FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Growing a garden is about building lasting relationships — with the land, the plants, and the seasons.

We love helping people feel confident, creative, and connected to their outdoor spaces, and we believe the journey should feel joyful every step of the way.
We’re committed to supporting you through every stage of the process, from first sketch to a garden that's growing and changing with you.
These frequently asked questions will give you a clearer sense of what it’s like to work with us — and help you imagine what’s possible for your own beautiful space.

JUMP TO SECTION

GETTING
STARTED

  • Unlike conventional landscapers who often focus on fast installation or ongoing maintenance, Eco-Restore offers a holistic, three-phase design process focused on creating resilient, personalized, ecologically sound gardens. We guide you from vision to installation—and stay connected through follow-ups to ensure your garden thrives.

  • Our designs balance immediate impact with long-term growth. Some elements will look lush quickly, while others are chosen to mature gracefully over time, creating an increasingly beautiful and sustainable space. Depending on the style you selected, the plants purchased, and your budget, you should experience growth, blossoms, and bounty in 1-2 seasons. Many perennials, shrubs, and trees take longer. Remember this gardeners’ saying after you plant: “the first year, it sleeps; the second year, it creeps; the third year, it leaps.”

  • Not unless you want it to! Our designs are site-specific and can range from polished and formal to natural and wilder—always with a purpose and an eye toward beauty, biodiversity, and function.

  • Initial costs can be similar, but the long-term benefits often outweigh traditional approaches. Our designs reduce the need for inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation over time—saving money and resources in the long run.

  • Absolutely. Lawn replacement is one of our specialties. Whether you're looking to reduce water use, grow more food, or support pollinators, we’ll help you reimagine your space in a way that’s low-maintenance and high-impact.

  • Yes! We offer specialized maintenance services exclusively for Eco-Restore design clients, specialty gardens, and garden coaching clients. Maintenance is a continuation of our commitment to your garden’s success, offering personalized, knowledgeable care that helps your garden mature beautifully over time. Our maintenance packages focus on keeping your garden healthy, thriving, and true to the original design vision with seasonally appropriate care.

  • We offer both. Depending on the project, we can design, oversee installation, and/or collaborate with local contractors. We also offer coaching if you’d like to DIY with professional support.

  • Yes. We often collaborate with landscape crews, arborists, and other professionals to ensure your garden is installed and cared for with your long-term vision in mind.

  • We love native plants and incorporate them often, especially when they serve ecological goals like supporting pollinators or improving soil health. We also include useful and edible plants that are well-adapted to our region.

  • Yes! That’s what we do best. Whether you're dreaming of a pollinator haven, a productive kitchen garden, or a peaceful retreat, our Garden Visit is a perfect first step.

  • We primarily serve northwest Washington, including Snohomish, Skagit, Island, and Whatcom counties. Check out our service area map. We always start with a phone consult, and some design or coaching can be done remotely with a variety of online tools. While we focus on Northwest Washington, please contact us and we’ll consider your unique situation carefully.

DESIGN
PROCESS

  • Start by booking an Initial On-Site Consultation. This allows us to walk your site with you, learn about your goals, and provide a clear proposal outlining next steps.

  • Our three-phase design process includes a consultation and proposal (Phase One), a base map, soil testing, and plant palette (Phase Two), and detailed plant placement, DIY instruction, and follow-up visits (Phase Three). We support you from planning through installation and beyond.

  • Not at all. Some clients begin with a consultation and proposal before deciding how far they want to go. We're happy to pace the process based on your needs and budget.

  • We encourage and empower DIY gardeners! During Phase Three, we offer a one-hour hands-on demonstration of planting techniques to set you up for success, plus you'll receive a personalized guide with instructions and tips.

  • We’re happy to collaborate with your existing crew. We can provide plans and plant placement guidance to ensure the installation aligns with the design vision.

  • Absolutely. We specialize in incorporating native, edible, and multifunctional plants based on your preferences, your site’s conditions, and ecological goals.

  • Yes, we include soil analysis for two key areas because healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden. Knowing your soil's specific needs helps us select the right plants and amendments, saving you time and money down the road.

  • We provide a final design document, a personalized resource guide, and two follow-up visits over the first year. These check-ins help troubleshoot challenges and support your garden’s long-term success.

  • We love phasing projects over time. During the consultation and proposal stage, we can help prioritize areas and recommend a step-by-step approach that suits your resources.

  • Currently, our design process is in-person and site-specific, which allows us to offer the most tailored and effective solutions for your space. Virtual coaching options may be available—contact us to discuss.

  • After your garden installation, we schedule two monitoring visits within the first year. These visits allow us to check plant health, adjust care recommendations, and support you as your garden grows.

QUARTERLY
COACHING

  • A consultation is focused on design visioning, assessment, or specific troubleshooting at the beginning of our design process. Coaching is ongoing support over a season or year, helping you grow your skills and confidence while nurturing your existing garden through all its phases.

  • Each session is a hands-on visit tailored to your garden's needs. We might help with pruning techniques, seasonal planting, pest strategies, soil improvement, or guiding you through a new project. It’s interactive, educational, and rooted in your goals.

  • Not at all. Coaching is designed for all experience levels—from beginners looking for foundational guidance to seasoned gardeners seeking ecological strategies, seasonal planning, or help transitioning toward a regenerative garden.

  • We understand that life happens. Sessions can be rescheduled with advanced notice. We'll work with you to ensure you still receive the value and support you signed up for.

  • The Virtual Garden Club is an online community space for our coaching clients. It includes seasonal tips, group Q&As, plant inspiration, and a chance to connect with others on a similar path. You'll receive access after your first coaching session.

  • Yes! Coaching can follow a design process to help you install and maintain your new garden, or it can be used to supplement an initial consultation. It’s a flexible support system that fits into your garden journey wherever you are.

  • We specialize in edible, native, low-maintenance, and multifunctional gardens, but we’re happy to support a wide range of garden types—including containers, shade gardens, and even community garden plots.

  • Yes. Even in a single session, we can help you prioritize upcoming garden tasks, provide a seasonal checklist, and suggest long-term strategies to guide your efforts between visits.

  • If you want to feel more confident in the garden, reduce overwhelm, and grow a space that truly works for you and your lifestyle, coaching is a great fit. We meet you where you are and help you take the next step—whatever that looks like.

SPECIALTY
GARDENS

  • Yes! Many of our clients blend features—for example, combining a Kitchen & Herb Garden with a Pollinator Garden or including medicinal plants in a Resilience Garden. We’ll work with you to customize a design that supports your goals and fits your space.

  • All of our specialty gardens are designed with low-maintenance, ecologically sound practices in mind. We also offer support through our Garden Coaching or quarterly care visits to help you feel confident in maintaining your garden.

  • We offer both design and installation services, and we’re happy to work with DIY clients or professional landscapers. During your Garden Visit or Consultation, we’ll help you decide what approach fits best.

  • Absolutely. If you’re unsure where to begin, we recommend starting with a consultation. We’ll walk your site, discuss your goals, and help you identify which garden types would be the best fit.

  • Yes! Many of our gardens can be adapted to balconies, patios, or small backyards. We focus on flexible, scalable designs that work for a variety of spaces.

  • Yes! We offer giftable garden packages, perfect for housewarmings, birthdays, or new beginnings. Visit our “Gift a Garden” section or contact us for personalized options.

OUR GARDEN
PHILOSOPHY

  • Permaculture is a design philosophy that works with nature rather than against it. We use its principles to create resilient, beautiful, and productive gardens.

  • We define regenerative gardening as an approach that improves soil health, supports biodiversity, and increases the long-term vitality of your landscape—going beyond sustainability to actively restore the land.

  • While both avoid synthetic chemicals, regenerative gardening emphasizes rebuilding soil, enhancing ecosystem processes, and creating closed-loop systems tailored to the land’s needs.

  • In the beginning, there’s often an investment in setting up a healthy system—but over time, regenerative practices reduce maintenance and increase resilience.

  • Not at all. We help clients make the most of any space—whether it’s a large yard, a small urban lot, or even containers and raised beds.

  • Absolutely. We specialize in gardens that are both beautiful and purposeful—designed with aesthetics, ecology, and your goals in mind.

  • We evaluate each site’s unique conditions—soil, light, slope, water, and more—then design solutions that suit your goals while supporting ecological balance.

  • Yes, we often incorporate native plants to support pollinators, reduce water needs, and build resilient habitat—but we also mix in other well-adapted species based on your preferences and goals.

  • We select appropriate native species and design to reduce runoff, minimize chemicals, and improve habitat—all aligned with salmon-friendly goals.

  • Whether through one-on-one coaching, step-by-step planning, or hands-on workshops, we offer education that meets you where you are and grows with you.

  • Yes! We host workshops and participate in local events to build community connections and share practical knowledge. Check out our events page under the “Info” section.

  • Not at all. We love working with beginners and always explain options in an approachable way. Our goal is to empower, not overwhelm.

Nourish your spirit by knowing your individual actions make a big difference on our one Earth.