Working with a Landscape Architect ensures that your project will be handled by a licensed professional, with many years of specialized education, design skills, and construction knowledge. We don’t just plant shrubs, we transform the outdoor world by first understanding each site, our client’s unique needs and aesthetic, as well as how a space should flow and function. We synthesize this into creating tailored solutions for each space we design, considering sustainability, durability, and how users will interact with the space. We go above and beyond to ensure our clients are treated with the greatest care, respect, and professionalism throughout the design + build process.

The advantage of design + build is having a one-stop-shop for all of your design and build needs. We work with our exclusive installers to ensure your landscape is implemented to the exact specification of the design and handle all of the coordination with subcontractors, tradespeople, permitting departments, etc.

At the beginning of the design process, we’ll discuss your wish list, priorities, and budget range. The HDS team will then create your design with all of that in mind. We believe budget needs to be a central part of the process; we advise clients to plan a landscape budget based on 5-10% of the total value of their property. Please note that HDS recommends a minimum budget of $15,000 for any landscape renovation. You can visit our Budget Breakdown page for more information.

After the initial discovery phone call and site visit, the HDS team takes 4-6 weeks to develop a comprehensive master plan. Once the design is finalized, the team requires a minimum of 6 weeks to procure materials and prepare for construction. A project typically takes 3 months from the initial site visit to construction kick-off.

HDS offers landscape design + build services, including, but not limited to, the design and construction of hardscape patios, wood and/or composite decks, traditional wood pergolas, motorized aluminum pergolas, retaining walls, plantings, synthetic turf, landscape lighting systems, irrigation, planters, outdoor kitchens, and garden spaces.

HDS does not offer landscape maintenance services (e.g. lawn and general landscape maintenance). After installation, we equip our clients with a detailed plant guide for future maintenance needs.

Upon becoming an HDS client, you will be assigned a lead designer who will create your landscape master plan and serve as your project manager and primary contact throughout the entire project. Read more about our HDS team Here.

Absolutely! We work with many of our clients to implement designs in multiple phases.

We typically begin construction when the ground starts to fully thaw in the Chicagoland area, usually around the beginning of April. Our construction season then runs through fall, wrapping up towards the end of November, but can sometimes extend into the winter months depending on the type of project and weather conditions.

Fall is a great time to install your outdoor living space and new plant material, since the weather is more mild than in the summer, which allows the plants to acclimate with less stress.

Our teams tend to book up quickly for the season, so we highly recommend clients to contact us well in advance of when you plan to start using your space. We frequently begin the design process over the winter or even the year before to ensure a spot on our Spring or Summer construction calendar.