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While it is important to "watch the pennies," often a penny saved here or there can cost you dollars in the long run. This is often true in landscape design. On the upside, there are ways to create long-term gains and actually cut expenses without cutting quality. To find out where to best value-engineer, talk to the many professionals involved in developing or maintaining landscapes. These experts include landscape architects, landscape contractors, property managers, owners and general contractors-all of whom play a distinct role in this process. Both the landscape management and installation fields have dozens of areas in which your landscape dollar can be stretched. Some areas of consideration that Ruppert has discovered in the installation process include: Plant Selection Plant material comes in a wide range of sizes and varieties. While this concept is generally understood, the plant selection process itself is often not given enough consideration. Be aware of the many variances. Trees such as maples and crab apples take shape at a much smaller size, while many shade trees don't take shape until they reach about 4-inch caliper. Large trees are often needed next to a building to provide perspective; this perspective is not often necessary, however, with trees located away from buildings. Many factors should be taken into account during the plant selection stage. If the design criteria can be achieved with a variety of plant choices, save money by opting for the least expensive one. Plant Spacing Strike a balance between the immediate impact of the landscape and what the project will look like once matured. Spacing plants too closely costs more not only initially, but also down the road as plant materials that have grown overcrowded need to be thinned out or replaced. To give a full appearance without the over-planting, try varying tree heights, arranging plant material in a triangular shape to fill in gaps and using multi-stemmed trees and shrubs that provide greater density. Money spent on a good maintenance program, including proper pruning and fertilization, might be a better investment than buying more plant materials initially to fill the landscape beds. Over-Specified Designs Very often, design specifications have been carefully crafted to meet specific needs and should therefore never be changed without consulting all parties involved. Occasionally, however, the specifications are more than what is needed. For example, in some cases existing topsoil can be amended to produce the same outcome that would be achieved with imported topsoil, but at a more favorable cost. Saving money can be a tricky business. Avoid mistakes in this area by asking a lot of questions and consulting the many experts. In the long run, this can ensure the best value for your landscape dollar. |
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