what, like an HGTV "pick which design you like best" sort of thing? Generally, no, although I will often (for an additional fee) set up an additional meeting early in the process where I can review preliminary sketches with clients so we can see what a couple of design directions would look like. Of course if someone wanted to pay my design fee x 3 I would happily do 3 completed designs.

The plans are as detailed as you and the design professional agree to in the contract. To get what you want you'll definitely want to let them know that you've made the (horrible, regrettable) decision to act as your own GC and need the appropriate documentation.

My own experience as a designer is that the initial concept design might include a couple of different design schematics showing different design solutions that met with the client's design brief, and that the next step would be to present them, evaluate each with the client, and either select one, or modify one to include client feedback, and then proceed to complete construction drawings to allow it to be bid out. If you intend to act as your own gc, you should either have some experience to do so, or perhaps have your landscape architect help with review of bids and contractor selection/qualifications. If you don't have the experience/background to be knowledgeable about the construction process and potential pitfalls, there's a lot that can go wrong, and you wouldn't necessarily even realize why/when/where/how.

My own experience as a designer is that the initial concept design might include a couple of different design schematics showing different design solutions that met with the client's design brief, and that the next step would be to present them, evaluate each with the client, and either select one, or modify one to include client feedback, and then proceed to complete construction drawings to allow it to be bid out. If you intend to act as your own gc, you should either have some experience to do so, or perhaps have your landscape architect help with review of bids and contractor selection/qualifications. If you don't have the experience/background to be knowledgeable about the construction process and potential pitfalls, there's a lot that can go wrong, and you wouldn't necessarily even realize why/when/where/how.