5 Reasons To Engage A Landscape Designer To Design Your Garden July 12, 2017
I have seen many people attempt to design and install their own landscapes over the years. Some are successful in their attempts; however, others lack the understanding of what it takes to design and construct a practical, well thought out connected garden. Expertise in many areas of construction and horticulture is essential to the success of any garden, not to mention the time it takes to organise and manage the build. This is where engaging an experienced landscape designer becomes worth every cent. The following are my top five reasons you should engage a landscape designer before you commence construction.
- A Landscape Designer Will Give You Options
A landscape designer will give you options that you wouldn’t have thought about. They can tell you the best most cost-effective way to go about things. They will obtain a good understanding of your needs and wants in relation to the garden, and design accordingly to your budget.
- A Landscape Designer will have expert knowledge of local planning and building regulations.
Are you aware that in Victoria any retaining wall located on the boundary of a property, regardless of height, requires engineering drawings and a building permit from your local council? Landscape designers have expert knowledge in this area and can help you navigate through the council’s planning and permit process. Alternatively, they can design your space to avoid the need for council permits and therefore ultimately lowering the cost of construction. Either way intimate knowledge of local planning and building is extremely important.
- A Landscape Designer will be an Expert in Construction and Horticulture.
Most people will know something about laying a paver, building a sleeper wall or that Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’ is a hardy, lime green Australian native grass. However, a landscape designer will know these things and more. Being an expert in all areas of landscaping is not something that can be acquired through books, it must be studied, practiced and acquired over many years.
- A Landscape Designer Will Save You Time.
It takes a lot of time to successfully design and construct a new landscape. It takes time to thoughtfully consider all the aspects of the garden, it takes time to produce the design making sure that all relevant information is included on the plan. It takes time (usually more than it should) to obtain permits from council, it takes a lot of time to organise materials and construct the landscape. Most people that attempt to design and build a garden of reasonable size by themselves generally end up having it take over their weekends.
- A Landscape Designer Will Save You Money.
The reason some people attempt the design and construction themselves is to save money. However usually the opposite is true. A Landscape designer should save you more money than they charge you. A good design will minimise material wastage and will utilise products that bring the best value for money.
Hopefully this article has given you some insight into what it takes to be a landscape designer, and what a landscape designer should bring to your project.
Happy Landscaping
