About The Design & Installation Process

The process of creating a custom landscape can be broken down into two main phases: The design phase and the installation phase. At Capitol Landscaping we offer full in-house design phase as well as complete installation phase services.

Each client will have a unique set of functional requirements, creative ideas, and aesthetic tastes regarding the desired landscape environment. Each piece of property will have its own unique physical features, existing conditions, and history of native plant life. The process of incorporating all of these elements is different for every situation, but the basic steps for design and installation that we follow are consistent:

I. Consultation

This is when we talk with you, the client, to discover your needs, how you plan to use your landscape, ideas you have about features you would like, and preferences you have about types of plants, rocks, grasses, and trees. We will also evaluate the property's existing conditions such as plant life, elevation changes, dimensions, drainage, soil condition, and many other potential elements to be considered in the development of the design.

II. Conceptual Design

Once all necessary information is gathered we will develop a design concept and installation plan that meet your specifications. Then we can make a price estimate for you based on the labor, materials and plants required to create your new landscape.

III. Installation

The specific steps to installing a landscape design vary a great deal from project to project, depending on the complexity of the design, the landscape features involved, and any issues that might need to be resolved such as serious drainage problems or lots of big rocks to excavate.

Examples of standard installation procedures are:

• Excavation and/or build-up of land.
  

• Weed, rock and root removal.
  

• Marking out the space with stakes or flags.
  

• Installation of drainage systems (erosion control).
  

• Terracing to create more useful space.
  

• Pouring of concrete.
  

• Laying of masonry for patios, walls, stairs, walkways and benches.
  

• Building of ponds, creeks, waterfalls and fountains.
  

• Laying in of special surfaces such as crushed granite.
  

• Placement of specialty items such as featured boulders or fountain centerpieces.
  

• Coordination of landscape lighting and irrigation installation with the lighting and irrigation contractors.
  

• Laying in of soil and mulch, and planting of plants, trees and grasses.

Once your new custom landscape is installed it will be virtually maintenance free. For occasional tidying up, however, we do offer a maintenance program which involves three cleanings/prunings and one mulching per year.