I recently purchased my first home on a 7,000 square foot clear lot just north of Houston, Texas. I'm not the most skilled when it comes to landscaping, so I'm looking for advice on how to find a professional who can design my backyard. As someone new to this, any tips would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Congrats on your new house! If you're looking for some initial design ideas before you hire anyone, check out the app **iYard**. It's an AI tool that lets you customize your yard specifics and preferred style, generating layout ideas along with estimated costs for your area. It won't replace a professional's input, but it can help you visualize your options and get the ball rolling.
Consider seeking out a design and build company that employs landscape architects. They'll handle the whole project for you. If you already have someone in mind for the installation, hiring a landscape architect just for the design may save you some cash, but keep in mind this route can be a bit pricier overall. If you have bigger plans for the yard in the future, like a pool or outdoor kitchen, just make sure the design can accommodate that down the line.
Dive into Pinterest and Houzz for inspiration. Think about how you want to use the space: are you after a play area, a garden, or maybe just a nice view? It's also smart to plan for utilities from the start—just make sure to keep track of where everything is! It sounds like you're already on the right track trying to juggle both short-term needs and long-term visions. Maybe start with structural elements like pathways or planting shrubs to define spaces, even if you'll add more later. And don't shy away from buying a few bargain plants now to map out your garden.