Question 1

What makes The Hardy Bunch unique?

Accepted Answer

As a small company, with only two owner-designers who partner on each and every project, The Hardy Bunch offers clients a specialized and tailored experience from the initial consultation through the design, installation and maintenance phases of your project. The Hardy Bunch prioritizes the development of close owner-client relationships because we view gardening as a shared journey, where the connections between you, your garden, and your gardening team need to be nurtured over time to ensure that your garden thrives to its fullest potential. Instead of offering played out, cookie-cutter designs client after client, every single Hardy Bunch design is unique and developed in close collaboration with our clients, ensuring that the result meets your specific functional and stylistic needs.

Question 2

What are the benefits of working with a landscape company that is also a nursery?

Accepted Answer

The Hardy Bunch is both a landscaping company and nursery, which benefits our clients and their plants in several ways. First, it means we have hands-on experience working with many plant species from seed to maturity. We are familiar with growth differences across our region based on varying soil, exposure, and moisture conditions. Second, we are able to offer our plants to our clients at discounted rates. And, third, if a client wants a plant removed from their garden, we can find it a new home instead of leaving it in their green bin. Our clients are always welcome to come to our weekend plant sales and markets around Portland to find new plants and build community!

Question 3

What other services does The Hardy Bunch offer?

Accepted Answer

In addition to growing and selling plants, designing and installing gardens and hardscape elements, and maintaining landscapes, The Hardy Bunch also provides many one off services. Such as, seasonal mulching, one-time cleanups, organic removal of invasive plants, and planting annuals. We also do florals for events, weddings, and parties. We specialize in florals that are seasonal and regional. Sourcing most of our plant material from our own gardens, enables us to keep our services affordable and our arrangements unique. For current maintenance clients, we are also happy to create floral arrangements from their garden regularly as part of their maintenance contract.

Question 4

Why is it important to mulch annually?

Accepted Answer

Mulching improves soil health by adding additional organic material to the soil. Microbial activity in the soil breaks the organic material down to provide nutrients that improve the health of garden plants. In addition to improving soil health, mulching also helps to prevent the growth of undesirable weeds. After about a year, mulch decomposes into the soil, which is why we recommend mulching annually to achieve these beneficial features year round.

Question 5

Why is it important to use native and climate adapted plants?

Accepted Answer

Native plants are those that naturally occur in our region. Climate adapted plants are well-suited to our regional climate conditions and tend to thrive here with minimal intervention. Thus, the use of native and climate adapted plants helps to ensure that the plants we select for your garden have a track record of success in conditions similar to those on your site. Gardens with native and climate adapted plants also have lower watering needs, and support biodiversity and ecological health.

Question 6

What is the benefit of organic garden maintenance?

Accepted Answer

A core value of The Hardy Bunch is stewardship of the Earth of which every human being is a part. Humans are an intrinsic part of ‘nature’ and, as conscious beings, we have a responsibility to be intentional with our gardening practices. Therefore, we do not use herbicides, pesticides, or any other chemical that harms the microbial health of the soil or environment. We do all pruning and weeding by hand which enhances the health of the garden and leads to thoughtful decisions about plant care and maintenance.

Question 7

What do we mean by following plants’ natural forms and cycles?

Accepted Answer

Every plant has a natural form and life cycle that, if left alone, it will follow. In a maintained garden, it is all too common to interfere with those forms and cycles to achieve a desired look. For example, trimming a nandina into a ball shape. At The Hardy Bunch, we do our utmost to respect these forms and cycles; planting, pruning, and cutting back in ways that enhance the health, individuality, and beauty of each plant. We approach maintenance with a do no harm ethos where, first and foremost we prioritize the long-term health of plants, not their short term appearance.

Question 8

What does a landscape design typically cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a landscape design is based on many factors including the size, complexity, and diversity of the garden/property. Most Hardy Bunch designs range from $250-$2500. It is important to keep in mind that whether or not a client wants a full drawing ahead of installation, design is always part of the overall cost of a project.

Question 9

What does landscape maintenance typically cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of landscape maintenance is based on many factors including the size of the property, the complexity of the plantings, and the diversity of the garden’s plant selections. Another key factor is the frequency of maintenance desired by the homeowner, depending on their budget and their tolerances for weed growth between visits. In general, larger properties, with more complex plantings, and highly diverse plant selections tend to be most expensive to maintain. Typically, The Hardy Bunch does maintenance monthly and the cost ranges from $140-$560 for a private residence. Regardless of the specific situation at your property, The Hardy Bunch works with each client to develop a maintenance plan that best suits your needs, style, and budget.

Question 10

What services are included in a typical Hardy Bunch maintenance contract?

Accepted Answer

The scope of a typical Hardy Bunch maintenance contract includes all planted areas in your garden. That includes perennial garden beds, shrubs, and trees below 8 feet tall. We typically do not do lawn care and encourage our clients to leave the leaves in their garden beds to help support soil health and pollinator habitat.

Question 11

How does the health of gardens support the health of people?

Accepted Answer

Human health is deeply connected to ecological health. Gardens that support biodiversity and pollinators improve ecological health. Anyone, regardless of space, age, ability, or knowledge, can learn to garden. Therefore, the accessibility of gardens combined with their broad ecological benefits make gardening one of the most concrete ways that we as community members can improve ecological and human health.

Question 12

Why should I make an investment to improve my outdoor space?

Accepted Answer

Outdoor improvements are often not the first priority for homeowners, however, the positive impact is well worth the investment. There are many reasons for people to want a functional and beautiful outdoor space. Whether it’s a meditation garden to support a centered mind, a bird friendly habitat so you can watch your avian neighbors from home, or a covered patio to increase your space to host, The Hardy Bunch can help you realize your dream and work within your budget to create or enhance a beautiful garden for you to enjoy.

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