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Landscape designers create designs specific to your property, considering your budget, vision, and physical space. Most landscape designers work solely as a designer doing a site visit and creating a landscape plan for a separate contractor who will do the work. Other landscape designers work as consultants who take a more hands-on approach to the entire project.

Landscape consultants manage the entire process from start to finish. If you want someone who can survey your land, offer up a detailed plan for a total transformation, find the right materials, hire contractors, and oversee the work, then you should hire a landscape consultant. You may pay up to $200 an hour just for their fee alone, but it can take considerable stress off you and add time back into your day.

If you're on a budget, a freelance landscape designer may be the way to go. A design firm focuses more on every project, ensuring fewer mistakes and a more comprehensive plan. Though a firm is usually more expensive, it also provides more comprehensive services. For instance, the same firm that designs your landscape may be able to handle the labor of the actual installation.

If you get quotes before hiring a landscape designer (and you should), ask them a few questions before you make any final hiring decisions. Some good questions include: 

• Do you bill by the project, area, or hour?

• How long does the design process take?

• What do your services include?

• Can I see your portfolio and talk with previous clients?

A landscape designer has no licensing requirements, but they often have a design, horticulture, or nursery background. A landscape architect is a legally protected title in most states, requiring a college degree and state licensure. When you need a complex job that includes things like a retaining wall, grading land, or restructuring the soil, you should call a landscape architect.

Many also do design work inclusive of the larger project. Architects work on both commercial and complex residential projects. Landscape architects cost up to $150 per hour—or $200 per hour for principal architects.

Landscape plans vary by design firm, so it’s a good idea to ask the designer before moving forward with their services. In general, you should expect the landscape plan to include natural elements, like trees, plants, flowers, and even vegetable gardens. 

Depending on your project’s specifics, the plan may include patios, sheds, decks, fountains, and lawn furniture. More complex designs, like those requiring retaining walls or lawn regarding, require a landscape architect. Retaining wall installation costs from $3,200 to $8,950 while yard leveling costs between $1,000 and $3,225—but design fees for these projects are separate.