Van Zeeland's Signature Process runs through three stages: an on-site consultation, a custom design phase, and construction. The consultation covers a walk-through of the property to assess conditions like drainage and sun exposure. The design phase turns that information into a detailed plan drawing on the nursery's plant selection and hardscaping materials. Construction follows once the plan is approved.

The design phase for a Van Zeeland project depends on project complexity and how many rounds of revision the plan goes through. Homeowners review the plan and request adjustments before anything gets scheduled for construction, so the timeline flexes around getting the design right rather than following a fixed schedule. Projects involving several services, like a patio, retaining wall, and lighting, take longer to finalize than a single feature. A specific design timeline gets discussed once the scope is set during the consultation.

Design review for a Van Zeeland project happens at the company's own 18-acre garden center, where homeowners walk through plantings and hardscaping materials in person while reviewing the detailed design proposal. This gives homeowners a chance to see and touch actual material options (pavers, plants, stone) rather than relying only on renderings or samples brought to a site visit. Feedback from that visit shapes the plan before anything moves to construction. This step is part of what connects Van Zeeland's nursery and design-build sides of the business.