How to Prepare For a Landscape Renovation

July 29, 2024

By Diana Elizabeth Steffen

Landscape design can sometimes be overlooked and placed on the back burner in terms of overall home design, but it is a key element in making your home stand out on the block, brightening a street or area, and creating a beautiful front or back yard space that you are proud to show off and use! Just imagine all the entertaining or admiring glances you'll receive once you complete your landscape renovation!

My husband and I have undergone not one, but technically three landscape renovations. We started with a brand new driveway design for our front yard, then we created a kitchen garden for an unused front yard space, and finally, we tackled the backyard. I can definitely say that I have firsthand experience with the landscape renovation process, and I'm here to give you some steps on how to get started with your landscape renovation and some helpful tips!

BEFORE

AFTER

Once you have a budget saved up/in mind, here is a general outline for planning a landscape renovation:

Head to Pinterest to find landscape ideas and pin it to a board
Find a local landscape designer and share your Pinterest ideas
Ensure your plan includes landscape lighting even if you aren’t planning on doing it just yet – you will want to prepare for this before hardscape goes in (more in the blog post)
Head to a local nursery to ensure the plants in the design work well in the spot, zone and shade
Hire a project manager to monitor the project (your landscape designer can do it), or hire and schedule the tradesmen yourself as we did.

1- Create a Pinterest board for landscape ideas

Start by creating a Pinterest board with landscape ideas. Pin photos and make notes about what you like in each picture to share with your landscape designer. Take a look at my backyard and patio boards for more ideas: Patios and Porches, and Backyard and Garden.

2 - Find a local landscape designer

Look for a local landscape designer. You can reach out to a local interior designer whose style you like, as they may also offer landscape design services or can recommend someone suitable. The designer will visit your property to take measurements and discuss your preferences. You can also call nurseries and they will have a list of their preferred landscape designers and sometimes landscape lighting installers as well.

3 - Plan for landscape lighting

Plan for landscape lighting in your design, even if it's just a rough plan. This will help you understand where to place flood lights, path lights, or under-bench lights. Keep in mind that wires will need to be installed under hardscape to reach other areas and light up trees, so plan accordingly.

Even if you don't plan to spend money on lighting right now, it's a good idea to at least have a plan for it. This means that when you're designing and starting to build something permanent, you should still plan for lighting. Consider installing plastic pipes underneath your sidewalks or porches so that the wires have a clear path to cross paths or obstacles when you do decide to add the lights. I purchased our lights from VOLT Lighting and hired an electrician to install them when we were ready.

4 - Check with a nursery that the plants will survive

Once the hardscape and lighting pipes are installed, you should place an order with a nursery for the trees and plants for your project. Although your landscape designer should have an idea of what will look good, it's a good idea to get a second opinion. Arrange to meet with an expert at the nursery to review the plants and trees. They can confirm the placement and suggest alternatives if necessary. Consider plants with different colors and lower maintenance requirements.

5 - Hire a project manager or you be the manager

Consider hiring a project manager or taking on the role yourself. Your landscape designer might provide project management services and select the tradespeople for the job, typically adding a fee of about 10% to the project budget for this service. It can be beneficial to have a single point of contact to communicate your needs and any changes, or if you want someone to handle issues and deliver bad news if anything goes wrong.

Here are some additional tips to consider when planning your landscape design:

If you are okay with an increase in your water bill.
If you want to reduce lawn maintenance by incorporating artificial turf or drought-tolerant plants.
Identify areas where shade is needed on your property.
Consider bringing light towards the street if you live on a dark street.
Learn about the warranty provided by the nursery for the plants you choose.
Envision seating areas and plan for how you will entertain and spend time in your outdoor space.
Ensure there is a focal point from inside your home, such as a beautiful fountain or sitting area.

Conclusion

With proper planning and a talented landscape designer, you can create the landscape of your dreams. This will not only impress your neighbors with your curb appeal, but also illuminate your street and walkways. Additionally, you'll have an entertaining space where friends will want to hang out instead of going out! Once you're finished with the landscaping, it will be time to visit Paddy O’ Furniture and provide them with the dimensions of your spaces so they can help furnish your outdoor oasis.

Diana Elizabeth Steffen is a Phoenix-based photographer and blogger at dianaelizabethblog.com, where she shares her home and garden projects with her camera in hand!