Establishment should include

interviewing the client to determine planned uses for the property
determining a budget for the landscape project
cataloging the natural and man-made features of the planned project site
researching legal aspects of the site (e.g., calling Virginia 811, identifying property lines, zoning, setbacks, easements, right-of-ways, off-site factors, and historical considerations)
procuring and interpreting topographic information
creating a base map
conducting soil sampling to determine the landscape site, nutritional status, and soil type
identifying climatic concerns (e.g., hardiness zone, site orientation, and microclimates)
accounting for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sustainability guidelines.

Process/Skill Questions: