My husband and I have done most of our own landscaping in the front and backyard. The front yard is fine, but the backyard has some issues. I feel we need to regrade due to some leakage into the basement. My husband put in a couple of drywells which solve some of the areas but not all. If we regrade I would also like to consider like to rework the some of the features, but don't feel confident in all of my ideas.

Question:
Could anyone suggest where the best place to begin with a backyard makeover?

Choices:
landscape architect?
Landscaper?

 

the architect can give you a plan that will take into account all your concerns... from the dry wells, to the seepage toward the basement, other drainage problems included and maybe unforseen as a result of changes you'll be making IN the grade or planting areas or other changes....

a landscaper can DO the work AFTER you have the architect's PLAN..... or you can... but you'll need someone who really understands the 'mechanics' of your changes to get the result RIGHT..... not all landscapers have that as general knowledge....

I'd use the architect and then HIS recommendation of landscaper.... the two will have worked together before and will understand each other better than someone who hasn't.....

A simple method to determine whether your land slopes close to what it should is to stretch a string 6 inches above that land and put a pocket level on the string and see which way ot runs, toward or away from your house, unless of course you stand next to the house and need to raise up to see over the yard to the next yard.
You are right to think that slope is more important than drywells since those drywells only aid in relieving some of the symptoms not the real problem, and you want to solve the real problem. A properly sloped yard will help some with basement drainage issues but not all and a good landscape person can be much help, but not all architects or engineers really understand soil issues. We had some look at a problem at the church and were told that the yew shrubs were contributing to the moisture problem, but core sampling of the soil could not find wet soil that would explain that moisture issue, and the engineer did not do the core sampling. Be sure the architect or his engineer actually measures and samples.

Seems to me you take pride in being able to do your own thing and might wish to tackle the landscaping of the backyard according to your own ideas.

A landscape architect comes with major money being of consideration. If this fits your ideas, then this is the way to go.
Such a person takes over from day one to its final ending, hiring the landscape professionals, the workers, sees to all manner of what is necessary to satisfy your neds.

The landscape professional is the guy who knows how to pretty up a home and does the work himself.
Each of these professionals will offer to give you drawings and suggestions while implementing your ideas into them.

You pay for their services and depending on just how involved, it can be pricey.

Or, you can let the professional draw up some ideas and you pay for that service.
Whether you hire him to go further is then decided. They sometimes put the cost of such services included in completed work.

Using such drawings for your own use can be the other way.

If the matter of water leakage has been solved for the most part, there are plants that can absorb a greater degree of water than some.
The areas that show a collection of water might be given such plants. Further drainage ideas might be undertaken with the plants involved.