The presentation of your yard is equally as important as the presentation of your home. Landscape designers help you create an outdoor space that will reflect both your aesthetic preferences and functional needs.

What is a Landscape Designer? Landscape designers generally have ecological, aesthetic and technical training, which helps them maximize the potential of your outdoor space. Taking into mind both style and functionality, landscape designers analyze your architecture and yard to produce a plan that may or may not include location and materials for walkways, patios, water features, fences, garden aspects and more. In addition, landscape designers carefully assess your geographical region to choose plants, trees and flowers that will flourish naturally, as well as address concerns such as drainage, screening and soil conditions. Certain landscape designers only develop the plans, some may deliver the plans and then oversee a hired landscape contractor, or others - typically called design-build - will take care of both the design and all aspects of the installation.

Think about how you intend to use your outdoor space before deciding on a landscape designer. Do you want a patio for evening dinners or entertaining? Will it be a place for the kids to play? What are your landscape ideas? Do you hope to build on your passion for gardening? When you're ready to hire a designer, be sure to do your research: talk to references and visit other projects the designers have completed to see if their work matches your vision. Make sure your landscape designer is familiar with your region; it's essential they have a critical understanding of what types of vegetation will succeed in your climate.

Questions to as a prospective landscape designer:

• How long have you been in the business?
• How many landscape design projects like mine have you completed?
• What regions/climates are you skilled in?
• Who will be working on the project design?
• Can you provide me with references?
• Are you licensed and insured?
• How do you charge and what does that include?
• What happens when costs exceed budget whether due to materials or labor pricing changes? What about changes made by the client or by the professionals - what kinds of situations would cause those costs to be incurred?
• Can you provide me a written estimate?
• What do your services include?
• When can your job get done?
• What happens when cost exceeds the budget?
• What will I need to provide?
• Are there any important considerations or concerns you foresee with this landscape design project?

Find a landscape designer on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Landscape Designer, then choose the metro area in which you'd like to find a designer. You may also look through photos by style, like Traditional, Asian, Contemporary, Modern, Eclectic, Mediterranean or Tropical, to find an outdoor space you like, then contact the landscape designer who designed it.