Everything starts with someone who knows what they're looking at walking your property. During the assessment we're evaluating drainage, grade, soil conditions, sun and shade patterns, existing plant material worth keeping, and the relationship between the house, the property edges, and the spaces you want to create. We're also listening to what you're trying to accomplish — privacy, curb appeal, outdoor living, drainage correction, or some combination.
Step 1 — Site Visit and Assessment
A site visit that doesn't include a grade and drainage assessment is incomplete. On Lake Norman properties especially, knowing how water moves through the site determines what's possible and what order things need to happen in.
Step 2 — Scope Definition
After the assessment, we define what the project actually includes — what's in scope, what the sequencing looks like, and what we're recommending. This is where drainage and grade issues get identified as phase one work that needs to happen before planting or hardscape. It's also where we discuss phasing if the full scope is larger than the current budget.
Step 3 — Written Proposal
The written proposal shows line-item pricing for each component of the scope — not a single number for the whole job. You can see what each element costs, evaluate whether the priority order makes sense, and approve the phases you want to move forward with. The proposal is the basis for everything that follows — if it doesn't match what was discussed on the site visit, that's the time to address it.
Step 4 — Plant Selection
Plant selection happens after the site conditions are understood, not before. Species, size, and spacing are all site-specific — the same plant that thrives in a sunny, well-drained spot fails in a shaded clay bed 20 feet away. We select based on mature size, soil tolerance, sun exposure, and maintenance preference — not just what looks good at the nursery in spring.
Step 5 — Installation
Our own crew handles installation — no subcontractors. Site preparation, drainage rough-in (if applicable), hardscape installation (if applicable), soil amendment, planting, and mulch all happen in the right sequence. We walk the finished project with you before we leave.
Schedule a free site visit — 704-460-2019. No obligation, no trip fee, throughout Lake Norman.
Want this looked at on your property?
We give free, no-pressure on-site estimates across Denver, Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Troutman.
