Landscape Design, Installation and Maintenance Services in Houston    What can a Residential Landscape Design and Build Company do for you? Landscaping Businesses offer a full range of services including consultation, landscape design, installation and landscape maintenance. Landscape design and build companies usually specialize in one or more areas and subcontract related installation elements such as outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, outdoor water fountains, other outdoor structures, and landscape lighting. The Steps to Get Your Landscape Design Started When contemplating hiring a landscape design company, you typically begin with an initial discovery meeting with them where you have an opportunity to discuss the overall intent, program elements, the garden design approach, the overall aesthetics, and your personal landscape ideas, needs, likes and dislikes. The next meeting may include landscape designs, landscape planting plans, permitting issues and cost studies. In providing landscape services, a good professional should work diligently and patiently to help you define the scope of your outdoor project, project phasing, scheduling, coordination, selection of all materials and construction methods, and final budget. Once you have approved the scope of the work, the landscape design and estimates, your residential landscape company is ready to begin installation. As mentioned earlier, many landscape design build companies act as a landscape contractors and oversee the entire installation of drainage systems, irrigation systems and hardscape elements. The fee for this service is usually charged as a percentage on top of the total cost of the work to cover project administration and project management. During the landscape installation phase, the landscape design build company will usually include all plant material, irrigation and drainage systems, and landscape lighting installation in their contract. Once the irrigation and lighting contractors finish their work, the planting can be completed by putting in all shrubs, groundcover, and seasonal color. After this step, mulching and cleanup commence. The irrigation and lighting subcontractors then return for final adjustments and the installation is complete. It is during the installation that the importance of tree preservation and tree protection must be emphasized. Careful pre-construction activities include protective tree fencing, borer applications on sensitive trees, temporary drainage and elevated walks to protect tree roots. Proper grading and soil preparation around large trees is another delicate issue. The foresight to understand the impact of changing grades on mature trees is crucial, so make sure your landscape design company is well versed in this area of expertise. The Finally - Landscape Maintenance Finally, landscape maintenance is one of the most important ongoing services to insure that your garden design develops into a mature and beautiful outdoor environment. Whether its residential landscape maintenance or commercial landscape maintenance, contracts include proper trimming of plant material and mowing of all lawn areas. Landscape service companies should have a methodical feeding program that boosts the varying plant health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants. The feeding program may also include spring and fall lawn aeration of lawn areas with the application of fall rye grass. Water management through continual inspection of the irrigation controller, heads, and seasonal watering times is the foundation for lawn, shrub and tree health. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of a complete and continually proactive maintenance program. A Word to the Wise Regarding Landscape Contractors It should be noted that some homeowners want to act as general contractors for their landscaping projects in order to save money. Unfortunately, this choice can lead to some real problems. Confusions can arise from the misunderstanding of trade terminology, scheduling and coordination issues, unique job peculiarities due to selection of materials, installation techniques, material availability and construction methods employed. A subcontractor will respond much better to a seasoned general contractor who understands the work to be performed and with whom they have a good relationship based on past experience. The best landscape design companies in Houston have years of experience to make sure the end results exceed your expectations. The Art of Communication Are you hiring a residential landscape company or professional landscaper for your Houston home? If so, there should be good understanding, communication and comfort level between you and the firm you hire. Remember, your attention to detail and expectations of the entire process are crucial in determining which landscape service company to hire for your outdoor project. If you are interested in any high-end landscape services, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high quality residential landscape services and garden design services discussed above for the Memorial villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunters Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987.