BEAUTIFUL YARDS DON'T JUST HAPPEN...

When properly designed and installed, landscaping will add greatly to the value of your property and become more attractive and increase in value as it matures.

Conditions in Great Falls and the surrounding area make this region one of the more difficult growing climates in the entire country. Thus, plant selection and placement are critical concerns in successful landscapes. Since 1980, we have made it our business at Forde Nursery to develop beautiful landscapes that thrive in our harsh environment.

Your yard should reflect your personality and address your individual needs. Let our team of experienced designers work with you to come up with a plan that compliments you and your home.

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Design Considerations

There are many things to consider when planning your landscape and Forde Nursery can help you make the right decisions:

• How can you best screen that unsightly view and gain more privacy?
• How can you place trees to optimize solar heating and cooling or protect yourself from the wind?
• Which plantings will attract butterflies and birds?
• Which plants will do best in shady areas? Dry areas?
• How do your soil conditions affect what you can grow and how can you improve your soil?
• How do you handle difficult slopes and drainage problems?
  And the list goes on...

Design Solutions

Expert Advice Forde Nursery is proud to have four Certified Plant Professionals on its staff. These CPPs have been tested and certified by the Montana Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) as to their knowledge of plants, plant care, soils and much more. Whenever you visit our nursery and garden center, our consultants and designers are more than willing to assist you with any landscaping or planting concerns at no charge.

Over-The-Counter Assistance Our consultants can help you at our nursery with design ideas for small areas*, but it is very important that you bring with you as much information as possible. Pertinent pictures are very helpful and precise measurements of the area in question are critical. If feasible, we can do a rough sketch of the plantings. This service is also available at no charge.

*Note: we cannot design large areas or entire yards on an over-the-counter basis. We can offer general recommendations and advice for these larger areas, but if detailed planting ideas and precise estimates of costs are needed, it may require that a landscape design be drawn.

Custom Landscape Design Service Whether you have a new yard that needs designing or just wish to update areas of your present landscape, Forde Nursery will work with you on a program of development by preparing a detailed, personalized landscape plan.

The cost of these plans is charged based upon an hourly rate/fee.

Some of the advantages to consider in having a design drawn are:

• the many years of training and experience of Forde Nursery's designers;
• the plan eliminates costly "trial and error" mistakes;
• should you choose to do the work yourself, you will be able to easily follow the detailed plan;
• you can complete your landscaping project in stages as your budget or time allows;
• from this plan, Forde Nursery will be will be able to give you an accurate estimate of all the costs involved;
• with your plan stored on our computers, we can quickly and inexpensively make changes when required—even years down the road;
• your plan shows the location and identifies all of your plantings for future reference;
• the staff at Forde Nursery is available year-round to help with any questions or concerns.

If you are considering having a landscape plan drawn, please read the following information on how this process works.

The Landscape Design Process

Forde Nursery's designers have many years of experience and are trained to develop customized plans that are site specific and fit the individual needs of the homeowner. Because every client and their property are unique, there is no such thing as an average or "one size fits all" landscape design. Forde Nursery's designers use computer aided design (CAD) programs which enables them to draw plans precisely - and less expensively - compared to conventional methods.

Phase One: Initial Site Visit

The design process typically begins with the designer meeting you at your property in order for you to communicate any ideas or concerns that will need to be addressed in the landscape plan. Based on the information you provide, the designer will be able to give you an estimate of the design's cost at this time. If you decide to have us go ahead with the design, your designer will do an analysis of existing site conditions (soil type, existing plantings, sun and wind exposure, drainage, etc.) and measure your property.

It is important to give your designer as much information as possible concerning any preferences you may have in regard to types of plants, flower color, views you would like to retain or screen, or anything else you feel he/she should be aware of when laying out your design. While landscaping in Montana requires a certain amount of practicality, we encourage our customers to dream about the many possibilities in their landscape.

We would also encourage you to visit our nursery to familiarize yourself with available plant materials by checking out our multiple display gardens, photo albums, catalogs, etc.

Phase Two: Preliminary Design Meeting
Taking the information gathered during the site visit, your designer will put together a preliminary design. This plan will show the size and shape of the planting beds; the location of trees and other critical plantings; and major features, such as, decks, sidewalks, and fences. The purpose of this meeting is to make sure the design is headed in the right direction and to address any concerns that may have arisen since the initial site visit. Your input at this time will allow the designer to finish the plan to your specifications.

We prefer to hold this meeting at our nursery which gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the various plant and hardscape materials to be used in your design. You will see in person the leaves, flowers, texture, and shape of the plants, as well as, the various sizes available to you.

With smaller or more straight-forward designs, we are able to skip over the preliminary design phase and go directly to the final design.

Phase Three: Final Design

From what your designer learns at the preliminary design meeting, he/she can return to the drawing board to make any agreed upon alterations and complete your plan. Changes can be handled with a minimal amount of additional drawing time through the use of the computer. Upon completion of the plan, an accurate estimate of your landscaping can be prepared. Your designer will then set up a meeting with you to go over the final design and the costs involved.

If no other changes are required, the formal design process is complete. The designer can now schedule any work you would like done professionally by Forde Nursery. Or, if you are inclined to do the work yourself, our experts will guide you through the entire landscaping process.

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