A.Very low maintenance: 1-3 checkups per year if professional is hired, seasonal clean-ups, and monthly deep watering during droughts, monthly weed control. Typical landscapes; native plant gardens, rock gardens, slow growing plants, compact shrubs, plants that go dormant during drought, deep rooted plants, no dead-heading, little pruning (liriopi, nandina, yucca, sedum, sumac, coralberry, plumbago, spiderwort)B.Low maintenance: 3-6 checkups per year if professional is hired, minor dead heading, seasonal cleanups, monthly weed control and weekly to by-monthly watering during drought. Typical landscapes; low maintenance gardens, slow growing shrubs, and perennials that need yearly cutting to the ground, ornamental grasses, most groundcovers (boxwood, lilac, butterfly bush, black-eye susan, Russian sage, crapemyrtle, Missouri primrose, daylily, sedum, wine cup flower, coralberry, maiden grass)C.Medium maintenance: monthly checkups if professional is hired, monthly cleanups 1-2 months; monthly weed control, weekly watering during drought. Typical landscapes; Japanese gardens, free flowering old-fashioned perennial gardens, most fast growing and flowering shrubs, most shade perennials, moderate moisture and rich soil plants (forsythia, hosta, fern, annuals, hydrangea, barberry, iris, phlox, juniper, & peony).D.High maintenance: 1-2 monthly checks or weekly cleanups if professional is hired, monthly pruning and fertilizing, weekly weed control, up to daily watering during drought and heat. Typical landscapes; water gardens, lush beautiful gardens, formal gardens, cut flower gardens, vegetable gardens, frequent flowering plants that need dead-heading, fast growing shrubs, plants sensitive to pH, high water and nutrient users, (most roses, mums, daisy-like plants, tulips, azaleas, rhododendrons, most annuals, all climbing vines)
- Please indicate which of the following characteristics you prefer.
Set A: PLANT SIZES: Smaller planting sizes (4 inch pots), great for lower budgets, greater spacing and longer maturity, higher maintenance, less resistance to pests, drought, and weed infestationsLarger planting sizes, higher budget, closer spacing and fast mature time, lower maintenanceMix of both. (larger sizes in areas of importance, smaller on less visible areas)
Set B: PLANT VARIETIES: Over 50% common plant varieties (lower cost, easy to find, fast growth, reliable performance data, many have potential insect and disease problems, many are overused and monotonous,)Over 50% uncommon plant varieties (unique, interesting, different, improved resistance to insects & diseases, lower maintenance, higher cost, more difficult to find & estimate)Use native plants whenever possible (good for our environment & wildlife, self-sustainable)
Set C: PLANT FOLIAGE: Over 50% evergreen plants, more winter interest, less flowers, more consistent year-round appearance, lends a more formal appearance, many ornamental grasses look nice in winter too.Over 50% deciduous plants, less winter interest, more spring/summer/fall appeal, spectacular flowers, lends a softer, more naturalistic appearance, may seem barren in winter.
Set D: PLANT AESTHETICS: Plants mainly grown for their flowers (slightly higher maintenance, longer blooming seasons)Plants mainly grown for their foliage (lower maintenance, some flowers as well, colored foliage)
Set E: PLANT DENSITY OR SPACING: Detailed, lush appearance (higher initial cost, smaller barren / void areas, lower maintenance)Simplistic,modest appearance (lower initial cost, larger barren/ void areas, more weed problems)
Set F: PLANT TEXTURE: I like fine textured plants (small leaves or multiple small flowers in clusters, grasses)I like coarse textured plants (large leaves or single large flowers, not as compact)I like textural and color contrasts (mix of fine and coarse textured plants) (recommended)
Set H: BLOOMING SEASON: Over 50% blooms in Spring/Early Summer (more appeal in spring, needs cutting back; summer)Over 50% blooms in Late Summer/Autumn (looks attractive & green in spring, flowers later)
Set I: LARGE AREAS BENEATH SHADE TREES: Groundcover areas (higher initial cost, lower long term maintenance, less water, no mowing)Lawn (lower initial cost, higher long term maintenance and cost, mowing, watering, fertilizing)
Set J: MULCH: Rock mulch (longer life, higher initial cost, higher replacement cost, wind and erosion proof, dirt will accumulate after many years, hard to clean, difficult to add plants, extra fertilization needed)Wood mulch (shorter life, lower cost, low replacement cost. Wind and erosion resistant, Adds nutrients to soil as mulch breaks down. Weed problems may occur. Add new layer every 1-2 yrs)No mulch, (only an option in full shade areas, lowest cost, some plants / groundcover plantings will thrive with or without mulch. weed problems may occur without close watch, fertilization needed)
Set K: LANDSCAPE EDGING: Rock edging (longest life, high materials cost, medium labor cost, most attractive, natural appearance, native Kansas limestone is recommended, available in whitish gray or rustic beige)Steel edging (long life, medium material and labor cost, attractive, simple, formal appearance)No edging (lowest initial cost, clean look, easiest to mow next to, must be redefined yearly)
Set L: ACCENT LANDSCAPE ROCKS / BOULDERS: Incorporate natural rock into the landscape (higher cost, most attractive, natural appearance)No accent rocks (lowest cost, may seem barren in winter, can always be added later)
Set M: DRAINAGE ISSUES: Estimate underground french drain pipe, attach to gutter downspouts (higher cost, prevents erosion and bed wash-out if heavy rain occurs before bed is established, solves drainage problems)Estimate splash blocks or flat stones under downspouts (low cost, reduces erosion & wash-out)No drainage structures (lowest cost, may have erosion and wash-out problems in the future)
- Do you have a rough idea of your budget?
We provide two options for you to consider before hiring us to design a landscape. We do not want to under or over budget your landscape design. We want you to have an idea of what you will be investing in your landscape. We normally will need to design a landscape based on your needs in order to determine an accurate budget. From that point, we can revise the design, separate the project into phases, add work to a project, or give you options. Answer "no" to the next question if you want us to propose a cost of what will be required to beautify your landscape.
