Guiding Your Garden's Story

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About

The truth is, I never thought I could be a business owner, let alone a professional gardener. Growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, I spent my childhood outside, making my way through the maze of gnarled oaks and the flaking red bark of the manzanitas that lined our streets like fence posts. I loved being outside, my hands stained with clay, dirt embedded under my fingernails, hoping the sun would never set so I could explore the remote hills full of wild growth, unchecked and beautiful. Life, and age, eventually caught up with me. Family became my priority, rightfully so, and I could no longer waste my days exploring aimlessly.When I moved to the East Bay, I landed the first job I could think of: nurseryman at a local garden center. Once I’d memorized as many plant names as I could, I moved out of the theory of plant care and into the practice as a landscape maintenance gardener at a local landscaping company. I took to it quickly thanks to the landscaping community I became a part of, and with the help of great mentors. A particular mentor took a keen interest in me, Derek, a seasoned gardener with deeply wrinkled hands permanently lodged with fresh soil. He took me under his wing, teaching me every aspect of landscaping from how to prune roses to diagnosing and replacing a valve. He turned my curiosity into a lifelong craft, and I couldn't have done it without him. (Rest easy Derek, in the knowledge your guidance didn’t go unheeded.)By the time I left that landscaping company I felt sure I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Now my time outdoors is focused and purposeful, though no less fun and exhilarating than those days meandering through the wild hills of my childhood. I never believed I could make a living doing what I love as a gardener, being invited to shape the spaces people live in by working outdoors with my hands caked in fresh soil and leaves in my hair, but that privilege is apparent to me every day.

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Services

Design | Installation | Maintenance | Irrigation

Design

A blank canvas can sometimes feel really daunting. Trying to get your ideas out of your head and into the ground may be more of a challenge than you were expecting. If you have a vision in mind, or just know that your garden could use a makeover and don’t know where to start, I am here to help. From rock walls strengthening a slope, to meandering dry river beds snaking their way through a garden, and all of the plants in between, I can help guide your concept into fruition.Design services offered:

Installation

Whether it’s a brand new landscape or just a few plants, giving your plants the best chance to thrive all starts with the installation process. How much should the root ball be pruned before planting; does this plant prefer acidic soil; how well should the native soil be amended; can we plant this time of year? The list of questions I’ve been asked goes on and on, and with good reason. If any aspect of the installation process goes awry, if a single corner is cut, the plants will let us know sooner or later.Installation services offered:

Maintenance

When you are caring for living things, knowledge and experience are the difference between a pale landscape clinging to life and a flourishing garden bursting with new growth. However, plant care is not an overly complicated concept; soil, sun, water, wind, pests, and pruning is all the knowledge you need to have a lush inviting garden. If I were to add one more important concept to that short list; be proactive. Don’t wait for the shrubs to strangle themselves before you prune them, keep an eye on the irrigation before another plant drowns, and always fertilize at the right time before you’ve missed the season. It is a privilege to take care of my client’s gardens and I’m honored in the trust they put in me.Maintenance services offered:

Irrigation

Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise: all plants need the appropriate amount of water to get established. Irrigation and its various components is very often the cause for decline in your plant health. Whether you need an entire system overhaul or just want someone to take over the programming of your existing irrigation system, I can help guide you through the specific watering needs of your landscape. And don’t forget; overwatering is just as dangerous as underwatering.Irrigation services offered:

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Contact

Phone: (510) 214-2690
Email: [email protected]If you prefer, feel free to fill out the form below to receive a call or email back:

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Portfolio

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