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ON THE GARDEN PATH Building professionals offer advice on how to choose the contractor or construction company that is right for you

Gaze out at your green space, and you may see a mix of problems or an array of possibilities. You yearn for a swimming pool, a Zen rock garden or a waterfall to call your own. You dream of wildflowers, cherry blossoms or an outdoor place to entertain. But you can’t do it on your own—you need help. Whom do you call? A landscape architect, a landscape designer or a garden planner? We spoke with a few local pros to get you started.

Left: courtesy of Exteriorscapes; right: courtesy of Classic Nursery

Who Does What According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, “Landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management and stewardship of the natural and built environments.” The term dates to 1863, when Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed New York’s Central Park. Today, landscape architects offer expertise in planning, design and land-use management. They design the arrangement of pools, walls, steps, trellises, canopies—the hard elements of your outdoor space—bringing the house and natural areas into harmony. Landscape architect Alan Burke, who owns Redmond’s Classic Nursery & Landscape Co., defines landscape architecture as “the professional and creative design of outdoor spaces.” He explains, “A landscape architecture student is learning not only planting design, but grading, drainage, lighting, irrigation, construction methodology and hydrology.” A graduate of the University of Florida, Burke says many of those subjects are also covered in well-regarded landscape-design programs and horticultural-degree programs offered by community colleges. “I have people on my staff who have landscape-architecture degrees and some who have landscape-design degrees, and in some instances you can’t tell the difference,” he says. Nancy Evans, a landscape designer with Exteriorscapes in Seattle, says many designers are drawn to the field by an attraction to the artistic potential of plants. “It’s like an artist with their color palette: How can we create a beautiful landscape with these plants?” Chris Clarke, executive director of the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals, says a landscape architect typically earns a four-year bachelor's degree, followed by three years of practical experience before passing a written exam to receive a license. A landscape architect can also earn a master's degree. “A landscape designer can do much of the same type of work, depending on their own degree of expertise, as long as they are not calling themselves a landscape architect,” Clarke says. Finding The Right Pro Across the board, landscape professionals say vetting candidates for a job means rigorous research to find someone qualified for both dimensions of the outdoor environment: the plants (including varieties of perennials and annuals) and the construction (including building issues and permitting processes). “It’s critical that people do that kind of homework so they know they are choosing someone who’s capable of designing a beautiful new garden for them but [is] also capable of doing that correctly,” says landscape designer Chip Ragen, president of Ragen & Associates. As homeowners pursue the hiring path, they may find the prestige associated with a landscape architect’s advanced degree translates into higher costs (often as much as $80 or $120 per hour). Classic Nursery’s Burke says budget-conscious clients may find some advantages in choosing a design- build firm. “If you are working with a landscape architect or designer, their income is derived solely from design work and sometimes supervision of the contractor,” he explains, suggesting that homeowners ask about fee structures. Although an experienced landscape architect’s hourly rate may be two or three times that of a landscape designer, he or she might spend less time on a comparable job. Burke says buying the design and installation together can give homeowners greater flexibility to change the design plan and may offer greater value. He suggests homeowners ask themselves what part of their investment is most important—is it the design plans, construction supervision or other services? Many landscape-design firms incorporate the services of a landscape architect when necessary. Design-build firm Ragen & Associates brings in a landscape architect for required architectural drawings, such as for retaining walls, poured-concrete patios, stairways or terraces. “A landscape designer is typically appropriate when the customer already has the hardscape existing in the garden but wants help with a new design that entails plantings,” Ragen says. “This is not to say that experienced landscape designers aren’t capable of creating elaborate new landscape designs that include hardscapes, but any given municipality may require the involvement of a landscape architect for some element of those designs.” Making Goals Happen Landscape professionals emphasize that skills and strengths vary among individual landscape architects and landscape designers. Both pros can help homeowners re-imagine the possibilities for their slice of the outdoors. Exteriorscapes’ Evans believes the overall fit between client and firm is more important than trying to decide between job titles. “I don’t think you necessarily pick one or the other. It’s what your goals are and what’s going to make those goals come true,” she says.

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