OUR SERVICES

Whether you’re looking to naturalize your shoreline, convert your lawn, create a new garden, cover your septic area with plants, or improve the health of your forest, we have you covered! With over 25 completed designs in central and southern Ontario, we have the experience and expertise to bring your project to life.

DESIGN PROCESS

Site visit

Our process begins with a site visit to tour your property to get a sense of the space and how you currently use it. We will discuss your naturalization goals, the ecological problems you’d like to solve, and we’ll share our ideas. We’ll also highlight the natural features, native plants, and any invasive plants already on your property. Site visits are $150 plus tax within Haliburton County-our main service area. Site visits in Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes regions are subject to a mileage fee as well. Should we go ahead with a project together, the site visit fee of $150 will be credited back to you on your final invoice at the end of the project.

Design

We’ll create a concept plan, species list & plant budget outlining planting zones and plant combinations. Each species is thoughtfully selected to ensure it’ll thrive in your environment, be aesethically pleasing, and relate well to other plants in the design. The exact location of each plant will not be detailed on the concept plan as much of the design process happens on-site in real time. This allows us to live in the creative moment; laying out the plants in a pattern that compliments your home and natural surroundings.

We provide one complimentary edit to the concept plan & plant materials budget. Further edits are billed at an hourly rate of $50/hr.

50% of the plant material cost is due at this time.

Installation

The installation process includes any required site preparation (ie. small-scale sod-removal, mulching, garden bed shaping, etc.) See FAQ section for our scope of site preparation service. Depending on the project, site preparation may start well-before we’re ready to install the plants.

Maintenance

After we finish planting, the care and management of your naturescape is your responsibility. As part of our committment to your success, we’ll provide you with a care and management plan as well as a plant information and identification guide; both tailored to your project. We also offer two complimentary follow-up visits during the first year. During these visits, which are scheduled at the owner’s request, we’ll show you how to identify weeds, recognize your young plants, provide maintenance advice, and answer any other questions you may have. Watering, weeding, and other maintenance activities is critical during the establishment phase of the project.

COST

Depending on the size, site preparation needs, plant choices, and estimated labour time, our fees vary. Generall speaking, clients can anticipate spending $11-$14 per square foot for all naturalization and ecological garden projects. This price includes the concept design, plant material and planting labour.

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions below, and we encourage you to review this section before completing our Naturescapes Project Inquiry Form.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s your scope of service?

We do plants! We are not able to provide hardscaping services such as pathways, stairs, decks, patios, etc. We also don’t provide intensive landscape site preparation such as large-scale sod removal, regrading, excavating, or clearing. Local contractors, hired by the client, will be brought in if these services are required.

What kind of plants do you offer?

We mostly work with native perennial plants, which are hardier, provide more wildlife value, and generally solve more ecological problems compared to most non-natives. We aim to include at least a 70:30 ratio of native plants:non-native plants. We sometimes mix in non-natives to elevate design aesthetics, but will never include invasive plants in our designs. Most of our plants are in plug trays or small pots, which keeps our plant material costs and installation time down.

When does this work typically happen?

Site visits can be scheduled during late spring, summer or fall. The best plant installation times are May-June and September. At our discretion, we will install plants in the summer provided that our client is very committed to watering.

What’s your service area?

Our main service area is Haliburton, Ontario. We will also provide service to clients in Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes regions. We are able to take on clients outside of our main service area. Fees are determined based on consulting time via zoom, phone, email, etc. For our long-distance clients preferring on-site consults, we can also travel to your site for $100/hr plus mileage.

Do I have to do everything at once?

We can phase your project over a few years to match your budget, time, and comfort level.

I have a green thumb. Any options for me?

We’ve got you covered with our Naturescapes Consultation Service, Masterclasses and/or our curated Native Plant Kits. These options will empower you to take on your own DIY project as your time and budget permits.

Does Meadowsweet Naturescapes offer a guarantee?

We provide high-quality plants from reputable nurseries and are confident in their success if provided the right care and maintenance. Watering and weeding, especially during the first season is critical and is the responsibility of the client. As such, Meadowsweet Naturescapes does not offer a guarantee. As a commitment to your success, we provide care guides and 2 complimentary follow-up visits during the first year, booked at the owner’s request.

What happens after I submit a Naturescapes inquiry form?

We’ll follow-up with you to schedule a site visit. Inquiries are processed in the order we receive them.