Choose a landscape designer

WILLIAM BERRY / Cox News Service

The detail of your landscaping work depends on you and your budget. Make sure to goover the finished landscaping with the designer to make sure it is satisfactory.

FIVE POINTS TO REMEMBER1. Select alandscaper approvedby the AmericanSociety of LandscapeDesigners byperforming a searchat www.asla.org.ALSA approvedlandscapers arecertified, licensedand educated tomeet or exceedindustry standards.

2. Have the designerinspect your propertyand present to you adetailed sketch mapof the plans theyhave for beautifyingyour land.

3. Elaboratelandscapes costserious money. Makesure the proposalyou receive fits yourbudget. Get at leastthree proposals anddesigns beforeselecting thelandscaper. Alwayshave in writing whathappens in the eventof cost overruns.

4. Receive allnecessary approvalsand insist that thelandscaper andcontractors take allprecautions for safetyand environmentalconcerns. Then,protect your liabilityby asking allcontractors tophysically show youproof of licensing,bonding andinsurance before theconstruction begins.

5. Inspect theend-product with theoriginal designer tomake sure the workis done to yoursatisfaction.

HOW TO ...

Cox News Service

A beautifully landscapedproperty can add signifi-cant value to your home

and serve as a focal point for youand your guests to admire andenjoy for years. But choosing aprofessional landscape designeris crucial for getting the resultthat you desire.

Landscape designer can cost aslittle as $1,000 and go consider-ably higher. For example, elabo-rate yards and Japanese gardenscan easily cost more than $20,000.In any case, you want to makesure that the person you hire isworth the price.

The American Society of Land-scape Architects (ASLA) is a pro-fessional organization of licensed,trained, and certified landscapedesigners. You can search for acertified designer in your area atthe organization’s website atwww.asla.org. Even with adesigner recommended by theASLA, always check referencesfirst, ask to see examples of thedesigner’s work, and get a writtenestimate that clearly states howhe or she will design your land-scaping dream.

A good landscape designer willcome to your property and latergive you a sketch drawing of theirdesign plans. It’s wise to get threeestimates in writing, and go withthe person who you are most com-fortable hiring. Make sure thelandscaper gives you a proposalthat fits your budget. Always askupfront — and get in writing —what happens if there are costoverruns. Also, while some land-scape designers will work withcontractors or subcontractorsthey trust, others will work tohelp you choose the actual peoplewho dig in the dirt.

If you have to answer to yourHomeowner’s Association, makesure you get approval from theHOA before the first stone isturned. Otherwise, you could findyourself with a potential fine andpossibly receive an order toremove the work at your expense,a scenario that could turn yournew rose bush into a house ofthorns.

Work with the designer toensure that all ordinances,approvals, and utility companylines are accounted for before thedig begins. For example, lakesand canals must be protectedfrom run-off with — at the veryleast plastic — construction bar-rier fences. Also, all cable, gas,

power, and phone lines should beflagged or clearly marked by thelocal utilities. This should bestandard operating procedure forthe designer and the contractors.If it isn’t, you might want to findanother designer and landscaperto do the work.

Have all contractors show youevidence that they are licensed,bonded, and insured before they

work on the property. This helpsto maintain the credibility of theworkers hired, as well as reduceyour risk of liability in the eventof damage or a worksite injury.

Once the construction begins,inspect the work performed toensure the end-product meetsyour expectations. Also, find outif there is a warranty on the work-- and get the promise in writing.

For example, some landscaperswarranty a newly installed lawnthrough one growing season.

At the end of the project, insistthat the designer do a finalinspection of the property. Havethem fix anything that is not upto the contract’s specifications.Then, you can sit back, relax andenjoy your newly-installed workof gardening art.