Tapping into The New Economic Realty
These challenging economic times, call for a greater sensitivity relating to the spending habits of clients willing to embark on a new landscape design. Now is the time, even more than before, to positively reinforce the tangible benefits you offer your clients as part of your professional services. With clients spending more carefully, a more artfully refined approach needs to be part of your selling arsenal.
This is not necessarily bad news for the design professional. Creative design can and must offer a suite of benefits- economic as well. Good design acts in concert with nature and not against it, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Harmony and equilibrium with the natural environment allow for a broad pallet of plant types in optimum growing conditions, reducing the risk of damage due to climate extremes and also pest disease. We all know the benefits of a diverse landscape. Let’s tout these advantages to the clients- we discourage pests by limiting their food source and in so doing provide a natural habitat for control and co-existance, leading to a balanced and diverse eco-system that is partially self sufficient.
When making the right plant selection( for light, soil moisture and prevailing wind conditions) and proper placement thereof, this will increase the likelihood of healthy growth and reduce the need for additives like water, plant nutrients, fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in lower costs and enhancing the sustainability. A well designed landscape is one that uses water intelligently and efficiently. Plant groupings with similar moisture needs, some that need little or no added moisture and a properly designed drip irrigation system will lower the costs and increase the efficiency yields with better drainage and less erosion, both good for the environment.
We can also lower energy consumption costs with an intelligent landscape design. How you ask? Careful placement of trees reducing summer sun and enhancing cooling efficiencies, screening air conditioner units with shrubs and effective windbreaks are all techniques that are designed to lower energy consumption.
Educating the client about these choices is a critical element to helping them make calculated and informed long term financial decisions that are also good for the environment. With attitudes shifting, it is easier to talk about these cost saving choices without compromising on the aesthetic outcome. A recent survey showed that when looking at the yard of the future, thirty eight percent of respondents answered that they wanted one that was self maintaining, while twent six percent said they wanted one that is a self sufficient eco-system. This was not as you might think, a survey conducted in Europe. It was done here in the good old U.S.A!
Use these resources to your advantage and ultimately to the advantage of your client in creating an innovative and aesthetically pleasing landscape design that is economically and environmentally self sufficient. That way, both the environment and your clients wallet will be the big winners!