What would you guys do here?

[rstan2010]

What would you guys do to the front of this place? I need some ideas. Everything in the front flower beds is being torn out and new landscape is gonna be installed. Any ideas?

[grandview (2006)]

What you want to do and what want to spend are to different things. You need to be up front and talk budget first.

[White Gardens]

Yep.

Does your client want the world or the moon? Budget is the biggest issue.

...

[rstan2010]

Nothing to extreme. Just something fairly basic that will look good and not cost a fortune.

[GreenI.A.]

Whats a fortune? Like said above, need an actual budget. Some clients who really enjoy a nice landscape wouldn't bat an eye to a $50k proposal, for them "fairly basic" may be some specimen plants that are already 6' tall. While their next door neighbor in an identical house may want the minimum and think that $10k is a fortune to spend, they may be happy with all 1 gallon plants that they need to wait 5yrs to grow in.

[rstan2010]

something that is under 5k

[AGLA]

You need a process. It should never be just about "what do you think looks good?". Talk to the customer, find out what they are thinking about, generate conversation about what they like or don't like, how much maintenance is a concern, and throw out suggestions to them to see how they react. Most of all, tell them why this would be good or that would not be so good. There is no faster way to get a conceptual design done than through conversing with your client.

You don't need to ask for a direct budget, but listen to the materials they are talking about and try to pick up on the subjective budget.

[alexschultz1]

Demo everything, add a simple design to the front of the house and a bed in the middle of the yard with a nutall oak and boulders for accent. Sun or shade? For shade put in camellias rhododendron hostas and azalea with a weeping yupon and jap maple for height. follow the path to the driveway with verigated liriope.... So many ideas are coming to mind right now...