Jacob, first off, I'd ditch 3a-4b. I've seen this design a million times and it doesn't say 'landscaping' to me.

Right now, I'd say 1a and 1b are stronger, as they are, than 2a and 2b. Only because the grass in the 2 versions looks more like hair to me. Otherwise, I prefer the visual concept in the 2s. Push the grass more towards blades, rather than spikes.

I think 1a and 1b are a bit generic, but workable. Try to make the type and leaf feel like more of a unit, rather than type and a leaf. Also, the central vein in a leaf is just an extension of the stem, so you should draw them as one central curve. It's the 'spine' of the leaf, so be conscious of that when you draw it.

And finally, ask the client how they want to be perceived. Right now you've got a heavy bias towards modern, clean type, which makes me think that's what you're shooting for, but that will help the other decisions fall into place.

Oh, and that secondary green/screen is too light.

Generally, the 1-2 ideas aren't bad, they're just not great. Keep refining.

If it was a terraced hill or something then I wouldn't mind so much. The path/river between two hills receding into the skyline says a whole lot of things to me, but not landscaping. I agree though, more research is a good bet.

I like 3 a lot. The leaf could perhaps be a bit smaller.

As for the grass, I'm just seeing magnified close-ups of body hair. Grass doesn't actually taper, and it's much more thick (or, at least should be if your landscaping company is doing it's job ;o)

Jacob, I agree with you that the grass looks unkempt. Also, it still reads as hair to me in 1a, 1b, and 2. Check out this image to see what I mean by a blade of grass. Grass is essentially just long, narrow leaves. Like leaves, they start thin, swell, and come to a point. Your grass starts thick and comes to a point, more like a hair. The curve in 4 looks more like grass to me than the grass does.

As Daniel pointed out, landscaping is not just about plants, but about shaping the land and the plant life on it. It's design as well, so more overt rhythm and pattern are probably ok as long as the forms feel natural. I'd pull away from your specific ideas and return to sketching and research for a bit.

Maybe it's just me (and it usually is) but I think that the original post's v 1a is awesome, just ditch the leaf. I see the two flourishes against "landscaping co" as a hill, on which that type sits. I don't think that you need such a literal leaf and grass approach. This is a perfect chance to experiment with type and it's ability to create illusions of depth and allusions to other imagery. Push it!

aaron

I agree, the text is far too rigid, here is an updated one with Chianti type

I was thinking the same thing, but i cant figure out what to do with it, i have tried the green bar and it seemed to be a bit clunky, but i will post it none the less (probably tomorow). Any other ideas?