The following are Frequently Asked Questions about landscape design that you may find helpful:

What’s the difference between a landscape designer, landscape architect, and landscape contractor?

Anyone can call themself a landscape designer. Sometimes they completed a certification program through a community college, but not always. Maybe they worked at a plant store for years, have another design-related degree, or just really love plants. Backgrounds and credentials vary wildly, so ask!

A landscape architect is someone who received a Bachelors (BLA) or Masters (MLA) degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited university, receiving a broad training for designing public parks, multi-use trails, landscape restoration projects, etc. In addition to receiving the degree, you must pass a 4-part licensing exam to call yourself a landscape architect. It takes years to study and a few thousand dollars, so it’s no surprise that the vast majority of trained landscape architects are not licensed.

Landscape contractors are the people who build your project. They have their own set of licensing requirements to ensure things are built to code, properly address drainage and grading, and use the latest techniques. There are many unlicensed contractors out there, but I think you generally get what you pay for, so hire a licensed contractor. Please.

How much does it cost for a professionally-installed landscape?

In my experience, professionally installed full gardens on flat urban lots start around $30k, increasing if you want higher end materials or lots of features. Most of the projects I work on have construction budgets of $50-150k, although large estates typically exceed that range.

The lower end of that construction range may include updated planting beds that keep a lot of existing plants in place, a patio, a rain garden, and maybe simple crushed rock paths – no irrigation. The higher end of that construction range includes more features: deck, patio, stone or paver pathways, raised beds, drip irrigation, rain gardens, fire circle, new plant beds, and lawn area.

I need a garden plan, but I can’t afford a professional design process.

Do you have a small area you need design help with, or maybe you’re on a tight budget and plan to install the work yourself? In those cases, you could hire a design professional with an excellent portfolio of built work to give you a couple hours of their time onsite. Typically these are called design consults and they are paid at a flat fee, probably starting around $400. That will give you some broad ideas you can implement over time. If someone offers design consults at no cost, I generally see that as a sign they are not very experienced and not offering quality design.

Portland Nursery offers basic design services for small budgets. You will do more legwork to measure your site, but it can be a good solution to get a simple plan together for DIY’ers on a tight budget.