THE BEST TIME TO PLAN A LANDSCAPE DESIGN

No matter if it is spring, summer, fall or deep in the middle of our frigid Wisconsin winter - Hawks Landscape Design/Build representatives are here on a year around basis to discuss your landscape design and installation needs. The secret is getting out, however, that the late fall and winter season (October through March) is perhaps the best time to get involved in special landscape and garden design projects.

Those of us who are in the design/build industry are more accessible in late fall and winter, and perhaps more able to serve you in a timely fashion - because we don't have to devote so much of each day being out on project sites. Our winter work pace is steady, but not as frantic as it is during planting season - therefore our design concepts may be a little more inventive, or a bit more thoroughly contemplated. But contacting us in fall, we can get our site analysis tasks done before the heavy snows arrive. The holiday season comes and goes rapidly, and is also a tough time to get much done. Winter trade shows start in January and things gradually get busier for us right through mid - March. By late March we typically find ourselves totally inundated, but we're always willing to assist you whenever you choose to call, but our backlog may be such that we may need a few weeks to several weeks to get your plans underway.

Perhaps the best reason to contact a landscape design professional during the off season is to secure the preferred installation scheduling status you want in the upcoming spring season. Remember, most design/build companies have a portion of their work that is carried over into the following spring, so it's hard to be "first on the list". Startup time can be further delayed if you wait until March or April to initiate contact with your landscape company - we are usually swamped by that time. It takes a while to go from preliminary plans and budgets - to final plans and budgets. The process should be an enjoyable process, with a good amount of interaction between you and your designer.

Once your final plans are set, there will need to be other parties involved in the scheduling of the project - such as concrete contractors, carpenters, irrigation installers, electricians, masons, excavators and others. Pricing from these important people is also easier to get in the off season. Getting your plans and budgets done ahead of time will be a huge advantage - the project can be executed in a logical manner with all of the various construction people being there when you need them.

So, in a nutshell - if spring landscape work is in your future - remember that the late fall and winter months are when you want to be getting in touch with us!