If your yard is currently barren dirt, obviously there will be increased maintenance costs. As with a house, which needs to be periodically reroofed, painted, etc., there are ongoing maintenance costs associated with a yard. Whether you hire a gardener or not, you will incur costs related to fertilizer, water, pruning, seasonal cleanup, repainting of any outdoor structures, etc. The best way to find out what possible maintenance costs might be is to talk to neighbors and obtain rough quotes from their maintenance contractors. There are some broad generalizations about these two alternatives, and in all cases, there are more capable and less capable individuals in each profession.
Most landscape architects have a degree from an accredited college or university.
Because of their educational background, landscape architects may have a stronger design sense when it comes to spatial relationships and overall site planning concepts than designers have. Landscape architects also have been trained to document design concepts and plans on paper as a visual, graphic means of communicating their designs. This issue becomes important when one is pursuing larger projects that require permitting through city planning or building departments. In most cases, landscape architects are providing professional services rather than products, and therefore base their fees on the time expended. A landscape designer is often times associated or affiliated with a nursery or construction company, although there also are landscape designers who work independently.