Landscape architecture services in Boise, Idaho

If you searched for landscape architecture services in Boise, you probably want a real plan for your yard, drawn by someone who knows what they're doing, before anyone starts digging. That's a good instinct. But I want to be straight with you before you read any further.

A plain answer up front

Hockema Landscape Design & Build is a landscape design and build company. It is not a licensed landscape architecture firm, and I am not a licensed landscape architect. In Idaho, landscape architects are licensed by the state, and I don't hold that license.

What I do hold is an Idaho contractor license (#6871843), and I'm bonded and insured. What I provide is residential landscape design plans and the build that follows. I've been designing and building yards in the Treasure Valley since 2012. For a lot of homeowners, that's the help they were really looking for when they typed in landscape architect. You can see the full range of what I do on my landscape designer page.

What a landscape architect does

A licensed landscape architect is trained and tested to plan larger, more technical sites. Think parks, school grounds, shopping centers, streetscapes and big subdivision entries. Their work often includes stamped drawings for permits, stormwater plans, rules for public access, and working alongside civil engineers. Most of the time, they hand those drawings to a separate contractor to build.

When you should hire one

You likely need a licensed landscape architect, or an engineer, if:

• Your project is commercial, public, or a multi-family property.
• Your city, county or HOA requires stamped landscape drawings for a permit.
• The site needs a large stormwater or site grading plan.
• The project includes a very tall retaining wall or an unstable slope. Tall walls often need an engineer's design no matter who builds them.

If your project falls into one of these, I'll tell you at the consultation. I'd rather point you in the right direction than take on a job that calls for a different license.

What I provide for homeowners

For home yards, here's what you get from me:

• A site visit and consultation. I walk the property with you and ask how you want to use it.
• A residential landscape design plan. It lays out patios, walls, paths, beds, lawn, lighting and water features, with plants picked for our soil and weather. My landscape plans page shows what goes into one.
• The build. I install what I design, and I'm on every job myself.
• One point of contact. Clients get my direct number. The person who drew the plan is the person answering your questions on build day.

That covers custom landscape design for a whole property, front and side yard designs, planting plans, patios, walls and water features.

Why design and build together helps a homeowner

The traditional path goes like this: hire an architect, pay for drawings, then send them out for bids. That makes sense for a park or a shopping center. For a home yard, it can mean paying two companies and ending up with a builder who wasn't there when the design choices were made.

When I design and build, the plan is drawn with the build in mind. I know what clay soil does to a patio base after a few freeze-thaw winters. I know that irrigation district water and city water need different setups. Those details end up in the plan instead of getting figured out on site. That's how landscape design construction works with me.

What affects the cost

The cost of design and build work comes down to the project itself:

• The size of the yard and how much of it changes.
• Slope, grading and drainage work.
• The materials you choose for patios, walls and paths.
• Features like lighting, fire or water.
• Soil prep and irrigation changes.

You're paying for a plan made to build from, not a stack of drawings meant for other contractors to bid on. I'll go over the cost drivers for your yard at the consultation.

Areas I serve

I work in Boise first, along with Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, Middleton, Kuna, Garden City and Hidden Springs. I also take residential projects in Sun Valley and Ketchum.

Talk it through with me

Not sure if you need a landscape architect or a designer who builds? Bring that question to a consultation. If you came looking for landscape architecture services in Boise for your home, there's a good chance I can help with both the plan and the build. If your project needs a licensed architect, I'll tell you that too. Schedule a consultation or call (541) 961-7269.