The landscape design process in Denver runs through ten stages, from the first on-site meeting to construction observation, and you make a decision at almost every one. Ivy Street Design, a Denver landscape architecture and design firm that has designed Denver metro landscapes since 1992, lays out the full path below so you know what is coming and what we need from you.

Quick Summary

• The process has ten stages: on-site meeting, proposal, research and analysis, site survey if needed, 3D design presentation, design revisions, construction documents, completion of design, bid administration, and construction observation.
• The first four stages produce no finished drawings. They set scope, budget, and the facts about your site.
• Your biggest decisions come at the proposal, the 3D presentation, and the revision stage.
• Construction documents turn the approved design into plans a contractor can price and build.
• Bid administration and construction observation protect the design after the drawing stops.
• Ivy Street Design offers both design-only and design-build service.

What are the ten stages of the landscape design process?

The ten stages are an on-site meeting, a proposal, research and analysis, a site survey if needed, a 3D design presentation, design revisions, construction documents, completion of design, bid administration, and construction observation. Together they move a project from an idea on your property to a built landscape that matches the plan.

This sequence follows the process on the Ivy Street Design approach page. Other firms and universities name the steps a little differently, but the logic holds. Purdue University's landscape design chapter runs from client interview through site inventory and analysis, conceptual design, and master plan to construction documents. Learn the site, design, document, then build.

What happens before anyone draws your yard?

Four stages come first: an on-site meeting, a proposal, research and analysis, and a site survey when the property needs one. None of them produces a finished design. They set the scope, budget, and timeline, then gather the facts about soil, drainage, and boundaries that every later drawing depends on.

• 1. On-site meeting. We tour the space, discuss your vision, and define the project scope. University of Georgia Extension advises sharing your goals and budget estimate at the first meeting, and bringing photos of landscapes you like plus lists of plants and colors you prefer or dislike. That folder of ideas speeds up everything that follows.
• 2. Proposal. You receive a detailed proposal with a budget, timeline, and project description. Read it for what drawings and services it includes. If you want to know how fees are usually set up, our guide to what landscape design costs in Denver explains what drives them.
• 3. Research and analysis. We assess site conditions such as soil, climate, and drainage, and check local zoning and regulations. Purdue's chapter adds views, sun, shade, wind, and utilities to the list of things a site analysis records. Colorado State University's PlantTalk notes that planning ahead can save you time, money, and back aches down the line.
• 4. Site survey, if needed. When a project calls for it, surveyors provide precise topography and boundary data. A steep lot or a design that runs close to a property line is where this stage earns its place. Our post on sloped backyard landscaping in Colorado shows why grade information matters.

What is the 3D presentation, and what do you decide there?

The 3D presentation is the stage where Ivy Street Design builds an immersive 3D model of the proposed design so you can see it before anything is built. You decide what to keep, change, or drop. Design revisions follow, and your feedback is worked in while the design stays compliant and suited to the site.

5. Design and 3D presentation. A flat plan asks you to imagine height, scale, and sight lines. A 3D model shows them. Use the presentation to check how the spaces connect, how the yard looks from the windows you use most, and whether the seating, paths, and planting areas fit the way your household really lives.

6. Design revisions. This is where your feedback shapes the plan. Expect to give specific notes: move this, widen that, simplify this corner. University of Georgia Extension points out that design agreements often tie cost changes to the number of revisions, so ask how your proposal handles them before you start marking up the design.

What do construction documents and the final paperwork include?

Construction documents are detailed blueprints that cover materials, layout, and installation methods. Completion of design finalizes the plan and submits the HOA and city paperwork the project requires. Together they turn an approved concept into something a contractor can price and build and a reviewing body can evaluate.

7. Construction documents. Purdue describes the master plan as the point where a design gets exact dimensions, specified hardscape and plant materials, a plant schedule, and landscape notes. Construction details and specifications follow for larger projects. This is the set that lets a contractor price the same job as every other bidder.

8. Completion of design. We finalize the design and submit the required HOA and city paperwork. Which approvals apply depends on your address and the project, and the research stage is where we check zoning and regulations. Walls are one project type where approvals come up often, and our retaining wall planning guide covers that side of it.

Why do bid administration and construction observation matter?

Bid administration means Ivy Street Design helps you solicit and evaluate contractor bids. Construction observation means oversight during the build to confirm it matches the design and meets quality standards. Both stages protect the design after the drawings are finished, when the yard is most likely to drift from the plan.

9. Bid administration. Bids are easier to compare when every contractor prices the same drawings. A complete set of construction documents is what makes that possible. We help you read the bids side by side so a low number does not hide a missing line item.

10. Construction observation. A drawing cannot answer every question that comes up in the field. Observation during construction means someone who knows the design is on site to confirm the work matches it and meets quality standards.

What do you need to bring and decide at each stage?

You need to bring a clear picture of how you want to use the space, a budget estimate, and a willingness to give specific feedback. Most of your decisions cluster in three places: the proposal, the 3D presentation, and the revisions. Knowing that up front keeps the process moving.

• Before the first meeting: gather photos, plants and colors you like or dislike, and a rough budget. Write down how your household uses the yard now and what is missing.
• At the proposal: confirm the scope, budget, and timeline match what you discussed on site.
• At the 3D presentation: react to the whole design before you react to the details.
• During revisions: give specific notes and settle open questions in one round when you can.
• At completion of design: check the final plan against the list you started with, and respond quickly to any HOA or city questions.
• During bids and construction: compare bids against the same documents, and take questions that come up on site back to the design.

Where does the process go wrong?

Projects drift off course when an early stage gets skipped or rushed. Planting before planning, a vague proposal, late scope changes, mismatched bids, and no observation during the build are the common versions. Each one is easy to spot once you know the sequence.

• Planting before planning. Colorado State University's PlantTalk lists the planting plan as the last step of design, after the site analysis and the layout. Picking plants first usually means moving them later.
• Treating the proposal as a formality. A vague scope at stage two becomes a disagreement at stage six.
• Changing scope after construction documents. Every change after that point has to be redrawn and re-priced.
• Bidding without matching plans. Contractors who price different assumptions give you numbers you cannot compare.
• Letting the design stop at the drawing. Without observation, small field decisions add up.

Does the process change for design-only or design-build?

Ivy Street Design offers both design-only and design-build service. Our guide to design-build vs design-only landscaping in Denver explains who is accountable for what in each model. Either way, the stages through completion of design give you a plan you can read, price, and build from.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many steps are in the landscape design process?

Ivy Street Design's process has ten stages, from the on-site meeting to construction observation. The site survey stage applies only when a project needs precise topography and boundary data. Other firms may group the steps differently, but the order is similar.

What should I bring to the first meeting?

Bring photos of landscapes you like, notes on plants and colors you like or dislike, and a rough budget. Also bring a short list of how you use the yard today and what is missing. These details help define the scope at the on-site meeting.

Can I change the design after the 3D presentation?

Yes. The design revisions stage exists for that purpose. Your feedback is worked into the plan while the design stays compliant and appropriate for the site. Give specific notes so the revisions go quickly.

Do I need a site survey?

It depends on the property. Surveyors are brought in when a project needs precise topography and boundary data. Steep sites and designs near property lines are the usual reasons.

Does Ivy Street Design build the landscape?

Ivy Street Design offers both design-only and design-build service. You can choose the model that fits your project. Call us to talk through which one makes sense for your yard.

Start Your Design With Ivy Street Design

Knowing the ten stages makes the first meeting easier and the decisions that follow less stressful. Call Ivy Street Design at (303) 320-0362 or visit ivystreetdesign.com to schedule a consultation.