Why choose a landscape professional?

1. Home value. Landscaping greatly impacts home value. A bare root twig planted near a window can grow into a 50-foot tree. A professional plan sites plants correctly so they won't become threats or obstructions to the home.

2. Peace of mind. Hiring a design professional before ripping up your lawn will save you headaches, not to mention dollars. Many landscape professionals consider design a value-added service.

3. Know-how. Mass marketed plants can be non-hardy for your area. You may not be aware of varieties susceptible to pest infestations. A professional helps you avoid expensive mistakes. Landscape designers keep up with the newest varieties, offering you a whole spectrum of plant material.

4. Long-term maintenance. A professional will ask how much time you want to devote to maintaining your landscape and will design accordingly. Garden ideas gleaned from magazines may be impractical for your lifestyle. The orchard or rose arbor you want may require regular chemical treatments to survive.

5. Investment in the future. Wise homeowners choose investments based on their return. The unified aesthetic appearance of a professionally designed landscape is intrinsic to its value. If well executed and attuned to its surroundings, landscaping has a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent, according to MONEY Magazine.