5 Essential Questions to Ask Before Starting Your Landscape Project
When our Rivercrest client first reached out about transforming his property, he had a clear vision: create a peaceful retreat where he could spend his afternoons in complete privacy. But as we walked through his yard together, an even richer story emerged—one that would shape every aspect of his landscape design.
That's the beauty of asking the right questions. Every property tells a unique story, and uncovering that story makes all the difference between a good landscape and a truly exceptional one.
Here are five key questions we've learned to explore with every client over our 40 years of creating Fort Worth's finest landscapes:
1. Understanding Your Vision
"How do you want to feel in your space?"
This might sound like a simple question, but it's transformative. When our TCU area clients shared their dream of creating a space where grandparents could interact with their grandchildren while enjoying game days, it shaped everything—from the strategic placement of boulders for natural seating to the covered arbor with its game-day TV.
The answer to this question guides every decision, whether you're dreaming of a serene retreat or a vibrant entertaining space. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about creating an emotional connection to your outdoor space.
2. Working with Nature
Natural patterns matter more than most people realize. Take our Rivercrest project, where flooding concerns initially caused anxiety. By understanding how water naturally moved through the yard, we designed a series of cleverly placed drain basins that work with the property's natural fall. Now our client sends us excited texts during heavy rains, watching with satisfaction as everything works exactly as it should.
Ask yourself:
Where does water flow during heavy rains?
Which areas get full sun versus shade throughout the day?
How do you naturally move through your outdoor spaces?
These patterns become the foundation of smart design decisions.
3. The Maintenance Reality
Be honest about your maintenance expectations. Some of our clients love getting their hands dirty in the garden, while others prefer our full-service approach where we handle every detail. Neither approach is wrong—what matters is that your landscape matches your lifestyle.
As Susan Blackmon notes, "Shelly regularly walks your property to assess how things are growing." This hands-on approach ensures that every detail stays perfect, from synthetic turf to surrounding plantings, making it a worry-free space for family enjoyment.
4. Planning for Growth
Great landscapes evolve. When working on our Rivercrest project, we thought beyond immediate concerns, installing East Palatka Hollies along the back wall for growing privacy and pre-plumbing every decorative pot with hidden irrigation and drainage. Because beautiful shouldn't mean high-maintenance.
Consider:
How might your family's needs change?
Are there future projects to plan for?
What seasonal changes would you enjoy most?
5. Defining Success
This final question might be the most important: What does success look like to you? For our TCU area clients, it's seeing three generations enjoying their space together—grandkids playing safely on the turf while grandparents watch from their comfortable seating areas, all within earshot of those exciting TCU games.
For our Rivercrest client, success meant transforming his property into a peaceful retreat where he could spend his afternoons without feeling exposed to passing traffic or neighboring homes. Now he often texts us from his backyard just to share how much he loves spending time there.
6. Ready to Start Your Journey?
Every exceptional landscape begins with these conversations. If you're ready to explore what's possible for your property, we're here to listen. Our approach has helped countless neighbors in 76107 and 76109 transform their outdoor spaces into something truly special. Ready to start the conversation? Simply call us at (817) 335-3229 or send us an email to cody@codylandscape.com to learn more.