Improving Your Landscaping Can 
Add Value and Comfort to Your Home, 
but it Needs to be Done Properly!

Affordable Landscaping & Landscapers Are Hard to Find: BUT, for YOU that is not an issue -- ServiceMagic has a totally FREE service to help YOU find dependable and professional landscaper's at NO CHARGE to you -- It's that simple! How simple? Just fill out a short form about your home service needs HERE. Service Magic does the rest and then sends you a list and detailed reviews on qualified landscaping professionals or landscapers in your area!  And, this includes ALL areas -- virtually every state and city in the United States.

Now... On To the Art of Landscaping!

Designing and landscaping you home can be rewarding, and inspiring. But it can also seem overwhelming. Most people start by asking these questions: Where do I begin? How much know-how do I need? How much will it cost?  Will it add value to my home? How much should I spend (based on the value of my home)? Should I consider a professional landscaper or landscape architect?

Beautiful landscapes or home gardens are simply the result of a logical process. You (probably with help from a professional) will simply follow the steps of good landscape design and develop a road map to success through planning. By blending natural and man-made elements, you can personalize your property and I transform a ho-hum yard into the landscape garden spot of your neighborhood. Think of it as creating a useful living outdoor room extension to your home. Imagine that the tree canopy with its leaves and limbs provides a ceiling. Fences, walls and hedges form the walls, and the paving, lawn, or ground cover acts as the flooring and carpeting. 

Landscaping is far more than just planting a shrub next to the front door -- this can actually detract from the value of your home. It is a logical process that evolves from one phase to the next. Assess your needs, and then make a wish list of what you want in your landscaping. As you analyze your property, look at all the positives and negatives of any existing landscape. Next is the fun part. You put your ideas - what you want to change or create - on paper. You don't have to be an artist -- the idea is to visualize! Changes might include a new driveway, a better walkway to your front door, an herb garden, patios and decks, and new plantings that make your house and landscape more attractive to passersby or buyers. 

When choosing new plants and deciding how to arrange them in a planting design, you'll have to consider their mature size, shape, texture, and cultural requirements, such as their need for water and sun (or shade) -- this is where a professional landscaper can actually save you money. A beautiful landscape with plants (and trees) that die after 1 year is no bargain.

Keep in mind as you design your landscape that it will constantly evolve. A landscape changes from year to year, season to season, even day to day. Your landscape will be an ongoing, enjoyable project that provides long-term benefits and lets you express your creativity. And, if done properly adds true value to your home.

Hiring a Professional Landscaper

One of the first questions to ask yourself when taking on a landscaping project is "Should I do it myself or hire someone to do it for me?" Several factors affect your decision. One of the most important steps in any good design is a workable drawing. Often this is where you may need to seek advice. A professional designer may help you avoid costly mistakes and come up with creative and fresh ideas. Once your landscaping pro has helped you complete your design,  you can implement the project in stages as money and time are available. Remember... you can find a local professional here:  find local professional landscapers.

Here are the three basic questions you will first want to ask yourself. 
1. How large is the project? If you have an extra-large yard or if you want to landscape the entire lot, the project may seem overwhelming and more than you can handle. Or the property may have special challenges, such as drainage problems, unwanted structures, trees or shrubs that must be removed, or a concrete parking area or wall that must be constructed, or the job is big and involves high costs. In any of these situations, professional assistance is usually worthwhile. 

2. What is the budget? The cost of your landscaping project' may prove to be very expensive. By doing all or some of the job yourself, you can save a lot of money in labor. Keep in mind, however, that if you need special equipment, hiring a professional (who has the machinery and the operators) may be cheaper and more efficient in the long run than renting the machinery yourself. On a new landscape, a suggested estimate for the cost of the installed project is 10 to 15 percent of the house cost. Structures and paving may Increase this percentage. 

3. Can professionals do a only portion of the work? You may find: that you can do some of the work yourself. Landscaping can be completed in phases; it is rarely a problem to divide it into smaller, separate jobs. Working from a master plan, hire professionals to complete the parts of the project that are beyond your ability. 

Who Are the Landscape Professionals? 
If you are thinking about hiring a landscape professional for all or part of the project. you will need to know what local businesses are right for your job. The three types of landscape professionals are the landscape architect, landscape designer and the landscape contractor. 

Landscape architects usually have extensive formal training. They are licensed and hold one or more degrees in their field. They design both large commercial projects and residential landscapes. Because of their background and training, landscape architects are probably the most helpful in developing a master plan for your property. They may charge an hourly fee, a lump sum, or a percentage of the construction cost. But, crude estimates for the design and work can usually be had for free.

Landscape designers generally work on residential landscape projects. They may or may not have the extensive training that landscape architects have. Many are talented garden designers but are just not approved by some states for the construction of certain structures. Nevertheless, they can be very helpful!

Landscape contractors implement the plan and sometimes will have on their staff a landscape architect and designer. The scope of their work includes grading, paving, planting, installing irrigation systems, and constructing certain structures. Occasionally, landscape architects and landscape designers function as landscape contractors, providing both design and installation services. If you have a detailed and completed landscape plan, consider hiring just a landscape contractor. 

Finding the Right Landscape Professional.
This is now MUCH easier than it used to be. ServiceMagic (a publicly traded company) will for NO CHARGE provide you will lists and reviews of local landscapers -- they get paid by the landscapers and not by you, so for your it's FREE. 

When looking for a professional landscaper, it helps to be an informed client. Here are some suggestions for proceeding. 1) Contact ServiceMagic: it's too good a service not to take advantage of; 2) Ask around. Most people are willing to share both their positive and negative landscaping experiences; 3) When interviewing a landscape professional ask to see samples of his work and ask for contacts at the sample jobsites he shows you; and, 4)  When hiring a landscape contractor, always ask if he will guarantee the plants and work.

No matter which type of landscape professional you choose, a clear understanding of the scope of the work is important. Each of you must know what is expected of the other. Spell everything out in the agreement. You will probably have to pay a deposit, but don't make the final payment until the project is completed. The better you communicate your landscaping needs to a professional, the happier you will be with the finished job. 
 

Texas is just one state ServiceMagic serves -- they actually serve virtually every city in every state in the U.S. For example... these are just "some" of the cities covered:
California: Inglewood, Berkeley, Santa Clara, Ventura, Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, San Bernardino, Chula Vista, Oxnard, Garden Grove, Oceanside, Ontario, Santa Clarita, Salinas, Pomona, Santa Rosa, Irvine, Moreno Valley, Hayward, Torrance, Pasadena, Escondido, Sunnyvale, Fontana, Orange, Fullerton, Corona, Concord, Lancaster, Thousand Oaks, Vallejo, Palmdale, El Monte, Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Riverside, Bakersfield, Stockton, Fremont, Glendale, Huntington Beach and Modesto.
Florida: Tampa, St Petersburg, Jacksonville, Miami, Hialeah, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Clearwater, Cape Coral, Gainesville, Miami Beach, Sunrise, Plantation, West Palm Beach, Palm Bay, Lakeland, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton and Pensacola.
Colorado: Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Arvada and Pueblo.
Connecticut: New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Stamford and Waterbury.
Georgia: Atlanta, Richmond, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Athens and Clarke.
Illinois: Aurora, Chicago, Rockford, Naperville, Peoria, Springfield and Joliet.
Indiana: Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Gary.
Kansas: Kansas City, Wichita, Overland Park and Topeka.
Kentucky: Louisville, Fayette and Lexington.
Louisiana: Shreveport, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Metairie and Lafayette.
Massachusetts: Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell and Cambridge.
Michigan: Grand Rapids, Warren, Flint, Sterling Heights, Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor.
North Carolina: Lake Norman, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem and Fayetteville.
Nevada: Las Vegas, Paradise and Reno.
New York: New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, NY and Syracuse.
Ohio: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron and Dayton.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allen and Erie.
Tennessee: Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Clarksville.
Virginia: Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Arlington, Newport News, Hampton and Alexandria.
Washington: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and all other minor cities and suburbs.
Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay.
Alabama: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville.
Arizona: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe and Peoria.
Other Cities: Omaha, Lincoln, Newark, Jersey, Albuquerque, Washington DC, Baltimore, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Minneapolis, St Paul, Kansas City, St Louis, Springfield, Jackson, Oklahoma City, Portland, Eugene, Salem, Salt Lake.