Understanding Concept Design for Your Landscape Project

You've hired a landscape architect, completed the initial site meeting, and discussed priorities, budget, and timeline. Now the architect presents your property's concept design. Many clients don't know what to expect in this crucial early stage.

The concept design sets the project's vision and tone—it's the first design phase. The architect has been sketching, studying site photos, and reviewing meeting notes to create the overall concept plan, supported by various drawings conveying design intent and the future look and feel.

The Presentation

Designers use inspiration photos and varied drawings to show building siting, views, and space organization. The architect walks you through ideas starting with a concept or inspiration, explaining major ideas and layout, supported by detailed drawings. Typically, one overall scheme is presented as a concept-level plan, with additional options for materials, plants, and layout schemes for specific areas.

Drawings Supporting the Concept Design

Concept Plan

The site plan at concept level shows overall layout—major ideas and garden use areas. It's intentionally loose; details come later. When evaluating, focus on the big picture and overall features.

Detail level depends on property size. The plan may not specify exact plant species but rather plant types and suggestions—a "specimen tree" could be any focal-point tree like sugar maple, northern red oak, or tulip tree depending on setting and preference. A shaded garden hedge might suggest a mix of ericaceous evergreen shrubs.

Mood Boards

Collections of plants, patterns, colors, and inspirational images—also called inspiration boards—distill the design's major visual elements into one collage. For landscapes, this might include patterns, colors, and historic garden precedents. Mood boards may be presented at the concept review or simply discussed.

Sketches

Essential first drawings of ideas—layouts, views, sections, or details. Quick ways to test options by hand. Most stay in the office; only the most pertinent come to the review. Sketches are often vague and open-ended, sparking conversations that redirect the design. Respond intuitively—what's your gut reaction?

Perspective Renderings

Digital perspectives created over property photos or architect's proposed construction images. These convey textures and atmosphere in context, with some artistic license. They're the most client-readable drawings—you should sense views, setting, and imagine yourself in the design.

Plant Palettes

Collections of specific plant species as a starting point for the planting plan, creating an overall garden look. The example shows blue- and white-blooming flowers for a client requesting cool-colored blossoms, representing a woodland garden area within a larger design.

Plant palettes show bloom types, foliage textures, colors, and plant forms, typically with various species options. Give direct feedback on likes/dislikes so the palette can be refined in the next phase.

Handling Revisions

Revisions are normal and expected at the concept stage. If the concept isn't what you want, simply say so. Revision pricing is usually in your service contract—ask if unsure. Landscape architects are service professionals striving for client satisfaction; most residential firms are local small businesses relying on quality work and great service.

Ideally, discussion moves toward refining the concept plan with clear next steps and a completion timeline.

Next: How to Find and Hire a Great Landscape Contractor