Landscape

Many of my clients have lived in their homes for decades, and I am delighted to return and do renovations to the landscapes periodically, say every three to 10 years.

I’ll start off by saying avoid this mistake: Cutting down all the overgrown shrubs with a chainsaw and hoping they will grow back smaller. This pruning technique may work on some plants, such as the dwarf yaupon holly, but generally you are destroying the natural beauty of the plant.

The first step is to take inventory of the plantings and decide if the plant should be removed, pruned, or transplanted.

In this example, the plants were overgrown and blocked access through the side path.  We chose to thin them out from the inside, removing larger branches instead of topping the plants.  Topping with a power pruner causes the plant to put out dense new growth where ever you make the cuts. For natural pruning, we layer the cuts and do the pruning by hand so we can control where the cuts are made.

A creative pruning technique is to change a shrub into a tree.  Here, we removed the lower branches of a camellia japonica. 

This is an effective technique when the plant is kept at 5’ to 7’ tall.  Any higher, and the new “tree” (they are called “standards” in the nursery trade) will become a maintenance nightmare involving climbing a tall ladder several times a year.

Here is an example of an overgrown espalier: attaching a shrub or tree to a wall.

Lastly, consider if any plants should be transplanted.  You can definitely divide and replant perennials and ground covers.  Some shrubs that are not too old and have dense root systems, such as boxwoods, are fairly easy to dig up and move. It is almost impossible to move a plant that is growing under large trees because their roots are intermingled with the tree roots.

You have been dreaming of a lovely garden or landscape where you can sit and relax, or just enjoy viewing it from the kitchen window. You may have already gathered Pinterest pictures, or met with a few landscape contractors. But how do you get from the vision to creating the actual place? The first step is to put together a design .

Most landscape contractors offer design services, employing designers and landscape architects. Landscape architects have more education than landscape designers, and are licensed by the State. Be sure to look at pictures of their past projects, and the type of drawings and plans they produce to make sure you are compatible working together.

It takes time to create a custom design. The client and designer need to develop a synergy, or back and forth exchange of ideas, that allow the design to develop organically. The designer cannot read your mind. You need to communicate your vision for your project through words and pictures, as well as sharing some idea of what you want to spend. You will have practical concerns such as solving drainage problems, decreasing the amount of maintenance, removing grass that will not grow despite your repeated efforts to replace it, etc. You can provide a checklist of all the elements you would like in your plan, such as fencing, patios, seating walls, playset, water feature, lighting, and so on. A list of plants you like and don’t like is also useful.

A landscape architect is a generalist, skilled at choreographing a menu of landscape elements and fitting all of the pieces together. We have knowledge about many specialities, and should be able to communicate and coordinate with skilled tradespeople, general labor, equipment operators, plant and product suppliers, and anyone else needed to build your project. We know when to hire additional professional expertise such as engineers, arborists, and permit facilitators. on. The goal is to think ahead, and plan for everything you will need and want, even if the work will be phased over a few years. Planning ahead will eliminate both surprises and proceeding with the work in the wrong order. For example, building a patio too high or too low can cause the entire yard to need regrading.

The truth is, many potential clients call me after they have already spent time and money on their property with unhappy results. This is usually a result of the project not being communicated through detailed plans or 3-D depictions. A verbal or written description is usually not enough. They may have been rushed into proceeding with the work, and not been given the time to explore several possibilities and alternatives.

After installing several thousand landscape projects, I can assure you that although there are many “happy accidents”, the property owners with the right plan will end up with a project that creates happiness far more often than a property where projects have been done piecemeal.

In the end, you will end up with a finished project, an environment that you enjoy.

Marta Scherer Garland, reg. Landscape Architect, Georgia Lic# LA000664