Why your landscape is important now and in the future.

1. Think about what you want and how you will use your landscape. It is a perfect place for formal entertaining, a herb garden, or a playground.

2. Don’t limit yourself to plants and trees; maybe you would like a fence, a fountain, a deck, a patio.

3. Make a realistic budget. One rule of thumb is to invest 5 to 10 percent of your house’s worth. Appropriate landscape improvements are estimated to return 100 to 200 percent of their cost when a house is sold.

4. Look at books and magazines for ideas and start a file of plants, trees, gardens, yards, pools, patios, decks, fences, etc., that you like. This will help you communicate what you want to achieve—or avoid.

5. Ask about maintenance. Do you enjoy working on your yard and garden, or hire a service to do it. Be sure to let the landscape architect know how you feel about the upkeep of your investment.