Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)…
Q: I'm thinking of waiting until Spring to begin my landscaping project. Isn't this the best time?
Well, it's common to begin thinking about outdoor project in the Spring. Local plant nurseries often stock heavily in the months of April, May, June, and July. However, nature operates on a fairly inflexible schedule. You can stick any plant in the ground, but will it grow ... or thrive?
The 2 main concerns, or criteria, for successful landscaping are temperature and soil conditions. Both of these break down even further to ONE criteria: moisture! Most people don't think about landscaping work in Winter, as plants are dormant and the soil is quite soggy. However, virtually all plants "root establish" in Winter, so it can be an excellent time to stick things in the ground – it's all a matter of soil conditions, and choosing the correct time to do the work.
Q: I just want some landscape fabric and barkdust spread over it to control weeds, how much will that cost?
Elvish Designs doesn't use landscape fabric or barkdust. We only use materials that IMPROVE soil ecology. We employ various methods to control the growth of undesirable plants, and prefer compost for mulch and weed control.
Barkdust is messy and taxes the available nitrogen of already-nitrogen-poor clay soils for at least the first 3 years, as the barkdust begins to break down. Adding a (so-called) "weed barrier" only makes things worse by preventing the broken down barkdust from contributing its available nitrogen to the soil after sufficient break down has occurred. Moreover, weed barriers can support weeds on top, and some weeds even grow through the "barrier"!
Q: I planted a nice tree in my yard, but it doesn't seem to be growing. It's been several years and it's still the same size. What's going on??
Two words: Clay soil! … Clay soils suffer from 2 distinct "challenges". The first is a low nitrogen content. The second is a near complete absence of air and water spaces in the soil matrix. This last issue is what accounts for the severe compaction of the soil, and the extreme moisture states – it's either hard-as-a-brick, or the consistency of peanut butter! In your case, the plant roots aren't able to reach into new earth to grow, due to the stiffness of the soil.
In nearly all of our landscaping work, we encourage our clients to add soil amending to the project's activities. The simple facts are that properly amended soil will use 1/3 of the water that the original clay soil used, the plants thrive with little effort, and the ecology of the soil is dramatically improved.
Many landscaping companies will bring in "amended soil", or top off existing soil with "blended soil", but it is very rare that other companies properly amend a client's soil for them. Simply adding a better quality soil on top of a clay soil creates a "bi-level", layer-cake effect in which plants grow well until their roots reach the original (clay) soil. Once those plant roots grow deeply enough to reach the original soil, they stop and grown laterally, continuing on in the looser soil. Thus, adding blended soil on top of clay soil creates a deceptive, temporary growth whose long-term effect is to weaken the plants and increase the need for frequent watering.
Elvish Design's draws upon over 20 years of agricultural experience – plowing, discing, harrowing, planting, and fertilizing soils. We know dirt! We have developed a mix of soil amendments that will turn pure clay subsoil (that gray or peanut butter-colored stuff) into good garden soil, that will grow anything except money(!), within 10 days! So, you won't find "gypsum" or "clay-buster" in our inventory or on our project sites – we consider such products to be "junk". Our soil amendment "recipe" took over 8 years to develop, and is unique to us. Moreover, although we guarantee our soil work for 10 years, our amending process permanently improves the soil.
Q: Can I hire anybody to do my landscaping work?
NO. Oregon State law is very specific and restrictive about what constitutes landscaping work and who is qualified to do such work. Fines range from $200 to $2,000 for each violation. You can do almost anything that you want to your own property, providing that the labor that you use is your own.
Q: What do you charge for your work?
Elvish Designs typically provides both estimates and project charges that are based upon hourly rates between $25 and $40 per hour. For some "high-risk" tasks, the cost can rise to $100 per hour.
Q: Do you charge for estimates or consultations?
Yes. Time is money. When we visit a client and provide information, that has value, and it takes time. The time required to provide "Free estimates" has to be accounted for. Elvish Designs doesn't believe that it's fair to charge our paying clients for time taken up by any "free estimates" provided to others. Our clients only pay for the time (and materials) required for their project.
Our usual rate is $100 for a 2-hour consultation, and the quality of information presented is well worth the cost.
Q: Do I have to sign a contract before my project can begin?
Yes, the State of Oregon requires written contracts for all landscaping projects that you don't do yoursef, on your own property. (ORS 671.625)
