Landscaping is not cheap! The old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is obvious when comparing companies in the landscape industry.
When it comes to landscaping your home, customers often have an idea of what they want it to look like. Through searching websites, flipping pages of that favorite magazine there comes a time to make dreamy ideas into reality. Your first step is contacting local landscape companies in your area to share your ideas with the people that can turn them into the garden of your dreams.
How do you take the estimates prepared by the local professionals and get an apples to apples comparison?
The best option is to research the types of projects completed by certain company’s, meet with them and choose a company to stick with and work through the project. This is similar to when you’re working with a team in building a house; the client is involved in the entire process and you are not limited by the original bid, which can sometimes limit landscape architects.
But if you are on tight budget constraints and want to compare companies bids, here is our recommendation to help you make the best decision for your garden:
1. Make sure each estimate is accompanied by a detailed plan, but understand that a company may not give you their plan in order to protect their intellectual property.
2. Make sure each estimate provides a breakdown of all materials, pricing per unit, labor hours and labor costs. Having a detailed estimate will ensure that the company doing the work is providing what they have discussed. This also provides you with a base estimate if you decide to add or reduce the work while in progress.
3. Make sure each company that you contact maintains all the necessary insurance certificates, local, state and federal licensing requirements. Often landscape companies are operated as home-based businesses. This business operators don’t always have the necessary insurance and license in place.
4. Make sure each company provides a detailed list of contact numbers so you may contact them to discuss your estimate.
5. It is recommended that you meet at the companies office and go over the plans as well as review all the plants, materials and accessories to get a full understanding of all the parts of your project. This gives you an opportunity to see the sizes, colors and textures before they arrive at your home.
6. Be confident in your landscape professional, feel free to ask their qualifications for giving you this advice!
7. Lastly, ask to review completed projects of similar landscape styles so you can have a visual idea of what you are buying.
The Garden Gates offers a wide range of services for the New Orleans homeowner. Our trained staff of professionals hold all the necessary licenses, insurance and eduction to provide you with the best service. Check out our Qualified Professionals Now!
It seems in this day and age all movies, music videos and video games come in 3-D. We decided well why not someone’s landscape? The technology from Google Sketch-Up allows someone to take a 2-D plan and create a 3-D world, helping the client understand where and what their money is actually going to. Just press play and enjoy!
Jesse Edmondson, Associate ASLA
Here in Metairie, Louisiana plants survive in hardiness zones from 8b to 9a. Because of the climate we experience…some 70 degree days some 30 degree days there are some important tips one needs to know when working on or preparing ones garden for the upcoming spring.
#1 Today is a great day to plant! Just as tomorrow and the next day and the day after! As long as a shovel can get into the dirt so can the roots of a plant. It is because the ground hardly freezes here that we are blessed with the ability to start plants on their growth journey a little early. It is actually better to plant in the winter then the spring or summer in New Orleans. The main plant parts may be in a dormant state but the roots of the plant are actively seeking water and nutrients year-round. Because of the root stimulation the plant can be much more prepared to take on the heat of the summer with an extra few months of root growth.
#2 Mulch! Mulch! Mulch! Now that the fall leaf color (not that there is much in New Orleans) has made its way into the trash or compost pile its time to add a fresh layer of crushed pine needle much to help keep moisture in the soil around plants. Winters tend to dry plants out especially if there is no mulch.
#3 Pruning is a great idea on plants not flowering in the spring. As long as the plant flowers after April, pruning is recommend during the winter. Choose a cool day to do it so as not to stunt new growth which may occur on warmer days.
#4 Stay off your turf! Let it remain dormant if it is a warm season grass, it can not regenerate to repair itself when it gets into the dormant state.
#5 If you do not have a plan for your garden or yard now is a perfect time to work with a Landscape Architect on preparing the perfect atmosphere for your outdoor living. Set up a consultation at the Garden Gates today!
Jesse Edmondson, ASSOCIATE ASLA
CHRISTMAS TREES DELIVERED FREE
The Garden Gates having its roots as a landscape company, people would think of the winter as a slower time of year….
The idea of Christmas Trees Delivered Free program is to not only provide the New Orleans area with the highest quality trees avaliable, it is to keep the talented landscape employees busy.
Chad and Beth Harris figured out by delivering the trees we may even have to hire more people! Just another reason to shop at The Garden Gates.
THE GARDEN GATES DELIVERY TRUCK
The Garden Gate is gearing up for our favorite time of year..Christmas Tree Arrival!
The Trees arrive November 16th and we will have to move all of our beautiful fall annuals/perennials to other homes throughout New Orleans.
Get your fall color looking great before the holiday season, stop in now!
Amos' Famous Baskets
Amos says, “Now listen here, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, if people want their yard to look good they need to plant and fertilize this weekend.”
Don’t make the old rooster angry, come in and get your fall color!
