As usual, The Garden Guys had an interesting and useful show this morning on WHJJ (920AM) from 8am to 10am. One topic they discussed was how to make the most of professional landscaping services, a great topic for contemplation in January, especially this January when you can not only see the ground, but plants are still visible (my chrysanthemums have started growing again, by the way). Here is their list of questions to think about, pretty much verbatim:
- What existing plants do you like/dislike on your property now? Why do you like/dislike them?
- Any unsightly views you want to block?
- Are the lights from car headlights coming in your windows
- Do you enjoy yard work?
- How much time do you have to spend in your yard?
- How much lawn do you have? Do you want more or less lawn?
- Want to encourage/discourage wildlife? birds.... deer
- Do you foresee adding on to your home?
- Do you enjoy an outdoor living space?
- Need a privacy screen?
- Want a water feature?
- How long do you intend on staying in your home?
Professionals also ought to ask you:
- What color is your house (and do you intend to change the color, and if so, to what)?
- Your house's style
- How long are you going to be owning this house?
- Are there young children in your family?
- Are pets living there? Fence? invisible fence? where roam? how many?
- What are your favorite colors? What colors do you dislike?
- What areas are you landscaping: public (front yard), service (trashcans, tool shed...), play (children's swings, etc), private (patio, off back porch...)
It's YOUR yard, and it should reflect YOUR taste and meet YOUR requirements.
Thanks, Sam and Fred! I just checked the website for their radio show, and see that there are some audio "tidbits" available. I'm still lobbying for streaming audio!
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