Susan Reed, Landscape Architect: Why Plan? - Landscape Architecture in the Pioneer Valley, Western Massachusetts

Overview
Create a harmonious fit
Prevent problems
Work within budget
Increase property value

Virginia Rose

Virginia Rose
Rosa virginiana

Prevent problems and minimize harm

Porches and patios too cold for comfort… front steps steep and awkward to use… a driveway that's eroding… paths full of puddles… no convenient place to sit outdoors… overgrown plants, gardens that need constant care… something vaguely uncomfortable about your yard. These and similar problems may lead to injury, expensive repair, reduced re-sale value, or just a pervasive sense of disappointment in your home environment.

Your landscape is a system of many interconnected parts and relationships. Changes made in one area may affect the entire property: your new patio may unexpectedly concentrate runoff that washes away valuable soil or swamps a nearby woodland; widening your driveway may create a dangerously steep slope; the new addition to your house may occupy the only private, sunny place to sit outside; a pretty new plant may unexpectedly spread and overwhelm an entire garden.

Beyond repairing obvious problems, landscape planning considers every aspect of the site, including potential or hidden problems, and provides effective, long-term solutions that protect your property and the people who use it.