SERVICES:

LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICE

GNL is a design only company. This gives you the flexibility to do the installation yourself, work with the excellent installation contractors we use, or you can hire your own contractor, when you are ready, no pressure. 

Denise, the owner & designer, can create a detailed design plan for a section of your yard or the entire yard. Designs can also include vegetable gardens, compost areas, simple patios, walkways, and other structures.  The “ABOUT” page summarizes the company’s environmental design goals and Denise’s background. Designs are limited to properties ~1/3 acre or less, although we can design for smaller areas (minimum 300 sq. ft.). Please check the service map below. Below is the design process. 

2014 Chicago Wilderness Conservation and Native Landscape Award

INSTALLATION ASSISTANCE SERVICE (for design clients only)

With design plan in hand, you have the flexibility to install yourself, hire one of the wonderful independent landscape contractors we work with, or use your own contractor, when you’re ready to install.  Our optional installation assistance service is highly recommended to ensure a successful installation, saving money and time.   During installation, we can check plants for correctness and health, ensure layout of new landscape areas and plants follow design plan, suggest any last minute tweaks/updates if needed,  and do a final walkthrough with you once the installation is complete, to answer your questions about short and long term care. Hourly charge

   STEWARDSHIP / GARDEN COACH (for design clients only)

Stewardship is environmentally-friendly maintenance. This is not traditional maintenance. Stewardship is especially important the first 3-5 years to successfully establish your landscape, and then periodically on an ongoing basis. If you need ongoing stewardship help, we can refer you to a knowledgeable stewardship contractor.   We also share stewardship tips on  our Notebook blog, yearly winter client newsletter, and Facebook page.

 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
(for the general public)

These educational programs are available November through March to garden clubs, nurseries, environmental organizations. My spring-fall programs are limited due to my design work.  Both these programs are offered in person or over Zoom. Please contact Denise for availability and pricing. Topics:

• Rain Gardens – Design Tips and Common Mistakes (1 hour) – We must treat rain water as a precious resource instead of a waste product to be removed from our properties. A rain garden infiltrates some of your run-off from your property, reducing flooding downstream and pollution entering local waterways. Learn tips for creating a rain garden, common mistakes to avoid when creating a rain garden and plant suggestions from Denise who has designed many rain gardens since 2004.
• Gardening through the Seasons with the best Native Plants for Smaller Gardens (1 hour plus Q&A) – With over 25+ years gardening and designing with native plants, Denise shares the native plants she uses most often in her designs because they are beautiful, versatile, easy to grow, and behave well in small-medium landscapes. These plants also do well in clay soils, are easy to find, and take a range of moisture conditions as well as sun conditions. She also shares design tips for each plant. All of this is critical now as weather extremes become the norm and wildlife need more habitat. A handout summarizing the plants, design tips and wildlife is provided.