Construction Documents, Blueprints, Plans, whatever you want to call them, are very important if you want to arrive at the end of your project with a cohesive and well thought-out landscape plan without painting yourself into a corner so to speak. Many times property owners will forego the expense and time to develop a landscape plan which is okay in certain instances but sometimes a plan is almost required if you want to avoid incurring problems and additional unnecessary expense. A plan is nothing more than a drawing, almost always drawn to scale, that helps the designer place plants, plant beds, driveways, sidewalks, and other landscape components in a way that it all works together. It helps to work with topographical contours on the drawing in order to design the proper drainage. A drawing drawn to scale can also aid in developing estimates for material costs, doing quantity take-offs based on lengths and areas of work. Sometimes a project can almost be verbally planned but I have found it to work much smoother if I prepare at least a sketch of what things are to look like once the project is complete. A full-blown drawing showing topo, drainage structures with elevations is generally not needed unless the project is large. Residential plans can usually be done inexpensively which provides the owner with a visual of what will be done. This works out in the long run for both the property owner and the one installing and making it happen due to less surprises. Many times a project if not planned properly from the start will result in additional unexpected costs and labor which is no good for either party. Taking the time to prepare a landscape plan pays off in the short and long run for both parties.