B e i n g P r e p a r e d, P l e a s e N O T E:
• So you can have a clear understanding of Koby’s Garden Alchemy services and fees please read over this page and the page on: Fees.
• We rarely advertise. We are mainly a “word of mouth” business by people who’ve seen and desire a “Koby” Garden.
• Our Strong Points: Horticultural Grade Experience; Broad, Seasoned Understanding Of Plants - Particularly The Extra Unique Varieties That Thrive In Southern California ; Tailored & Balanced Design with Foresight; Proficient Preparation – Our Plant Installations Perform Better; Artistically Detailed Results; We follow up with Meticulous Masterful Maintenance (Absentee parenting is the biggest problem in the landscape design industry and truly expert maintenance people are hard to find We realize gardens are living things - like children deserving a healthy and balanced upbringing ); Understanding of Items closely related to plants: enriched topsoil, proper mulch, distinctive boulders and stone, art & scupture, fountians, landscape lighting effects, impressive containers, and Proficient Irrigation (drip), troubleshooting and finalizing with wise water clock schedules (printed).
• Container plantings. We love plants in pots! Probably the easiest way to spice up your space. These projects do not have to be enormous to have great impact on the ambiance of your area. A few carefully placed pots with our superb plant combinations are like living jewelry on the body of your property. However, unlike jewelry, the biggest mistake is using pots that are too small. The larger the area and scale – the larger the pot(s) should be to stay in balance with your environment. Larger containers dry out less often, thus improving the health and prosperity of your plantings and have a better chance of creating “island oasis” for you since there will be room for the plant groupings and interesting, eye-catching arrangements. We’re wizards at getting drip irrigation to and in your containers – enormous time saver and plant insurance!
• A few things we don’t do: lawn mowing and hedge clipping, tree trimming over 18’ tall, masonry or cement, carpentry, major electrical (we do design and install landscape lighting and /or irrigation wiring directly related to our projects); likewise - vast hardscape projects require general contractors or architectural engineers. But we do render overall conceptual designs for contractors to work with.
• We only create designs or proposals that we are going to install, this is the only way it turns out great.
• We do not install other’s designs or proposals; the best parents realize when they have a child you actually must be integrally involved in raising their own children.
• We only maintain plants that we have installed. Maintenance of other parts of your property remains your responsibility unless specific agreements are made.
• We offer horticulturally detailed maintenance for our installed gardens; bi-annually, quarterly or as arranged. Weekly appointments are not available. Many clients we have retain their "mow-blow-and-go" service and utilize us for the serious detailing.
• Have an idea of the size, scope and budget you can work with. If there are multiple people making the decision, discuss the priorities and things you want first and come to some agreement, this will lead to a more productive planning meeting when we arrive on site. When thinking of a plan, keep your entire property in mind for an overall harmonious addition. Be wary of tacking on a minimized garden project on the end of a home remodeling/construction phase that may cause a hasty and mediocre garden installation; better to save funds and do it right the first time when you are able. The better the professional installation the better the increase of your enjoyment and property value; thus saving you from generic commonality and poor quality. With your decisions prepared, Koby’s Garden Alchemy can have a clear understand of your expectations.
• Having enough funds to complete the project of your dreams. If the “larger picture” can’t be done at one time, it may be possible to install your project in stages to pay as able, the costs of installing a quality garden. A very general guide for professional landscaping cost is typically based on the estimated value of the property with percentages ranging from about 10 – 15 % or more if involving: a prominent designer, pools, outdoor kitchens/bars, fireplaces or elaborate hardscape projects. If you are considering working with us on more than containers and garden beds, please bare those percentages in mind.
• Gather ideas & Creating an image. If you have photographs, or places we should see—that’s good! Getting ideas from others projects are great, yet if you are going to hire Koby’s Garden Alchemy - we won’t merely copy, you need to know we are all about infusing creative individuality into your project. If you only have a general idea, we can help you flesh them out by asking the relevant questions to help you realize your innermost garden desires, how the space will look and be used. If a suggestion doesn’t seem right to you—no problem, we have a deep well of creativity to suit most any situation. We will be honest about your ideas for why something will or won’t work based on practical or aesthetic reasons.
• ‘Interior Designers’, we'll do our best to coordinate with them. Your garden need not only be thought of—or treated as—a photo shoot. Just because a plant looks good "right there" may not be the best enduring placement; we place plants based on decades of expertise of the micro-environment that will make it thrive. Living plants in pots are not furniture. Like a child in a seat, containers cannot be moved all over the place at whim, suddenly switching environments can be detrimental to the plants (burning, dried or rot, breakage and languish come to mind). For the continuing health and beauty of your garden, it is essential we and the designer have a clear understanding and respect of our parts in an overall project.
• Please Review the next page concerning Fees.
Thank you for taking the time for reading this section.