• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• GETTING STARTED
• Introduction
• Garden Tours
• Garden Gallery
• Plants
• My List
• Watering Guide
• DESIGN
• Introduction to Design
• Questionnaire
• Principles of Design
• Creating the Design
• Drainage
• Plant Design
• Installing the Garden
• Working With Professionals
• IRRIGATION
• Introduction to Irrigation
• Plant Water Needs
• Before You Design
• Smart Controllers
• Types of Irrigation Systems
• Eliminating Run-off and Overspray
• MAINTENANCE
• Maintaining Your Garden
• Mulch
• Irrigation Maintenance
• Soil Type
• Local Resources
• Watering Saving Tips

Working with Professionals

Landscape professionals provide many different services. There are landscape architects, landscape designers, landscape contractors, horticulturalists, and arborists. While there is some overlap among these professions, there are also important distinctions:

• Landscape architects - have advanced education, professional training, specialized skills, and licensure in 46 states, including California. Licensure is obtained through education, experience, and successfully passing a licensing exam. An LA manages any job concerning the design and use of outdoor space and the land. The scope of the profession includes site planning, town and urban planning, park and recreation planning, garden design, and historic preservation. They provide analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of outdoor space and land. For more information, contact the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Landscape architect and landscape installation professionals.

• Landscape designers - focus primarily on landscape garden design, environmental management, and the preservation of historical landscapes. For information, contact the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

• Landscape contractors - install planting, irrigation, and structural elements of design. For information, contact the State Landscape Contractors Board of Oregon - 503.967.6291 or the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association - 800.505.8105.

• Oregon Association of Nurseries - 800.342.6401.

• Arborists - are trained in the science of protecting and preserving trees and plant life. For information, contact the American Society of Consulting Arborists.

Hiring a Landscape Architect:

• Request the architect's portfolio. Speak with past clients, if possible. If water-efficient landscape is of interest, ask about water conservation gardens they may have designed.

• Prepare a realistic budget. One rule of thumb is to invest no more than ten percent of your property’s worth into landscaping. This figure should include all design and installation costs, as well as plant materials.

• Request a complete description of the work to be done; quantities and sizes of all materials to be used, including plants materials; brand name of irrigation equipment; and a landscape water management plan.

• Request a copy of the contract and expected method of payment.

Hiring a Landscape Contractor

Typically, unlicensed persons are not bonded and may not have liability or worker’s compensation insurance. Be aware that if you hire an unlicensed person, you may be financially responsible if injuries, fire, or property damage occurs.

Landscape contractor.

• Request the contractor’s portfolio and/or permission to visit gardens the contractor has installed.

• Request a list of similar jobs the contractor has recently completed in your area. Look at the work and talk to the owners, if possible.

• Ask if the contractor has liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Request certificates in writing.