Dirt Beauty

Serves New Britain, CT

35244

Hired 63 times

2 employees

11 years in business

Not yet available

4.8

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, Venmo, and Zelle.

Next Service

Hours

Sun Closed

Mon 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tues 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wed 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Thurs 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Fri 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sat 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Credentials

Background Check

Patricia Foulkrod
Completed on 11/9/2024

Introduction

Hi, After 10 years and over 100 projects, I try to landscape inspired by a quote from Rumi: "May the beauty that you love, be what you do." I am an intuitive landscape designer with a very good eye. It is a gift! I love what I do because I love creating beauty that makes my client's love their garden. And I have developed a consistent way of working that makes the process transparent, simple, and I work efficiently to complete the work. I respond to inquiries by offering a free in-person consultation. I take photos of everything, inspect valves and irrigation, make suggestions and offer free design ideas. If you like my ideas, I send some images of plants, etc. and if we decide to move forward, I create a detailed estimate. Included if necessary, are costs for installing additional or new valves, drip lines, repairing sprinkler head, etc. I have two people who have worked with me for five years. I give definition to what is thriving in your garden, and then incorporate beautiful drought tolerant and low water plants and shrubs, trees, boulders, river rocks, DG, containers, fountains, etc. I love to introduce new ideas that are simple to install. During Covid, I focused on creating sanctuary gardens that inspired my clients to not see their garden as an occasional place to sit, or worry about maintaining it, but as a place to come to often where they could take time to enjoy the plants and nature surrounding them in their own backyard! That remains my focus today. Thanks Patricia 🌴🌴🌴

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

I create a detailed budget based on labor, plants and my design fee. I don't work by the hour and neither do my guys. I bid the project based on how long it will take me to shop, install and design. I never go over budget because if there is something we decide to do after the estimate is done, you will sign off on everything, big or small. No surprises. Thanks.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

1) Give a free estimate by doing a walk thru, info/garden history/discuss ideas. 2) Send photos of garden as is, with suggestions for plants or other elements and prices. 3) If necessary prep any area of the property before planting. 4) Plant first phase of design. 5) Fill in more plants and change anything that is not working for the client and myself. 6). Come back in two weeks free of charge to see everything and tweak if necessary.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I have been landscaping for ten years, initially creating succulent arrangements for retail. I have an eye for beauty and I know how to stage gardens. I have a strong work ethic, and I deliver on budget, and on time. I show up open minded, but prepared.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

i grew up in a very successful family florist business, and a few years ago, I started selling succulent arrangements and containers, and it grew into designing many different drought tolerant landscapes and gardens.

What types of customers have you worked with?

Many home owners, several estates, commercial spaces, an art studio, a renovated loft building in Hollywood, a spa on Main Street in Santa Monica, an office street garden on Wilshire, - some clients become involved in the design, most leave it to me.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

I recently removed an old deck on a hillside property, worked with a contractor to design retaining walls and remodel wooden stairs to creat a large, terraced hillside garden with drought tolerant plants, cacti, climbing succulents all protected by railroad ties and bark with drip lines installed behind every tier. It saves water and it is a huge hillside needing little maintenance. This project took three months to create and one month to landscape. The average garden takes me about one week. I also designed several gardens within one property in Brentwood and Woodland Hills. Both took about two months. The garden areas were diverse and had different requirements, so I planted America Agaves and other drought tolerant plants. I designed a rooftop garden on a renovated loft building that took two weeks and turned out great.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Observe gardens you like in your neighborhood. Have some idea of what type of garden you want - desert, tropical, etc. and how much water usage and your water bill is important to you. You can not immediately have a garden that resembles your neighbor's twenty year old garden, but you can have depth and privacy fairly quickly. And are you willing to wait till plants and shrubs grow in, or do you want to plant bigger, more mature plants. Your irrigation should be efficient on an adjustable timer. I would suggest planting and irrigating for the long term so you don't have to spend more money next year.