Before discussing new trees and shrubs with a landscaper, gather photos of the proposed planting areas, notes about conditions you have actually observed, and a clear description of what you want the planting to accomplish. You do not need a finished design or a plant list. A concise planting-site brief gives the conversation a useful starting point.
For homeowners in the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire, Randall Landscaping’s residential landscaping services include plantings, trees and shrubs. The preparation below focuses on what you can bring to that discussion, rather than choosing species or deciding how planting should be performed.
Start with observations, not conclusions
Your brief should explain where you are considering planting, how you use that part of the yard, and what you have noticed there. Keep observations separate from preferences and unresolved questions. That distinction helps avoid treating an assumption as a confirmed site condition.
Note Photos and homeowner notes are discussion inputs, not soil, drainage, plant-health or utility assessments. Record what is visible and identify uncertainty. Do not dig, probe the ground or attempt to locate buried utilities yourself.
Photograph each proposed planting area and label it
Use location labels that will make sense to someone unfamiliar with your property, such as front entry, driveway edge or rear patio. Use the same label on the photos and in your notes. Avoid a collection of close-ups with no indication of where they belong.
- Take a wide view showing the proposed area in relation to the house, lawn, paths and existing beds.
- Add closer views of visible features or concerns, while retaining the matching location label.
- Photograph the view from where you want a change: a window, seating area, entrance or frequently used path.
- Include the route into the area, especially gates, steps, narrow passages and surfaces you want protected.
Note when the photos were taken and whether conditions were wet or dry. If you already have photos showing the yard in another season, include those that clarify the view or existing vegetation. You do not need to delay the conversation to create a complete seasonal record.
Record light, wet areas and existing vegetation
Describe light as you have seen it: direct sun in the morning, shade during the afternoon, or shade from a nearby building or tree. If you have only seen the area at a particular time of day, say so. Do not turn a limited observation into a firm sun-exposure classification.
For wet areas, record where water was visible and the circumstances surrounding it. Note whether you saw it during rain, afterward or during snowmelt, and whether you have noticed it repeatedly. Avoid diagnosing the cause or recommending a fix.
Photograph existing trees and shrubs near the proposed area. Mark which you want to retain, which you are uncertain about, and any visible changes that concern you. If you do not know a plant’s identity, label it by location rather than guessing. Leave health, root interactions and suitability for professional assessment.
Identify nearby features and access constraints
Include the features that new planting would need to coexist with. A simple sketch can help connect your photos, but label it as a rough reference rather than a surveyed plan.
- Show nearby walls, foundations, windows, doors, fences, patios and walkways.
- Flag visible overhead lines, utility equipment and any buried utilities, septic components or irrigation features identified in records you already have. Note the source of that information and any uncertainty.
- Describe spaces that must remain usable for parking, mowing, deliveries, recreation or routine passage.
- Identify gates, slopes, steps and restricted access. Mention where snow is usually piled if that overlaps the proposed planting area.
- Flag uncertain property boundaries rather than treating a fence or existing bed edge as proof of the boundary.
Describe the result you want and the care you prefer
State the purpose before naming plants. For screening, identify the view you want to soften or block and the place from which you see it. Explain whether privacy matters throughout the year or mainly while using an outdoor space. Also identify views, windows and sightlines you want to keep open.
For appearance, describe your preferences for a formal or informal look, seasonal interest, color and how the planting should relate to existing beds. If you bring inspiration images, explain what appeals to you in each. Treat them as a way to communicate preferences, not evidence that the pictured plants will suit your yard.
Make maintenance preferences concrete. Note which tasks you are willing to handle, which you would prefer to have handled for you, and whether travel or limited access could affect care. Rather than asking only for low maintenance, ask what ongoing work the proposed choices would require.
Bring questions about mature size, placement and care
- What mature height and width should I expect from the proposed plants?
- How would their placement affect windows, paths, nearby structures and existing vegetation as they grow?
- What screening or appearance should I expect initially, and how might that change over time?
- Which site uncertainties need to be resolved before plant selection or placement?
- What care would be needed after planting and later, and who would be responsible for it?
Assemble a brief you can reuse
Keep the summary easy to scan and attach the labeled photos separately. Copy these prompts into your notes for each proposed planting area:
- Area label and matching photos:
- Main goal and views to preserve:
- Observed light and wet conditions, including when observed:
- Existing vegetation and nearby features:
- Known utility information, its source and unresolved uncertainties:
- Access constraints and spaces that must remain usable:
- Appearance preferences, maintenance preferences and priorities:
- Questions requiring professional assessment:
Leave unknown fields marked as unknown instead of filling them with guesses. When you are ready to discuss the proposed planting, contact Randall Landscaping and ask how to share your brief. The aim is to make your goals, observations and unanswered questions clear—not to settle planting decisions before the conversation.