Custom Garden Design & Plant Selection Services in Seattle

Transform your outdoor space into a breathtaking sanctuary with Custom Garden Design & Plant Selection from Lee’s General Landscaping and Yard Clean-Up. Our professional design services cater to a variety of garden styles and plant preferences, ensuring that your landscape not only looks stunning but is also functional and easy to maintain. Whether you’re looking to create a lush garden full of vibrant colors, a tranquil Japanese-style garden, or a sustainable rain garden, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life.

Service Overview

Our Custom Garden Design & Plant Selection services involve creating a tailored garden plan that includes the perfect plants, shrubs, and trees for your space. We focus on aesthetics, practicality, and plant health, selecting varieties that are well-suited to Seattle’s climate. From all-season plantings to drought-tolerant and low-maintenance options, we provide a diverse range of plants to suit every style and preference.

Details of the Service

Included Tasks:

Initial Consultation: We begin by discussing your garden vision, style preferences, and any special requirements such as low maintenance, seasonal color, or water conservation.

Garden Design: Our expert designers create a customized garden layout, taking into account your space, sunlight exposure, and soil conditions.

Plant Selection: Based on the design, we choose the best plants for your garden, including grass, flowers, shrubs, trees, and ground cover. We offer specific plant types such as:

Plant Selection

Grass: Varieties suitable for lawns, meadows, or ornamental purposes, offering texture and color contrast.

Flowers: Seasonal or perennial blooms, including annuals and perennials to provide vibrant color and fragrance.

Ground Cover: Low-growing plants that spread and cover soil, reducing erosion and maintaining moisture, such as creeping thyme, sedum, and ivy.

Shrubs: Bushy plants that form the backbone of landscaping, including flowering shrubs, evergreens, and decorative varieties.

Trees: A selection of ornamental, flowering, fruit, and shade trees to provide height, structure, and shade in landscaping.

All Seasons Plantings

Winter-Friendly Plants: Plants that thrive in winter, offering greenery and interest during colder months.

Spring Blooms: Early bloomers like crocus and tulips that herald the arrival of spring.

Summer Staples: Perennials and annuals that provide enduring color during the warmer months.

Fall Interest: Plants with late-season blooms or vibrant foliage colors that come into their own in autumn.

Deep Slope Plantings

Erosion Control Plants: Ground covers, grasses, and other plant species that hold soil on steep slopes and reduce runoff.

Native Varieties: Plants native to your area that are well-suited to difficult growing conditions on slopes.

Low-Growing Shrubs: Shrubs with a spreading habit that prevent soil erosion while adding beauty to your landscape.

Drought Tolerant Plants

Succulents: Water-storing plants like agave, yucca, and sedum that thrive in dry, arid conditions.

Water-Wise Ground Covers: Drought-resistant plants like creeping thyme or clover that minimize water use while covering large areas.

Xerophytes: Plants that are adapted to dry climates, such as lavender, Russian sage, and certain grasses.

English Formal Garden

Symmetrical Plantings: Formal hedges, topiary, and geometric plant arrangements that focus on symmetry and order.

Boxwood Hedges: A classic evergreen used to define spaces and create clean, sharp lines.

Pathways and Focal Points: Carefully planned paths, ornamental sculptures, and well-placed plants that create an orderly and balanced design.

Evergreen Garden

Conifers: Evergreen trees like pine, spruce, and fir, which provide year-round green foliage.

Broadleaf Evergreens: Shrubs like holly or rhododendron that keep their leaves in winter for consistent color and structure.

Winter Interest: Plants that add texture and visual interest to the landscape even during the coldest months.

Fall Color Plants

Autumn Leaf Color: Trees and shrubs like maples, dogwoods, and sumacs that provide brilliant fall foliage.

Late-Season Blooms: Plants that continue to bloom through fall, such as chrysanthemums and asters, adding bursts of color.

Vines for Fall: Climbers like Virginia creeper or bittersweet that provide stunning red and orange hues in the fall.

Hedges

Privacy Hedges: Dense shrubs such as arborvitae, privet, or laurel that create natural privacy screens or windbreaks.

Decorative Hedges: Sculpted or trimmed varieties that provide shape and texture to formal gardens or landscapes.

Flowering Hedges: Hedges that double as a decorative element, such as lilacs or hydrangeas.

Japanese Style Garden

Bamboo: Elegant, fast-growing grasses that provide privacy and add texture in Japanese gardens.

Acers: Japanese maples with beautiful foliage that change colors with the seasons.

Koi Ponds and Lanterns: Water features and stone elements that create serenity and visual appeal in a Japanese garden setting.

Low Maintenance Plants

Ground Covers: Plants like clover, moss, or creeping thyme that require little upkeep while covering large areas.

Perennials: Low-maintenance plants like daylilies, hostas, and coneflowers that come back year after year.

Native Plants: Species naturally adapted to your region’s climate and soil, requiring less care and water.

Modern Ornamental Grass Theme

Tall Grasses: Varieties like pampas grass, miscanthus, or fountain grass that add height and movement to landscapes.

Feather Grass: Soft, billowy grasses that create texture and interest.

Compact Grasses: Smaller ornamental grasses for containers or tight spaces, such as blue fescue or sedge.

Northwest Themed Plants

Native Evergreen Trees: Species like Douglas fir, Western red cedar, and Western hemlock that are suited to the Pacific Northwest.

Wildflowers: Plants like lupines, columbines, and shooting stars that grow naturally in the region’s diverse habitats.

Salt-Tolerant Plants: Varieties like beach strawberries and sea thrift that are adapted to coastal areas.

Rain Garden

Water-Absorbing Plants: Species like rushes, sedges, and iris that help filter and absorb excess rainwater.

Swamp-Friendly Varieties: Plants suited for soggy or periodically flooded areas like willows, red-twig dogwoods, or Japanese iris.

Pollinator-Friendly Rain Garden Plants: Species that attract bees and butterflies while managing water runoff, such as bee balm and coneflowers.

Rock Desert Garden Plants

Succulents: Plants that thrive in dry, rocky environments, such as agave, aloe, and cactus.

Desert Wildflowers: Hardy plants like California poppies and desert marigolds that bloom in arid conditions.

Low Water Perennials: Drought-tolerant species like lavender and Russian sage that perform well in harsh, rocky landscapes.

Shade Garden Plants

Hostas: Shade-loving perennials that offer foliage variety and resilience in low-light conditions.

Ferns: Hardy ferns like lady ferns or ostrich ferns that thrive in the shade.

Shade-Tolerant Shrubs: Varieties like azaleas, hydrangeas, or rhododendrons that provide color and texture without direct sunlight.

Summer Fall Blooming Plants

Late-Blooming Perennials: Varieties like echinacea, asters, and black-eyed Susans that provide color into the cooler months.

Annuals: Summer annuals like marigolds, zinnias, and petunias that continue to bloom through autumn.

Tropical Plants: Exotic plants like cannas or hibiscus that thrive in warm weather and bloom late into fall.

Tropical Garden

Exotic Flowers: Vibrant blooms like bird of paradise, hibiscus, and orchids that add a lush, tropical feel.

Large-Leaved Plants: Varieties like banana trees, elephant ears, and palms that provide a jungle-like atmosphere.

Tropical Foliage: Plants with dramatic, large, and variegated leaves like caladium and coleus.

Winter Spring Blooming Plants

Winter Jasmine and Camellia: Hardy blooms that flower in winter, providing color and fragrance in cold months.

Crocus and Snowdrops: Early spring bloomers that brighten gardens before most plants emerge.

Tulips and Daffodils: Early spring bulbs that bring color and cheer as the weather warms.

Other Favorites

Vines and Climbers: Plants like wisteria, clematis, or honeysuckle that add vertical beauty to gardens.

Herbs: Fragrant and edible plants like rosemary, thyme, and basil that enhance both beauty and utility in your landscape.

Fruit Trees: Varieties like apple, cherry, or peach trees that provide beauty and homegrown produce.

Soil Improvement Recommendations: We offer suggestions for improving your soil’s health, such as compost or organic fertilizers, to support plant growth.

Planting and Installation: After your plant selection is finalized, we plant and arrange your garden as per the design, ensuring proper spacing and alignment for optimal growth.

Ongoing Support and Care: We provide guidance on care and maintenance, including watering schedules and pruning advice, to ensure your garden thrives.

Best Practices:

Site-Specific Design: Every garden is unique. We tailor our designs to suit your soil, sunlight, and space for optimal plant health.

Seasonal Consideration: We ensure that your garden offers visual interest throughout the year, selecting plants that bloom in spring, summer, fall, and even winter.

Sustainability: We recommend plants that are native to the Pacific Northwest, minimizing water and maintenance requirements while supporting local wildlife.

Soil Health: We test and amend your soil as needed to ensure the plants thrive.

Benefits of Hiring Lee’s General Landscaping

Over 30 Years of Experience: With decades of experience, we understand how to design and install gardens that flourish in Seattle’s unique climate and soil conditions.

Personalized Design: Our designs are tailored to your specific preferences, space, and environmental conditions, ensuring the best possible outcome for your garden.

Expert Plant Knowledge: We provide expert advice on plant types, ensuring each selection is suitable for your garden’s specific needs, from aesthetic appeal to water efficiency.

Full-Service Landscaping: We offer comprehensive garden services, from design to installation and ongoing maintenance, ensuring your garden thrives for years to come.

Sustainable Landscaping: We prioritize eco-friendly practices and water-efficient plants, providing a garden that’s not only beautiful but also environmentally conscious.

Process Overview

Consultation: Meet with our design team to discuss your vision, preferences, and garden requirements.

Design Creation: Our experts create a detailed garden design plan, tailored to your space and needs.

Plant Selection: We select the best plants for your design, considering aesthetics, functionality, and the local climate.

Soil Preparation: We may amend your soil with compost or other organic materials to ensure healthy plant growth.

Planting: Our team plants the selected plants with care, ensuring proper spacing and arrangement for optimal growth.

Care Guidance: We provide instructions on maintaining your garden, including watering schedules and seasonal care tips.

Pricing and Packages

Pricing for custom garden design and plant selection depends on several factors:

Man Hours: The time required for consultation, design, planting, and follow-up care.

Property Size: Larger properties with more complex garden designs will require more resources.

Plant Selection: The cost of plants varies depending on the type, size, and rarity.

Soil and Site Preparation: Additional costs may apply for soil amendments or special installation services.

Contact us for a detailed estimate and consultation tailored to your garden’s needs.

FAQs

1. How do you select plants for my garden?
We choose plants based on your garden’s specific conditions—sunlight, soil type, moisture levels—and your aesthetic preferences. We focus on selecting plants that thrive in the Seattle climate for year-round beauty.

2. Can you create a low-maintenance garden?
Yes! We offer a variety of low-maintenance plant options, including drought-tolerant and native plants that require minimal care.

3. Do you provide long-term garden care?
Yes, we offer ongoing garden maintenance services to ensure your garden continues to thrive. We can help with seasonal pruning, weeding, and additional plantings as your garden evolves.

4. How long does it take to complete a garden design project?
The timeline depends on the scope of the project, but typically, from design to installation, the process can take between 2–6 weeks.

Certifications and Guarantees

Licensed, Bonded, and Insured: We are fully licensed and insured, offering peace of mind for every project.

Satisfaction Guarantee: We are committed to delivering high-quality service. If you’re not satisfied with our design or plant selection, we’ll work with you to make it right.

Local Expertise

Seattle’s temperate climate presents unique challenges and opportunities for gardening. Our team is highly familiar with local soil types, rainfall patterns, and plant species that thrive in the Pacific Northwest. We select plants that are both beautiful and well-suited for Seattle’s weather, ensuring a garden that flourishes year-round.

Additional Services

Enhance your garden with our other services:

Hardscaping: Add walkways, patios, retaining walls, and more to complement your garden.

Irrigation Setup: Ensure your garden gets the proper amount of water with a custom irrigation system.

Landscape Lighting: Highlight your garden’s beauty with strategically placed outdoor lighting.

Garden Maintenance: Keep your garden in top shape with seasonal care, including pruning, weeding, and mulching.

Great Results, Quality Service

At Lee’s General Landscaping, we are dedicated to creating beautiful, functional, and sustainable gardens tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful Japanese-style garden or a vibrant, all-season display, we offer expert garden design and plant selection services to bring your vision to life.