FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Practical Insights for Planning, Designing, and Maintaining Beautiful Landscapes

Can you do the actual landscape installation as well?

If you want us to handle the installation of the project so that you don’t have to, we will work with one of our install partners to bring the vision into reality. However, you’re free to take your design to any landscape construction company you want for a quote, and we can be available on a consultation basis during install.
Do I have to use a specific contractor for the landscape construction?
How much does a landscape design cost?

Design fee for this stage varies due to project size, but average design costs range between $2500-$3500 for a full property, and $1500-$2500 for a front or back yard only. After finding out more about your project, we will confirm these costs with you and present a formal design proposal before proceeding with any work.
How does payment for a landscape design work?

We require a 50% deposit up front to get started on your design. Once we send you your first design presentation and you’ve had a chance to view it, that’s when we require the remaining 50% of the design fee to continue through the rest of the process. We accept credit card and e-transfer as forms of payment. (Cash and Cheque also acceptable, dependent on location)
Are the any hidden fees associated with landscape design?

No. We give you a formal design proposal which outlines all of the deliverables for your design, which can be tailored to fit your specific needs and that proposal will need to be approved before we start the process. After going through the design process, if you would like to request any further design work outside of those approved deliverables, then you will be provided with a quote to complete that extra work before we proceed with it. You will never be presented with an unexpected bill.
How long does it take to get my landscape design?

Your timeline will be clearly communicated at the start of your project as it varies based on size of project and project queue. On average, it takes about 1 week to complete your first design concept once we complete your Design Kickoff Meeting. After that, it really depends on how long you’d like to take to review your design and get back to us with feedback, but once that happens it’s another week to complete your design revisions.
What will I walk away with after the landscape design process?

3D Design Renderings, including both day and night shots showing lighting, a Presentation Video with a detailed description of the design and why we made the design choices we did, and a 2D Pricing Plan you can hand off to a contractor, or share with different companies for competitive quotes. Here is a link to our full process and samples.

Planting Plans and Permit Drawings are not included in the standard drawing package, and are available upon request. They are dependent on your local municipality requirements, and should you require one or both of these, we will provide a quote based on how involved the drawings will be and how much time they take to produce.
Once I have my design, what do I do next?
How do you make sure my landscape project stays within my installation budget?

Because we get very clear on the reasons you’re making a change to your landscape, we can work with you to make cuts to the project that bring installation costs down, but that still hit the main goals for your property, leaving you thrilled with the end result!
Why is landscape design important?

The process of getting to a finished yard design is very nuanced and requires a lot of decision making along the way. Would you complete a kitchen or a full house renovation without a set of plans?

Even if you are completing the project in phases, a design is crucial to make sure you’ve considered all of the priorities for your desired lifestyle in your yard, and any future considerations that you might run into during construction. This ensures that the finished product looks cohesive instead of piece meal projects that were completed in different stages.

Having a design completed before installation happens helps to make sure that quotes are accurate and construction companies are on the same page with what your vision is. A 3D design allows you and the contractor to also get aligned on what the finished product will look like, so there are less change orders, miscommunications, and surprises along the way. Doing the work up front allows you time to think and make decisions in a stress free environment, as opposed to during the construction phase when there is a time constraint and crews are waiting around for you to come to a decision.
How does a landscape design save me money?

The biggest way a landscape design saves money is by avoiding costly changes during the installation process. The number one reason projects run higher than the intended budget is from last minute changes or redoing work. A landscape design allows you to visualize your project before it is installed, consider different variables and make changes before the installation starts, avoiding those costly change orders.

A landscape design also allows you to get clear and accurate quotes, and outlines your expectations for construction companies so that you’re comparing apples to apples when looking at estimates. This will limit surprise costs that come up during construction, because the installation company had a clear design to quote off of from the start, and account for every cost.
Why should I work with a landscape designer instead of doing it myself?

Landscape designers do this every day. It’s their job to listen to you, understand your wants and needs, and propose solutions to the problems you are trying to solve in your yard. They will have a unique way of thinking about things and will ask you questions about your yard or lifestyle that you probably haven’t even considered yourself. Being able to work with a professional also alleviates stress and overwhelm in the planning process, and they will be able to provide you guidance from start to finish. They also have valuable, vetted contacts in the industry that they can refer you to, depending on what is required of your design process.
Where can you design? What locations? Where are Ground Break Design services available?
How do you design landscapes virtually without seeing my yard in person?

What we require to complete your design are site measurements and photos. One of our professionals will come out to site to gather the necessary information, or some homeowners opt to gather that information themselves to save on some of the design cost. If they choose that option, then we provide a detailed list of the measurements and photos we require to begin the design process.

All design meetings happen virtually, and recorded presentations and 3D renderings are used to communicate the overall design vision. Our clients often comment on how smooth and convenient this virtual process is to book meetings and review design goals. Here is a link to our full process to learn more.
What can I expect the landscape design process to be like?

Our design process has been honed over the past decade to fit each client’s unique needs, but we have a step-by-step framework that we to provide a great customer experience, and a landscape design that is true to who they are. Our process is centered around clear communication. We are hyper focused on asking the right questions to get to know you and whoever else will be using the space, and then really listening so that we can provide a finished product that speaks to the reasons why you’re making a change to your landscape. Here is a link to learn more about our process from start to finish.
What is the difference between a landscape designer and landscape architect?

The main difference between a landscape designer and a landscape architect is the types of projects that they are allowed to sign off on. Projects that do not require an architects seal (typically residential homes), a landscape designer can produce technical plans for. A landscape designers fees to put together a drawing package will usually be much lower because they often have less overhead, fewer team members, and don’t work on large public or commercial projects with very high liability costs and insurance.

In some cases, a landscape designer can put together the main concept for a property, and then send to an architect for review and sign off, should the project require an architect seal. For the average homeowner, working with a landscape designer is the best solution because the custom experience they can provide for a residential homeowner will deliver a really high value design for a much more reasonable cost.
Can a landscape design help protect my property from wildfires?

Fire smart landscapes are becoming more and more important, and a good landscape design can significantly reduce the risk of your home being destroyed in a wildfire. Our experts are trained and experienced in different aspects of fire smart design, and will apply their knowledge of site layout, burning radii, and plant choice to your design if your project is in an area with risk of wildfires.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Practical Insights for Planning, Designing, and Maintaining Beautiful Landscapes

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