When I meet people for the first time in their landscapes, they have usually already sold themselves on the importance of hiring a landscape designer. Unfortunately, so many of these people have already learned the hard way… It saves money in the long run to get it right the first time.

There are various books available to assist you in your ‘design-it yourself projects’ as well as point and click computer programs but, you wouldn’t presume to be able to be a good doctor, teacher, lawyer, or machinist just by going out and purchasing tools and books. A good landscape designer has had years of education and experience behind them. They have usually studied science, botany, design, art, horticulture, and landscape construction, among other things.

Our goal is to take your lifestyle, your tastes, and your individual signature, to help you translate all of that into your outdoor spaces.

A proficient designer measures your garden to scale and takes into consideration microclimates, exposure, light levels, soil quality, Moisture levels and so forth. They also take into consideration the function of the space first and plan necessary “bones” or “hardscape” first, (paths, patios, decks, terraces, etc.) and the “structural” and “specimen” plants next, and the flowering and “frilly plants” last, (but not least!)

Experienced designers take into consideration the hours, or lack of, you have to invest in your garden each week, placing deciduous plants next to plants that retain their foliage year round, varying and complimentary textures, bloom colors and times, drought tolerance, and ongoing maintenance requirements of your new garden. They are careful to make appropriate growth projections of the plants over several years so the garden doesn’t eventually become overcrowded. They will help you asses your ‘doing it yourself’ skills and refer you to the right landscape installer to assist you with any implementation you are not well suited for.

About half of the people we work with install the entire plan at one time, usually with assistance of one of our preferred installers.  The reality is that the other half needs to have a plan so they can install various stages over time. We are experienced in drawing plans that can be implemented in stages.

Choose a designer who is well-educated, experienced, and has a portfolio with plenty of photos of completed projects and letters of recommendation or references, But bottom line, working with a professional landscape designer will save money, time and energy, while providing a beautifully landscaped outdoor living space.

Nancy Claire Guth, Owner since 1999

www.artisticgardenconcepts.com

Member APLD

AAS Urban Horticulture

AAS Landscape Construction

South Seattle Community College curriculum committee 5 years

NHS member

NWF & G Show GOLD medal winner

Eco star co-star

For Landscape Installations contact Wes Thirkield at (206) 388-9397 or by email at AnthemLandscape@msn.com