Six Tips for a Successful Landscaping Project

We all know that hurrying can sometimes lead us to make the wrong choices. Fortunately, you can’t be in a hurry when it comes to your landscaping project. As much as we’d like to enjoy it already, the project will only come to life once your planning is complete.

To get started, make an appointment with your landscape architect/designer to measure, design, and draft plans. Some even offer a 3D plan design service. Then, book your landscape contractor without delay because, in some sectors, contractors are booked several weeks in advance.

Take the time to define your personal tastes. Flip through magazines, surf the web, or check out Pinterest. Allow yourself to dream! We also suggest you put together a folder of your inspirations and present it to your landscape architect/designer. That way, they will quickly know what to suggest to meet your expectations.

Think about your needs and those of your family:

• Do you cook outdoors?
• How many people occupy the space? What are each person’s occupations in this space?
• Do you occupy the space during the day or evening?
• Do you host parties with many guests?
• Do you have young children? Do you need storage space?

Defining a realistic budget is crucial. And your needs and tastes must be consistent with it. Your landscape architect/designer will be able to offer you advice and alternatives to find the right balance between your dream and your budget.

Here’s an excerpt from an article by Alexandra Perron in Le Soleil that perfectly summarizes the importance of having plans produced by a professional: “While it may seem expensive to invest in a landscaping plan that includes paving, it’s well worth it, [. . .] It will pay for itself quickly by avoiding site errors or achievements that aren’t the image of what the customer wanted.”

But she points out that free plans “don’t exist anymore” and that those sold at very low prices “are rarely a good idea.” According to her, a plan for a complete lot can easily reach $2,500.

What’s more, these plans enable you to obtain bids from the parties involved in your project and to get approval from the city to start working.

It is your responsibility to validate the colors and appearance of the products that the landscape architect/designer suggests in their plans. We recommend that you verify the colors on actual samples, ideally in the environment where they will be used. You can ask your retailer to lend you a range of samples. If this isn’t possible, ask if you can visit their showroom.

Tip: Avoid choosing a material and its color from a screen. What you see on a cell phone, tablet, or computer screen can differ from the actual colors. Touching the material ensures that you also like its texture and finish.

Surrounding yourself with a team of landscaping professionals is essential. Although you may have manual skills, remember that professionals know all the intricacies of their field. They’re there to save you the trouble.

They carry out the work in accordance with current standards and regulations. In addition, they make sure that all materials are installed in compliance with manufacturers’ warranties.

You don’t have to carry out your entire project at once. You can work in phases, spreading out the costs. You can also think about a space that will evolve at the same pace as your family. For example, the play area could eventually become a spa area. The teenagers’ fire pit could become your garden area or lounge.

We hope these tips will help you get started on your landscaping project with confidence!