Trew Landscape
← All articles

Trew Landscape Blog

Landscape Design Services: What You Get and How to Hire

By

What landscape design services include, how a design becomes an installed yard, and what Kansas City homeowners and property managers should check before signing.

Homeowner reviewing a backyard landscape design plan

Landscape design services turn a yard or commercial site into a plan: where the patio sits, how water drains, which plants go where, how the space is lit, and what it costs to build. The best results come when the same team that draws the plan also understands how to install it. This guide explains what a design package contains, how it becomes a finished landscape, and what to check before you hire, whether you own a home in Kansas City or manage a commercial property.

Trew Landscape LLC
Plan a Landscape That Works
Trew Landscape combines design expertise with landscape installation services to help create outdoor spaces that are both functional and lasting.
Explore landscape services

TL;DR

  • A design service typically covers site analysis, a concept, a detailed plan, materials and planting choices, and often drainage and lighting.
  • Design and installation are different jobs. A design-build company handles both, which keeps the plan buildable and the budget honest.
  • Before you sign, get two or three written bids, confirm licensing and insurance, and make sure the contract states the scope, cost, completion date and what happens if the plan changes.
  • Families should plan play areas around surfacing, sight lines and clearances, not only looks.
  • Large projects can be phased over months or years to match your budget.

Table of Contents

What landscape design services include

The Association of Professional Landscape Designers describes landscape design as creating outdoor spaces that are both attractive and functional. Its definition lists site analysis, consultation, design concepts and plans, planting and materials specifications, permitting, project oversight and documentation as parts of the work. The elements being designed include plants, paving, grading, soils, drainage, irrigation, lighting and amenities.

In plain terms, a good design service answers five questions about your property:

  1. What do you have? Slope, sun and shade, soil, existing trees, utilities, views and problem areas.
  2. What do you need? Entertaining space, safe play areas, privacy, curb appeal, lower upkeep, or a commercial entrance that holds up to foot traffic.
  3. What does it look like? A concept and then a plan showing layout, materials and planting.
  4. How is it built? Material choices, base preparation, grading, drainage and the order of work.
  5. What will it cost? A scope that can be bid and priced before anyone breaks ground.

Homeowners who want to see how a collaborative, visual design process can work for a full outdoor living space can look at this example of a 3D design process for outdoor living. The same idea applies to any yard: you review the plan before you commit to construction.

The documents you should expect

Not every project needs the same paperwork. University of Georgia Extension notes that plans range from verbal instructions to concept, master or detailed construction plans, and that detailed packages can include grading, planting, irrigation and lighting plans, specifications and bidding documents. The level of documentation should match the complexity of the job.

A simple planting bed refresh may need a sketch and a plant list. A sloped backyard with a retaining wall, a paver patio, drainage and lighting deserves scaled drawings, because several trades and materials have to work together.

APLD’s California chapter describes a typical residential sequence: an initial consultation, concept plan, master plan and planting plan, with optional lighting or irrigation documents and help with bids and construction. That is a useful benchmark when you compare proposals.

Typical steps in a residential landscape design process

Design elements that shape how a yard works

Good design goes beyond choosing pretty plants. The pieces below do most of the work in a Kansas City yard:

  • Hardscape: patios, walkways, retaining walls, fences, decks and outdoor kitchens that define how you use the space.
  • Softscape: sod, turf, beds, trees and shrubs that soften and frame it.
  • Grading and drainage: the quiet part that decides whether a patio stays level and a basement stays dry.
  • Lighting: safe paths and steps after dark, and a yard you can use in the evening. Our guide to landscape lighting placement shows how fixtures are positioned.
  • Water-wise planning: matching plants and layout to local conditions, covered in our drought tolerant landscaping plan.

Design versus installation: who does what

The terms get mixed up, and the difference affects your budget. APLD California explains that designers commonly provide ideas and plans while contractors install them, and that design-build firms may combine both roles.

Mississippi State University Extension adds that landscape contractors install hardscape such as walkways, retaining walls, fences, irrigation pipes and lighting, along with softscape such as plants, soil and mulch. Contractors may also provide estimates, manage subcontractors, pull permits and offer drainage solutions.

There are three common ways to organize the work:

Approach How it works Best for
Design-build One company designs, prices and installs Homeowners who want one point of responsibility and a plan built to be buildable
Design first, then bid A design is completed, then several installers price it Large or complex sites where you want to compare installation bids
Installer-led planning A contractor sketches and builds a defined scope Smaller, well-defined projects such as a patio, sod or a fence

We work as a design-build team. That means the person drawing your patio layout also knows what base depth, edging and drainage it needs to last. If you want a look at how we approach this, see our landscaping services.

From plan to finished landscape: the usual stages

A typical project moves through these steps:

  1. Consultation and site visit. You describe goals, budget and how you use the space. The designer measures and notes slopes, drainage and existing features.
  2. Concept. A rough layout shows where major features go.
  3. Master plan and specifications. Materials, dimensions, planting and lighting are fixed so the project can be priced accurately.
  4. Bids and contract. Companies price the agreed plan. You compare scope, schedule and cost.
  5. Installation. Grading and drainage first, then hardscape, then soil preparation, irrigation and planting. Lighting is typically coordinated with hardscape and planting.
  6. Walkthrough and follow-up. You review the finished work against the plan.

Many owners do not build everything at once. The National Association of Landscape Professionals reports that projects are often phased to fit budget and client needs, with pauses between phases ranging from weeks to years, commonly about six months to a year. A full design gives you a roadmap. You might build the patio and drainage this year, add lighting and a fire feature next spring, and plant out beds after that.

Hardscape first, planting last

Order matters because heavy equipment and excavation damage plantings. Retaining walls, patios and walkways go in before final soil work and planting. If a plan puts a wall on a slope, drainage behind it is part of the design, not an afterthought. Our pages on retaining wall materials and paver patterns and base depth explain why preparation below the surface matters more than the surface itself.

Trew Landscape LLC, Harry Darby Memorial Highway, 66104 Kansas City
Trew Landscape LLC
Explore Landscape Design in Person
Visit Trew Landscape to discuss design, lighting, sod installation, or hardscaping for an outdoor space shaped around your needs.
Trew Landscape LLC
Harry Darby Memorial Highway, 66104 Kansas City
Get directions

Planning for families and play areas

If children use the yard, design for safety first and looks second. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s home playground handbook recommends putting equipment on a level, visible site away from roads, driveways and hazards, with at least 6 feet of clearance from structures and obstacles. It also recommends separating active and quiet activities, and removing ropes and cords that can strangle.

Play equipment with clear space in a level yard

Surfacing is where landscaping and safety meet. CPSC recommends shock-absorbing surfacing under equipment and extending at least 6 feet beyond it. For loose-fill material, the same handbook calls for at least 9 inches for equipment up to 8 feet high, topped up over time because material compacts and shifts. The handbook is guidance, not a mandatory standard, so treat it as a planning checklist.

Practical design moves for family yards:

  • Keep the play zone visible from a kitchen window or patio seating area.
  • Put play equipment on one level area with proper drainage so surfacing does not wash out.
  • Use edging to hold loose-fill in place.
  • Light paths and steps so evening use is safe.
  • Keep a quiet zone, such as a seating or garden area, apart from the active zone.
  • Choose turf or sod areas that can handle heavy foot traffic, and plan them with the same care as the hardscape.

Commercial properties: what managers should plan for

A commercial landscape has different jobs than a home yard. It has to welcome customers or tenants, keep walkways safe, handle traffic and water, and stay presentable without a heavy maintenance bill. When you plan installation for an office, retail, multifamily or business site, work through these questions with your design team:

  • Who uses the site, and where do they walk? Entrances, parking edges and accessible routes should drive the layout.
  • What are the water and drainage conditions? Hard surfaces shed water fast. Plan grading, drain tile and plant selection together.
  • How will it be maintained? Choose plants, turf and materials for the maintenance budget you actually have.
  • Does the plan phase well? Large sites often work better in stages tied to budget cycles, as the phasing guidance above describes.
  • Is lighting part of the design? Lighting supports safety and brand presence after hours.

Our pages on commercial landscape design that cuts costs and commercial landscaping ideas for saving money and water go deeper on these decisions. For commercial bids, ask for scope, schedule and responsibilities in writing, the same way a homeowner would.

How to choose a landscape design company

Mississippi State University Extension advises owners to define the scope of work, map the property and set a budget before talking to companies. Then interview several about pricing, experience, training, suitability and availability. Check references, licensing and insurance, ask about guarantees, and get a written contract.

Here is a checklist you can take to meetings:

  1. Bring a one-page brief. Goals, must-haves, a budget range and a sketch of your lot.
  2. Get two or three bids on the same scope. Comparing like with like shows you who understood your project. Our guide to choosing a landscaping company with 2 to 3 bids walks through this.
  3. Ask to see similar finished projects and speak with past clients.
  4. Confirm licensing and insurance that apply in your state or city, and ask for proof.
  5. Ask what is included and excluded. Drawings, permits, drainage, lighting, irrigation, cleanup and site supervision should each be named.
  6. Read the contract for specifics. It should state the work, estimated costs, completion date and the potential cost of changes.
  7. Ask about the guarantee and how warranty issues are handled.

About titles and licensing

Rules differ by state. As one example, California’s Landscape Architects Technical Committee says that landscape architecture legally includes planning, design, drawings, construction documents and construction observation, and that people using the landscape architect title must be licensed there. Its consumer guide suggests asking about education, experience, insurance, references, services included and excluded, fees and schedule, and says the agreement should cover compensation, changes and responsibilities. In Missouri and Kansas, check with your state’s licensing board and your city’s permit office about what a given project requires, particularly for retaining walls, decks, fences and anything affecting drainage.

Our perspective

We design every project with the build in mind. A drawing that looks great but ignores drainage, base preparation or how a retaining wall will handle Kansas City’s clay soil and freeze-thaw swings is a drawing that costs you later.

That is why we keep design and installation under one roof. When the people who plan your patio, wall, lighting and turf are the same people who build them, nothing gets lost between the plan and the shovel. You get one conversation about scope, one schedule and clear communication about what is happening and why.

Our approach combines artistry with durability. We want your space to look right on day one and still look right years from now, and we back our work with a satisfaction guarantee. We also believe in transparency: we explain the options, the materials and the tradeoffs so you can decide with confidence.

Start with a clear idea of how you want to use the space, and we will help turn it into a plan that fits your property and your budget.

Trew Landscape LLC

Work with Trew Landscape in Kansas City

We are a locally owned landscaping company serving Kansas City, North Kansas City, Clay County, Jackson County and Johnson County, for homeowners, commercial property managers and business owners. Our services include landscape design, paver patios, concrete work, retaining walls, sod and artificial turf, landscape lighting, drain tile, fences, decks, outdoor kitchens and holiday light installation. Browse everything on our main site or start with our landscaping and design services to tell us about your property. We serve Overland Park, KS too.

FAQ

What is included in landscape design services?

Typically a consultation, site analysis, a concept, and a detailed plan covering plants, paving, grading, drainage, lighting and materials. According to APLD’s definition, the work can also include permitting, project oversight and documentation. The depth of the package should match how complex your site is.

Is landscape design the same as landscape installation?

No. Design creates the plan, and installation builds it. Some companies do only one, while design-build firms handle both, as APLD California explains. Using a design-build team can reduce handoffs between the plan and the crew.

How many bids should I get for a landscaping project?

Two or three is a practical number, all based on the same written scope so the prices compare fairly. Ask each company about licensing, insurance, references and guarantees. The contract should state the work, cost, completion date and how changes are handled.

Can I build my landscape in phases?

Yes, and many owners do. A full plan lets you build in stages, with pauses that the National Association of Landscape Professionals notes can run from weeks to years. Start with structural work such as drainage, walls and patios, then add lighting and planting.

How do I make a yard safe for kids?

Place play equipment on a level, visible site away from roads and driveways, with at least 6 feet of clearance and shock-absorbing surfacing that extends 6 feet beyond. CPSC guidance also covers loose-fill depth and removing ropes and cords. Supervise young children whatever the design.

Sources

Recommended