Things You'll Need:
- Garden Hoses
- Garden Rakes
- Garden Shears
- Garden Spades
- Garden Trowels
- Gardening Gloves
- Hoes
- Gardening Magazines
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Step 1
Look for a landscape architect who is experienced in the kind of residential design that you are seeking. Landscape architecture encompasses a wide range of activities, from planning new regional park systems to designing stone garden urns, and most professionals specialize. Make sure yours has a track record with projects of the same scale as yours.
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Step 2
Ask friends and neighbors to recommend a landscape architect. Make sure you get details about why they recommend this person. If you are looking for planting expertise, a landscape architect with a great talent for designing swimming pools might not be for you.
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Step 3
Know the difference between landscape architects and other related service providers. Landscape designers, garden consultants and master gardeners can advise you in their areas of expertise, but make sure that they have experience in construction oversight, local regulations, site engineering and building techniques - and make sure that they have professional liability insurance if you need these services and assurances.
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Step 4
Hire only as much expertise as you need. If you want only a planting plan for your existing flower bed, a master gardener might give you better value. If you don't know what you need, hire a landscape architect to help you find out.
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Step 5
Check with your state's American Society of Landscape Architects chapter and look in design magazines for names of designers.
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Step 6
Interview a few landscape architects on the phone. Ask whether you can see examples of their work to ensure that you like their style. You can ask to see a brochure or portfolio, ask whether they have any projects published in magazines or books, or see whether they can direct you to finished projects that you might visit.
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Step 7
Invite promising designers to come to your property to give you an estimate.
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Step 8
Establish a clear understanding of what you expect from a landscape architect and make sure you communicate this to those you interview. Choose someone with whom you can communicate easily.
