The Consultation Process
Initial Consultation
Consultation Fees
The Consultation Process
Hello, I am
Elaine Hutson,
and most of the pictures you see on my web page are of my garden. This garden is
27 years old, and is constantly changing for the better; this is true of any well-designed
garden. Gardens take time to mature, unless you are doing perennials and roses.
The gardens I design have year around interest, even if it is in a small suburban
lot. The pictures of my customer's garden are anywhere from three to six years.
In order to design a beautiful garden, you have to have a thorough knowledge of
plants. For example:
- Does it like the sun
or shade?
- Will it look nice on a flat piece of land or on a berm?
- How tall and wide does it get?
- What form does it have?
- How will it fit in the color scheme?
- Will it look nice after it finishes blooming?
In the case of perennials, some of the questions you would ask are:
- How long does it bloom?
- Is it weedy?
- Does it need to be divided every three years?
About maintenance:
- How involved do you want to be?
- Do you want to learn how to take care of your garden?
- Do you want something nice looking with minimal care?
A garden is a work of art, and all my customers get a custom design, whether it
is formal or informal.
Initial consultation includes:
- Assessment of soil & needed amendments
- Assessment of sun & shade exposure on property
- Consideration of design & scale of landscape in relation to style of house
- Measurements of garden beds and layouts of lawn and/or ground covers
- Collaboration with customer for choices of colors and any plant preferences
- Recommendations for hardscapes and artwork
- Lifestyle customization in regards to maintenance committment
- Recommendations for do-it-yourselfers for soil ammendments, soil nutrients, pruning,
etc.
- Discuss of budget for single or multi-phased landscaping schedule
- Plants purchased and delivered by Landscapes in Living Color and placed in appropriate
location per established design layout. Consultation provided to landscaper/customer
for planting requirements for each plant as well as the care of each plant such
as pruning, liming, and fertilization.
- Follow up consultation recommended in spring and fall for assistance with maintaining
landscape successfully.
Consultation Fee:
$55 per hour. Work with any budgets/phases. "You will not have to adopt me!"
Initial consulation charges will include drive time to your residence or business
(one-way).
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