Cynthia Kinman

When you become "hardcore" about your design work rather than construction, you become more competitive and show clients the true value of professional landscape work.

There are many parallels between the art of cooking and the art of design-build. Because there is usually a more considerable investment of time and money for landscape work, those two rules are even more critical than in cooking.

We believe strongly that our industry needs a strong definition of "high-end" landscape work so that clients and contractors are communicating clearly with each other, from the onset. This way, clients and prospects can discern true value and understand what they get for their money, and the...more >>

When you can prove the value of your work to clients, your expertise will become valuable.

Part 1 of this two-part article explains how contractors who show extra value in their work will be the ones clients seek in 2010.

When we first started installing landscape projects, the irrigation systems were simpler and smaller than today. We tried to expand our irrigation division as our company grew. However, we quickly realized it made more sense to hire the irrigation segment of the project out with sub-contractors who...more >>

If retaining walls are not difficult to install, then you're probably not retaining anything. Today's landscape design-build contractors install retaining walls for two reasons: for structural reasons to retain slopes and modify the site, or for aesthetic reasons.

Many landscape designers and sales consultants may be reluctant to suggest dedicating part of the landscape budget to art, fearing it might take away from other areas of the budget. They just want to stick within our industry's typical steak and potatoes: planting, walkways, lighting and...more >>

Water features: the real cost is not in the plumbing, the piping, liner, excavation or laying of the stone. The real costs lie in the tweaking of all of those elements.

Today, the majority of homes are part of mass-produced subdivisions. Here's how to evaluate home and site to come up with a range of design options to meet clients' desires and pocketbooks.