most out of your landscape, make sure that you ask these and other relevant questions to your landscape expert.

Understanding various aspects of walkway design

A beautifully designed landscape always adds an extra dash of elegance to your home and you may even elevate the overall beauty quotient by adding a walkway to it. Though some people consider walking on the grass to be a great option, at times, there are places in the garden where a walkway or a path adds both to the beauty and functionality of the space. One of the main advantages of installing a walkway in your garden is that you can walk through the landscape without disturbing the plants or flower beds. In fact walkways serve to be an integral part of your landscape design and can add another level of charm and appeal to the entire setting, when installed perfectly. Now, in order to ensure that a walkway is installed flawlessly, you need to do a lot of planning, observing and measuring before you actually start installing the walkway.

How to get started with the plan of installing a walkway in front of your house or in the landscape?

• First of all, you need to take stock of the area where you plan to install the walkway and its surrounding settings to ensure that your walkway blends effortlessly. This becomes especially important if you already have an existing landscape and need your walkway to complement the elements that are a part of it.
• Stand at one of the ends where the walkway would be placed and try to visualize where the people will walk, what would be the most convincing route between these two ends, what might come in their way while walking, when they might need to go around etc. While visualizing the path, also determine how many curves you will put in it. While adding a number of curves adds to the charm of the path, too many curves might prove to be annoying.
• The next step while conceptualizing your walkway project is to draw a rough sketch of the existing plan on a paper. Consider using symbols like circles and squares to make the drawing accurate and use graph paper for perfection. Determine what materials you would like to use for building the walkway. One of the best ways to choose the material is to calculate the cost per square foot with different types of materials and take your pick from the one that suits your budget and taste. The most commonly used materials to build walkways include brick, paver blocks and concrete. You may even consider using durable and timeless porphyry granite to give your walkway a classic and one-of-its-kind look.

What you need to keep in mind while building a walkway?

The most important thing you need to keep in mind while planning the walkway design is that it must be in sync with the rest of the garden. You can either opt for a formal path with angles or an informal one with curves and meanders. Make sure the material you choose for the walkway matches the exterior of your home, and the width of the path suits the size as well as the layout of the garden. Design the walkway in such a way that the visitors are attracted to it. You can consider building a focal point along your walkway where they will pause for a moment. Also, consider installing appropriate lighting system so that you can use the garden comfortably at night and the appeal of the garden, too, is increased. You should make sure to you use the right plants to make a border to the path.

To get your dream walkway installed the right way, it’s best to hire a professional landscape company that has experts on board to handle the task efficiently.