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New curved planting beds and path being laid out in a brick-house front yard

Landscape design in Richmond, VA

Landscape design in Richmond built around your yard

A plan that fits your lot, your soil and the way you use the space. We walk the yard with you and quote the work in writing.

  • Plans for front yards, back yards and full overhauls
  • Plant choices that suit clay soil and humid summers
  • Written quote before work starts

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

What does landscape design involve?

Landscape design is the plan for how the outdoor space around your house will look and work. It covers where beds, paths, patios, lawn and trees go, what gets planted, and how water moves across the lot. A good plan solves problems first, then adds the parts that make the yard nicer to use.

For some homes that means a simple front bed redo. For others it is a complete yard overhaul, with old shrubs removed, the grade corrected, new beds, a patio and a lawn. We scale the plan to the job and the budget you give us.

A typical design includes:

  • A site walk and measurements of the areas you want changed
  • A layout showing beds, paths, lawn and any hard surfaces
  • A plant list picked for sun, shade and mature size
  • A drainage plan where water collects
  • A phased option if you want to build over more than one season

If the plan includes a patio or walkway, it connects to our hardscaping and paver work. New lawn areas are covered on the sod installation page. You can see everything we do on the Richmond Landscaping Pros home page.

What problems come up with Richmond yards?

Richmond sits in the Piedmont, and much of the soil is heavy red clay. Clay drains slowly, packs down under foot traffic and machinery, and bakes hard in dry spells. Plants that do fine in loose soil can sit in wet roots after heavy rain, then struggle in August heat. A design that respects those conditions saves money later.

Summers are hot and humid, and winters are usually mild with some hard freezes, so plants must handle both. Many older neighborhoods, such as the Fan, Church Hill and Bon Air, have mature trees that make deep shade and compete for water. Newer suburbs in Henrico and Chesterfield often have builder-grade yards with thin topsoil and ground compacted by construction.

Problems we see again and again:

  • Compacted clay under a thin layer of topsoil
  • Heavy shade from oaks, maples and tulip poplars
  • Slopes that wash out in summer thunderstorms
  • Beds that stay wet near downspouts
  • Plants chosen for a sunny catalog photo, not for your light
  • In some wooded areas, deer browsing on the plants they like best

What changes the price of a landscape design project?

We do not give a number over the phone, because yards vary too much. A modest bed refresh and a full overhaul are very different jobs. We visit, measure and quote in writing so you can compare it line by line with other contractors.

These factors move the price most:

  • The size of the area and how much of it changes
  • Site prep, such as removing old plants, stumps or sod, and correcting the grade
  • Soil work, including compost and loosening compacted clay
  • The number and size of plants. Mature trees and large shrubs cost more than small ones
  • Hard surfaces such as patios, paths and edging
  • Drainage work, walls or lighting added to the plan
  • How easy it is to get equipment and materials to the work area

Ask every contractor for an itemized quote. It shows you where the money goes and makes it easier to phase the work if you need to.

It depends on scope. Small bed projects can often be done in a few days. A full overhaul with drainage, hardscape, planting and lawn usually runs over several weeks, and weather can push dates around. We give a schedule estimate with the quote, and tell you if rain or ground conditions change it.

Timing for planting matters in the Richmond area. Fall and spring are generally the easiest seasons for shrubs, trees and perennials. Summer heat stresses new plants and means a lot more watering. If you want a project done by a certain event or season, tell us early so we can plan the order of work.

Design itself does not have to wait for planting season. Many homeowners plan in winter, then build when the weather turns. That also gives you time to compare options and decide what to do first.

What should I expect on the day, and when should I call?

On the first work day, the crew protects the areas that are not part of the job, and any digging is preceded by a call to Virginia 811 so underground utilities are marked. Next comes the removal of old plants and material, then grading, soil work, planting and mulch. At the end, the crew cleans up and goes over care with you.

Call us when:

  • You have just bought a house and the yard is a blank page or a mess
  • Water pools in the yard or against the foundation
  • You are about to buy plants and are not sure where they will thrive
  • You want a patio, wall or lawn and need all the parts to fit together
  • You plan to sell and want better curb appeal

If drainage is part of the problem, see our retaining wall and drainage page. Otherwise, send the short form with your address and a few photos, and we will come look.

Request landscape design

Tell us what you need and we call you back.

No obligation.

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

Questions about landscaping in Richmond

Do I need a design before I build anything?

Not always. A simple lawn replacement or single patio may only need a clear scope. Once you want several parts to work together, such as beds, a patio and drainage, a plan helps. It shows the order of work and avoids digging up new work to fix something that was missed.

What plants work in Richmond clay soil?

Many native and tough landscape plants do well when the soil is prepared and not left waterlogged. The right choice depends on sun, moisture and space. We choose plants for your actual conditions rather than a fixed list, and we explain mature size so you avoid crowding.

Can you work with a plan I already have?

Yes. If you have a plan from a designer or your own sketch, send it with photos and we will quote it. If we see something that may cause trouble, such as a bed that would collect water, we will tell you before work starts.

Can the project be done in phases?

Yes. Many yard overhauls are done in stages, either to spread out cost or to follow the planting seasons. A plan helps so that early phases do not get in the way of later ones. We can mark the stages in the written quote.

Will my homeowners association need to approve the plan?

Many neighborhoods in Henrico and Chesterfield have an HOA with rules for changes to the yard, fences, patios and plants. Check your covenants before work starts. We can supply a plan and materials details to include with your application.

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Ready when you are Call now or request a quote online. Call for a free quote Get my free landscaping quote (804) 555-0150

How it works

  1. Tell us about the yard

    Size, goals and any photos.

  2. Site visit and quote

    We walk the property and put the price in writing.

  3. We do the work

    Scheduled crew, cleanup included.