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free landscape designer
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Posted by nicsbees 8 (My Page) on Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 17:17
I recently posted a message about planting trees along my driveway. Then I realized that perhaps I should use a designer. The only problem is they seem to be very expensive. I checked with a couple of the local nurseries and they can offset some of the cost if you purchase from them, however that becomes even more expensive in the end. I am looking for a free or very low priced designer. Any ideas?
Thanks for anyone's help or suggestions. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: free landscape designer
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- Posted by laag z6CapeCod (My Page) on
Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 18:21
| Services and free don't go together very well. You either value it or you don't. Wanting it does not equal valuing it. If you value the design, you can measure that value in terms of dollars or effort. The flip side of that is how much the provider of the trees values that sale. Does he value it enough to tell you how many you need (chance for upsell) and where to put them enough to make that sale. I suspect that at this time of year you could say that you were going to plant trees but have decided to go with smaller shrubs because you are not confident in laying them out and get a little more effort out of one of the nurseries - PROVIDED THAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY BUY THEM FROM SAID NURSERY! I don't think that makes you anything but an honest smart shopper. If you suck that info and don't buy from them, it would be a different story. I don't think that is your intention. Things are not great out there in the economy. Someone looking to buy several trees ought to get some effort (they should value your money equally as you value design and trees) from someone selling trees. The benefit should be mutual. Good luck. |
RE: free landscape designer
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- Posted by bahia SF Bay Area (My Page) on
Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 18:33
| You often get what you pay for. Why would anyone offer something free if they do it as a business and expect to make a living doing it? I'd suggest you either research what does well in your area yourself, or hire a local landscape designer or horticultural consultant/nursery person to give you an on-site consultation to advise you. If you want to save money on the install, stick with the smallest size trees that make sense for your situation and wait for them to grow in. An hour or two of an expert's time is not that expensive, I'd bet you could get such a service for less than $200. |
RE: free landscape designer
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- Posted by laag z6CapeCod (My Page) on
Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 19:11
| The other post says 500' of driveway. Combine that with trees 20' O.C. on both sides translates to making a serious effort to make the sale. I don't like to tell people not to spend money on design services, but we are talking a simple design and a fairly large sale. If I were in nursery sales, I'd be on it. |
RE: free landscape designer
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| I agree with laag :-) If the project is only selecting and laying out the trees for the allee along the drive, then you do not need much more design assistance than what a better local nursery should be able to provide as part of the sale. If you are looking for help with something more detailed than that, that is another issue. FWIW, being rather intimately familiar with the retail nurseries in your area, I'd have to say that if this is the case, you will be much better served by hiring an independent designer/consultant. And yes, you should be prepared to pay for that service. |
RE: free landscape designer
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| The suggestions about getting the nursery to help with the design is a good one. Other suggestions: Perhaps you could go to your local garden society and see if someone there (not a professional, but someone with good design sense) would help you with your design. You could offer a small fee. Call your local univeristy with horticultural courses and see if they would allow one of their students to help you (again offer a small fee). I even saw a landscape designer on the internet that you give him your plot and he gives you a design back. I can't remember what he was charging, but I think it seemed reasonable. If you just want tree placement, perhaps you could negotiate. When there's a will, there's a way. Good luck! :) |
RE: free landscape designer
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| look at a lot of good landscaping books..to get ideas on your own..trees are your first step of course..also look around your area and see what trees are growing well that you find attractive and think might be a good bet for you. i have done some landscaping design on my own ..am an interior designer..and i feel we generally do what we like and if we hire it done..we might not like it. best to find out your zone and find out what will grow well..look up a garden zone map..all plants should be labeled with the zones they grow best in. |
RE: free landscape designer
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| Sometimes it pays not to tackle big projects just because you need/want to save money. Depending on how large these trees or shrubs are may make a difference as to whether an novice homeowner can really tackle that job. If trees are planted by the homeowner and aren't planted correctly and they don't survive, you are out that money. If they are planted by a reputable nursery/garden center, those trees/labor usually come with a replacement guarantee, usually a year. In the long run, the money you think you will be saving by tackling the job yourself may cost you in the long run, more than if you hired them to do it. Even Home Depot gives a year guarantee on their plants. They replaced 3 azaleas for me that didn't survive before the year was up. |
RE: free landscape designer
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- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Wed, Dec 9, 09 at 10:33
| Improperly planted trees could easily take longer than a year to be recognized as failing by an underinformed consumer. So, it still gets back to finding out what you are dealing with on your own before investing in a big project. If you want to be smart about it. |
RE: free landscape designer
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| Why are you looking for a free designer? KarinL |
RE: free landscape designer
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| I would be happy to talk to you about your design for free. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Landscape Workshop Inc.
back to bear bones...
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Just purchased a small property about an hour south of San Francisco. The 20 x 30 section which leads from the quiet street to the front door is very flat so it's void of any personality right now. It's also void of all vegetation except for a pretty midsized Japanese maple set to one side. I plan to cover the entire area with cobble stone/paver material, 3’ high wrought iron fencing (height strictly controlled by the local regulations); all reminiscent of a French courtyard/patio. I hope to be allowed an arbor at one corner where the gate will be located. This patio will be utilized daily for reading, dining, socializing, etc. I dream of color, blossoms, fanciful whimsy. My blood pressure rises when I am forced to experience structure and predictability. I’m having difficulty getting past the issue of the city’s rules, and coping with a dreary flat setting. I had hoped to use several wrought iron screens as supports for plants. My neighbors assure me that I’d have to place them very close to the house. I can’t possibly have left anything out. Any thoughts?
P.S. Where, oh, where can I purchase wrought iron or AKA tree grates west of Michigan? Thx |
RE: free landscape designer
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| It is my down time over here, I visit family, write poetry and take photographs, I study and am mostly free to design someones garden if it takes my fancy. Or did you mean to be looking for someone who works for nothing? |
RE: free landscape designer
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| silvertone - Post a couple of pictures of the space, and we'll probably be able to advise you what might work. Also explain what the city's 'rules" are for pots, height of things, etc. |
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