Some Re-design jobs

[Dynamic Landscaping]

Just a small design build job from earlier in the season. Let me know what you think.

[greensolutions1]

i like it, not too bad

[DLAWNS]

Much better, big improvement!

[Lawn Freak]

Looks alot better.

[Daniel's Lawn Care]

About that tree you planted off the corner of the house. Isn't that a Dogwood? Why did you plant it so close to the house? Also, what are those plants that are on either side of the front steps? They look like Leland Cypress. Did you check on how big that Japanese Maple is going to get?

[2brothersyardcare]

i think i needs to get bigger and gro in more

[grassman177]

the install looks very nice, but i am concerned as well as to eventual sizes of the trees you planted, they will outgrow that space and cause problems.

[mdlwn1]

Dont take this the wrong way, but there is a reason those old plants were still there. It was a sustainable landscape...meaning with some care...it could be permenant. A lot can be learned from what was there already. I forget who I am quoting on here, but you "landscaped the space, not the house"

[DuallyVette]

The plants look too crowded...especially after they mature.

[ponyboy]

i see their points and agree I would have made the wall come out more to create a bigger bed added more perrianuals . Now with that being said I over plant but the specim plants are planned for growth and every 3 or 4 years will remove some filler plants or change them out with different stuff. I keep the specium trees and change the cheap plants the customer gets a new landscape and we make money but that is just me

[mdlwn1]

The tree on the corner is a common beginner trap. You see dwarf alberta spruces commonly put there for a reason.

[STIHL GUY]

it looks great. a lot nicer than what it was

[White Gardens]

Big improvement visually.

Here is what I see. I understand that you can go in a change things in the future, but to me there are a couple of problems with that.

Dogwood, is going to interfere with the utility line above it in the future. Box woods and other plants are too close to the house.

The edging looks great, I like the texture of the stone.

The problem I have with a long term client such as this is you can never predict the future. It would be too bad if your client couldn't afford any services and all the plants go out of control and run a muck. Then lets say your client needs to sell the house, and quickly. Now all the plants have overgrown and the curb appeal looks cluttered, so that drops a few grand off the house's value and any potential buyers will be turned off by the curb appeal. I personally can't install a landscape and run like so many other scapers out there. I still drive by some of my first installs and look at how they are maturing, even if it doesn't matter if the HO cares or not.

I feel it's critical to get the most visually out of a landscape even if it isn't maintained. I think you got the right idea to try and make the landscape look visually appealing, you just might need to tweak your ideals next time.

One thing I do to fill in the gaps is to buy some boulders, or some sort of statuary to help fill in between the plants until they mature. Those can be removed much easier than ripping out a few plants in the future.

Just my honest opinion. Don't let what I've said or what others have posted deter you though. Finding what appeals to the masses is important as everyone looks at the landscape, not just you or your client.

[Rivervalleylawns]

By the picture, it looks like those dry stack rocks are placed on top of eachother. If so, they are best layed when you stack them in the brick pattern. Keep on landscaping man, and dont let other people discourage you. Just takes some of the pointers and better your scapes.

[Dynamic Landscaping]

Thanks for all the responses. I understand that the plants grow but pruning is going to be necessary in almost all landscapes. From the background of the client, they wanted to mix things up instead of just having one hedge of evergreens, and that's why I used a mix of evergreens and specimen along with perennials. Thanks again for all the feedback.

[alf500series]

not too shabby, but i would have also made the spot where the mulch is angled in front of the sidewalk part of the bed as well. it looks unfinished with the mulch just put at an angle in the front like that.

[joef450snowplow]

i see that every one loves them jap mapels
every block i have a lawn i do in levittown ny there must be 6 or 7 house on the same block with a jap mapel bid or little like that

[SimonCX]

You can prune all you want but that dogwood will be rubbing the siding and gutter in 3-4 years and probably have to be taken out. Even small dogwoods are 20ft high and wide at mature size.

[Daniel's Lawn Care]

Check out the book "Residential Landscape Architecture" fifth edition by Norman K. Booth and James E. Hiss. It is an excellent landscape design resource.