How to Find the Best Landscape Architecture Firms
for Your Landscape

What Can Landscape Architecture Firms Do For Your Home and Garden?

If you've ever admired a beautifully landscaped property and compared it to your own somewhat boring lawn and garden, you may wonder just what you can do to elevate your own landscape. One of the most important elements of beautiful landscape design is the hardscaping that gives the landscape form and function.

Excellent landscape architecture firms can help you develop a hardscape and landscape design that will transform your property from a boring yard to an attractive and functional space.

Kinnucan - landscape architecture firms use hardscape and landscape to make your backyard look amazing - backayard with landscape design done by Kinnucan Tree Experts, one of top landscape architecture firms in the North Shore.

How a Landscape Construction Company Can Help Transform Your Landscape

A great home landscape is beautiful, improves your home's curb appeal, and stretches your living space outside. Landscape design and hardscape work together to achieve your landscape goals.

The Difference Between Landscape and Hardscape

Stated as simply as possible, landscaping is composed of planting arrangements and other more temporary aspects of the landscape, while hardscaping is made up of relatively permanent structures. The hardscape and landscape should complement one another.

In general, hardscape is usually planned out and put into place and then landscaping is shaped around it. For instance, a hardscape patio or path may be installed and then lawn or ground cover planted around it.

Here is How Hardscape and Landscape Work Together to Create a Beautiful Space for Your Home and Garden

  • Define lines. Lines are an essential aspect of landscape design. Lines determine how your eye moves through a space and form the shapes that define your landscape. Hardscaping is one of the best ways to create effective lines. Horizontal lines can be created where patios or paths meet ground cover, lawn, or flower beds. Vertical lines can be created using structures like trellises, pergolas, or arbors.
  • Increase functionality. If you're not spending time living in your landscape, then your landscape is not working for you as it should be. A well-maintained lawn provides somewhere for you to play games or enjoy a picnic on a nice day. Paths encourage you and your guests to stroll through your property instead of just looking at it from a window. Together, hardscape and landscape increase the functionality of your spaces.
  • Create living spaces. If your concept of cooking outside is dragging a grill onto the patio, then you haven't tapped into the full possibilities of hardscape. Outdoor kitchens or fireplaces encourage you to spend much more time outside and make outdoor spaces as functional as indoor spaces. An outdoor kitchen paired with a beautiful herb or vegetable garden can give you the unique experience of harvesting your dinner and cooking it, all in the same beautiful space.

How to Decide What You Want From Your Landscape and Hardscape

You may know that you want more from your outdoor spaces, but are having a hard time deciding exactly what you need. It can be very difficult to visualize the changes that are possible, especially if you've been living with your current landscaping or lack of landscaping for some time. Here are some steps to help you determine what you want so that you can decide which landscape construction company can meet your goals.

  1. Take time to dream. The best way to find what you want in your landscape is to ask yourself, “What do I love about landscapes and hardscapes near me?” Drive around through your neighborhood and find what appeals most to you. Do you love the soothing sound of trickling water and the wildlife that a pond or creek can bring to your yard? Are you a chef who would adore the opportunity to cook outside in an outdoor kitchen? Perhaps you live in a cold climate and would appreciate an outdoor fireplace that could draw you outside even on cold days. Whatever appeals to you, jot it down on a list and don't be afraid to dream big.
  2. Prioritize your goals. Once you have a long list of things that you would have in your ideal landscape, organize them around the things that you want most. This will help you to plan and budget as you go forward. It will also help you to see where potential goals may need to be adjusted. For instance, if you want a big area of grass to play ball in your backyard but also love the look of paths trailing through lush plants, you may need to choose between them if you are working with limited space.
  3. Roughly plan out your landscape. The landscape construction company that you choose will be able to help you plan out a landscape design that looks great, but it's a good idea to do some organizing yourself before you talk to the landscaper. That way, you will already have a sense of the limitations of your landscape and what you want. Planning will also help you to prioritize what you really need in a space. Perhaps you've been dreaming about a large pond, but when planning, you realize that you really don't want to sacrifice the room for it, so you may decide on a smaller pond with a large waterfall feature instead.
  4. Choose some materials. Do you love the look of natural stone? How about the classic appearance of brick? Perhaps there are certain types of ground cover that you absolutely adore, like the sophisticated appearance of English ivy or the miniature mountainous landscape created by crawling Juniper. Your landscape construction company will be able to tell you which plants will work best for your landscape, but by looking at what is working well in your neighbor's landscapes you can help to determine which kinds of plants you like the best.
  5. Discuss your goals with landscape architecture firms. A great landscape construction company will be happy to talk with you about your goals, walk through your landscape, and present you with a plan and quote. It's not a bad idea to choose a couple of landscape architecture firms so that you can get different quotes and different ideas. Be understanding about any impossibilities about your goals, but don't budge on the things that really matter to you.
Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landcape Company - landscape architecture firms can build a rock wall and other hardscape projects.

How to Choose Between Landscape Architecture Firms

It can be challenging to decide which landscape architecture firm will be best for you. If you're also thinking about someone to help you maintain your landscape after it is built, you have a long-term important decision on your hands. The best way to pick a great landscape architecture firm is to interview several and get quotes so that you can compare plans and see which company you feel the most connected to. Here are a few things to look for to help you decide.

  • Experienced in your area. Just because a landscape architecture firm has done a lot of good work doesn't mean that they understand the particular needs and growing conditions of your landscape. Look for a company that has done beautiful work that has lasted over the years in your area.
  • Cares about your input. The landscape architecture firm that you choose should be interested in walking through your property with you and hearing your input. They should carefully consider the designs that you've drawn out and the plants and hardscape that you want. While they probably won't be able to do everything that you are dreaming of, they should be dedicated to creating a landscape that is as close to your dream landscape as possible.
  • Offers alternatives. If you're hearing lots of “no,” and very little “we can make it work,” then your landscape company isn't working hard enough for you. Some of your requests will doubtless be unrealistic, but a company should be able to explain why certain things won't work and be willing to try hard to offer a desirable alternative. For instance, if you have your heart set on a plant that you've seen in the neighbor's yard, but the landscape company tells you that your yard does not have the same sort of soil so that plant is unlikely to work, they should be able to offer you a viable alternative that has many of the features of the plant that you love.
  • Provides ongoing care. Whether you want your landscapes to be maintained professionally year-round or you're just considering care for over a holiday when you're away or during heavy maintenance periods such as when trees need to be trimmed, it's a great idea to choose a landscape construction company that can also care for the landscape that they install.

Choose Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscape Company as Your Landscape Architecture Firm

Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscape Company has been installing gorgeous landscapes for over 40 years. They can create beautiful hardscapes including patios and paths as well as more complicated hardscapes like outdoor kitchens and fireplaces. They are also highly experienced in landscaping and know just what kind of plants work well In your area. Kinnucan is dedicated to customer service and they will work hard to give you a landscape and hardscape that meets your needs while being honest with you about which of your goals are realistic and which may need to become more flexible.