Questions & Answers

This question can only be answered with an estimate. There are many variables that affect landscape pricing, such as:

• Size and complexity of the project
• Site access for machines and material deliveries
• Machine costs
• Waste disposal fees
• Necessary site preparation (what needs to be removed before we start to build?)
• The driving distance between the job site and the material suppliers

North Arrow Landscapes guarantees that your estimate will be highly detailed and reflect a beautifully designed, expert level installation consistent with other similar projects in our portfolio, all at a fair price.

Get started by contacting us so we can discuss your project and get started on the estimating process.

It is okay to not know how much your project will cost, but having a spending budget in place is of great help as we work through our estimating process.

• Small Projects
  Small projects often have a more simplified estimating process, and therefore don’t always require a stated budget ahead of time.
• Large Projects
  For larger and more complex projects we do insist that you have a project budget to guide the process.

Our detailed estimates take time, and we want to make sure we are focusing our energy on projects with realistic budgets and/or a practical plan for phasing in a project.

Please note that some estimates simply aren’t possible until we have a design, and our design work requires a deposit before commencement. That said, we are happy to work with ball-park figures to establish a budget starting point.

We are very happy to work with projects and budgets of just about any size. We will help our clients set budget targets, and will advise on a logical phased-in approach where necessary.

Get in touch with your ideas and budget considerations and we will discuss how we can best help you achieve your goals.

Yes. When designed well, even a small, seemingly unusable space can be turned into an amazing landscape. Small areas present unique and interesting design challenges that demand a high level of precision, which is right up our alley.

So don’t be shy to reach out with your small project: we’re the right team for the job!

Yes and no. Yes, you need to water your plants! No, you do not necessarily need to install an automatic irrigation system.

With that said, there is no more effective or efficient way to apply water to a landscape than through a properly designed, installed, scheduled, and maintained irrigation system.

So if you care about the health of your plant material investment, if you are concerned about the amount of water you use to keep it alive, or if you like to take holidays in the summer, you should strongly consider having a professional irrigation system installed.

North Arrow Landscapes owner Scott Nicol is a certified irrigation professional (many times over!) and can advise on the many reasons an automatic irrigation system is generally the best choice.

Yes! In the same way that “low maintenance” does not mean “no maintenance,” being drought tolerant does not mean your landscape requires no supplemental water.

Having a drought tolerant landscape means that once the plants are established (that is to say, acclimatized to their new home), they will require less supplemental watering than other plants.

It depends. The timeline from installation to establishment varies between locations, plant types, and individual plants. For example, a perennial flower garden may take up to two years of regular care and watering before it can be considered established. A tree may take up to four years, possibly longer.

Soil type, soil depth, micro-climate, competition from neighbouring plants, weather anomalies, and many other factors all play a role in how a garden matures and how healthy it is.

If this sounds complex, that’s because it is! But rest assured, when you hire North Arrow Landscapes, you are hiring a company led by a trained Horticulturist and staffed by certified, expert crew members. We will provide a road map to guide you through the establishment period so you can relax and enjoy a vibrant, beautiful, healthy garden.

We stand firmly behind our work, and are only a phone call away to assist in any plant health emergencies

Yes. A well-landscaped home will always out-sell a home with an unkempt landscape. Curb appeal is no joke, and dollar for dollar, landscaping is one of the best investments in terms of resale value.

If you want to create a welcoming, warm feeling that invites your future buyer to make an offer, you need some landscaping done. However, you may not need a brand-new landscape. Sometimes a renovation is all that is required to whip your yard into shape and completely transform the look and feel of your property.

When it comes to landscape design, it’s never too early in the season to get in touch. In fact, it’s great to begin your design work during our slower winter months to ensure a smooth and early start to the season.

We can accomplish most construction tasks at any time of the year, with a few notable exceptions:

• We can't do irrigation work or build water features when the ground is frozen
• It's best to avoid building patios in the rainiest months
• We prefer to plant gardens in the autumn or early/mid-spring (to avoid the most stressful months for the plants)
  

There's a saying in our industry: “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is today”. The point is, don’t wait! The sooner we can begin the process the better.