subject: How To Start An Online Landscape Design [print this page] Online landscape design begins with giving the landscaper as clear a picture of your residence as is humanly possible. Photographs of your house and yard are needed so the team can study the architecture, existing vegetation, and outdoor structures that already stand on the property.
People often wonder how effective online landscape design can actually be without a designer actually visiting their home. To answer the question truthfully, it is directly proportional to the experience and knowledge of the professional landscaper.
The pictures and documents that you send to your consultant work as a guidebook for online landscape design. The essential master plan is developed from this information. These references are detailed pictures of the home and the surrounding property, along with important survey information regarding the land itself.
Try to take approximately 10-15 pictures of your house from all possible angles. Take at least that many of both yards, giving your online landscape design specialist a full 360 degrees view of your property. It works for everyone's convenience if you use a digital camera and email the pictures to your designer.
Make sure to photograph every tree and utility fixtures such as water spickets, and gas meters. Also, include pictures of the side of the house, as well as columns, brick details, arches, and windows. Focus on capturing architectural details like the roofline, fireplaces, and doorways.
In other words, give the team enough of a visual of your house in order for us to reflect its architecture appropriately in the online landscape design plan we create.
Your consultant will also need a lot survey of your property. The majority of homeowners obtain one when they purchase their house. However, if it has been several years since you moved in, you may not have it readily available. If this is the case, call your title company and request another copy.
Try to also obtain a topographical map of your property that will show us what elevation changes occur throughout your yard. The designer will need this to design your irrigation and drainage systems.
Consultants often also require a "tree survey" in some form or fashion. This is simply a count of your trees and their positions in your yard. They need this located so we can design a plan with tree preservation and future growth in mind.
Once your online landscape design is created, it is emailed to you in preliminary form for your review. Any changes you need are then made, and the final master plan is produced and emailed to you. After that, you can choose any local company to handle the actual implementation of the plan.
The best resource to find such a company is the Internet, although you may have friends, family, or neighbors who can refer you to someone they have worked with. Regardless of how you find a landscape company, be sure to check their portfolio and call at least three references before you decide to do business with them.
There are, of course, always minor things that are unforeseen, such as climate changes, possibly breezy environments, and rainy conditions unique to your part of the country. If your local landscaper runs into any such challenges, consultants can provide fee-based, remote assistance. For select projects and additional fees, some consultants may also fly out to your location if the scope of the project justifies the visit.
