We are in the heart of landscape season and are fielding calls and emails daily from people with a variety of requests regarding their landscape design. Many are faced with a landscape issue that they just can’t solve, others are looking for an updated look, and still others want a new vision for the way they use their outdoor spaces. They know that they need to speak to an expert, but don’t know what comes next. So we thought it would be a good idea to explain what to expect from a landscape design. 
At Mark M. Holeman, Inc. we place a great value on design. The members of our design staff are all college graduates with degrees in landscape architecture and are state-licensed landscape architects with many years of professional experience. Only individuals with a combination of a college degree in landscape architecture, professional experience, and who have passed state licensing exams are granted the title of landscape architect. And while it is not a requirement to use a licensed landscape architect on a residential job, we feel that it is a distinction we are proud to make. When you work with a landscape architect from Mark M. Holeman, Inc. you can be sure that your project will be led by a professional with a high degree of expertise. So with that background and from that stand-point we have a strong belief in the importance of design.
While not all potential projects require a detailed plan, many do, and we believe that for most projects it is the right place to begin. Many times the homeowner will have a variety of issues that they want to address. Maybe the front foundational plantings are a little tired or overgrown, the rear yard has standing water after a storm, and the patio for their house is too small for a family that likes to entertain. Our typical approach when faced with a number of different areas of your landscape is to develop a master plan. This is the complete vision for the design of your outdoor environment in its entirety, and will serve as the blueprint for developing it. Once the master plan is complete the various smaller projects throughout can be prioritized, cost-estimated and phased in.
When you contact Holeman with a potential project for landscape design, a member of our staff will contact you to set up an initial appointment. This appointment will serve as our introduction to you and your home to discuss your ideas and issues. If we feel that your project requires a design, we will discuss the estimated design fee. This design fee is based on an hourly rate and is dependent on the size, scope, and level of detail and complexity the project requires.
The first step in developing the plan is documenting the existing conditions. This involves a survey of the property to identify the residence (including driveways, sidewalks, windows, downspouts, etc.), property lines, existing plant material and other issues and conditions unique to the site. Measurements will be made and pictures will be taken that the landscape architect will use to create the base plan. From here, the designer will work through a number of design ideas to develop an artistic and functional solution that’s personalized for you and your family. Typically, that means a scaled and labeled plan-view drawing of your landscape with selected plants (often with botanical names and recommended spacing), and labeled and dimensioned features such as patios, decks, walkways, water features, specialty gardens, wood structures and more. Many times these can be accompanied with perspective sketches or a booklet of photos of plants or paving materials to help you to visualize the design.
At Mark M. Holeman, Inc. we’re enthusiastic about landscape design. We carefully, thoughtfully, and creatively design a custom outdoor environment unique to you. Contact us through our website our call our office to speak to a landscape professional about how we can be of service to you.