Landscape design installation

SERVICES

As a boutique landscape design/build company,

we provide seamless services from design to completion, and beyond. Construction projects will invariably have hiccups along the way, so we think it’s important to work with a company that is experienced, knowledgeable, and cares about the final results.

James Wilson of Garden Stories

Craftsmanship

We love collaborative opportunities to work with talented contractors and craftsmen, and we continue to push against the notion that sophisticated landscape design be only for those with the deepest pockets. Please don't hesitate to reach out to discuss your next project

Design Services

Inform

We spend as much time necessary with you and your property to assist us in making well-informed design decisions. This a great time for you to share your ideas, inspirations and mood boards. The more informed we are the better. Our goal in the design process is to create a collaborative vision that is informed by you, and expertly guided and cared for by us. This is also a good time to discuss budget and material costs.

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Survey

In order to create the first phase of the design we will need to survey your yard to make an accurate site map. This is also an opportunity to capture photos of the site, assess soil, drainage, and light conditions and glean any information we deem important to the plan.

Sketch - (Concept Phase)

In this phase we begin to put together a framework for the design and explore layout options for your property. Before we fill in all the details it's important to set down a good foundation. From here we create more concrete plans that we can accurately estimate pricing and get a better understanding of the overall plan. Specific plans are detailed below.

Conceptual Plans

The conceptual plan, or "master plan" is typically the first phase of the design process. This plan lays down all the essentials, and its purpose is to organize the space in a clean and easily readable format. This plan is often used as the hardscape plan, and is useful for pricing.

Planting Plans

Planting plans allow there to be a phase of the design where the plants take center stage. The Planting Plan is ostensibly the first phase of the plan with plant selection overlayed. Without a planting plan, the finished product will unfortunately look like a lot of new landscapes: bark mulch, boulders and a couple weeping conifers. We are not fans of this cookie-cutter approach to design, so we put a lot of time into our planting plans, and we feel the results speak for themselves. Plants should be the main focus of our work, not an afterthought.

Plan Details & Other Plans

If you want to have a part of the plan shown from a section or viewing perspective we are happy to provide that for you. This may be a good way to demonstrate different heights and elevations, but either way it's not an essential element, just another tool to help visualize the final product. We also create landscape lighting plans for low-voltage outdoor lighting, and irrigation plans.

Installation

As a licensed landscape company (LCB# 9161), Garden Stories oversees all phases of the construction process and we think our results speak for themselves. We work with many talented trades people, and craftsmen, and enjoy collaborating on projects with other builders and designers.

Collaborative Approach

We like to be hands-on while executing our designs because they are very personal to us, and unlike many designers, we understand how to design features that can be built without being overly costly, as we have ample field experience to inform our design process. All our designs are either installed by our company or with our oversight. Often a mix of the two. There are always variables on any new construction project so we feel it's immensely important that your designer be involved in the process of construction from start to finish, and be the direct line of communication to you, the client.

Build Services

Installation

As a licensed landscape company (LCB# 9161), Garden Stories oversees all phases of the construction process and we think our results speak for themselves. We work with many talented trades people, and craftsmen, and enjoy collaborating on projects with other builders and designers.

Read more >


Collaborative Approach

We like to be hands-on while executing our designs because they are very personal to us, and unlike many designers, we understand how to design features that can be built without being overly costly, as we have ample field experience to inform our design process. All our designs are either installed by our company or with our oversight. Often a mix of the two. There are always variables on any new construction project so we feel it is immensely important that your designer be involved in the process of construction from start to finish, and be the direct line of communication to you, the client.

We provide installation services for all our projects including all hardscape (patios, pathways, retaining walls, boulders, steps, grading, drainage, etc...) landscape lighting, plant procurement and planting. In addition we work with select contractors and tradesman to install high quality woodwork including decks, arbors, pergolas, fences, and other woodwork.

Garden Care

Guidance for Garden Care

We want to help you become better stewards of the land by better understanding your landscape.

Performance Guaranteed

A new landscape, unlike a new house, takes time to mature. We are committed to making sure all of our work is successful in the long-term, and we design all of our landscapes to meet our own rigorous requirements for performance. One of the ways that sets us apart from the field is that we provide maintenance, annual evaluations and other plant care services for all our new installations to insure the success of your investment.

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Fine Gardening Services

Evaluations
Garden evaluations are a good way to get your landscape back on the right track. It's important to have a professional evaluation and appropriate prescriptions. All new installations include a complementary evaluation. We highly recommend using this service within a year after the new landscape has been installed.

Pruning
Most woody plants will need some pruning in their lifetime. Some need very little, some need it annually. Knowing how, when, and what to prune is what most amateur gardeners are not confident with. We can help demystify it all for you.

General Garden Care
We have an immense love and knowledge of ornamental and edible gardening, and we provide services with that same kind of appreciation. We offer monthly or seasonal maintenance with generalized care services, including IPM, pruning, editing/transplanting, annual trimming back of perennials and grasses, clean-ups, and more.

How It Works

  • Landscape Project Consultation

    1. Landscape Project Consultation

    Meet at your property to discuss project and goals. Assess the site, discuss ideas, challenges, and potential solutions.

  • Landscape Design Proposal

    2. Landscape Design Proposal

    After consultation, we’ll provide you a design proposal, outlining concepts and details that will be represented in the proposed design. If accepted, we’ll schedule the project.

  • Landscape Design Work

    3. Landscape Design Work

    Property surveys and base mapping, to create a “hardscape plan”.

    Discuss initial conceptual plan and costs and material choices. Revisions as needed. Delivery of final completed plan, to scale and in color, with plant lists. Lighting and irrigation plans may be provided upon request.

  • Landscape Implementation

    4. Landscape Implementation

    We are involved throughout the process from design to completion of the installation. Managing the installation, making design decisions on-site, troubleshooting, and communicating progress are important parts of the implementation process, which we emphasize with utmost diligence.

  • Post-installation & Garden Care

    5. Post-installation & Garden Care

    We will provide a final walk-through at the time of completion to go over details and plant care. We recommend a garden evaluation up to 12 months after the installation, which is also complementary. We provide recommendations for care as well as fine gardening services to guide and shape your garden to maturation.

Work with us

  • Talented and considerate professionals

    Garden Stories did a superb job of revamping my very shady garden. The owner, James, began with precise measurements of my lot, including front and back yards. He listened carefully to my design objectives and promptly provided a detailed draft plan.

    After thoughtful communication regarding plant placement and selection, and suggested modifications to the hardscaping to improve the flow, he presented a beautiful design that met my needs exactly. He and his team commenced installation right on time - even a little early - and completed within the promised timeframe. He was careful to discuss and get approval for all required changes. Garden Stories was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants the garden of their dreams designed and installed by talented and considerate professionals.

    – Perry Mahaley –

  • Transformed my Garden and Patio Area into a Magical Space

    I highly recommend James Wilson, Garden Stories. James transformed my garden and patio area into a magical space. There were a number of problems to solve with respect to water and elevation changes. James crafted great ideas and solutions. He was flexible and responsive. The project took a few twists and turns. Being able to problem solve with him and incorporate his ideas and suggestions of the subcontractors he hired resulted in a much better end result than I had envisioned.

    Everything was completed within the time frames established. The subcontractors James works with are top-notch. This project was extensive; involving moving a tree, moving a large shrub, all the patio replacement and grading, installation of irrigation, new cement stairs and lighting (so cool). James managed the project well. I would choose to work with James and Garden stores in the future.

    – Nancy McFadden –

  • James was super attentive, consultative, and collaborative

    Having lived in apartments my whole adult life (and killing many house plants) I had no idea how to approach the garden and patio when we purchased our first house. Luckily, we found James.

    Although it was a smaller project, he was super attentive, consultative, and collaborative. He provided a strategy for our very sunny lot and desired level of effort to maintain.

    I especially appreciate his patience with my complete lack of knowledge of plants and flowers. We've loved watching the garden continue to grow and spending evening on our new back patio.

    – Loi Jenkins –

  • Our new landscape is in harmony with our home

    What wonderful good fortune that we landed in the capable hands of Garden Stories! James took in all of our hopes and concerns with patience and respect. He gave us reasonable estimates with respect to time and budget right from the beginning. He was wonderfully flexible (and patient!) in helping us to understand our project better and in answering all questions and concerns.

    James created an awesome plan for our challenging site that was affordable, on-time and on-budget, AND beautiful. He hired and oversaw the contractor (which placed boulders on the slope and installed a gravel path). He installed all the bushes and plants and took care of a last-minute addition that I'd not thought of till the end. Our new landscape is in harmony with our home and the way we live, and -- so important -- honors the characteristics of our little part of the Pacific Northwest.

    – Katherine Still –