Runyan wrote:

I just bought my first home last November. It's old and needs lots of
work. I have just moved to the lawn and garden area of the home. I
have many questions regarding drainage, runoff, retaining walls, grass
type, shrubs, plants (basically everything). I am also a compulsive
do-it-yourselfer. I have been considering two options for a path
forward. 1) Landscape designer or 2) landscape software. I
definitely believe in proper planning before action. Has anyone had
greate success with either of the two above prior to taken action in
their own? If so, how did you select the designer, or the software?

Thanks,
Brian

Brian, there is simply no software on the market that will cover all that
you need. You might be able to come with a spatial layout, even some plant
selection, but certainly no software that I am aware of (including
professional LD software) will address issues like grading and drainage.

If you need the assistance, invest in a designer. You can hire them on a
consultation basis or to help you develop a master plan which you can then
implement yourself. Finding and selecting a qualified designer is much the
same as finding any other professional service - ask at nurseries for
referrals (careful about nurseries that offer design services - sometimes
those are only vehicles to get you to purchase plants and their
"designers" are nothing more than a nursery staffer with no particular
design training), inquire at homes that have obviously professionally done
landscapes or get local referrals from the Association of Professional
Landscape Designers (www.apld.com). Ask for and check references. And make
sure that you and your designer are compatible - this is a pretty close
partnership requiring a great deal of interaction.

pam - gardengal