Compare apples to apples between landscape contractors. One landscape contractor will estimate 10 trees, 15 shrubs and 4000 sq ft into the bid and another landscape contractor will figure in 5 trees and 5000 sq ft of grass. Both landscapers will have completely different visions of your landscape. One tree planted in the wrong place will if the tree is allowed to get big enough could cost more than the cost of the landscape plan to have it moved. Removing a tree can cost hundreds of dollars. Hundreds of dollars planting shrubs that should be in full sun but were accidentally planted in full shade. Having a plan to figure out exactly what you want will maximize the success of your landscape. A landscape plan is similar to a contract between two parties. The plan is the goal and that shows the landscapers what you want. A design could save a homeowner a lot in the cost of a backyard landscape.
Better Quality Design – mistakes can be made and resolved on papers for much cheaper than in your yard. Avoid putting in trees that are too big. Avoid putting full-sun plants in full shade. Potential problems will likely be found on paper before any work is started saving time and money. Your landscape design cost is initially expensive but over the long run it can easily pay for itself.
Compare costs between materials. Do you want a $12000 concrete patio or a $20,000 paver patio? Do you want a sunken firepit or an above ground firepit. Do you want concrete edging or steel edging? Having everything designed out how you want it allows you to have a plan in place so that even if what you want is not in the budget this year it will be next year or even ten years down the road.
Compare costs between materials. Do you want a $12000 concrete patio or a $20,000 paver patio? Do you want a sunken firepit or an above ground firepit. Do you want concrete edging or steel edging? Having everything designed out how you want it allows you to have a plan in place so that even if what you want is not in the budget this year it will be next year or even ten years down the road.
Avoid over-estimating. When there is no design to go by, a contractor is likely to over-figure materials to make sure he is covering all his expenses. A design will give you the exact sq footage, the exact number of trees, the exact number of shrubs, the exact linear feet of curbing, and based on the plan a contractor is able to figure the exact amount of mulch, topsoil and other similar things. Without a plan, a landscape contractor will have to figure out generous numbers so he doesn’t lose money.
Prioritize the Important Things. A design helps you figure out your priorities. For example would you rather spend 10K on the Gazebo or 10k on a new deck? How important is that sideyard no one ever sees? Landscape design costs can be expensive so putting your money where it matters most is one of the biggest advantages of getting a landscape plan. There are many advantages to getting a landscape design besides the financial reasons, check out this article here.
Better Quality Choices. Many landscape contractors have relationships with nurseries and can get discounts on plants that have not sold or have been over-ordered (similar to clearance items). Sometimes growers will not sell a certain plant, sometimes because it was not as popular a plant or didn’t sell well so the nursery or grower now has too many of this plant. They will offer a discount to a landscape contractor and it may seem like a steal of a deal. This has happened several times in my experience. Once I designed the landscape to a larger building I specified ‘Swedish Aspen’. I went to visit the building after the landscaper had done all the planting and noticed that regular Aspen had been planted, not the Swedish Aspen I had included in the plan. Now this in a HUGE difference! Most likely the landscaper saw the regular Aspen was priced much better than the Swedish Aspen and I’m sure the landscaper couldn’t imagine that there was much difference so he brought and installed the regular Aspen. I told the owner and he had the landscaper remove the trees he had planted and planted the right ones. There is a huge difference between the two trees! 95% of the time I would never include the regular Aspen in a landscape plan because once they reach a certain age they send up suckers everywhere and can become a home or property owners worse nightmare! The Swedish Aspen however does not send up suckers and makes it a wonderful tree without the maintenance nightmare of the other tree. I could give example after example of this, unfortunately, it happens more often than not.
Having a Landscape Plan works very much like a contract between you and the landscape contractor. The plan is what you have both agreed upon. Make sure however that you choose a great designer. For advice on choosing a good landscape designer check out my article here. The landscape contractor knows more of what is expected of him and the homeowner knows what he or she is getting. Although spending $1,000-$5,000 on a plan seems expensive, however in the long run it can easily save you that amount many times over.