Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Cincinnati Landscape Designer

You’ve oohed and ahhed over the neighbor’s outdoor living spaces, seen gorgeous patios on HGTV and “liked” dozens of photos on Pinterest. Maybe you’re finally ready to treat your home to new landscaping. So how do you narrow down the field to find the right Cincinnati landscape designer for you? 

Start by looking for potential landscaping companies online or by asking friends and neighbors for referrals. Compare the companies’ past work to see what appeals to you. Once you have a short list of candidates, consider asking each company the following questions.

1. Are you the right company for my job? In other words, you need to find out if a landscaping firm can provide the services you’re looking for, whether it’s design, lighting, construction, hardscaping, plant selection or something else. If a firm you like offers everything you need, talk with them about how they manage projects to ensure they’re done on time and on budget. 

2.  What’s your vision for my landscaping? You probably have plenty of ideas, but a professional designer can call on years of experience to suggest possibilities that you might not have thought of. A landscape designer will also assess your specific property to let you know which of your ideas might work or might not be suitable. 

3. Can I see your previous work? As you look at photos of each company’s past projects, keep in mind that if you don’t see your preferred style, don’t rule the company out. For example, a firm might not have had a homeowner asking for an English cottage style garden before, but they could still be able to create one. 

4. What will the project cost? When you see each company’s estimate, take the time to ask questions if something’s not clear. Choosing the lowest bidder might not be the best move: That estimate may not include everything a higher-priced company might provide, or their material quality could be lower grade. 

5. What is the process? The answer to this question will give you an idea of how each company works and what they might expect from you in terms of design review, materials selections and payment schedule.

6. What about the “what if’s”? Talk to each company about their policies concerning plants that die or work that needs to be repaired. Things happen; what’s important is that the company responds quickly and professionally to the unexpected. 

7. Can I change my mind during the process? Changing materials or design direction midstream in a project will have ramifications, usually in cost or timeline. However, sometimes adjustments are worthwhile. Ask each company how they handle change orders. How would you be billed for things that veer away from the original plans? 

8. How long will it take? A professional landscaping company should be able to base time estimates on previous experience with similar projects. Still you can ask what types of circumstances might delay a project. Find out how you as the homeowner will be updated on your project’s progress.  

9. Do I need a permit? If you do, who takes care of requesting it from your local building agency? 

Before You Begin Your Cincinnati Landscaping Project

It’s exciting to start meeting with landscape designers to see how they would beautify your surroundings, but to respect everyone’s time, it’s important for you to establish a budget for your project first. What amenities are most important to you? Can you afford to pay for the entire renovation this year, or would it be better to take a phased approach to your plan?  

Once you have some clarity around your wants and needs, we hope you will reach out to us. We would be happy to answer any and all of your questions.

New Home Landscaping Is Golfer’s Dream

A putting green is just one of the special elements of the full landscaping plan Seiler’s Landscaping did for this client who built a custom home in Maineville. New home landscaping provides a blank slate, which is always both challenging and exciting. 

Speaking of challenges, because the home was designed in 2020, the landscape design process was all done virtually. Revisions made over video calls moved the design closer and closer to the homeowners’ dream of creating curb appeal in the front and beautiful outdoor living spaces around the home. In the end, we were able to present a plan that the homeowners truly loved. 

“We wanted to make sure all the outdoor elements worked well with one another and complemented the beautiful stone and brick on the house,” said Will Seiler, president of Seiler’s Landscaping. 

One major challenge was the steep slope of the site. Our plan for the landscaping included building a retaining wall to create a flat backyard space that would be perfect for the putting green. A curving bed and plantings soften the look of the stonework and blend the retaining wall with the sloping side yard. 

A screened outdoor living area overlooks the level backyard, which is ringed with curving plant beds.

A cobblestone driveway and walkway to the side porch echo the home’s French country style. Special ordered from Canada, the cobblestone pavers create a charming look and make a memorable impression.  

The client and Will Seiler share a love of golf, so creating a putting green right in this home’s backyard was an exciting project. A flagstone patio creates a spot to sit and watch the family golfers practice their short game.

Just outside the screened outdoor living space, a bubbling water feature appeals to the senses with textured rock columns surrounded by river rock, the sound and feel of splashing water and colorful pockets of seasonal plantings.

Along the side of the home, a stacked stone wall borders a bed and complements the stone accents around the windows and porch post supports.

Seiler’s landscape design for this new home included shrubs and perennials that thrive in the Cincinnati climate, select trees and LED lighting to make sure the home continues to shine after the sun sets.

A curved cobblestone walkway runs along the front of the home, adding even more curb appeal. “It takes a village to build a project like this,” Will Seiler says, praising everyone on the team from the front office staff to the construction foreman to the material acquisition point person to the crew.

From Design to Reality

Are you in the market for new home landscaping or ready to renovate your current landscape? We’d love to discuss your options in a free consultation. Contact us today. 

Making Landscape Design Fun

One thing that might surprise you about the landscape design process? How fun it can be! The truth is that landscaping with Seiler’s is a way to flex your creative muscles, and the end result is an outdoor space you love.

Express Yourself

Get your creative juices flowing! The sky’s the limit in dreaming up your perfect landscaping space. A landscape project is a fun opportunity to bring your HGTV dreams to life by finding an aesthetic and vision that perfectly express your personality. It’s also a way to supplement your interests and hobbies: an outdoor kitchen for those who love to cook, a pocket garden for book lovers, shady exercise areas for fitness gurus and of course, gardens for those with green thumbs. 

A landscape project means you get to explore the many color palettes and themes found in flowers, pavers, stone, furniture and other materials. Whether you’re looking for something modern, cottage-core, sophisticated, family-friendly or even a traditional English garden, this is the time to let your imagination roam. 

Personal Planning Committee

After the dreaming comes the strategizing, an important step in the creative landscape process. Any great burst of ideas should be solidified with plans. Take pictures of any spaces you come across that you like as well as other elements like trees, furniture, walkways or walls that catch your eye. Create a modern-day mood board using Pinterest and Houzz to collect your favorite inspiration photos in one place. This is also a time to do some fun research. Drive around your favorite neighborhoods to get extra inspiration and ask your friends and family for any ideas. 

An important part of this step is setting a budget and determining what all can be included within it. If one giant landscaping project seems a little overwhelming, consider a phased landscape design. Study your space to gain a deeper understanding of any patterns, including where the sunlight falls and for how long. Are there any shady spots or places where water pools after a bad rain? Also figure out how much maintenance you’re willing to do: If you want something low-maintenance, a pool may not be the best choice for you. Now is the time to set your dreams up for a successful reality. 

Enter the Professionals

This is where we come in and keep the fun going. Show us around your yard and share your great ideas and photos with us. Be open to suggestions from us, including the best trees and plant life for local climates and ideas on what will and won’t work as envisioned. One of our experienced landscape design professionals will work with you to translate your vision to paper in an achievable plan. This is the time to ask lots of questions! Get a better understanding of what we’ll be doing and take the time to look over preliminary plans and see your ideas captured in a landscape plan. Remember that it’s much easier to change aspects in the design stage rather than during installation. 

Take lots of “before” photos because the final step is watching your creation come to life. Our professional crew will make your ideas a reality, and you can start enjoying the fruition of your creativity. 

Read to Get Started?

Already have ideas firing? If you’re ready to flex your creative muscles, contact us today to get started.

All Things Considered: The Key to Backyard Design

A truly amazing backyard starts with a truly amazing backyard design. But it takes a thorough and comprehensive approach to turn a landscape dream into a reality. From function to flow to furniture, here are the aspects we always consider when designing a perfect backyard for our clients. 

Function First

The first question to ask is simple: What do you want from your space? Do you want to host social gatherings and parties with all your friends and family? Do you want a way to spend more time with your family? Maybe you want to “get away” in your own backyard with a space designed for tranquility and relaxation. Or maybe you want a designated space for your favorite hobbies like gardening. 

The desired function of a backyard is an important base to any landscape design. For social gatherings, you might want a full outdoor kitchen and decked-out patio or maybe a pool and firepit perfect for parties. For family time, you’d want plenty of seating like an outdoor dining area. You might also look for plenty of open green space for kids to play or a grill island for long-weekend holidays. A “home away from home” would benefit from tranquil water features like a pond or a fountain. Additionally, a reading nook and some benches and pergolas would provide designated spaces to unwind. For those with a green thumb who love to garden, you could have flower beds and a storage shed on your must-have list. A shed would also come in handy for other hobbies, and a gazebo would be perfect for outdoor yoga and exercise.

It’s also important to know how involved you want your backyard to be. How much upkeep are you willing to do throughout the year? Pools have to be maintained and reopened every year and certain plants are more high-maintenance than others. Conversely, if you want beds that require less maintenance, consider perennial plants that come back every year and an easy-to-sweep deck or patio.

Not-So-Empty Space

The next step in backyard design is to take stock of the space, firstly the size. How much space do you have to play with? No one wants an overcrowded backyard, and it’s important to think about the size plants and trees will reach as they mature. Also keep in mind what’s already there. Is there an AC unit or dryer vent you want to cover up or a giant oak tree you want to keep as a focal point? 

Equally important is how the natural elements interact with the space. Pay attention to how the sun moves throughout the day and which areas get direct sunlight and for how long. A dining area that gets full sun for six hours a day might be a little too hot at mealtime. Likewise, your designer will need to know the best places for plants and where to put your full-sun shrubs versus your partial shade flowers. If you’re looking to add some shade, consider the best shady trees. Understanding prevailing winds in your backyard will help avoid placing your amazing firepit in a particularly breezy area. 

Backyard design on a sloped site calls for additional forethought. A hillside could benefit from retaining walls, which can also create a focal point of your favorite plants. Take note of any areas where water collects and consider adding some way of drainage. If you live near a busy road or have close neighbors, you can add some needed privacy with hedges or fencing. 

A Natural Flow

For an amazing backyard design, flow and focal points are vital. Not only should the design itself flow, but it should flow from inside your house to your yard. Consider your home’s exterior and match it. Contemporary, traditional, lavish, rustic — any and all of these styles can be complemented with a stunning backyard. 

The best way to flow from one area to another is through paths. These can be paved or tiled to match your aesthetic, or go for a more natural look with stepping stones or crushed gravel. If you want to continue a natural look, utilize curves in your flower beds and other design choices. Straight lines make for a cleaner look and help draw the eye to focal points. 

A great backyard is not only useful and practical but also a space that people enjoy looking at and using. Focal points allow for a cohesive look and highlight the thoughtful design. Consider the space as a whole and ensure one really amazing backyard rather than disjointed sections. 

Before You Start

If you’re environmentally minded, a backyard can incorporate sustainability in its design. This includes planning water conservation and minimizing runoff as well as planting pollinator-friendly and native plants. 

Before bringing the design to life, it is critical to ensure everything can happen according to plan. This means following local codes and regulations as well as checking that you won’t run into any electric, gas or other utility lines. 

An Eye for Perfection

All of these factors go into Seiler’s thoughtful backyard designs for our clients. From timeless English gardens to modern outdoor kitchens and tranquil reading nooks to exciting pools, any dream can go from design to reality. 

If you already have some design ideas for your backyard, contact us today and let’s talk about all your options.  

Making Phased Landscape Design Work for You

Renovating your landscaping or creating all new landscaping around a just-built home can feel overwhelming. If you’d like to take the project in smaller chunks, consider a phased landscape design. This type of approach can also help you with budgeting time and money.

First things first: It’s best to start with a master plan for the whole yard. This plan, created by a landscape designer, envisions the big picture for all aspects of your landscaping. Starting with a goal in mind allows you to choose which phases to tackle first. It should also help you avoid situations like having to dig up already planted beds to run plumbing and electric for an outdoor kitchen. 

Where to Start

To create a comprehensive landscape plan, Seiler’s clients work with our designers to map out a complete vision of their dream landscaping. From there, we work with our crews to put the plan in motion. 

So where should you start? A good rule of thumb would be to begin with what best increases the “value” of your home. We are not necessarily talking about value in monetary terms. For instance, if you and your family want to spend more time in your backyard on a new patio, then invest the time and effort on that portion first. The outdoor living space will increase your enjoyment of your yard, which is definitely valuable. 

Here are some parts of a master landscape plan that can be done in phases: 

• Hardscaping: These structural parts of your property plan include things like patios, walls, walkways or fencing.

• Plantlife: Trees, shrubs and perennials can be added all at once or in phases depending on where in the yard the plan locates them. 

• Structures: Pergolas, outdoor fireplaces, decks, grill islands… any of these planned amenities can be added right away or a few years down the line. 

• Lighting: Beautiful well-placed lights can up the wow factor in your landscaping fast. Installing lighting during the hardscaping phase makes sense if you have room in your budget. 

Behind the Plan

Still not convinced that a master plan is worthwhile? Keep in mind that our designers bring expertise to your plan. We understand how different types of soil affect plants. Our plans take into account the balance of sunlight and shade in your yard. And we offer proven experience with the types of plants that grow and thrive in our climate

A phased Landscape design allows you to: 

• Make a plan in terms of budgeting. 

• Do the doable. 

• Stay within your budget, which can lower stress for you and your family.

• Make sure you like the direction your yard is heading and course correct if you would prefer changes.

Phased Landscape Design Questions? 

How can we help? We are experts in putting together comprehensive landscaping plans. Contact us and we will schedule an appointment to hear about your dream yard and start to make it a reality. 

Top 5 Reasons to Use a Landscape Designer

Landscape designers provide homes with more than just beautiful scenery. Across the country and here in Cincinnati, landscape designers give people new ways to spend time outdoors in an enjoyable environment. They boost homeowners’ pride in where they live. They’re masters of their trade, and, like Seiler’s, they provide full-service project management that’s more dependable and more sustainable than DIY projects. 

With specialized knowledge and skill sets, landscape designers enhance your home’s overall quality, from visual aesthetics to property value. Here are five reasons you want to hire a Cincinnati landscape designer for your Queen City home.

Merging Art and Science

Landscape designers work at the crossroads of nature and art to create spaces that are both environmentally sound and aesthetically appealing. They pull from a wealth of knowledge about plant life, climates and native ecosystems, and combine it with artistic elements of design like balance, variety, texture and unity. The result is a pleasing balance of amenities, comfort, sustainability and visual appeal.

Selecting the Right Plants 

Not all locations are the same—even when they’re in the same region—and each property has its own physical characteristics and environmental needs. Cincinnati landscape designers in particular, who are extremely familiar with our Midwestern weather patterns, know how to analyze a property’s climate and plant life compatibilities so that your outdoor living space and your property’s natural elements work together in harmony. They’ll also determine what kind of plant life is most suitable for your lifestyle needs and style preferences.

Making the Most of Your Space

Specialists like landscape designers can envision the potential of a property better than anyone. By surveying the environment and understanding how you and your family spend your time there, they can enhance your home in ways you hadn’t even considered. Where you may see just an open space in your yard, a landscape designer might envision a pergola, a stone creek bed or a paved walkway to a garden. The possibilities that open up when you hire a landscape designer are endless.

Boosting the Value of Your Property

Landscape designers know the importance of a first impression. Homes with high curb appeal tend to sell about seven percent more than homes that are lacking, according to Realtor Magazine. In our region, where the real estate market is competitive, Cincinnati landscape designers know that properties with great curb appeal (and incredible outdoor living spaces in general) pay off for homeowners.

Increasing Livability 

Living and working in a visually appealing space that brings you comfort goes a long way toward your and your family’s overall contentment. Landscape designers find opportunities to enhance the atmosphere so that you can indulge in life’s little pleasures and enjoy where you spend your time. It could be evenings with your family on a newly furnished patio, entertaining friends around a firepit or hosting a pool party. Landscape designers get to know your needs and lifestyle, and imagine ways to make your home life even better.

As Cincinnati landscape designers, we’re seasoned pros who can transform your home into your own personal oasis. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.