Once your design is complete, it’s time to bring the plan to life. This phase is where drawings turn into patios, trees, and outdoor rooms you can actually enjoy. But getting there smoothly takes coordination and clear decisions.

The Role of Your Landscape Designer

If your designer offers installation services, you may want to keep them involved. This would only include install of plants, trees, sod, and working with subcontractors to make sure the details of the plan are executed correctly. This often prevents mistakes and keeps the final product true to your original vision.

Pro Tip: Most landscapers provide warranties on plantings. If a tree or shrub dies within a set period due to specific reasons (outside of homeowner neglect), they’ll replace it at no cost.

Coordinating with Contractors and Installers

The bulk of the work—grading, patios, decks, retaining walls, drainage—will typically be done by subcontractors, with oversight by your general contractor. Your role here is to make sure they have everything they need to stay on schedule and within budget. Expect to be asked about material choices, finishes, and sometimes small adjustments to the design as work unfolds on site.

Doing It Yourself

Many homeowners like to take on some of the work themselves—planting beds, adding smaller trees, or layering in perennials and grasses over time. This is where phasing really works in your favor: let contractors handle the heavy lifting of core structures, then add the details at your own pace.

Whether you work side by side with your designer, hire out the installation, or chip away at it yourself, this phase is about moving from concept to reality—one step closer to a finished landscape you can enjoy.