What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Every person is unique and so are their gardens. This can be boiled down to desire, time, and budget. We work to balance these with each client.
Our goal is to create a beautiful, relaxing space that you will enjoy being in.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
After receiving a request, we like to have an initial phone call or on-site meeting. These are complementary. The focus of this step is to discuss and understand your project goals and budget, and evaluate the conditions and location.
Next, we provide recommendations, the scope of work, and estimated costs. Since we do not mark up plant or material prices, all we charge is our time and the direct cost of materials. Our services range from complete garden installs to planning with drawings and other resources to help you envision your garden dream.
To begin work, we typically request a deposit to cover project expenses (typically 1/3 to 1/2).
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Although we are a relatively small team we bring a wide spectrum of work experience and skills to the table for every project. Decades of research and experience in native and other locally viable ornamental and agricultural specimens, traditional gardening and farming, technical drawing and design, engineering and construction, small business management and artistic production.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
Since 2018 we have been serving clients throughout Maryland, D.C. and Virginia to help them achieve their ideal outdoor spaces. This business is built upon a family's lifelong passion for horticulture and artistic design.
What types of customers have you worked with?
We have worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from borderline charity work to multi-million dollar townhomes; from square-foot gardening backyard family farms to grandma's with houseplant worries to multi acre woodland estates, we can deliver on any desired style or solution!
Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
Recently, we redesigned two gardens at a rowhouse in NW, Washington DC. The couple wanted a particular look, and there was a tremendous amount of research, stretching over weeks, to find the appropriate plants for the shaded conditions and small space. This research caused us to find and visit several specialty nurseries/growers, including a nursery that specializes in plants used for bonsai, train, and doll house gardens. The intense research and preparation made the installation day smooth, seamless, and the results beautiful.
Did we charge for all this time? No way, but part of the joy of gardening is that you are always learning.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Think long-term about your project, the results you want to achieve, and how quickly you want to achieve those results. Also, try to think about your property as a whole instead of an assembly of pieces/areas. Oftentimes dream houses and spaces are custom made over time and not bought pre-assembled!
Regarding the process of hiring a local professional: try not to allow yourself to be rushed into any individual solution or price. Quick, easy, and cheap fixes are rarely reliable or long-lasting; and potentially do more harm than good at the end of the day!
What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
First and foremost, how do you want to use and enjoy your gardens and outdoor spaces? Where do you want to relax and enjoy the fresh air?
What would you like to see when you come home or when you go into your yard?
How long do these goals extend into the future, and when would you like to see them achieved? What is a realistic budget for your goals?
What problems do you see in your yard and gardens, that you would like changed?
We can help you answer many of these. Gardening is, in general, a process of layers and time.
