Landscape design is where the look of a property gets decided. Good design puts the right plants in the right spots so they grow into the space instead of fighting it, keeps water moving away from the house, and makes the yard easier to maintain, not harder. We handle the whole job, from the first walk-through to the last bale of pine straw.
Some customers want a single front bed refreshed. Others want the full treatment: old shrubs out, trees down, beds reshaped, irrigation and new sod in. One of our customers had us redo an entire yard, take down trees, install irrigation and sod, and finish the landscaping. That kind of project is exactly what this service covers.
What is included
- On-site consultation to look at sun, shade, slope, drainage, and how you use the yard
- A planting plan with plant choices, spacing, and bed shapes
- Removal of old shrubs, overgrown plantings, stumps, and debris
- Soil preparation, bed edging, and grading so water flows away from the foundation
- Installation of shrubs, trees, perennials, and ornamental grasses
- Mulch, pine straw, or decorative stone finish
- Coordination with irrigation, sod, drainage, walls, and patios when the project calls for them
How the job works
- 1Consultation. We walk the property with you, talk about what you like and what bothers you, and take measurements.
- 2Plan and quote. You get a clear scope of work with plant selections and a written quote. We stick to the price we quote.
- 3Site prep. Old material comes out, beds are shaped, soil is amended where it needs it, and the grade is set.
- 4Install and finish. Plants go in at the right depth and spacing, beds get mulch or pine straw, and the site is cleaned up.
Designing for Columbia soil, sun, and heat
Columbia sits right on the Fall Line, where the Sandhills meet the Piedmont. That means one neighborhood can have loose sandy loam that drains in minutes while the next has dense red clay that holds water for days. Plants that thrive in one will struggle in the other, so we look at the soil before we pick the plants.
Midlands summers are long and hot, and a dry August can finish off anything that was planted shallow or in the wrong exposure. We lean on plants that handle heat and short droughts once established, such as hollies, loropetalum, distylium, abelia, muhly grass, and crape myrtle, and we save azaleas, camellias, and hydrangeas for the shadier, more sheltered spots where they actually do well.
Fall is the best time to plant shrubs and trees here. Soil is still warm enough for roots to grow, and cooler air means less stress on the leaves. Spring planting works too, but new plants need steady water through their first summer, which is one reason we often pair landscape installs with irrigation.
What affects the price
Every property is different, so we quote each job after seeing it. These are the things that move the number most:
- Size of the area and number of beds
- Plant sizes and quantities, since container size drives cost more than plant type
- How much removal and hauling is needed before installation
- Grading, soil amendments, and drainage work
- Finish material: mulch, pine straw, or stone
- Whether irrigation, sod, walls, or hardscape are part of the same project
Quotes are free, and our customers regularly mention that we stick to the price we quote.
Timeline and warranty
A bed refresh is often a one-day job. A full yard makeover with removal, grading, planting, and sod usually takes several days to a couple of weeks depending on size and weather. We give you a realistic start date and duration with the quote.
Ask about warranty coverage when we quote your project, and we will put the terms in writing.