Guides
Our Landscape Design Process: First Call to Final Plant
See how Terra Verde Botanical takes a garden from consultation to finished planting, step by step, with real timelines and costs.
By Terra Verde Botanical5 min read
Our process at Terra Verde Botanical runs in five stages: a free 20-minute phone consultation, an on-site assessment (€120, credited to the project), a written design with plant list and quote, installation over one to five days, and a 90-day check-in. Most residential projects take four to eight weeks from first call to finished garden.
What happens on the first call with Terra Verde Botanical?
The first call is short and specific. We ask three things: what you want the space to do, when you want it done, and roughly what you're willing to spend. That's it. No hard sell. If the fit is right, we book a site visit at our Lindenstraße 47 studio's calendar, usually within ten days.
Most people ask about price first. That's the wrong first question. The right one is: what soil do you have? A garden built on compacted builder's rubble will fail no matter how much you spend on plants. According to research summarized by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, soil structure and drainage account for the majority of ornamental plant failures in the first two years [1]. So we start there.
How do we assess a site before designing?
The on-site visit takes about 90 minutes. We bring a soil probe, a pH meter, a light meter, and a notebook. We walk the property twice, once with you talking, once quietly on our own. Then we photograph everything.
Last April, a couple on Rosenweg called us convinced they needed a full lawn replacement because "nothing grows." Two soil tests later we found the real issue: a buried layer of construction sand about 30 cm down, blocking drainage. We fixed the drainage first. The existing lawn recovered in six weeks. They saved roughly €4,200 by not doing what they'd asked us to do.
Here's what we check on every visit:
- We test soil pH and texture in at least three spots across the property.
- We map sun exposure through the day using a light meter, not guesswork.
- We note existing trees, their health, and their root zones before proposing anything nearby.
- We check drainage by pouring water into a 30 cm test hole and timing how long it takes to drain.
- We ask who uses the space, how often, and for what, including pets and children.
- We photograph sightlines from every main window of the house.
If you're weighing us against another provider, our guide on how to choose the right partner for the job covers the questions worth asking anyone.
How long does the full process take and what does it cost?
Timelines depend on scope and season. A refresh planting in autumn moves fast. A full redesign with hardscape in spring, when every landscaper is booked, moves slowly. We're honest about that on the first call.
| Project type | Typical timeline | Starting cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planting refresh | 2-3 weeks | €1,800 | Existing beds, tired plants |
| Full garden redesign | 6-10 weeks | €8,500 | New builds, major overhauls |
| Terrace + planting combo | 8-14 weeks | €14,000 | Hardscape plus soft landscape |
These are starting points from our 2024 project data across 47 completed jobs. The actual quote comes in writing after the site visit, itemized by material and labour. No surprises later. If we hit something unexpected during installation, a hidden concrete slab, a dead root ball, we call you before spending your money on it.
Terra Verde Botanical was founded in 2018. We've kept the same three-person core team since 2021, which matters when you're trusting someone with a garden that takes years to mature. More on our story is in our welcome post.
Why do we return 90 days after installation?
Because plants lie in the first month. They look great when freshly watered and mulched. The real test comes after the first heat wave, the first heavy rain, the first frost. The 90-day visit lets us catch a struggling shrub while it's still saveable and adjust irrigation before something dies. A recent study indexed on PubMed found that establishment-phase monitoring significantly reduces plant mortality in the first two years [2]. We've seen the same in our own records.
Try this: ask any landscaper what their 12-month replacement rate is. If they don't know the number, they aren't measuring it. Ours sits at 6.2% for plants installed under our care contract.
FAQ
Do you work outside your immediate service area?
We serve properties within roughly 40 km of our studio. Beyond that, travel time eats into design quality and site visits become impractical. For projects outside this range we can recommend trusted colleagues we've worked alongside, though we don't take referral fees for these introductions.
Can I supply my own plants?
Yes, but we won't warranty them. Nursery-sourced plants from our suppliers come with a one-year replacement guarantee if they fail under our care plan. Plants brought from garden centres or online retailers vary too much in root quality and acclimation, so the risk sits with you.
What if I only want a design, not installation?
That's fine. Our design-only package includes the site assessment, a scaled plan, a plant list with quantities and sourcing notes, and one revision round. Pricing starts at €1,400. You can install it yourself or hire another team, no obligation to use us for the build.
How do you handle changes mid-project?
Small adjustments are normal and included. Major changes, swapping hardscape materials, adding zones, get a written change order with revised cost and timeline before we proceed. We won't spend your money on scope you didn't approve.
