Landscape Design Puns

Floridian here. I'm slowly converting my front yard into no lawn. One side of my property is taken up by a 12+ raised garden beds for veggies. We've lined our driveway and house with a smattering of cacti, succulents, pineapples, sea grape, ti plants, bromeliads, beach sunflower, Mexican petunia, poinsettia, agave, sugarcane, etc etc etc. You know, Florida stuff.

We still have a big bare side in the front, and I was wondering if anyone has tips on how to better understand landscape design. I'm afraid to completely tear up my lawn and then make it look janky by throwing random plants all over the place.

Looking for an app, software, or website that I can take a picture of a house and then edit landscaping onto it. Anyone have any experience with free apps?

Which ones do you guys like? Which ones do you hate? Looking for one for my landscaping class to use (high school).

Pro Landscape has been most user-friendly website by far, so right now, I'm leaning towards them.

Could use some advice…

We hired a joint design and construction landscape company for a new build in central California. During the first consult, before we signed anything, we made it clear our budget was ~$35k. We need a retaining wall as there’s a slope going upward in our backyard (to another lot).

The contractor assured us it was doable. Even said it “was more than enough money”. We didn’t want anything crazy beyond the retaining wall. Just simple grass and a few plants, maybe some lighting. The yard is quite small.

We hired the company based on the combined design/construction services. Frankly, IMO, the design was over market ($4k) but you get the credit back for construction so we were okay with it. We met with the owner several times and discussed our ideas and goals. Admittedly there was one expensive “nice to have” which was an outdoor fireplace but we never said we wanted to spend a lot more money.

After several consults we got our design. Great. We tweaked and discussed and got the final design which we paid for.

After more weeks go by we get our quote for the project. $110k.

Holy. Shit. How do you blow past triple what our budget is when you made the design? We also got an alternate no fireplace quote for $70k, double our budget.

We feel like we’ve been taken for a ride. We never would’ve hired them for the design if we knew they’d waste our time and blow past our budget. But we already paid $4k cash for the design. I think market rate is more like $3-3.3k for how small our yard is and how simple our design is.

They also have a $10k “administration fee” in their quote for…showing up and administering the project. Frankly I think they are squeezing us because they think they can.

Anyway, how can I tactfully but forcefully ask for a refund on the design? I don’t want a complete refund as they actually did the work, but I think it was under false pretenses and above market rate. And they clearly had no intention of ever hitting our budget - I want maybe a $1.5k refund.

I'm planning to apply for Bachelor of Environmental Design and major in landscape architecture. The university site says there is no Math requirement and since I did do any math subjects I don't remember much. I know landscape architecture has math in it but since the university says it is not a requirement, does the university teach from the beginning or should we have some prior knowledge?

Thank you in advance!

I’m looking for a great landscape construction company that can do major residential projects including hardscaping, drainage projects, etc. on south Whidbey.

Thanks in advance!

Kia ora, looking for books, websites or blogs on designing a garden using NZ native trees.

Please post any links you might have.

Thank you.

I couldn’t find a wiki that mentioned any good design software. Doesn’t anyone have any good design software that is free?