Natives for life

I had a row of 13 buckthorn trees along our property line that had become leggy and overgrown and needed to be replaced. Stephan at Natives for Life took precise measurements using professional survey tools and then drafted two detailed planting design options for us to choose from. He also designed a low-cost fence screen along the neighbor’s property to maintain privacy while the new trees establish and grow. Stephan and his crew were extremely professional, discreet, and well organized. They carefully protected our wood deck and handrails from falling branches, and the work site was kept clean throughout the project. The job was completed on time, the final bill matched the estimate, and the yard was left immaculate — even pressure-washed before they left. I highly recommend Stephan and Natives for Life for landscape design and garden work.

Stephen totally rehabilitated and redesigned a large planter in my yard. He and his crew removed all of the old soil, installed gopher wire and waterproofing, amended the soil with compost, and reinstalled it, along with a new irrigation system. He designed a beautiful pallet of native plants, with room for vegetables. He also troubleshot the full irrigation system on our property, fixed leaks, drew a detailed map, and figured out all of the irrigation programs (which were previously a mystery). Stephen was very reliable, communicative and easy to work with. He was flexible when I asked to swap out a couple of the plants in the original design and provided great feedback. He is a very experienced and knowledgable gardener with great attention to detail.

Last spring we were looking to buy a place in Marin. We found a condo that had an exclusive use easement and Stephan with Natives for Life had done a garden in front. We fell in love with the garden and it was one of the main reasons we bought the place. Fast forward to now, he just finished planting native wild flowers in another part of our property as well as installing a large planter and several plants, herb gardens, in a concrete area of our property. We are so happy with Stephan’s work. We share his passion for native plants and his sustainable approach. The irrigation he set up for us was sophisticated but easy to manage. He provided detailed information on everything he planted. A couple of plants ended up not seeming happy in their new spots and he was eager to switch them out so we could have plants that would be thrive in our microclimate. The initial garden was set up in part for privacy and that has been so valued as we now have natural privacy from neighbors on one side, but it looks very beautiful and all the neighbors admire our gardens. It has truly increased the value of the property. Highly recommend Stephan and Natives for Life.