If you have a major commercial development in mind and have a large tract of land available, you may want to devote a significant part of that plot to the landscaping. This is a popular approach these days as developers are encouraged to allow "green space" from a sustainability point of view, so you'll want to take the best possible approach and maximise your opportunity. As you begin to talk with landscapers, why should you think about performing a full topographical survey as well?
Getting down to Detail
When you have a very large and undeveloped area of land, you need to know what you are dealing with before drawing up landscaping plans. With such virgin territory, it is unlikely that any detailed survey plans exist. You will need to commission land surveying services to have all the necessary information to make the right decisions.
Setting It Out
To begin the process, an experienced surveyor will map out the boundaries and establish individual spot heights in relation to sea level. They'll identify any permanent markers as reference points, which will help you plan individual landscaping activities in the future.
Drainage Information
From a practical point of view, you'll want to know how the land flows for drainage purposes, and the survey will identify any existing gullies, converts, drainage channels or ditches. Again, this will help you determine where to install landscaping furniture like sprinklers systems or whether you need to add retaining walls for stepped flowerbeds.
Plotting the Trees
If you have existing trees on your plot, the survey will identify the position and show their approximate height, girth and canopy spread. Many trees are protected, and if this applies in your case, this will also be annotated.
Existing Shrubbery
The surveyor will also identify locations where existing vegetation or shrubbery appears to be thriving. While you may want to get rid of this and replace it with your own, it will also give you an idea about positioning and the type of vegetation that should thrive.
Installations
If any existing structures or utility installations are on-site, these will be clearly identified. You can then cross-reference to see if any easements in place may ultimately affect your landscaping design.
Crafting the Plan
So, the more information you have at the outset, the better, so you can work with your landscaper to develop a concerted plan. This will allow you to take full advantage of what you have as you create your outdoor masterpiece.
