Is the “Off Season” the Best Time to Consult Chicago Landscapers?

Just when the leaves are getting ready to turn and tumble to the ground, Chicago landscapers prepare to shut down and call it another year.

Right?

Um, not really!

While it’s true in our climate that landscapers may put the hoe to bed along with some of the bigger equipment come late fall, there is still a lot of behind-the-scenes activity, and you could be the beneficiary of a seasonal bonus if you think ahead.

During the Off Season, You Benefit From the Extra Time Available to Develop Your Plans

Aside from fall maintenance and preparing a host of beautiful seasonal rotations for residential and commercial clients through the holidays, landscapers’ off-season times afford a very special bonus to clients: the extra time they have to aid you in developing a blueprint for your yard or outdoor spaces. 

Not only will you benefit from a more leisurely pace, but in all likelihood, starting the process during the off-season might offer better scheduling times for you once planting season returns.

The Process: A Prime Reason to Take Your Time and Start During the Off Season

Think of landscaping like you might with interior design in a new home. You could have a designer come over and select your colors, furnishings and accessories all at once. By following that kind of process, you may end up with something coordinated, but chances are it won’t match your vision. Why? Designing to suit your wants, needs, tastes and budget is a give-and-take process. It takes a little time to get it right.

For first-time landscapers or for those who haven’t been through the process in a while, you can learn about the five steps of the landscaping process below:

1. An Initial Meeting with a Landscaper

A landscape designer should visit you on site to learn about your needs and the property. This allows the landscaper to intelligently discuss ideas and concepts and answer any questions you may have. The landscaper should take pictures of your property in order to provide you with a site-specific design. If you are able to provide a copy of your property survey, that will help make the process go smoothly.

This is also the time for you to convey your thoughts and to share pictures or ideas that you may have. It’s a good idea to have taken a few minutes to complete a Landscape Assessment & Planning form to share with your landscaper. In this easy ticklist, you’ll be able to quickly share landscaping elements that are important to you. You can get a copy of one here as a free download.

2. Concepting

After the initial meeting, a good landscaper will take the information gained and get to work. He or she will then present you with conceptual drawings for further discussion. After you approve one of the designs, the designer should begin the process of rendering a final landscape plan for your approval. If further changes need to be made, it is during this phase of the project that you will do so.

3. Design & Approval

After you approve the final concept, you should receive a final rendering of the project. Ideally, this draft should contain detailed specifications on plant materials, hardscaping and all costs specific to the installation.

4. Scheduling the Installation

The next step in the process is to schedule your installation date. Remember that landscaping businesses pick up significantly in the spring in colder climates like Chicago, so scheduling your installation date early is a clear benefit.

5. Installation & Quality Control

The final step in the process is installation by the landscaper’s crew, who will then do the work according to the design blueprint.

For The Wrap Up

With next year’s landscape months away, consider these benefits in scheduling your meetings during the off season.

• You’ll get to do the creative parts with your landscaper at a more leisurely pace
• Enjoy the extra time to consider the renderings as you receive them
• Take additional time to research parts of the projects
• Consider that you’ll have more options for your installation date(s)
• And finally, if your eyes are larger than your purse strings, you’ll have additional time to save for the project or to figure out which parts you can do yourself