So, you have finally decided to do something with your yard's landscape, but you are not totally certain what you want your finished product to actually look like. Perhaps you are interested in having a natural area where you can sit back and enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings, maybe you wish to have a space for entertaining guests or perhaps you need a place for the kids to play without being concerned about damaging the gardens. But, regardless of the many ideas you have, you aren't sure where to begin. This is when you will want to bring in a professional landscape designer.

A landscape designer will listen to the goals you have for your yard, consider how much time you are wanting to invest in maintenance and then create a landscape design that will represent all (or as many as possible) of the criteria. So, what should you anticipate when you hire a designer? Here are some realistic expectations.

Most landscape designers do not offer free consultations. They will show up at your home and will need to sketch out your space (many use software to make this task easier).  During the consultation, they will ask you many questions, such as:

• What will you be using this space for?
• Are there any plants/shrubbery that you must have?
• Are there any elements –statuary, pond, specific plants- you don't want to see?
• What type of budget do you have?
• How much knowledge do you have about gardening?
• Do you want a largely sunny garden or one with plenty of shade?
• Are you an active gardener who likes to plant, weed, etc. or is your idea of gardening limited to mowing the lawn?
• Do you have young children and need a play area?
• Do you want to create private nooks for outdoor living, or is the yard to be more of an open space where everyone can gather to relax or play?

Once these questions are answered, the designer can create a space tailored to your needs, and present you with a bid and a timeframe for how long the landscape redesign will take. A professional landscape can run as low as $500 to well into the thousands. But the bright side is that if well maintained, a landscaped yard can actually add value to your home –should it become necessary to relocate.

Hiring a professional landscape designer is a great way to get that yard you have always wanted. They can help you determine what features will work best for the space you have, do the installation and give you tips for keeping your investment looking great for years to come. So don't just dream about what your yard could look like, contact a landscape designer today.