Borst Landscape And Design Recommends Winter Season For Planning Spring Projects

Borst Landscape and Design

Full-Service Landscape/Hardscape Firm Advises Homeowners to Warm Up Large-Scale Projects During Colder Months

Borst Landscape and Design, an award-winning, full-service design/build firm in Allendale, recommends using the cold winter months to get spring projects planned and approved. According to Terry McMahon and Joe Tuttle, landscape designers at Borst, winter is the best time to take a fresh look at an entire property, from home architecture to topography, especially for big renovations that include hardscapes. They advise homeowners to then create a master plan in order to execute an installation smoothly.
McMahon advocates this “clean slate” approach and works closely with many homeowners during the winter to prepare master plans for their projects. These plans plot out every step, from breaking ground to planting trees and everything in between, which helps with logistics and budgeting.

“At Borst, we strongly encourage having a master plan, regardless of the project’s size,” said McMahon. “It’s much easier for us to phase in portions of the project while preserving a cohesive overall plan. We save time, energy and money in the long run, while meeting the homeowner’s goals.”

A good winter plan provides adequate time to get the permits and applications required for each job. Different town regulations about drainage, elevation and permeable surface requirements make it crucial to have professional renderings in hand and a firm plan in mind to reduce the potential for surprises along the way.

McMahon said that every plan revision or unforeseen site challenge also must be reworked and approved and can cut into springtime construction schedules. Unpredictable spring weather, such as very heavy rain, can also cause problems so it’s best to have as much background work done in advance as possible.

Tuttle notes that the permitting process can be the most time-consuming part of a project and should be done over the winter so that a project can get underway as soon as possible. “In order to be ready for warm-weather entertaining, homeowners should use the winter months to plan their goals. That way they will be on schedule to complete the job in time for spring and summer,” said Tuttle.

He advises that for new home construction, early consultation with the landscape designer is critical to ensure that the transition from inside to outside is well integrated and that the property flows as a natural extension of the home. For example, the winter months are an ideal time to plan outdoor living spaces, privacy plantings and other design elements; to remove trees in preparation for construction; and execute other preparations such as grading the property and creating access to the job site, so that the landscape and construction crews can hit the ground running after the winter thaw.

Borst Landscape and Design recently won the Grand Award in Environmental Improvement from Professional Land Care Network (PLANET), an international association serving lawn care professionals, landscape management contractors, design/build/installation professionals, and interior plantscapers. For more information on Borst’s landscape and hardscape design/build services, call (201) 785-9400 or visit www.borstlandscape.com.