Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We provide a range of services, including Hardscape Design, Planting Design, and Landscape Project Management.

We primarily work in Jacksonville and St. Johns County, Florida. Meetings to review your design concepts and final design are typically held either online through video conference or locally.

David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture and a minor in Horticulture; therefore, our focus is on landscape design and maximizing the opportunities of each site. We specialize in sustainable and ecologically responsible residential landscape design. We enjoy working with homeowners and contractors throughout the process, from design to installation, to create beautiful and sustainable spaces that feel like an extension of your home. We can work with you to design and renovate an existing landscape or to build one from a blank slate.

We do not provide bids or quotes for elements that you want installed in your landscape that we did not design. If you don’t need a design and are only looking to obtain a price for a new lawn, retaining wall, drainage system, or fence, it’s better to contact a landscape contractor directly.

As a broad generalization, Landscape Architects have greater expertise, understanding, and training in hardscape and complex grading and drainage. Landscape Architects tend to focus more on large commercial and municipal projects. Landscape Designers typically only provide design services for residential landscape projects. We focus primarily on residential projects but occasionally take on commercial projects throughout the year if they are a good fit.

Due to our workload, we can only schedule a limited number of consultations. These appointments are scheduled only after we have spoken with you on the phone and determined that we would be a good fit for your project. Our consultations usually last 1-1.5 hours and are free. However, our time on the phone is the best opportunity to ask us questions to determine if we are the right fit for you.

A good landscape design can transform a property you dread into a space you love by increasing the ‘usable living area’ of your property. If you have great beds and hardscape but need to refresh the plant palette, a planting plan design may be all you need. If you need to renovate and refresh your property, a professional landscape design will ensure your investment is well thought out and best suited to you and your family.

Landscaping can be a considerable investment that adds value to your property. Because every project is unique, it’s challenging to provide an average cost for a landscape design. Designs for small properties can require just as much time and effort as those for larger properties, due to the need to maximize every inch of space. Our designs for a Landscape Masterplan typically start at around $2,500 and increase based on the project’s scope and desired amenities.

The design process (which includes an initial consultation, a concept plan meeting, and the final design presentation) can be completed in 6-8 weeks, depending on the season and the complexity of the design. In the spring and summer, times increase as we get busier.

Choosing a landscape designer can be difficult. Choose a person or company with whom you feel you can identify in terms of their style, process, and personality. Then, talk to that person and ensure they listen to you and understand your needs. A good design should be a merging of your landscape designer’s expertise and eye, along with your needs, wants, and available resources. Your landscape is an extension of your home and a reflection of your style, and you should enjoy it to the fullest.

A landscape design is a wise investment, but installing the entire design at once can be costly. Creating the design as a whole at once is the wisest choice to ensure a cohesive design and vision for the project as it progresses. This landscape master plan can then be sectioned out into phases that can be installed in smaller portions as the budget allows. The installation of the entire master plan may take anywhere from 1 year to 5 years or more, depending on the length of your wish list.

We spend a considerable amount of time getting to know you, learning about your goals and desires (We ask a lot of questions!), and include you as an integral part of the landscape design process. We want the final landscape design to be unique to you and your space, unlike any other property. In most instances, we will ask you to fill out a detailed landscape questionnaire to get to know you better. The answers you provide help us ensure you not only like, but also love, your new design.

We work on projects that range from small city lots to several-acre sites. We do our best work when we can design an entire space holistically, considering the site’s opportunities and constraints. We integrate the opportunities of your site with your personal style, lifestyle, and budget, and develop creative solutions to maximize the beauty and functionality of your space. We may not be the best fit for you if you’re looking to design only a small portion of your property or have a limited budget.

Whether you want to keep your favorite hydrangea in your new design or reuse all those junipers, we can work with you to create a design that best suits your needs. We can reuse existing plant material in the new design. Just tell us what you love (and don’t love) about your landscape, and we will work with you to decide the best way to reach your goals.

We go to extraordinary measures to design a landscaping plan that fits your needs. You can choose to install all or part of your landscaping plan yourself. Once we hand over the final design, you may do with it as you wish. Landscaping can be backbreaking work, best left to the professionals, but it can also be incredibly gratifying to complete small projects on your own. We are here to help guide you to find the best solution for you. We can advise on which types of projects are best suited for hiring a contractor and which kinds you may be able to tackle yourself. Either way, we can help you create a master plan to guide you or a contractor in the installation.

The cost to install your landscape design will vary significantly depending on several factors, including the project’s size and the materials you select. The projects we design typically range from $30,000 to $100,000, though we also work on smaller and larger projects. One comes to mind that was 17 million! We can work with you to divide your project into phases and obtain bids, allowing you to compare costs, contractors, and material options.

A newly installed landscape will require regular watering while it establishes over the first 2-3 years. Even after that, you may need to supplement water occasionally during our driest periods in Northern Florida, from November through February. You can stay on top of the timing of other property tasks, such as pruning and mulching, by following the landscape maintenance cheat sheet we provide at the end of all our projects.

If, after our first consultation, you are ready to move forward, in most cases (pending unforeseen circumstances, such as acts of Mother Nature or a Hurricane), we can begin work immediately once we receive a topographic survey and typically have concepts ready to review within 3-4 weeks.

We understand that with work and busy schedules, it may be difficult to meet during regular business hours. However, given our demanding schedule and the time and energy we invest in our work, it is equally important to spend time with our family and friends and recharge our creative energy. For this reason, we do not work on the weekends or evenings. Our latest appointment is typically at 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday; however, we have occasionally made exceptions to accommodate later meetings.