Our Approach
Ecological, Organic, Quieter
We are committed to maximizing our ecological impact and minimizing our carbon footprint. We avoid chemicals and machinery that damage soil and cause air, water, and noise pollution, as well as disturbance to animal life. We employ traditional horticultural methods and a fleet of quieter battery-operated, yet powerful equipment.
Native Plants, Local Ecosystems
To reverse the course of climate and ecosystem destruction, we need to plant - a lot. Planting is a win-win for governments, property owners, the public, and the environment. Plants generate oxygen, sequester carbon, and filter and retain stormwater that causes flooding. Studies demonstrate that being surrounded by plants makes us healthier and happier, reduces crime, and gives us a sense of community. Native plants attract symbiotic pollinators and wildlife that balance our ecosystem. Historically adapted, they require less maintenance and irrigation, and as our biological heritage, they add authenticity to our designs. One proactive goal: replace turf grass with superpower plants. To paraphrase the horticulturalists Rainer & West, we must start thinking of lawns as area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting.
Let Plants Be The Mulch
We believe that gardens and landscapes are meant to be filled with beautiful species rather than islands and volcanoes of mulch. The more bare earth we plant with compatible bulbs, groundcovers, perennials, shrubs, and trees, the better. This style of planting provides habitat for beneficial insects, improves the net environmental impact, and reduces longterm maintenance costs and carbon emissions. For those times when mulch is needed, we provide our own Leo leaf mulch, local leaf compost, or sustainable pine needle mulch.
All Things Considered
Gardens are not paintings; plants are not furniture. Gardens are three-dimensional, ever-changing, unpredictable. Time adds a fourth dimension. In designing and creating a garden, the many details to consider include the surroundings, wind, reference points like architecture and indigenous materials, animal and human intervention, the soil, and drainage. We help our clients understand and address the dynamics at hand. We specialize in careful plant selection, sourcing from excellent nurseries and choosing the scale, forms, colors, textures, and bloom times that will best meet your brief.
Personal and Individual
Leo Garden Design enjoys getting to know our clients and developing long-term relationships. Each garden presents unique challenges and opportunities. At our consultations, we listen carefully to our clients’ concerns, needs, questions, and vision, which informs our process going forward.
Education and Mentorship
We love that working with nature is endlessly fascinating. There is always more to learn. We try to stay on top of the latest in horticulture by reading, visiting great gardens, and attending lectures like the Wave Hill and NYBG Lecture Series. We volunteer at the PHS Flower Show and attend the Woody Plant and Perennial Plant Conferences when possible. The knowledge gained from our practical and continuing education is key to fulfilling a central goal: training aspiring gardeners.
