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A bare backyard of graded brown soil inside a cedar fence, with orange string lines on stakes marking out a patio, a path and planting beds.

Landscape design & build · Since 2006

Bare yard. Real garden.

We build from the ground up: base, stone, walls, beds, then plants and sod. Watch a 15-day build play through, from graded soil to the last brass light.

Get my garden quote → See before / after
Day 01 / 15
  1. Base
  2. Stone
  3. Seat wall
  4. Beds
  5. Tree
  6. Planting
  7. Sod
  8. Details
Building on a loop

A garden is mostly what you cannot see: grade, drainage and 8 in of compacted base under the stone. We get the ground right first, then plant for your soil and sun.

Gardens built
0
Native plants used
0%
Avg. client rating
0/5
Plant warranty
0 yr

01 — Before / After

Drag the season.

The same backyard from above: a bluestone patio and stepping-stone path, a fieldstone seat wall, corten-edged native beds, a serviceberry and a fresh lawn.
Week 0 Week 3

Backyard design-build, 1980s suburban lot · 3 weeks · Bluestone, natives, drip

02 — How we build gardens

Ground first,
plants last.

  1. 01

    Survey & design

    Site measured, soil tested, sun mapped, then a scaled plan and planting list.

  2. 02

    Clear & grade

    Old turf and slabs out, utilities marked, ground graded to drain away from the house.

  3. 03

    Hardscape

    Compacted base, bluestone or pavers laid on screeded sand, steel edging set.

  4. 04

    Plant & irrigate

    Beds amended with compost, plants set to plan, drip lines and a smart timer in.

  5. 05

    Mulch & light

    Shredded bark, low-voltage lights on a timer and a walk-through of the watering.

03 — Services

Stone, soil,
and plants.

01

Landscape Design

Scaled plans, planting schedules and 3D views before any ground is broken.

From $1,800
02

Patios & Paths

Bluestone, flagstone and pavers on 8 in of compacted base that will not heave.

From $28 / sq ft
03

Planting Beds

Native perennials, grasses and shrubs chosen for your soil, sun and deer.

From $12 / sq ft
04

Lawns & Sod

Graded, amended and sodded or seeded with a drought-tolerant fescue blend.

From $2.50 / sq ft
05

Irrigation

Drip and rotor zones on a weather-based controller that skips rainy days.

From $3,200
06

Garden Lighting

Low-voltage brass path, step and tree lights on a timer, warm 2700K.

From $250 / fixture

04 — Selected work

Same lots.
New gardens.

Drag across any garden to see where it started. Same fences, same houses, regraded and replanted around how people actually use the yard.

Front yard of native grasses, purple coneflower and salvia around a curved flagstone path to a white front door.
The same front yard before: a patchy yellowing lawn, a straight cracked concrete walk and two overgrown yews.
Before After
P—01

Holloway Front Yard

A thirsty front lawn swapped for a meadow of native grasses, coneflower and salvia around a curved flagstone path. Water use down by two thirds.

Scope
Lawn-to-meadow + path
Duration
8 days
Size
1,100 sq ft
Budget
$16–19K
Backyard slope with three dry-laid fieldstone terrace walls, stone steps between them and planted beds on each level.
The same slope before: bare eroded soil with gullies, a few weeds, an exposed root and a fallen railroad tie.
Before After
P—02

Ridgeview Slope

An eroding backyard hill turned into three terraces: dry-laid fieldstone walls, steps between them and planted shrubs holding the soil.

Duration
4 weeks
Budget
$38–44K
Narrow courtyard with pale gravel, a bistro table, ferns and hostas in corten-edged beds, a red Japanese maple and string lights.
The same side yard before: cracked concrete, bins against the fence, moss on the damp brick and a broken chair.
Before After
P—03

Marlowe St Courtyard

A dark side yard of cracked concrete became a gravel courtyard with a bistro table, shade ferns, a Japanese maple and string lights.

Duration
10 days
Budget
$14–17K

07 — Start here

Let's break ground.

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