Guides
Behind the Work at Terra Verde Botanical: Our Process
See how we move from first phone call to finished garden at Terra Verde Botanical, step by step, with real timelines and honest pricing.
By Terra Verde Botanical5 min read
Terra Verde Botanical is a landscape and garden design studio on Cedar Hollow Road, founded in 2011, serving homes and small businesses within a 40-mile radius. Our process runs first call, site visit, design draft, planting plan, install, and a 90-day check-in. Most projects take 4 to 10 weeks from signed proposal to finished garden.
What happens on the first call with Terra Verde Botanical?
The first call is 15 to 20 minutes. We ask three things: what you want the space to do, what you've already tried, and your rough budget range. That third question makes people flinch. Ask it anyway. A $3,000 pollinator bed and a $30,000 full-yard rebuild are different conversations, and pretending otherwise wastes everyone's afternoon.
Most callers ask first about price per square foot. That's the wrong first question. Ask about soil. A gorgeous plan on compacted clay will fail in year two, and roughly 60% of urban residential soils in the U.S. show some level of compaction or contamination that affects root establishment [1]. We'd rather spend $400 amending soil than replace $2,000 of dead shrubs.
After the call, we book a paid site visit ($150, credited back if you hire us). If you're still deciding between studios, our post on questions worth asking before you hire is a fair place to start.
How does the site visit and design phase actually work?
We show up with a soil probe, a tape measure, a moisture meter, and a notebook. No laptop. The visit runs 60 to 90 minutes and covers sun mapping, drainage, existing root systems, and how you actually use the yard (kids? dogs? a smoker who needs a corner?).
Last April, a client on Sycamore Lane, age 62, wanted a "low-maintenance" front bed and had already bought twelve boxwoods at a big-box store. We asked her to return them. Her soil pH tested at 5.2, boxwoods want 6.5 to 7.2, and the bed sat in half-day shade with poor drainage. We swapped in inkberry holly and native ferns. Two years later, zero replacements.
Design drafts come back within 10 business days. You get:
- A scaled planting plan showing every specimen at mature size, not nursery-pot size.
- A plant list with botanical names, quantities, and container sizes.
- A soil amendment schedule based on the actual lab results from your yard.
- A phased budget so you can install now or split across two seasons.
- A maintenance calendar for the first 12 months after planting.
- A written warranty covering plant replacement for the first growing season.
What does installation look like, and how long does it take?
Install is where projects go sideways if the prep was rushed. We spend roughly 40% of on-site hours on soil work and hardscape before a single plant goes in. That ratio surprises people. It shouldn't.
Here's how three common project types compare:
| Project type | Timeline | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollinator or foundation bed | 1-2 weeks | $2,800-$6,500 | Small yards, first-time clients |
| Full front yard redesign | 4-6 weeks | $9,000-$22,000 | Curb appeal, resale prep |
| Whole-property master plan | 8-10 weeks | $25,000+ | Long-term homeowners, phased builds |
We install Tuesday through Friday. Fridays are for cleanup and client walkthroughs. If it rains three days straight, we don't plant into mud, and we'll tell you the reschedule date the same morning. Native plants installed in fall establish stronger root systems than spring installs in most temperate zones, which is well-documented in horticultural research [2].
Why do we schedule a 90-day check-in after the job is done?
Because plants aren't furniture. A garden at week one and a garden at week twelve look like different projects, and the second one is the one you actually live with.
At day 90 we return, free of charge, and check irrigation coverage, mulch depth, any transplant shock, and early pest pressure. If a plant failed, we replace it under the season warranty. If your watering habits are off, we recalibrate the schedule with you standing there. Small corrections at 90 days prevent big replacements at year two.
Curious what else we've been working on? Our recent notes from the field at Terra Verde Botanical covers a few recent installs.
FAQ
How much does a Terra Verde Botanical design consultation cost?
The initial phone call is free. The on-site design consultation is $150, which includes soil sampling and a written summary. If you hire us for the full project, that $150 is credited toward your design fee. Most clients decide within a week of receiving the draft.
Do you work with existing plants or only new installs?
Both. Roughly a third of our projects incorporate mature trees, established hedges, or perennials the client wants to keep. We'll assess health first and tell you honestly if something needs to come out. Saving a struggling tree usually costs less than replacing it.
What if a plant dies after installation?
Every install includes a first-season warranty covering plant replacement due to establishment failure, not neglect or damage. We ask you to follow the watering schedule we provide. If a plant fails despite proper care, we replace it at no cost during the 90-day visit or the following spring.
Can you phase a large project across two years?
Yes, and we recommend it for budgets under $15,000 on larger properties. Phase one usually covers soil work, hardscape, and anchor trees. Phase two adds understory, perennials, and finishing details the following season. Read our welcome post for more on our approach.
