[mdvaden]

Professional design is the result, not the drawing.

Designers should provide nice drawings, but the professionalism will be determined by the final product.

The product is determined by knowledge and experience.

In our area for example, if a designer is to succeed, they need to know the solutions and answers for questions like these:

1. How many times each year does Blue Oat Grass need to be cleaned of dead leaf material?

2. Which large conifer is best to plant near a driveway - Douglas Fir, or Western Hemlock?

3. Which tree complicates maintenance the most when planted in beds with Vinca minor - Scarlet Oak, or European White Birch?

Its interesting to see the planting design about 1 mile from here at a new large commercial shopping complex, designed by a landscape architect.

The hedges of Japanese Holly line the parking lots. The design was done by someone without working in-the-field experience. The hedges are placed for vehicles to park "nose" first. Anyone who has worked in the field doing mowing at a commercial complex realizes that about 1 vehicle in 30 backs in, some having a hitch.

So this complex continually looses part of the hedge as vehicles periodically back in and crush the plants. Many vehicles have more body protruding behind the rear wheels than in front.

That complex just to site one example, is loaded with problems like that. So it would not matter how good, or how detailed their designs are, nor how good their customer service is - the final product is unprofessional. It deteriorates daily.

About 5 miles from here, there is one complex for offices. Its really nice. It only had one defect. Hinoki Cypress planted too close to the buildings. Otherwise, the rest of the 10 acre or so complex is well done. Its rather refreshing to drive by and see the result of good workmanship. The reason I bring this up, is that commercial designs in the Portland area of excellent quality, are fewer than greater.