178 CSD


a minimum of two years with a licensed firm and pass the rigorous Landscape Architect Registration Examination. So how do you know if you need a landscape architect, and how in the world can you successfully work with one when you barely know the difference between a live oak and a bald cypress—much less their scien- tific names?


First, consider why landscape design changes are needed. Sometimes a simple aesthetic correction, such as remediating a moisture-retaining low spot, becomes urgent after torren- tial rains turn the area into a mosquito-breeding swamp. Perhaps a recent episode of phenomenal flooding has caused a sudden appreciation for proper site grading. Or may- be your landscape dilemma is simply a question of hardscape versus runoff: Would a concrete driveway mitigate ponding after heavy rains, or would it redirect the overspill to another inappro-


priate location? Once specific landscape con-


cerns are settled on, consider style. While some gardeners are nonchalant about the aura of controlled chaos found in cottage gardens, others are only comfortable with the symmetric formalities found in classical designs. No matter the choice— and pushing conventional boundaries is certainly acceptable, if not encouraged—Thomas Angell, principal landscape architect at Verdant Enterprises (verdantenterprises.com) in Savannah, Georgia, insists that it’s important to communicate those personal choices while researching and interviewing prospective landscape archi- tects, because matching style and philosophy are imperative. This alleviates potential impass- es or misunderstandings once the project is underway. In any case, you should feel that your chosen landscape architect un- derstands your preferences and doesn’t talk above your head.


Angell, whose client base extends up and down the Carolina and Georgia coasts, warns homeowners to keep in mind that the scope of the work should justify the expense. In other words, asking a landscape architect to design a couple of small flowerbeds is rather like hiring the Juilliard String Quartet to play pop music at your next oyster roast. “The smaller the job, the more disproportionate the fees,” says Angell. However, in most instances “it is usually still worth having a landscape architect spell out the content, budget, sequence of work and expectation of a quality result.” If custom hardscape solutions such as decks, patios, walkways, walls or arbors are a consider- ation, it’s equally important to understand that each of these skills demands a lot of experi- ence and expertise, so expect considerable variation among firms. And when environmental mitigation is a primary factor, one early question to ask is


what level of site mapping and analysis the firm will provide. This is important because most commissions of any size begin with a registered land survey. In addition to creating sophisticat- ed grading plans, many land- scape architects can calculate storm water volumes as well as velocities. After earnest investigation and interviews, it’s a good idea to visit several of each firm’s ex- isting projects and look carefully at the caliber of the plans they have posted on the company website. Finally, it goes without saying that you should ask for and read references and insist that all lists of plants include common names.


If you consider the challenges of your site, the scope of the project and the architect’s own style and experience, you’ll come out with the landscape of your dreams! 2


PJ Gartin is a freelance garden writer who lives in Charleston.


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