DESIGN TIME
WHY A DESIGN PLAN MATTERS…
A proper landscape design is the foundation of a successful outdoor project. By carefully planning layout, materials, grading, and plant selection from the start, you avoid costly changes, rework, and material waste later on. Good design ensures the right elements are placed in the right locations, plants that will thrive long-term, efficient drainage that prevents future damage, and hardscape features sized and positioned correctly the first time. It also allows the project to be phased logically, helping spread costs over time without sacrificing the overall vision. In the end, investing in thoughtful design upfront not only creates a more cohesive, functional landscape, but also keeps construction, maintenance, and long-term ownership costs under control.
3D rendering
The Great Canadian Landscaping Company
HOW DESIGN SAVES YOU MONEY
A design plan can save you money in several practical, long-term ways, often more than its upfront cost. Here’s how:
1. Prevents Costly Mistakes
Without a plan, it’s easy to buy the wrong plants, place features incorrectly, or redo work later. A design plan:
Ensures plants are suited to your climate, soil, and sunlight
Prevents over-planting or poor spacing that leads to replacement costs
Reduces “trial and error” spending
2. Controls Your Budget from the Start
A professional or well-thought-out plan:
Establishes a clear budget and priorities
Helps you choose materials that fit your price range
Avoids impulse purchases that don’t work long-term
3. Enables Phased Installation
With a plan, you can:
Install the landscape in stages as your budget allows
Avoid redoing work later because everything fits the long-term vision
Invest first in essentials (grading, drainage, hardscape) and add extras later
4. Reduces Maintenance and Replacement Costs
Smart design lowers ongoing expenses by:
Using drought-tolerant or native plants that need less water and care
Reducing lawn areas that require frequent mowing and fertilizing
Selecting durable materials that last longer
5. Improves Water and Energy Efficiency
A good plan considers:
Efficient irrigation layouts that reduce water waste
Strategic tree placement for shade, lowering cooling costs
Proper drainage to prevent erosion or foundation damage
6. Maximizes Property Value
Well-designed landscapes:
Increase curb appeal and resale value
Make outdoor spaces more usable and attractive
Offer a higher return on investment than random upgrades
7. Avoids Contractor Change Orders
Clear plans:
Reduce misunderstandings with contractors
Minimize costly mid-project changes
Speed up installation, saving labor costs
Bottom Line
A landscape design plan isn’t an extra expense, it’s a cost-saving tool. By planning before you start, you avoid waste, control spending, reduce maintenance, and protect your investment for years to come.
The Essentials
DESIGN STYLE EDIT
A POLLINATORS PARADISE
A bee haven in the UBC endowment lands.
A HIDDEN GEM IN DEEP COVE
Making space for down time.
WEST POINT GREY MODERN
A perfect balance of modern meets nature.
COACH HOUSE IN THE COVE
Redefining guest spaces
CHRIS’S CORNER
Chris O’Donohue
Owner
February in the Garden: Quiet Work That Shapes the Season Ahead
February arrives without much fanfare. The garden is still resting - cool mornings, damp soil, and the occasional frost but beneath the surface, everything is getting ready.
As homeowners, this is the month to slow down and observe. Winter weather can quietly take its toll, so now is the time to clear fallen branches, remove soggy leaves from garden beds, and ensure drainage paths are open and flowing. A short walk around your residential or strata property in February can prevent costly issues once spring growth begins.
This is also prime pruning season. Dormant roses, fruit trees, ornamental grasses, and deciduous shrubs respond best to careful pruning while they’re still asleep. At The Great Canadian Landscaping Company, we see February as the month where structure is set. Good pruning now leads to healthier plants, stronger blooms, and more manageable gardens later.
Indoors, the growing season officially begins. Starting seeds under lights or sunny windows gives warm season plants a head start. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, onions, and early greens like kale and broccoli all benefit from early planning. Outdoors, weather permitting, hardy crops such as peas, spinach, garlic, shallots, and broad beans can be planted directly into prepared soil.
February isn’t about instant colour or quick wins. It’s about preparation, intention, and momentum. The work done now may go unnoticed, but it’s the foundation for everything that follows.
I believe great landscapes are built long before spring arrives. Thoughtful care in February sets the stage for a healthy, beautiful, and resilient garden all year long.
Feature Spotlight
HEDGES
As cities like Vancouver and Victoria developed in the late 1800’s, hedges became a defining feature of ornamental landscapes rooted in British garden traditions, these clipped boundaries created symmetry, structure and a sense of order. In Victoria especially, tall formal hedges framed grand estates, offering privacy, prestige and permanence.
Today, maintaining those traditional hedge styles is becoming more challenging. Hotter summers, winters with extreme cold snaps, extended dry periods and heavier rainfall events are placing stress on many of the species historically used. As our climate continues to shift, the plants rely on must evolve too.
Climate adapted hedge options that still honour formal garden structure:
Laurels
Refined, dense and more heat tolerant with several varieties.
Yew
Slow growing, long lived and highly shapeable.
Japanese Holly
Resembling a favourite, boxwood, but heartier and more tolerant of our changing weather.
A Final Note
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”
- Albert Einstein
