New Testimonial

Would you recommend Landscape Artisan, LLC to a friend or colleague? Yes

Describe Your Experience with Landscape Artisan, LLC:
“Price was significantly lower than competition. Work was done professionally as promised and completed on time. Completed patio project made my wife proud. I would definitely do business with this company again.” Southfield, Michigan

Thank you to our clients!!!

The Baby Bird Update

Bob took the baby bird to a songbird rehabilitator and she will raise it and release it.

It is a male Cardinal, almost a fledgling and in very good health.

Landscape Artisan gave Teresa a donation as she cares for many injured and orphaned song birds.

Our New Mascot- Elle Aye

Yesterday, we purchased a spruce tree at John Deere Landscape nursery in Armada Michigan to plant at a client’s house in Southfield. Inside the spruce tree, we found out later at the job site, was a bird nest with a nestling in it. Bob brought the nest home and we are raising the baby bird.

We are feeding this nestling every 15 to 30 minutes — chopped up earthworm, mealy worms, bits of raspberries, and soaked-in-water dry dog food.

It makes a funny squeaking sound when hungry. It did sleep through the night.

We are calling it Elle Aye.

Why Should A Homeowner Pay For A Landscape Design/Plan?

The design for a landscape is a valuable product. The value can be measured in many ways.

• The designer spent time studying what plants grow in the soil and the exposure of the project.
• The designer knows how different plant material grows and works with other plants. Some plants are toxic to each other and should be placed correctly. Designers know how big plant material will grow, etc.
• The designer knows that color plays a key role and how a landscape can accent or contrast a house.
• The designer takes into consideration the location and shape of patios, walks, fire pits and outdoor living areas.

Landscape designers will take the guess work out of a landscape. These plans will (or should) give clear steps in the process to completion of the project. The plan will explain what should be installed and in what order.

Most people phase their landscape project over the course of several years. A plan will tell the homeowner where to start and where not to. No homeowner wants to build a patio that then must be altered or moved to continue with the overall design and look the homeowner desires.

Remember that no landscape company gives free designs. The homeowner is paying for the design somewhere in the bid process unless the homeowner has purchased the design outright. The cost of purchasing a design will depend upon the size of your project, the project’s complexity and the designer hired. The design is a worthy investment for any home, much like the investment in the building plans.

Here at Landscape Artisan, we only charge for the drawing when a homeowner wishes to keep it. Or when a homeowner wants to DIY their project and hires us to design. Otherwise, the design is covered through our overhead. The average design with completed drawing takes approximately four to eight hours, depending on its complexity and scope. Our designer spends a minimum of two hours on any project that involves design in any way. This includes the development of the concept, laying out of the concept and pricing and locating materials.

Smaller projects will get what Bob calls a “napkin sketch” : a sketched out drawing of the concept. Smaller may mean less complexity rather than size. Larger projects “go on the board” and are drawn on vellum paper according to the measurements of the project and with specifications for project completion. This is when Bob pulls out all of his catalogues and reference books and materials and his reading glasses and really thinks about what will meet the homeowner’s needs and transform their space. He will sit there for sometimes a very long time, watching a Tigers game and drawing then erasing then drawing again and asking for research into this or that on the computer. For instance, prices on stone posts or ways to reduce highway noise.

Since we expect a homeowner’s input, we expect that revisions will be made to the original design and we look forward to that process. Bob will bring the drawing “back to the board” and revisions can include working on ways to make the project happen within a certain budget.

Don’t feel sorry for Bob though- he loves what he does!!!