Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I'm interested in having some landscape work performed at my home, what should I do? |
| A:
Please
call or e-mail us. We will be happy to help you. When you call, we
will make an appointment to meet with you at your home and review
the scope of the work you wish to have performed. We will listen and
share ideas with you regarding your landscape. After our meeting,
our representative will develop a proposal and possibly a landscape
drawing for the work we have discussed. Once all of the information
has been developed, we then schedule an appointment to once again
meet with you at your home and review our recommendations. Once we
have agreed on the work to be performed and finalize the details of
the project, the work is scheduled and we send a crew to your home
to install your landscape. Please keep in mind that no job is considered
to small or to large. Back to Top |
| Q:
Do you charge for your estimates? |
| A:
No, we do not charge for our estimates. We do however charge for our
landscape design consultation. Some jobs do not require designs to
provide an estimate, some however do. Please remember that a landscape
design is a professional service much like hiring an architect to
design an addition for your home. Please review our design fee schedule
on our web site. Back to Top
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| Q:
What
kind of services do you provide? |
|
A: We provide a vast array of landscape services. Here are a few:
There
are also some services we do not provide including: mowing, carpentry
work, irrigation systems, tree service, or lawn maintenance. We work
with a series of contractors that provide these services and would
be happy to either provide you with contact information or arrange
to have the services performed for you if it is part of a project
you have contracted with us. Back to Top
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| Q: We like what you've proposed, but our budget won't permit us to do everything at once. Is there anyway we can have the project done in phases? |
| A:
Absolutely! We understand that costs can escalate, especially on a
very extensive project. We encourage our customers to stay within
their budget and get what they want. If you'd like, we can also help
you decide what portions of the work should be done initially, and
what should be left to later phases. Back to Top
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| Q: I want a low maintenance landscape garden. Is that possible? |
| A:
It certainly is. Please keep in mind that no garden is maintenance
free. We can, however, make recommendations for plantings and other
elements in your landscape that require minimal maintenance. The best
way to keep your garden under control is to regularly give it some
attention. The key is, the less time you spend in your garden working,
the more time you will spend in your garden enjoying it. Back
to Top
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| Q: How often should I water? |
| A:
Please refer to our watering guidelines in our maintenance
tips section of our web site. Every garden will vary slightly, but
these are some generic rules to follow. Back to Top
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| Q: I have an irrigation system, but my plants still seem to be struggling. Why? |
| A:
An irrigation system is a great convenience and can significantly
decrease the amount of time one spends in the garden working. Even
though an irrigation system can be extremely beneficial, it can also
be a huge detriment to your garden. We recommend a drip irrigation
system for your landscape with an incorporated rain gauge. Where drip
is not suitable, heads that spray a finer mist for areas filled with
small perennials, annuals, and/or groundcovers will work fine. A drip
system works better because it concentrates the water in the root
zone of the plants. This is beneficial for two reasons, the first
being the conservation of water. Since water is dripped only on the
plant, the beds are not over sprayed and water is not wasted. The
second reason is volume of water. Spraying landscape beds has a tendency
to over saturate the beds, basically drowning the plants. The answer
to your question can be found by monitoring the amount of water and
how often your irrigation systems cycles. If your beds are soft and
squishy like a sponge, your plants are too wet. Don't be deceived
by the appearance of your plants wilting, or your evergreens starting
to yellow and drop needles. Stick your fingers in the soil to test
the amount of moisture in the ground. If need be, scrape back some
mulch and dig a little hole near the plant. If the soil drips water,
or the hole immediately fills with water, then adjust your irrigation
system. It is watering too often. If you observe your plant foliage
starting to change colors, or show signs of stress, the plant may
be to dry. Again, stick your fingers in the soil near the root mass
of the plant, or dig a small hole. The mulch or the surface of the
soil may feel damp, but a few inches down it could be very dry. Adjust
your irrigation system to water either more frequently or for an extended
duration. The root mass of your plant is not being properly flooded.
Don't be surprised, especially with trees that you may have to occasionally
water some of your plants individually with a hose. Within an irrigation
zone, not all plants will require an equal amount of water. With a
small investment of time monitoring your irrigation system and moisture
level in the soil, you can ensure long-term health of your landscape
plants. Back to Top
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| Q: Should I irrigate my landscape beds? |
| A:
An
irrigation system can be very beneficial to your plantings if properly
developed. We feel that a drip system is best for your landscapes.
If an irrigation contractor is unwilling to install a drip system,
or the cost of the system suddenly increases in price significantly,
talk to another contractor. Although we do not install irrigation
systems, we would be happy to recommend you a contractor. Back
to Top
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| Q: How often should I prune? When should I prune? |
| A:
Please refer to our maintenance tips section to review to pruning
guidelines. Back to Top
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| Q: Can you provide me with some references? |
| A:
We would be pleased to. References will be provided to you upon request.
If you'd like to drive by some of the properties we've worked on,
just let us know. Our homeowners are proud to show off the work we've
done for them. Back to Top
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| Q: Where can I see the materials you are proposing to use in my landscape? |
| A:
We can provide you with samples of many of the materials we propose
to use. In the case of plant material, you can visit any garden center
to be able to view many, if not all of the plantings we've proposed.
If we are unable to show you a sample of a material that you feel
suits your needs, you are welcome to visit some of our vendors such
as Lang Stone, Mr. Mulch, or Coffman Stone. Back to
Top
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