landscaping needs an extreme makeover

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this forum, so please excuse me if someone has already broached this question.
My landscaping is about 6 years old, and is in need of some SERIOUS re-do. I was wondering if anyone knew of a person who would do some online consulting. I would be able to take pics of the areas that I want to do over, and then work out a deal for a new landscaping plan. I'm especially looking for a layout of perennial garden areas like many websites that sell planting plans, show. I just have no design skill. HELP!
And thanks in advance for your help.

I don't know the names of any online consulting places but I'm pretty sure they do exist. But I think you would probably be better off seeing if a local nursery offers design services. There'll probably be a charge for the service, although some may not charge much, hoping that you'll buy the plants from them afterwards, and the ones that do charge more may give you a discount if you buy the plants from them later (something that you would not find with an online consultant). It's going to be much better to get the design from someone who knows your climate and has seen the property in person, understands the sun/shade in different areas, etc. To me it would be worth paying a little more for that (and for all I know, it may not even cost more!)

Yes, landscaping is like real estate, location, location, location. Soil differences left by the contractor and the previous landscaper and microclimates are some of the variables which can't be fully appreciated by photographs by an on-line contractor. I very much agree with ecrane3- go to a local designer. Many will offer free estimates.

Of course we can provide some help here too, that's what DG is for.
Just post your pics here and I'm sure there will be plenty of suggestions.

My husband and I have landscaped 3 yards on our own. We are pretty good at at laying out stuff, but I am in Arizona. Post some pics and I might be able to help, not sure, New York is completely different, hubby is from Long Island origninally. This is a picture of a local cottage garden I took and posted on a fake magazine cover, didn't it come out nice, I framed it and gave it to the lady for letting me tour her yard.
Linda

This is my home, you can see we have rock in front.

If you're on a budget, perhaps you can find a person who will create a master design that you can work on over a few years. Landscaping can get really expensive, but you'll find lots of help here from some experienced and creative people. Lots of DGers have lovely gardens they created themselves.

Just my 2 cents worth..... I am need of a landscape design as well.... so last Spring, I contacted the best landscaper in the area and asked if he would design a plan for me. He did his landscape designs for "free" if I agreed to purchase it all from him.... OR he would do the design for 150.00. I decided it was worth the 150 for him to design it because he had such a wonderful reputation and I had seen how lovely some of the yards were he had done. I requested his services in EARLY FEBRUARY.... and FINALLY got a design in LATE JUNE! Too late to plant for me in this area because of our heat! BUT, even worse was my disappointment when I saw the plan...... I hated it. He ended up NOT charging me for it because he had been so delayed in getting it to me - but he still has my floor plans.

All this to say, if you want a really nice design... I would NOT let them think on the front end that you are JUST paying for the design. I wouldn't agree for them to do the work either - but just wait and see what they come up with. To have my house landscaped by them would have cost me 4500. - way out of my range, but I think I would have ended up with a nicer design if he had thought he was going to get the full job!

So, a year later ..... I am STILL needing a nice landscape design ~~ I plan to take the one he drew and start modifying it to fit my needs...............and hope to get some help here at DG! ^_^

Genna

I always look at the plans on bhg.com and in magazines, then try to modify them to my taste...don't get me wrong, it takes me forever and I always switch things out or make a spontaneous choice that doesn't work out, and it lacks that professional look....I also get tied up in indecision....but at least I did it myself lol Genna just reading your post makes me glad I try it all myself. My sister did the same thing, hired someone & now doesn't like it.

Well, I get tied up in LOTS of indecision myself...... did the same thing when I was trying to draw a houseplan... So I went to a man who was HIGHLY recommended to help me with my house plan. The first plans he drew up for me was OBVIOUSLY some he had just pulled out of his computer - they didn't include ANY of the specifics I had requested!! Then the next set were not much better !! Anyway, he finally made me MAD enough that I started marking out stuff and trying to "show" him what I meant - so essentially I drew my own house plans just needed the proper 'motivation' to do it. then my fees to him were for him to put them in the computer and print out the huge sheets! ^_^ Even then, there were some errors in things that I really thought I needed him for .... such as a split bathroom that I realized once they got the walls up that there wouldn't be room to open the bathroom door - or more correctly, shut it from the inside, unless you STOOD in the tub ! ^_^ So my husband and I shortened the vanity area that was in the other part of the bath and made the bath part larger ..... and MOVED the wall... LOL...
I also removed a window in my garage area because of a tornado shelter that we had installed - but MONTHS later I realized that IF I had left the window as he had designed it, you would not have been able to see out of it because my garage is at ground level and my house is raised 40" off the ground - so to have kept all the windows at the same height would have meant the window would been so high I would have needed a ladder to see out of it!

Guess I just need proper motivation to get things done! ^_^ So, maybe I can take his plans and alter them to fit my needs!

Genna