8 Ways to Boost Productivity in the Office - Start Outside and Work Your Way In

8 Ways to Boost Productivity in the Office - Start Outside and Work Your Way In

Setting up a new office for your business is no simple task. From finding the most suitable place to settle in, to making sure that your office space is kitted out thoroughly and that your employees have absolutely everything that they will need on hand; there's always something else to remember.

In this article we are going to explore a few different ways in which you can maximize on the productivity in your office. Once you're all up and running and things are beginning to pick up pace, you're going to want to ensure that your workers are motivated and dedicated to the task at hand.

It's a big deal, setting up an office; and you want to do everything in your power to secure your success. Read on for 8 ways in which you can boost productivity in your new office.

1 - Location, Location

OK, so this point is not related to what's in the office, but what's outside. One of the most important aspects of an office's location is what there is to do in the immediate surrounding area. You need to offer your employees the opportunity to get out of the office on their lunch and enjoy a nice coffee, or some decent places to eat. This is the key to a productive work - ample having distractions OUTSIDE.

2 - Keep Distractions to a Minimum

While it is important to have your office located in a relatively central area with plenty of things to do, you should try to keep the distractions in the office to a minimum. You'll have a hard-enough time keeping them off their smart phones, so an overly cluttered office with too many visual distractions can be detrimental.

Keep it simple and add plenty of green to your office. Having a few beautiful plants scattered around have more benefits than simply making the place look pretty.

3 - Noise: Find the Right Balance

This one really does depend on the culture of your business and the personalities that you have on your team. Often a bit of music can really help to boost productivity in the workplace, though having the radio going with lots of talking may not be the best course of action.

Weigh it up and try to find the right fit for the people you have working for you. Perhaps a bit of neutral instrumental music playing in the background through the day could be really positive.

4 - Ergonomic Furniture, Always

You should never skimp on furniture when it comes to kitting out your office. No, it's not cheap and you've no doubt forked a lot of money so far through the entire process of getting things set up. But, if you want your employees to work at their optimum performance levels it is important to ensure that they are comfortable. Not only that, but ergonomic office furniture is much, much better for their health and well-being. At least act like you care, eh?

5 - Light the Way

Lighting is arguably one of the most important factors when it comes to productivity and the overall mood in an office. Natural light is truly a godsend and so you should take every advantage of it. If you're limited with how many windows you have in the office, then look to installing a few mirrors in opportune locations.

This can also contribute towards making the space feel bigger, if you're in a small small office. You could always look to implement various lighting or lamp features, though again; be careful not to go too OTT with distractions.

6 - A Room with a View

Again, this is not necessarily going to be possible, depending on your set up. Although it is always handy to have some large open windows, offering a nice view for your employees to enjoy.

While we've talked about keeping distractions to a minimum, a bit of green or a city-scape can often be inspiring - that and it affords your staff a quick reply from staring at their screens.

7 - Encourage Regular Breaks

Arguably the worst thing that you can do to your business is order your employees to stay at their desks at all times. I've worked in that environment before, where people are penalized for spending too much time in the toilet and believe me; it does not work. Not only does it significantly reduce your staff retention rate, but it also encourages people to slack off more.

By encouraging regular breaks, it is not only good for your employee's health, but their productivity too. A bit of time away from the desk to stretch their legs will work wonders. Try implementing some fun brain teasers and puzzles to keep them occupied for 5 minutes while they have a cup of tea - that'll keep the cogs whirling.

8. Keep a Clean Environment

If you can not afford to hire cleaners, do it yourself. There is nothing worse than a filthy environment. Make sure that your office is regularly cleaned and that your staff keep a clean working area. They may not like it, but you could implement a "slob-of-the-month", award. Nobody will want to be recognized as the one who does not clean up after themselves in the break room.

To Summarise

Certain Office buildings come with a number of benefits, such as in-house cleaning, round-the-clock security and being in a centralized location with magnificent views. You can tick off many of these productivity points simply being finding the right spot to set your office up. Do your research before rushing in! Make sure your employees will benefit just as much from it's location as will your budget.

Pros and Cons of Using a Laptop With a Backlit Keyboard

Pros and Cons of Using a Laptop With a Backlit Keyboard

Perhaps one of the most underrated features of high-end laptops today is the LED backlit keyboard. There are some people who would not buy a laptop without it, and other who does not even know it exists as a feature. We're going to dig into the pros and cons of owning a laptop with this kind of keyboard so you can make the decision for yourself.

Positives: Reasons In Support Of Using a Laptop with an Illuminated Keyboard

1. The most obvious reason: You can use your laptop in the dark!

Many people are not able to type without looking at the keys, and if you often find yourself on your laptop in bed at night (with the lights off), having an illuminated keyboard can be a big help.

2. You're probably using a better computer when you have a backlit keyboard.

One other good reason for owning a laptop that has a backlit keyboard is you're probably using a better computer when you have a backlit keyboard. This delivers the additional advantage of having other components that are considered "high-end" or "high performance", which is certain to protect against making the mistake of buying a computer that runs slowly and does not perform well with games (if you 're into that ..)

3. It just looks cool.

And then there's the fact that having an illuminated keyboard is aesthetically pleasing. This is important since it makes you feel good about your purchase, and perhaps allows you to further enjoy whatever it is you're doing on the computer. Once you take that consideration, then it seems sensible to own a laptop that has a backlit keyboard.

But that is the good side of laptops with illuminated keyboards. There is also a negative side. Here's a discussion of some of the negative aspects.

Cons: Points Against Buying a Laptop with a Backlit Keyboard

1. They're often more expensive.

If you are shopping for a laptop that runs well and is affordable, you might find that these laptops often more expensive. That's clearly a bad thing. It could have enough reason for avoiding buying it at all.

2. They use more battery power.

This is fine if you always use your laptop plugged in, but if you travel a lot and expect to use the battery power often, you may find yourself with limited usage time.

3. You simply do not need it.

A final legitimate reason to avoid buying a laptop that has ones of these keyboards is that you simply do not need it .. Everyone should consider this point very carefully, considering that it can result in a reason to steer clear of these computers. You may be better suited spending the money on other features that are more useful to you. owning a laptop that has a backlit keyboard

So that that is that. These are the disadvantages and benefits of purchasing a laptop that has a backlit keyboard .. It certainly is not ideal for all of us, yet it definitely is good for some. Here, think diligently about the reasons mentioned above. Hopefully your final decision process will be aided greatly by the pro and con information brought to you here.

Measure the Impact of Customer Service

Measure the Impact of Customer Service

Measuring customer service from a consumer's point of view is vital to improving business performance.

Research by the Institute of Customer Service and Ashridge Business School revealed that businesses believe that understanding their organization from a customer's perspective can increase return on investment (ROI).

Their investigation found that 81 per cent of organizations thought that it is very likely to achieve positive ROI by gaining an understanding of service "from the customer perspective".

In addition, 74 per cent of organizations said that producing real businesses ROI can be achieved by taking the time to gather and act on customer feedback as this information is crucial to improving processes.

Joanna Causon, the Institute's CEO, said that it is the responsibility of human resources departments to alter the way in which return on investment for customer service is measured and reported

She said: "To position return on investment (ROI) in the boardroom, human resource departments must shift customer service away from measuring customer satisfaction and into much more complex areas, such as how customers perceive the value of their relationship with the company."

Organizations that want to improve customer service should use systems thinking to change processes within their businesses because it puts the consumer at the heart of each process.

"We are still measuring what is easy to measure. Stuff that's hardest to measure will become the stuff of great importance. is a whole new board game, "added Ms Causon.

Systems thinking examines how a customer's opinion of an organization is created by what happens at each point of transaction and how the customer's demand is met as well as how the organization responses.

Using systems thinking can help add value to each process but this value must be defined in customer terms because the best businesses think of transactions in terms of how well the customer is able to achieve value from a process.

Many companies do not possess the skills to fully understand how to analyze their own business from a customer's point of view and this can result in the creation of processes which do not offer much value.

The Institute of Customer Service estimates that poor levels of customer service costs the British economy GBP 50 billion a year, which equates to an average of GBP 248 in lost business from each UK citizen.

Why You Must Use Lemon Water For Fertility

Why You Must Use Lemon Water For Fertility

If you are trying to get pregnant and yet can not conceive, doctors recommend different methods to remedy this. Certain factors have been identified to lower the chances of conceiving. Some of these factors are alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise, improper diet, and many more. Because of the different scientific studies that established the effects of diet on fertility, many doctors recommend that proper diet is a key to increase fertility.

Have you heard of lemon water? It has been said that this type of water is good for fertility. In fact, it has many health benefits. How does it help for most infertility couples?

For many years, lemon water for fertility has been gaining popularity among women who find it hard to conceive. Lemon water for fertility is from the Traditional Chinese Medicine, which uses natural ingredients to treat and prevent diseases.

Lemon is a great fruit because it is loaded with vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and antioxidants. First and foremost, drinking water already does wonders for fertility. Water thins out mucus and increases it as well. And cervical fluid is very important in conception. Without cervical fluid, the sperm will not be able to reach the egg. Furthermore, if the cervical fluid is of good quality and quantity, it can help the sperm stay alive for several days while waiting ovulation.

And if you add lemon to your drinking water, you are even increasing the likelihood of getting pregnant many times. The bodies are bombarded with harmful free radicals from pollution and food. And these free radicals can harm the sperm, egg, and reproductive organs. This is the importance of antioxidants. Antioxidants in this beverage will help destroy these free radicals thereby making your bodies more ready for conception. This is why it is effective for infertility treatment.

Another great advantage of lemon water for fertility is that it has no adverse effects since you are using an all-natural ingredient. You can continue drinking this even if you are already pregnant. You can also continue with your water regimen even if you are prescribed with fertility drugs or in conjunction with other fertility treatments.

Other health benefits include: detoxification, hormonal balance, enhanced immunity, liver health, digestive health, and great skin. How do you make this type of water? You simply have to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice to your warm drinking water.

Lemon water for fertility can be consumed any time. Although many people believe that it is best early in the morning. Instead of drinking coffee or hot chocolate, drinking this beverage is great for re-hydrating your bodies. Furthermore, it can help to kickel bowel movement in the morning.

How To Copy Your Thunderbird Settings To Another Computer

How To Copy Your Thunderbird Settings To Another Computer

You have just spent hours setting up Thunderbird on your main computer. Now you want to set up your laptop or your another computer with the same settings but you do not want to spend all that time doing it again from scratch. This article shows how to copy the settings / profiles from one computer to another.

Copying Thunderbird 3 settings from Windows to Windows is really easy.

There's a free download that you can use called MozBackup. The link is at the bottom of this article.
Steps:

• Install MozBackup on your main computer.
• Backup your Thunderbird profile.
• Copy the backup to your secondary computer.
• Install MozBackup on your secondary computer.
• Restore your profile from the backup.

If you would like step by step instructions please refer to the Appendix in the Thunderbird 3.0 Essential Guide.

If you want to copy your Thunderbird settings between Windows, Mac OS X and Linux there are a couple more steps involved but it's not complicated.

I'll refer to the computers as main computer - the one you've set up - and second computer - the one to which you are copying the settings. The menus shown are for copying settings from Windows to Mac OS X, but the steps are the same regardless of which operating systems you use.

Important! All the settings and email stored in Thunderbird on the second computer will be removed. This guide is designed with a new installation of Thunderbird in mind. If you have emails and contacts you wish to keep on your second computer you have to setup an account to synchronize with Gmail, copy your old emails to your Gmail account, and synchronize your contacts with Gmail before you continue. For details on how to do this please read the Thunderbird Essential Guide.

The key steps are:
1. Find the location of your Thunderbird profile on your main computer.
2. Copy your profile from your main computer to a USB drive.
3. Copy your profile from the USB drive to your second computer.
4. Verify paths to mail folders and signatures.

1. Find the location of your Thunderbird profile
The location of your Thunderbird profile folder depends on the operating system you use. If you are unsure of the location you can verify it in Thunderbird.

• Go to the Tools → Account Settings ... window (Edit → Account Settings ... on Linux).

• Select the Server Settings tab on your account.

• Click the Browse button to verify the location of your mail folder for this account.
Make a note of the folder location.

• Now click on the Local Folders tab.
Then click on Browse.

• Make a note of the location.

2. Copy your profile from your main computer to a USB drive
To copy your profile on to a USB drive simply shut down Thunderbird and go to the folder where your profile is stored. Your name will be different.

Note: You may have issues with hidden folders in Linux and Windows. Tips on how to find them are in the Thunderbird Essential Guide.

Make sure you have sufficient free space on your USB drive before you copy the profile folder.
Now copy the xxxxxxxx.default folder to your USB drive.

3. Copy your profile from the USB drive to the second computer
On your second computer we will copy the contents of the profile folder from the USB drive.

• Install Thunderbird

• Start Thunderbird for the first time so the profile folder gets created.

You do not need to create an account since we are going to overwrite all the settings anyway.

• Shut down Thunderbird.

• Navigate to the profile folder.

Notice how the profile name is different to that of the old computer.

• Open the yyyyyyyy.default folder and delete all the contents of the folder.

Do not delete the yyyyyyyy.default folder - only the contents of the folder!

Important! This will remove all email and settings you have stored on Thunderbird if you already have Thunderbird on this computer. Only do this if you do not wish to keep the old emails.

• On your USB drive open the profile folder from your main computer.

• Copy the contents of the xxxxxxxx.default folder on the USB drive into the yyyyyyyy.default folder on your second computer.

It is important that you do not change the name of the yyyyyyyy.default folder.

4. Verify paths to mail folders and signatures

If you find that the email folders do not appear correctly you will need to verify the folder locations.

• Start Thunderbird again.

• Go to Tools → Account Settings ...

• On the Server Settings tab verify the location of your email folders.

• On the Local Folders tab verify the location of your local folders.

• Click on the My Mail IMAP tab.

• Verify that your signatures are set up correctly.

If your signatures are stored in external files you will need to copy these from your main computer too. If you entered your signature in Thunderbird it should be set up correctly.

Business Benefits of Custom Software Development

Business Benefits of Custom Software Development

All businesses and organizations will typically need some form of software during their lifecycle. The types of software utilized by most companies range from applications that will enable better management of key organizational functions - Human Resources, Finances and Accounts, inventory and stock and even running projects, to more specific items of software that have a key purpose such as Content Management Software for use on company websites. Although these software applications can be purchased "off the shelf", there are many business benefits that can be associated with choosing custom software development.

Custom Software Development is created for you

Developing custom software is a bespoke, made to measure process, which means that any applications and software programs created as a result of the process will be strictly made for your company and its individual needs and requirements. Basically, a piece of custom made software is flexible and has the potential to fulfill your specifications meaning that it is easy to use and can be deployed through your entire organization. Instead of having to make do with a ready made software program or application, with customized software you can be sure that what you will receive will be absolutely fit for purpose. There are also significant financial benefits that can be associated with custom made software since it costs a little more to purchase than off the shelf packages. Software applications that have been made for you do not require any license fees, so you can distribute them across your organization without needing to pay extra.

Custom Software Developers will work with your Company

When creating software designed for your company, custom software developers will design and code it to integrate properly within your organization. The software will not just help you achieve what you need it to achieve, it will be rich in features and tools that will make it usable by the people who will be operating it. With a piece of custom software all the requirements of your company will be considered, and developers will meet these two in the way that they develop the software and the after care that they provide properly. Although some training and support is available with off the shelf software to a certain extent, with custom made software your developers will continue to work with and support your company that's through training staff members providing the maintenance and technical help to remedy any errors that may occur in the software.

Customized Software is Safe and Secure

The ready made software packages available to businesses and organizations today are certainly a lot more secure than the ones that have been developed in previous years, however they do not compare to the security levels of customized software. Because customized software has been created for your company it will only be usable by individuals in your company. When you purchase custom software you will be given administrator rights to the software ensuring that you can change and alter user profiles and passwords to be in accordance with your own internal data protection policies. Customized software used on the web is also a lot harder to hack than standard, off the shelf software, and you can be sure that a reputable custom software developer will work hard to keep your application or program and the data it contains as safe and secure as possible.

Customized Software is Adaptable

Ready made software is designed to be adaptable and flexible, meeting your company's needs and requirements both now and in the future. Even if you need a few different software programs to accomplish organizational tasks, a custom developer will be able to integrate the different processes that you need into a single, usable application. Custom software is also much more likely to be cross-platform suitable, so you can be sure that when your company goes mobile you have the software that will support it.

Landscape Professonals - What You Need to Know For What You Need to Do

Landscape Professonals - What You Need to Know For What You Need to Do

The seven professionals potentially available to help you with your landscape and gardens are:

o Landscape Architect
o Landscape Designer
o Garden Designer
o Landscape Contractor
o Landscaper
o Nursery
o Landscape Designer / Builder

Although there is certainly overlap, these are distinctly different levels and kinds of professionals. We will consider them in the order listed. First we will give a general description, list the strengths and weaknesses, then a comparative analysis will follow. Finally, we will examine how to evaluate any given individual within each of the professions.

Landscape Architect:

A landscape architect has a minimum of a four year Bachelor's degree and may have six or more years of higher education. To be thoroughly certified she must also have three years of internship in a landscape architectural office. The following paragraph is taken from the United States Department of Labor.

"Persons planning a career in landscape architecture should appreciate nature, enjoy working with their hands, and possess strong analytical skills. Creative vision and artistic talent are also desirable qualities. to other professionals and clients and to make presentations before large groups. Strong writing skills are also valuable, as is knowledge of computer applications of all kinds, including word processing, desktop publishing, and spreadsheets. , reports, and land impact studies for clients, colleges, and superiors. The ability to draft and design using CAD software is essential. understanding of the day-to-day operations of a small business, includ ing how to win clients, generate fees, and work within a budget. "

Strengths:
Landscape Architecture is a thorough and serious discipline aimed at providing aesthetically satisfying solutions in the creation of spaces owned, visited or seen by humans. The study involves design theory, engineering, planning, aesthetics, history and the sciences. The scope of the education is both broad and deep and consequentially the scale of the projects a landscape architect can underake is essentially unlimited.

The landscape architect has a sound education in all practical considerations - proper building codes and techniques, legalities and so on. He can provide a detailed plan with material specifications, quantities, sizes and so on, from which contractors can give accurate bids. Because of their degree they are qualified to apply for a broader range of projects, for example government projects, which are not open to non-licensed designers.

Weaknesses:
The term landscape architecture was first used by Frederick Law Olmstead in the late 1800's. At that time there was no specific academic discipline for it so it began to be taught and studied under the roofs of the architectural schools and has been stamped with that mind-set. - That is to say, with many notable exceptions, landscape architecture, by the views of this author, is characterized by a quality of architectural rigidity and over- reliance on structure. As mentioned, there have been noticeable exceptions. Tommy Church and Russell Page, to name two, and there are many exceptions practicing today.

Typically, landscape architects are not touted horticulture so their plant recommendations are frequently unreasonably limited. More importantly, a degree in landscape architecture does not signify talent as the qualities, or lack of, in the designs produced do not guarantee or prevent a degree. In fairness it should be said that no degree of any kind in any of these categories signifies talent - it only signify the successful completion of a curriculum.

Many landscape architects spend most of their time in offices and have little field experience. Too often they are not able to communicate in a real fashion with various trades people, such as masons as their knowledge may be seriously theoretical, not based on hands-on experience. Before hiring a landscape architect, ask to see a portfolio, even if only of school assignments and make sure that she is capable of understanding your aesthetic and working within your budget. If possible, get references.

Landscape Designer

A landscape designer may be certified through one program or another (of which there are many), or may not. These programs are usually associated with an educational institution but there are various individuals and other organizations which also offer a certification program. In addition, many botanic gardens have ingoing master gardener classes (which is not landscape design), as well as design courses which individuals may take towards certification or simply for the education.

The landscape designer works with site analysis, cost estimates, practical considerations such as drainage, light availability, elevations and all other facets of designing an applicable and sustainable landscape. He also usually works with hardscape elements such as walkways, patios, walls and so on. The following is a course description for a Landscape Design Course from a University in California.

"The practice of landscape design involves site analysis, development of design concepts and design plans, selection of construction and plant materials, and preparation of construction plans and documentation.
The Certificate in Landscape Design (CLD)

The curriculum for the Certificate Program in Landscape Design emphasizes the interaction between human needs and the environment and provides students with practical skills for understanding landscape design. All design studios emphasize the design process and problem solving using actual sites as case studies. Students generally complete the Certificate Program in Landscape Design on a part-time basis in three to five years.

Certificate Requirements:

In the description that follows, the word "course" refers to a full semester of thirteen classes. A "module" is equivalent to seven classes. Two modules may satisfy one course requirement.

To earn the Certificate in Landscape Design, students must complete the following twelve courses with a grade of B- or better in each course.

o Design I, II, and III
o two courses in landscape design history
o two courses in construction / site engineering
o two courses in plants / horticulture
o one course in drafting
o one landscape course, or two modules of the student's choice
o an independent thesis project on landscape design

There are, however, many people who call them landscape designers and are practicing landscape designers who do not have this education. For them it has generally been a vocation and they have come up through the business by working in various capacities associated with gardens, such as nurseries and landscape contracting companies before launching their own design business. They may do installations as well or can act as contractors and find the sub contractors to do the work.

Strengths:
Generally, landscape designers seem to have a more natural, less structural orientation than many landscape architects. If they have the education outlined above, they are at least theoretically prepared to handle a wide range of design projects. Very often they are dedicated to quality garden design. If they do not have the education then they have followed a rotation, or are just beginning one. If they have followed a vocation and have been at it some time they should have a portfolio as well as the ability to quote price ranges for various aspects.

Weaknesses:
As with Landscape Architects, the title does not need to signify talent. The education, experience and ability among landscape designers vary considerably. Before hiring a landscape designer, ask to see a portfolio and speak to references, be sure of compatibility and know exactly what you are to expect for what you are to pay.

Garden Designer

A garden designer may have a formal education and may not but is usually well versed in horticulture. Garden designers also works with site analysis, light availability, cost estimates and such but often do not work with hardscape elements. These people are generally plants people. Their talent is in using their knowledge to create attractive planting beds with shrubs, ornamental trees, perennials, vines and groundcovers.

Some schools offer professional level courses in garden design, in which they teach; site analysis, client brief, plan drawing, section and elevation drawing and color rendering. The following paragraphs are from the syllabus of one such university.

"Students will be able to survey a small site using running dimensions and triangulation making note of site details such as the position of trees, buildings, simple level changes, and services, etc. They will be able to evaluate the data collected on site and produce a scale drawing at 1/8 or 1/4 inch scale to accurately portray the site's characteristics.

Students will apply pattern analysis concepts which have been taught concurrently during the course. The proposal will be drawn using pencil and then technical pens, on architectural blanks using the title blocks to display appropriate information. Students will demonstrate an understanding of spatial concepts, design philosophy and a reasonable knowledge of landscape graphical symbols.

Students will produce section / elevation drawings to help illustrate the project, both for contractor and client, as well as a display board to help convey their ideas. "

A graduate of such a school would probably not call themselves a garden designer but a landscape designer. There are many garden designers who do not have this education.

Strengths:
Garden designers are usually devoted gardeners and knowledgeable about plants, especially perennials. They usually know the best plant suppliers in a given locale and can design and implement attractive gardens comprised primarily of plants.

Weaknesses:
Typically, garden designers are not builders and do not do hardscaping or take on major site alterations. Before hiring a garden designer, be sure the scope of the work you want done is within their capabilities. Ask to see a portfolio and to speak to references.

Landscape Contractor

A landscape contractor is someone who implements, or installs theaters and will often also contract for garden maintenance. These can be very large operations with several trucks, various machines and pieces of equipment and a large crew of workers overseen by foremen or project managers or both.

However, there are tens of thousands of landscape contractors, the major comprised of a small staff, one or a few trucks and a couple of small tractors or backhoes. Sometimes a landscape contracting operation will have a designer on staff and offers designs at low or no cost. This is because they will make their money on the installation.

The larger the operation generally the more intensive are the tasks a contractor can undertake. These range from simply planting plants to building in-ground swimming pools, to landscaping future developments.

Most landscape contractors have the capacity of building masonry structures such as patios, walks and walls, wood structures such as arbors and decks and can either do or have other tasks done, such as installing irrigation or lighting systems.

Strengths:
The focus for landscape contractors is building, or implementing the plans of landscape architects, developers, and landscape designers. For residential work, there is generally nothing they can not achieve, in terms of building others' designs and they may have their own designer or design staff. They are usually insured and bonded.

Weaknesses:
Landscape contractors are usually at the high end of building costs. They often have considerable overhead so must add a profit onto all materials and labor so the bottom line tends to be high. Their use of plants is often very ordinary and repetitive and their designs can be uninspired - but there are exceptions. Get all agreements as contracts, not estimates, ask to see a portfolio and for references.

Landscaper

Someone calling himself a landscaper is usually a garden maintenance person. He will generally have a small truck with a trailer, a couple of professional lawn mowers, string cutters, electric pruning shears, rakes, shovels and brooms. There is usually little or no education behind the landscaper though there may be experience and they will often contract to install gardens. These people should not be used as designers, generally, unless they offer that and have a portfolio.

Nursery

Many nurseries have landscape operations which include design and installation. Usually overseen by someone who came up through the horticultural industry with an education in horticulture, these can offer turn-key services and guarantee the plants. They will usually give you a design for little or no cost as they will make their money on the plants and the installation. Normally they can contract for residential-scale hardscaping such walls, patios, irrigation systems and such.

Strengths:
You can be sure the plants selected will do well where they are designated to go. You need only contract with the one operation and they generally have the man-power to get the job done.

Weaknesses:
Of course, there are always exceptions, but generally nursery designs tend to be quite ordinary, not inspired. The plants will thrive but the design may be quite blah. Nurseries tend to get over-extended in peak season so may begin a job, leave it for a while and come back later. If this is important to you, get a completion date specified in the contract. Before hiring a nursery, ask to see a portfolio of designs that they did as well as projects that implemented and ask for references you can call.

Landscape Designer / Builder:

A landscape, designer builder is just that. He combines the services of a landscape contractor, and the landscape designer. As with the landscape and garden designer, he may have a formal education and he may not. And as is true of the other professionals, his degree of experience may be intense and it may not. Many landscape designer / builders came to the profession through a vocational or professional association with garden services. Many were gardeners-turned-designers-turned-builders. Normally, the landscape designer / builder will give a price for the design and only when the design is completed will contract for the implementation.

Strengths:
Can do the entire job from design through installation. Landscape designers tend to be less rigid than architects and usually have much more hands-on experience. They usually combine a knowledge of landscape construction and of plants and should have a good feeling for design. Some of the best work being done in America is by landscape designers / builders.

Weaknesses:
May be attributable or incapable of taking on very large jobs or government projects. Before hiring a landscape designer / builder, ask to see a portfolio and for recommendations. Make sure you know what you are getting and what it is costing. Be sure that there is a sympathy between you.

GENERAL NOTES ON ALL GARDEN PROFESSIONALS

The four most important qualities to assess in hiring someone to create your gardens or landscape for you are; Talent, Capability, Integrity and Compatibility. A not very talented person you like, who is capable and of high integrity will do a great job creating for you a garden not worth having. A talented person without capacity will give you an inspired design that can not or should not be built, a person who is talented, capable and of good integrity that you do not get along with is a poor choice and a person without integrity will let you down in every way.

How can you know these things about someone? Your own instincts, to begin with. If you do not have a good feeling about someone, stop right there. Beyond that, always ask for references if you have any doubt and no matter whether you are dealing with a landscape architect or a gardener, ask to see a portfolio.

Keep in mind though, that everyone has to start somewhere so he may not have much to show. Anyone with any kind of education in the field should have design projects to show at least and these are worth seeing. Let him explain his drawings, tell what he was trying to create and see how you resonate. If he has built gardens or hardscape elements, ask to see photographs. This applies equally to the landscape architect as to the garden designer. His degree does not bestow nor even indicate talent and you have a right to know what kind of a designer he is.

Walk the area with the person and get their response to the site. Ask them what they see, what they might do. You may have to pay a consultation fee for this but it is worth it. Many, many gardens have been built that are utterly mediocre. You probably want yours to be splendid so take the trouble to find the right person to do it.

Do not assume the person with the most education is the most capable, or the most reliable. Ask for recommendations from previous clients. If they work for a firm, do a search on the internet or ask to speak with previous clients and to see previous projects. If you are talking to a landscaper (they are often only outdoor janitors), ask about plants, what the plant names are and what they need. If the person mows lawns, it is not likely that he also designs and builds beautiful gardens.

If you do not know the person or do not have a definite sense of their quality and they do not come with a known background of considerable experience or a known reputation, get a contract, not an estimate, in writing.

Most of the people working in the realm of planning and building gardens, apart from the outdoor janitors who frequently go under the name of 'landscapers' and the giant contracting firms, are dedicated individuals who live and breath gardens. They want to give you a beautiful landscape. All the above should help you in deciding which among them to choose.