Not having a Landscape Plan can be very costly

Landscaping is more than digging a hole and planting a tree, shrub or flower. You wouldn't try to build a house without an architectural plan, would you? No one should install a landscape without a plan either.

Planning a landscape is about space planning. It is your outdoor living space. Just like you plan your indoor living space, your outdoor living space should be planned as well. Here are some examples of why:

• How would you feel if you spent $5,000-12,000 (average price) on a new patio just to find out that your new patio furniture doesn't fit well? You can barely pull out the chairs and it is a very tight fit if someone wants to walk behind your chair.


• I have a client who wants an edible yard. She wants only plants that have fruit, berries, edible foliage or flowers. These plants like sun. They need the sun's energy to produce fruit. Her yard faces east and her house shades the yard from the afternoon sun. When I showed her the plan with the plants she requested, she realized that most of the plants she wanted wouldn't work. She had to rethink her goals. If she had planted all of this without a plan, she would have spent thousands of dollars and lots of labor to find out that they wouldn't work in her space.


• Another client has spent the last 5 years planting plants in their backyard, mostly to screen the neighbors houses. The wife was hesitant about spending money on a plan. When I strolled through their yard with them, I saw how crowded everything was. They had planted things trees and shrubs about 2 feet apart along the fence. These are plants that, at maturity, will be anywhere from 6-30 feet wide. I don't know how much they spent. My recommendation to them was that most of what they had planted would have to be removed. A few things were transplanted to other locations, but they had enough trees and shrubs to landscape at least 2 large backyards. When I explained to them what I could do for them, they hired me to do a plan for them. The husband said that for the cost of having a plan drawn up, they could buy another tree and still put it in the wrong place.

Don't you think we all have enough STUFF?

Don't you think we all have enough STUFF?? Most of us have so many 'things' that we hardly have room for anything new. This year for Christmas or Hanuka, why not give the gift of memories, experience, and relaxation?!

• Give a gift certificate to some one's favorite restaurant (GrannyMa's Restaurant or Abo's Pizza in Centennial are great choices)


• Invite a friend to lunch


• Pamper someone with a massage (Elements @ County Line/Quebec) or facial, manicure or pedicure


• Help someone beautify there space with a gift certificate from Decor and You. Leslie Klinck will do a redesign using their existing furniture, etc.


• Give a landscape consultation (BlueIrisLandscapes.com) to someone who just moved into a house or recently had a baby


• Give the gift of a serene space with a gift certificate for a Feng Shui consultation (BlueIrisLandscapes.com)


• Offer to babysit for someone who doesn't have the money for a babysitter.


• Offer the gift of your time to help someone around the house with some maintenance if you are handy


• Preserve the memories by taking pictures having them framed (Frame D'art in Centennial)

I'll bet if you think about the people in your life, you can come up with some additional ideas. Make it personal, make it sincere and make someone happy this season. It will bring you joy 4 fold!

Happy Holidays!