Software, Hiring Landscape Designers & Contractors

3D Garden Composer
Visit 3D Garden Composer to view examples of what can be done with their software. Yes, planning a garden has gone hi-tech! "3D Garden Composer will help you create and maintain your dream garden in any season."

Choosing a Landscaping Contractor
Professional-looking landscaping adds considerable value to your home. The estimated added value, according to this article from 411 Home Repair.com, is 14 - 17 percent, allowing you a return on your investment of 100 to 200 percent. But choosing the right landscaping contractor for your needs is the key. Find out here.

E-zine Read by Landscape Contractors
ProGardenBiz.com is an online magazine for professional gardeners, landscape contractors, irrigation specialists, and others in the Green Industry. If you're thinking of hiring a landscape contractor, you can profit from gaining an insider's perspective first. Everything from hiring landscape contractors and arborists to hiring a service for mowing your lawn.

Fact Sheet on Hiring Landscape Designers, Architects
This is a fact sheet compiled by the American Nursery & Landscape Association. It could serve as a handy checklist when hiring landscape architects or landscape designers for your landscaping needs. Similar criteria can be used for hiring arborists and other landscaping services.

Find a Landscape Architect, Hire a Landscape Architect
This site offers a basic guide to landscape architecture services, including the proper questions to ask a landscape architect when deciding on hiring one. Especially useful is this site's contact form to help you in finding a landscape architect in the first place.

Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted is known as "the father of American landscape architecture." Among the more famous examples of Frederick Law Olmsted's work are the design for the Biltmore Estate gardens and Central Park. Find out more about Olmsted and his influence.

Hiring a Landscape Designer
This HomeShow.com article is a good read whether or not you want to hire a professional. There’s plenty for the do-it-yourselfer to glean from this resource as well. Choice of site and selection of plants are just some of the considerations discussed.

How Landscape Designers Use CAD Landscape Design Software
Chamberlin Landscape Designers provide some nice landscape design photos of work they've done in Iowa. Besides viewing their photo gallery, see what can be done with computer imaging and C.A.D. landscape design software. Using such landscape design software, customers can see and make changes projected by landscape designers before deciding on a proposal.

Interactive Landscaping Software Online
Interactive landscaping software online and free landscaping tips for the do-it-yourself homeowner -- from the pros at Clearwater. The approach of these professional landscape designers is to let you help them get it right! After all, it's your yard....

Landscape Architects Defined
Information from The American Society of Landscape Architects. A distinction is drawn between landscape architects and a number of professions with which it could be confused: namely, architects, civil engineers, urban planners, gardeners and landscape designers, horticulturalists and landscape contractors.

Landscaping Contracts and Other Contracts for Home Improvement
Bill Lewis is About's Guide to Home Repair, but his article, "Before You Sign a Contract" contains advice relevant to any contracts for home improvement jobs, including landscaping contracts.

Legal Contracts With Landscaping Contractors
ImproveNet.com does consumers a great service in this piece by explaining the fine points of contracts in plain English. Whether you are hiring carpenters or plumbers, landscape designers or arborist, read this story before you sign on the dotted line! Contracts sans legalese.

Pre-Screened Landscape Contractors, Architects, Designers
Here's a way to search for contractors, landscape architects and landscape designers using the Web. The ServiceMagic Web site asks you to enter information relevant to your search, then provides you with matches. For professionals to be listed with this service, they must already have been screened. A safe, convenient way to hire a landscape contractor, architect or designer.

Raising Real Estate Values Through Landscape Designers
A story arguing the merit of hiring landscape designers, from CNN Money. A nicely landscaped lawn can raise property value by 15 percent. The article points to estimates from real estate agents asserting that 95 percent of home shoppers won’t bother with a house on the market that lacks attractive landscaping. So hiring a landscape designer can pay off.

Sample Contract for Landscape Designers and Other Services
Signing a contract is reassuring, if it contains clauses helpful to you -- but a crapshoot if it doesn't. This sample service contract gives you an idea of the kinds of clauses (such as insurance clauses) you should be looking for in contracts. Although the example is for a tree service to remove a tree, the principles apply to work being done by landscape designers, too.

Selecting a Landscape Architect
Advice from the American Society of Landscape Architects on selecting a professional to work for you. Defining your needs, researching credentials, knowing your budget, interviewing and starting early are all recommended and discussed.

The Art Of Gardening
<a href="http://www.theartofgardening.com">The Art Of Gardening</a> is a resource for landscaping software, landscaping contractors, and do-it-yourself information.

The Philosophy of a Landscape Designer
A landscape garden is different from a landscape. A landscape’s function is to create a pretty picture and solve some practical problems. A landscape garden creates spaces whose function is to entice movement and create moods. This licensed landscape designer uses focal points to pull you from one place to another. The philosophy: don’t reveal the total landscape garden all at once.