Landscape Consulting
Service / Landscape Consulting
We’re so pleased you’ve visited our website to learn more about how we can help you turn your landscaping ideas into reality. Whether you’re considering a complete backyard makeover or just want to update your current lawn and garden layout, our design team will consult with you to create a plan that suits your needs and budget. Read on or contact us to learn more about our design services.
To best serve you, we generally begin with an initial consultation, which will help us develop a mutual understanding of what you want – and what’s possible. We’ll provide an estimate for the design based on our discussion with you and, when you are ready to move forward, the A Touch of Dutch Landscaping Design-Build process will begin. The phases of our entire process are as follows:
Step 1: Discuss Objectives
Have a Blue Sky Session
If you have a vision of a finished product, magazine clippings or sketches of your dream, share those with us. If you’ve been curating inspiration on Pinterest, share your board with us. We’ll work together to fully visualize your goals.
When conceptualizing your updated outdoor area, consider if your vision suits your lifestyle and satisfies the needs of all family members (including pets). During our consultation, we’ll discuss your needs and provide practical suggestions that you might not have considered previously. We can also review your property survey, if available, and discuss any zoning considerations. And we’ll take pictures and measurements of the project area before we leave.
Determine Your Budget
A critical part of finalizing your objectives is budget as it will help determine the scope of the project and help us suggest solutions that keep you within your budget while satisfying your needs.
Consider Landscaping in Phases
The great thing about working with outdoor projects is that almost any project can be completed in phases. If a dream landscape design is just not financially feasible to complete in one season, a plan can be developed that can be completed in smaller, more manageable stages over two to four years, rather than having to settle for a less satisfying end result.
Step 2: Create a Plan
Initial Concept
After our visit with you, we’ll get to work on an initial concept, which provides a starting point for us to work out the basics. This rudimentary draft will include measurements and minimal details, allowing us to determine the location and shapes of hard and soft elements in your yard. Once complete, we’ll forward this preliminary concept to you for review.
Final Landscape Design
The approved concept will be used to create the detailed final design. At this stage, we determine specific components such and plants, types of stone, etc. And based on our visit to your property and information you have provided, we will be able to assess the need for locates and/or permits. With all of this information, we can put together a comprehensive quote for you.
Once the terms of the proposal are agreed upon, we can create a tentative schedule for installation (understanding that Mother Nature always has the final say).
Changes to our proposed design at this stage may be subject to an additional fee. Estimates will be revised to reflect changes and, once completed and finalized, we can move forward with installation.
Note about additional drawings:
For some people it is hard to visualize the completed project from an overhead view. We have a variety of options to help you visualize the final product. A fee may apply for these additional drawings depending on the details required.
- Colour Rendering – Adds a small amount of perspective
- Elevation Drawings – Simple 2-dimensional drawing
- Conceptual Drawing – 3-dimensional drawing
As you have paid a fee for the landscape design it is yours to keep, regardless if we do the work or if you prefer to do it yourself.
Step 3: Installation
Let’s Crush Your Landscape Design Goals
This is where the magic happens. Installation is when all of our collective work comes to fruition. Visit our Installation page to learn more about the process.
Final Landscape Design
The approved concept will be used to create the detailed final design. At this stage, we determine specific components such and plants, types of stone, etc. And based on our visit to your property and information you have provided, we will be able to assess the need for locates and/or permits. With all of this information, we can put together a comprehensive quote for you.
Once the terms of the proposal are agreed upon, we can create a tentative schedule for installation (understanding that Mother Nature always has the final say).
Changes to our proposed design at this stage may be subject to an additional fee. Estimates will be revised to reflect changes and, once completed and finalized, we can move forward with installation.