Landscape Consultation
I get it…
Creating or maintaining a beautiful landscape can seem pretty daunting if you lack time, horticultural expertise or design know-how. Let me help you see your property with fresh eyes. Together, we can work with what you have to incorporate it into a beautiful landscape you’ll love coming home to.
Common landscape problems
Most landscaping problems can be solved with a little tweaking. The photos below illustrate common problems I often see.
1. Struggling Plants
This little shrub isn’t getting it’s needs met. The key is to find out what it wants. Plants not flourishing reveal zone hardiness problems, poor soil conditions or unfavorable siting.
4. Not enough plants
Too many bare spaces! Spotty dotty plantings like this one are unattractive and difficult to maintain. Perennials and most shrubs are more effective when grouped together in masses
2. Wrong Plant for the Spot
This nepeta is beautiful, but it’s taking over the walkway. Sometimes great plants are situated in the wrong place and need to be relocated to a place where they have enough room.
5. Too many beds
This planting looks discombobulated. The little shrubs dancing around the tree planted in the circle have no relationship with the bed on the left. Consolidating or reducing the number of beds could be an option.
3. Too Many Similar Shapes
This planting looks like a bunch of exclamation points and do nothing to enhance the house. When choosing woody plants, a balance of varying shapes is more attractive.
6. Overgrown shrubs and trees
This spruce has overgrown it’s space by a long shot. When shrubs or trees outgrow their space, they need to be removed or pruned appropriately.
Why Have a Consultation?
As a landscape designer, my focus is on creating landscapes that respect the site and needs of every homeowner I work with. I can save you time, money and angst.
Pick my brain.
You’ll get recommendations based on over 30 years of hands-on experience with plants and design. I work independently – I don’t sell plants or represent nurseries.
Who needs a landscape consultation?
You’re a first-time homeowner new to gardening and don’t know what’s growing in your yard.
You just moved into a house that has no landscaping.
The landscape that used to work has gotten out of hand and you can’t keep up with it.
You’re a more experienced gardener who wants to make some changes.
You’re a do-it-yourselfer who needs guidance.
What does a landscape consultation include?
Let me help you see your property with fresh eyes and develop a plan of action. Whether you want to do everything yourself or you need someone else to take over, I can point you in the right direction.
We’ll cover:
1. Site evaluation: exposure, soil type and general environment. Overall picture – identify assets and problems
2. Inventory of the plants: identification, general health, placement and appropriateness to the site
3. Recommendations for care of existing plants: feeding, watering, pruning etc.
4. Brainstorm ideas for making changes, with a list of suggestions of how to implement them.
After our meeting, I’ll provide you with a written landscape report that will include suggested changes – plant placement, guidelines for care of your current landscape and plant recommendations.
Drawn landscape plans are not always necessary, but if the scope of the project requires it, I can provide one at an extra charge. I can also refer you to a landscape contractor to implement any changes.
“We had an immediate connection with Christine and liked all of her suggestions. We immediately put them into action and wow, what a change!!! She helped us make our garden a place to enjoy even more.
Her talents and advice are worth the time, and we certainly want her back to give us more advice.”
Lee Kedzierski and John Dickerson
How Does It Work?
I’m available for in-person consultations if you live in the Rochester, NY area. If you live out of the area, or it’s more convenient, you can book an online consultation with me.
In-Person Consultation
We’ll spend 60-90 minutes walking through your current landscape, doing a complete assessment of what’s already there and discussing your goals. Together, we’ll brainstorm about the changes you want to make with a list of suggestions on how to proceed. A 60-90 minute in-person consultation is $200.00. (Payment is due at time of service.)
Online Consultation
Before our meeting, you’ll submit photos of your landscape via email along with a questionnaire I will provide before our meeting. I’ll review your photos, draw over them and come up with ideas for improvements before we meet.
We’ll connect virtually on a Zoom video call and discuss your goals, problems and brainstorm about the changes you’d like to make. We’ll cover the same topics just as we would if we were meeting in person. A 60-90 minute online consultation is $250.00 (Payment is due prior our appointment.)