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of the home as well as the lifestyle of the homeowner. An
active family might desire flat grassy areas for the kids to play,
while the entertainer could prefer a terraced hillside with patio
spaces overlooking the sparkling city lights.
It’s a good idea to consult with a landscape architect before
buying a piece of property, just as you might check with a
builder on potential fixes and improvements to the home itself.
Whether you’re shopping for raw land or you’ve found
the perfect home with a disappointing exterior, a landscape
architect can help identify some options and determine a
budget to get things back in order.
Budget, too, can change significantly depending on the site.
For example, if an otherwise perfect home is lacking your
must-have tennis court, estimates could range from $50,000
to $100,000 — for the same court — depending on what needs
to happen to prepare the site.
“Orientation, topography, access - you might be looking at a
great untouched hillside lot, but how will you get up there,” Mr.
Greey asks. “How do you want the home to fit into the land,
and how do you want to live?”
In addition to numerous estate properties around town,
Greey|Pickett has taken on commercial and public spaces like
the Chicago Cubs Spring Training facility, Riverview Park, and
the current round of renovations in DC Ranch. Other notable
projects have included golf courses like the new par three at
Desert Mountain, and Wickenburg Ranch, where everything
(including how the roads meander through the neighborhoods)
was left to the thoughtful eye of Greey|Pickett.
Next time you’re enjoying the yard, don’t forget to notice all
that went into making it such a great place to relax, recreate,
enjoy a bit of fresh air, and entertain family and friends. And if
you can’t do that, maybe it’s time to update it with the love an
attention you give the rest of your home.
Greey|Pickett focuses their landscape design based on the clients’ desires
and the architecture of their home. Landscape architecture should be a
seamless extension of the home design aesthetic.
Looking to liven up your landscape for the fall and winter? Mr. Greey’s suggestions go right to
ways of adding color. Annuals, perennials, new furniture (or even just new cushions), umbrellas,
and unique pots and plants are all quick ways to bring life back to the yard.
If you’re feeling more ambitious why not incorporate “fertigation”? It’s a process that combines
fertilizer and irrigation in one system, and it’s It’s like an IV for your plants, Mr. Greey says.
How does it work? A tank of granulated fertilizer is installed into your existing irrigation system.
It’ll improve blooms, your plants will develop a better root structure, and take on a richer, healthier
shade of green. Such systems are not terribly expensive, and a great value when you consider the
improvement in the health of your plants. Your current landscape maintenance firm can get you
the right system for your needs.
Russ Greey of Greey Pickett has been
designing landscapes for more than
30 years, for clients around the world.
For more photos and ideas visit:
GreeyPickett.com and check out their Houzz Profile to see other projects and get more ideas Houzz.com/pro/greeypickett/greey-pickett