Landscaping in Troy, Michigan

 

 

 

 

Landscaping in Birmingham, Michigan

 

Landscaping in Highland, Michigan

Landscaping in Franklin Michigan

Photos of a recent project we completed in Franklin, Michigan. Bob Porter designed this wonderful backyard oasis.

Special Kudos to our foreman, Chad King, on his exceptional work building this beautiful pond!!

 

 

 

 

 

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!!!

Landscaping in Royal Oak, Michigan

These photos were taken by Mark Kelly of a project we recently completed in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Before Photos:

    

 

After: 

 

      

     

   

Landscaping in Ortonville, Michigan

We did this job last fall, but the photos we just took.

Side of the house brick walk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side of the house brick walk

Stone step in walk

Landscaping in Oxford, Michigan

    

 

We just completed this fire pit with a sitting wall in Oxford, Michigan.  The customer also chose to install outdoor lighting underneath the seat and each pier will get one light facing the patio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patio Before

The inlay was added to enhance an existing patio. Enhancing existing elements is one way to spruce up your landscape while containing costs in a tight economy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fire pit is perfect for entertaining, night and day.

 

Can you imagine having the family and friends over, the kids are

roasting marshmallows (with adult assistance) and the adults are enjoying good food and conversation.

Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful staycation?

 

Ornamental Grass

I use all types and varieties of ornamental grass in my projects, but am particularly fond of Little Bunny, a wonderful plant. 
This is a small grass growing to around a foot tall with a spread of between one and two feet. The light, airy flower plumes appear between August and October and are whitish green in color. This grass variety requires very little maintenance, has few, if any, pest issues and is highly adaptable, being used in rock gardens, borders and a wide variety of other landscape features.  

Ornamental grass in front of custom stone bench

Pieris japonica

I like this plant for its shape, but also for its growth habit. The Pieris japonica is always interesting at a number of different times between fall and summer. The flower buds develop in late fall, covering much of the plant until early spring, when the bell shaped flowers bloom, open hanging down. The beautiful cascading flowers, which can be white, pink or red, are followed by an explosive growth of colorful new red foliage, then as the new evergreen leaves mature, they turn a bright dark green. The pieris japonica can grow as high as ten feet, unless it is pruned regularly.

Pieris japonica