At the outset, overplanted landscapes and gardens look great. They're lush and full from the get-go, and they make a wonderful first impression. But from that first day onward, an overplanted garden or landscape will evolve from a thing of beauty to an unending struggle between the plants and the homeowner, association, or landscaper tasked with taking care of it.

What's the Problem?

The problems with overplanting are many in number, but they all boil down to one thing: competition. Too many plants or shrubs or trees in one location translates to those plants or shrubs or trees perpetually vying for water, fertilizer, and air circulation. Competition for resources stresses plants, which in turn reduces their ability to fight disease or pests.

What does the overplanted landscape mean for a homeowner, community association manager, or landscaper? Oftentimes an unending series of infected, infested, or failing plants that look, in a word, terrible.

Beyond the issues associated with keeping overplanted areas healthy, there's also the perpetual cycle of trying to keep the area looking kempt. By its very nature an overplanted area will very quickly appear overgrown and messy, both anathema to condominiums that are attempting to maintain both appearance and property value. And then, of course, there are also the ever-escalating bills for landscapers who are charged with the impossible task of literally beating the bushes back into submission.

Realistic Design Is Key

The answer to keeping the struggles between men and shrubs to a minimum lies in designing realistic planting schemes. And what constitutes realism in planting? Accounting for the fact that those cute, manageable little bushes will grow and grow and grow once they are planted, and anticipating their full adult size rather than assuming they will stay small and adorable for the duration.

Making this understanding the bedrock of an agreement with a landscaper or nursery can be difficult to achieve, because it oftentimes works against the professional's bottom line. More shrubs, trees, or plants sold, after all, translates to more money in that same professional's pocket. The quality landscaper is an individual who understands that fewer shrubs installed means less struggle for the homeowner, more likelihood that the shrub will survive its first winter and age gracefully, and a happier customer in the long run.

So how can you tell the quality landscaper from the individual primarily interested in his or her bottom line? Take a little time to research the shrubs the landscaper is recommending and then ask some hard questions before you sign a contract. Some of the queries worth posing are:

• Do you guarantee the plantings? If so, for how long?

• What happens if a plant dies and you don't have the same kind in stock? Do you refund my money?

• What happens if the plant dies, you don't have more in stock, and your policy dictates no refunds?

• Do you offer a written contract and references?

With those answers in hand, you'll be better equipped to assess competing bids for the project.

Given a realistic scheme, the homeowner, landscaping committee, or trustee can look forward to a summer spent outdoors and largely stress-free, secure in the knowledge that they won't be spending every waking moment taking note of shrubs that need a prune.