When I was a younger landscape designer early in my career, I mistakenly designed a wood burning masonry fire pit to be encompassed by a wood/composite deck. The homeowner loved the design and hired us. The design went to the city building department for approval. It passed the permitting process, and we started building the deck and fire pit. Upon our first on-site inspection, the inspector realized what we were doing and explained to me that we couldn't do what we were intending because it did not meet fire code. He said it must have accidentally gotten through the permitting process by mistake. Ultimately, I had to have a hard talk with an eager homeowner and convince him to let us move the fire pit out further in the yard away from any combustible structures on our dime. It was an expensive lesson to learn, but one I'll never forget or make the mistake implementing again.
People often don't realize the impact that the color of your home's exterior can have on your landscaping. A while back I was renovating my own home and installing dark natural stone along a section of my home's exterior. I realized shortly after that the plants I was growing right in front of that area were not happy because the dark stone was attracting more sun and heat. So, I ended up transplanting those in a different spot and selecting better plants that liked the heat and sun to put in their place.
On one residential project in Norway, we initially planned a traditional landscape with a flat lawn area. During excavation, we discovered a layer of unstable soil and higher groundwater levels than expected. Instead of forcing the original design, we adapted by introducing raised planting beds and a tiered garden layout. This allowed us to stabilize the soil, manage drainage naturally, and still deliver an attractive outdoor space. What could have been a costly setback turned into a feature the client loved, because it gave the garden more dimension and character. For me, flexibility and problem-solving are the most valuable skills in construction and landscape work. - Denis Batjala, Construction Project Manager, UniEngineering AS / Founder, EcoBuild Construction LLC
"Challenges on-site aren't roadblocks they're opportunities to innovate and deliver something even better than the original plan." There was a project where we discovered, mid-construction, that the soil conditions couldn't support the original hardscape plan. Instead of delaying or forcing the design, I brought the design team and engineers together on-site the very same day to rework the plan. We shifted to a lighter, layered landscape solution with reinforced planting zones that not only solved the structural challenge but actually enhanced the aesthetic appeal. It was a reminder that flexibility and speed of decision-making are just as important as vision.
Can you describe a time when you had to adapt your landscape design to accommodate unexpected site conditions or challenges during construction? One of the projects that particularly stood out was a home renovation in West Des Moines where we were putting in pavers, a small retaining wall and a tiered garden bed. Half way into digging, we found huge pockets of clay mixed with badly drained lines that were not visible on the preliminary survey. Had we gone with our original plan—shallow-rooted ornamentals and a typical gravel base for the patio—the whole place would have flooded, undermined itself and started collapsing in on itself. We pivoted and redesigned the garden to use native prairie grasses with a deeper root system along with hardy shrubs that do well in Iowa's heavy clay soil. "We designed a French drain system under the patio to carry the water toward a natural swale at the back of our property," not into some storm sewer, Mr. McLaughlin said. The wall had to be stabilized with geogrid fabric and more stone backfill. It pushed the schedule back by a few weeks, but the job turned out far more durable, and also blended overall better with what was already in place. What I discovered is that site conditions should never be seen as barriers, they are signals to design more intelligently. In central Iowa, the soil and grading and even unpredictable weather patterns require flexibility. Accepting these realities resulted in a pre-safe solution and overall less long term scrapping for the new homeowners.
There have definitely been times where my teams have encountered unexpected conditions while landscaping, such as a yard with an unexpectedly steep grade resulting in tons of water runoff and very poor drainage. In these types of situations we might be forced to stop and re-grade, or even come up with alternative solutions like putting in a french drain or similar solution before proceeding with the actual work of landscaping.
On one project, new landscaping was planned around a residential property. During excavation, we discovered unmarked underground wiring running directly through the area. This created a significant safety concern and required immediate adjustment. Instead of halting the project, I worked with the homeowner and design team to reroute the layout. We shifted planting areas and lighting placements to avoid disruption while keeping the overall look intact. By coordinating with inspectors, we ensured the electrical systems were fully protected before continuing. The end result matched the original intent of the design but delivered it in a way that was both safe and compliant. That situation reinforced the importance of flexibility when unforeseen site conditions surface.
I worked on a residential project where the original plan called for a level patio area with a water feature. Once construction began, we discovered that the soil was much rockier than anticipated, and there was also a hidden slope that hadn't shown up clearly in the initial survey. Excavating as planned would have driven costs through the roof and risked drainage issues. I adapted the design by shifting to a tiered layout with natural stone retaining walls, which turned the slope from a problem into a feature. Instead of a single-level patio, we created multiple outdoor "rooms" at different heights, connected by steps and plantings. The water feature was adjusted into a cascading stream that flowed down the slope, making it look intentional and enhancing the overall aesthetic. The client ended up loving it even more than the original design. The unexpected conditions gave us the chance to create a unique, multi-layered space that blended seamlessly with the natural topography rather than fighting against it. That experience reinforced for me that flexibility and creativity often lead to the most memorable landscapes.