If you’ve been staring out at your yard thinking “there has to be something better than this,” you’re not alone. Maybe it’s a sloped backyard that feels completely unusable. Maybe it’s a front yard that’s been rocking the same tired shrubs for a decade. Or maybe it’s a patio space that just doesn’t match the home you’ve worked so hard to build. Whatever the situation, a custom landscaping design is usually the answer. And here in the Marietta area and north of Atlanta, we see it all.
At P.O.P.S. Landscaping, we’ve been transforming Georgia yards since 1991. We don’t do cookie-cutter. We do your yard, your style, your vision, brought to life by designers who genuinely love what they do. So let’s walk you through exactly what the custom landscaping design process looks like from start to finish, along with some tips we’ve picked up over 30+ years of working in north Georgia.
What Does a Custom Landscaping Design Actually Include?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and it’s a great one. A custom landscaping design is not just picking out a few plants and calling it a day. When done right, it’s a complete plan for how your outdoor space looks, functions, and holds up over time. For most homes in the Marietta, Woodstock, and East Cobb areas, a full design plan typically covers:
- Plant selection based on Georgia’s climate zone (most of the north Atlanta suburbs fall in Zone 7b/8a)
- Hardscaping like retaining walls, stone steps, decorative concrete, and driveway upgrades
- Water features such as ponds or fountains that add beauty and help mask road noise
- Outdoor living spaces including fireplaces, fire pits, and custom patio areas
- Lighting and irrigation systems designed to keep everything thriving without constant attention
Every one of these elements works together. That’s what separates a custom landscaping design from just buying plants at a nursery and hoping for the best.
Custom Landscaping Design Steps
Step 1: The Consultation Comes First
The first thing we do is listen. When a homeowner in Woodstock or East Cobb reaches out to us, we come out to the property and talk through what they’re dreaming about. Some people show up with a Pinterest board ready to go. Others just know they hate what they’ve got. Both are perfectly fine starting points.
During the consultation, we’re also evaluating the land itself. We’re looking at the grade, drainage patterns, existing plants worth keeping, sun exposure, and soil conditions. North Georgia’s red clay soil is notoriously stubborn, and if you’re not accounting for it in a custom landscaping design, you’ll be fighting it for years.
Pro tip for Georgia homeowners: Before your consultation, walk your yard after a heavy rain and make note of where water pools or runs. We get our fair share of storms up here in Cobb and Cherokee Counties, and drainage solutions like dry creek beds, French drains, or grading work are often a key part of any well-thought-out custom design.
Step 2: Building the Design Plan
Once we’ve gathered all the information we need, our designers get to work. At P.O.P.S., every designer brings their own artistic style to the table, which means no two projects look the same. Whether you want something eclectic and bold, a clean traditional Southern look, or something right in between, we have the eye for it.
One thing homeowners in our area often overlook is how much the terrain north of Atlanta can actually work in your favor. A lot of properties in Marietta, Canton, and Kennesaw have elevation changes that feel like a headache at first. But with the right retaining walls and tiered planting beds, that slope becomes one of the most eye-catching features on the whole street.
Plant tip for Marietta and north Atlanta residents: Choose native and adapted plants whenever you can. Native Georgia species like Oakleaf Hydrangea, Coneflower, and Beautyberry are stunning and drought-tolerant once established. They also attract pollinators. Less watering, less maintenance, more beauty. That’s a win all around.
Step 3: Choosing Your Materials
This is where a lot of homeowners are surprised by how much fun the process actually is. Picking out stone, pavers, mulch color, plant varieties, and lighting fixtures involves a lot of decisions, but our team walks you through each one. We help you understand what holds up best in Georgia’s heat and humidity so you’re not replacing things two years down the road.
Georgia’s climate also gives us a longer growing season than most of the country, and that’s a real luxury when it comes to planning seasonal color. We love designing custom landscapes with color rotations built right in. Think pansies and snapdragons in the cooler months, then swapping to warm-season annuals like vinca, lantana, and angelonia once the heat kicks in. Done right, your yard looks alive and intentional every single month of the year.
Step 4: Installation Day (and What to Expect)
Once the design is approved, it’s time to get to work. Our installation crews are experienced, professional, and thorough. A project might take a few days or a few weeks depending on scope, but we keep communication going throughout so you’re never left wondering what’s happening in your backyard.
We handle everything in-house: tree and shrub installation, sod, retaining walls, decorative concrete, irrigation, lighting, and more. Having one team manage the full custom landscaping design and build means nothing slips through the cracks. Here’s the general order of how things typically go:
- Grading and prep work comes first. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the foundation everything else depends on.
- Hardscaping goes in before plants hit the ground.
- Irrigation and lighting are run and tested before the final planting and mulching.
- We do a final walkthrough with you before we pack up to make sure every detail is right.
Step 5: Taking Care of Your New Landscape
A custom landscaping design is only as good as the care it receives after installation. Most new plantings need consistent watering during their first season to establish strong root systems, especially during Georgia summers when temperatures push well into the 90s.
We offer ongoing lawn care and landscape maintenance programs to take that responsibility off your plate completely. From fertilization and weed control to seasonal color swaps and shrub pruning, our maintenance teams keep your investment looking great all year long.
Here are a few quick tips for protecting a new landscape in Georgia:
- Water new plantings deeply and less often, about 2 to 3 times per week, rather than shallow watering every day
- Put down a fresh layer of mulch each spring to hold moisture and keep weeds down
- Watch for signs of fungal disease during Georgia’s humid summer months; catching it early makes treatment much easier
- Time your shrub pruning correctly; pruning at the wrong time of year can cost you an entire season of blooms
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Landscaping Design
How long does a custom landscaping design project take from start to finish? – It depends on the scope. A consultation and design plan can come together in one to two weeks. Installation timelines range from a few days for smaller projects to several weeks for full yard transformations that include hardscaping, irrigation, and planting.
How much does custom landscaping design cost in the Marietta area? – Every project is different based on size, materials, and complexity. The best way to get accurate numbers is to schedule a consultation. We work with a range of budgets and will be upfront about what makes sense for your property.
What makes P.O.P.S. Landscaping different from other companies in north Atlanta? – Thirty-plus years of experience, award-winning designers, and a strict no-cookie-cutter approach. Our founder David Gatti has been featured on HGTV’s Ground Breakers and has built P.O.P.S. on the belief that every property has potential, no matter how steep, shady, or challenging it looks.
Do you offer maintenance after the design and installation are complete? – Yes. We offer full lawn care and landscape maintenance programs to keep your yard looking its best through every season.
Ready to Get Started on Your Custom Landscaping Design?
If you’re in Marietta, Woodstock, Kennesaw, Canton, Sandy Springs, East Cobb, or anywhere in the north Atlanta suburbs, P.O.P.S. Landscaping is ready to bring your vision to life. With over 30 years of award-winning experience and a team of designers who treat every yard like it’s their own, we’re not just another landscaping company. We’re your neighbors, and we take pride in every single project we touch.
Give us a call at (770) 928-5658 to schedule your free consultation. Let’s turn the yard you have into the yard you’ve always wanted, from concept to completion.
