Landscape Services
I replace lawns with ecologically rich landscapes that are stimulating, exciting, and pleasant to spend time in. From design through installation to maintenance, my focus is on creating a landscape that is both comfortable for people and integrated with the surrounding ecosystem. My approach combines elements of traditional gardening and habitat restoration. Read more about my values around land and design here.
Design plans that value space
What I offer:
Thoughtful and creative layouts that maximize lawn utility in order to minimize lawn footprint.
Drawings with species and objectives by scale, as appropriate.
Write-ups describing the objectives, considerations, and choices behind the plan.
A design optimized for long-term, low-maintenance enjoyment minimizing the need for watering, pest control, and weeding.
My approach:
A key to reducing lawn is identifying which parts of it are most impactful. A primary focus of mine during the design process is considering the natural traffic patterns and hang-out areas. Both through interviews with the client and during my own time spent on site I will above all consider how people naturally move through a space. Selection of the plant communities is driven by site conditions and client use of the space. Is privacy most important? Are particular views the centerpiece? Is supporting pollinators the goal?
Finally, I am happy to work to your desired level of detail. Do you need a napkin sketch and a walk-through? Or are you interested in reviewing the species list down to individual zones? I am happy to accommodate your needs.
Meadows & meadow-like plantings
What I offer:
Revitalization of old fields by removing invasives, inter-seeding with appropriate native seed to increase diversity and visual interest, and mowing/brush-cutting as necessary to maintain diverse perennial growth.
Replacement of lawn with species-rich plant communities of flowering perennials and grasses by either direct planting or seeding.
Appropriate balance between the looseness of a meadow—and the size constraints and tidiness needs of a living space.
My approach:
Meadows provide an opportunity to create ecologically dynamic communities while retaining the openness of lawn. In an outdoor living space the risk of meadow is that it becomes large and unruly. I focus on achieving the balance between naturally loose and bursting at the seams. In most yards this means selecting shorter species, which are both inherently less imposing and also less likely to flop over. Properly balancing plant behaviors both in developing the species list and during ongoing management is also key to creating a stable community.
Natural hedges, screens, & woodland edges
What I offer:
Loose, natural screens instead of monotonous uniform rows.
Staggered hedges that achieve privacy while maintaining openness.
Mixed species for increased diversity of form as well as wildlife value.
Transition zones between wooded and open areas.
My approach:
Living borders of shrubs and trees—with their ability to create privacy and differentiate spaces—are an essential component of our built environments. They are also common sites of tension in a natural landscape—functioning either as monotonous heavy walls, or hard edges where highly manicured plant communities bump up against those that are left alone. Creating natural spaces often involves softening boundaries. For hedges and privacy screens I use mixed species and irregular lines to create hedges that feel loose and airy while still achieving privacy.
Walking paths & Trails
What I offer:
Layout and siting of walkways through meadows, fields, and wooded areas.
Construction of footpaths through uneven terrain and wooded areas.
My approach:
Walking paths are one of the most under-appreciated aspects of landscape design, and when we prioritize natural space paths become integral to our experience of a landscape. A good path should accommodate both slow ambling and transit from one location to another, and must therefore strike a balance between efficient directness and pleasant meandering. I will work with both you and the space to identify places where paths or small trails could open up opportunities for you to engage with your space differently.
Implementation of Custom Designs & Ongoing Management
What I offer:
Entirely organic landscape care.
Installation of shrub and perennial plantings in place of lawn.
Management of perennial plantings with weeding, selective pruning, and cutbacks—maintaining the balance between wildness and the inherent orderliness of a garden.
Structural pruning and shaping of shrubs and small trees.
Client-centered care that is responsive to your needs in the space.
My approach:
Great long-term management is where a living landscape really comes into its own. As a specialist in landscapes that incorporate natural elements, I have a well-developed feel for balancing the spontaneity of a wild, untamed garden with the intentionality of a well-thought landscape. A critical part of this balance is to make every intervention count. An irony of gardening work is that it’s inherently disruptive to living communities, and that disruptiveness means you can be creating future problems while you work to solve present ones. I aim to work with precision and make every hole dug, branch pruned, and weed pulled purposeful and effective.
I pride myself on staying true to the spirit of a landscape while allowing the plants to lead the way.
Servicing the South Berkshire towns of:
Monterey
New Marlborough
Southfield
Mill River
Sandisfield
Otis
Sheffield
Great Barrington
Alford
Housatonic
Stockbridge
Lee
Norfolk, CT
Colebrook, CT
Reach out to schedule a consultation.
Whether you’re ready to dive in with a full design, or are just trying to figure out how you want to manage your landscape, I look forward to chatting.