Why Do I Need A Landscape Plan?

Large-scale landscape projects and complicated hardscaping and water feature installs, benefit from a professionally prepared landscape plan. Have you ever done something and realized later that those actions had unintended consequences? Improving outcomes is a core benefit of planning. Most people don’t have the equipment or horticultural and regulatory knowledge to undertake large-scale landscaping projects successfully. Merely hanging a plant from your favorite nursery or installing a few pavers does not require an extensive landscape plan. Landscape designers have training and experience in multiple disciplines including horticulture, environmental science, engineering, and art. It is less expensive to do it right the first time with a properly prepared and implemented landscape plan.

For the do-it-yourself landscaper, the University of Florida provides helpful design tips to consider when making your landscape plan.

As landscape plans become larger and more complicated, you may want to hire a professional firm to develop and implement the landscape plan. “Here at Earth Works our landscape plans are all-inclusive”, Jarred Taylor, Lead Landscape Designer said. “So our landscapes will include plants, hardscapes, ponds, water features, irrigation, and drainage. One of the benefits of going with Earth Works is the fact that we have the capability of doing the install ourselves.” Some landscape designers strictly provide the drawing that requires you do-it-yourself or seek another contractor that may or may not acquire the materials and install them as needed per the plan. Headaches and finger-pointing can occur when a third party is involved in implementing the landscape plan.

Earth Works schedules landscape design consultations where your designer meets with you to listen to your ideas and do a site inspection. The designer, with in-depth knowledge of the plants, hardscaping and water feature materials, and engineering and regulator considerations, prepares the landscape plan design drawing. Earth Works also provides a video describing what to expect when you schedule a landscape consultation and how to prepare for it.

Taylor noted that for landscape design drawings he creates, they only include plants and materials available and proper for use in that particular environment that meet code and regulatory requirements. “Here at Earth Works we have a collective understanding of a lot of the different Homeowners Associations (HOA), Architectural Review Boards (ARB), and the different municipalities here in Northeast Florida,” Taylor said. He further emphasized the value a properly prepared landscape plan has that adheres to permeability, setback lines, and a litany of regulatory compliance issues before presenting your proposed design to HOAs and ARBs.

“Here at Earth Works we pride ourselves on being able to provide a beautiful outdoor living space to any homeowner who wants it,” Taylor said. “And just really working with them to give them their dreams as their ideas come to life in a beautiful and cohesive landscape that is going to last for years.” Taylor concluded, “If this is something you are interested in feel free to reach out to Earth Works call in at the garden center or fill out the contact form online.”

And remember that for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.