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| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | ||
| What does your free consultation
involve? We meet with a prospective customer to find out what he or she wants and then we work up a general estimate of what the work would cost. The next step is to make a more complete proposal, showing the exact cost of each step of the process: clean-up and removal, planting, and mulching. Very often, this proposal may also be drawn up at no cost. For larger jobs involving a lot of design time, there will be a small fee. Do you do any size job? Most of our jobs are residential or small commercial landscapes. We have done everything from installing a few plants to completely removing an existing landscape, designing a new landscape and installing new plants and trees, lighting the new landscape with low-voltage lighting, irrigating with drip irrigation, and mulching. Do you Xeriscape? Yes. In fact, that is our specialty, along with salt-tolerant plants. Very often, this means choosing from a wide selection of plants native to our region. Plants that thrived in our local conditions before people lived here are most likely to thrive today. Of course, there are many plants that have been introduced that do well here, also. Where can I see the plants you have proposed? There are several excellent websites listed on the "Links/Resources" page that have pictures and descriptions of the plants we use. We also have some pictures on our "Gallery" page as well as some "before" and "after" pictures of jobs we have done. Is it possible to do the work in phases? Yes. We have often broken a job into phases to accommodate someone's schedule or finances. Do you guarantee your plants? Yes. Plants that are properly watered and cared for almost always survive. We will replace those that don't, for a period of one year. Do you sell plants? Flatwoods Landscaping is not a nursery. We buy the best plants we can find from wholesale nurseries located throughout the central part of the state. Usually, nurseries grow and sell plants and landscaping companies buy and install them. Do you install sod? We do install sod, but large installations-whole yards, for example-are best left to companies who specialize in sodding. From an ecological standpoint, we would rather see less demanding groundcovers used. Do you install sprinklers? Not in the sense of a traditional irrigation system involving pvc pipe, valves and sprinklers. We do install more water friendly systems like soaker hoses or drip irrigation, if necessary. How do you arrange payment? Usually, one third to one half of the total is due when work begins and the rest after all work is completed and you are satisfied. Do you accept credit cards? Not at this time. What is the best time to plant? In this area of Florida, we can plant year-round. Of course, plants are slightly more vulnerable to harsh conditions when they are just planted, but we have learned that experience and a little common sense in scheduling and choice of plant can overcome most problems. What do you mean by "Low-maintenance landscape?" Any landscape takes time to become established. That period may take anywhere from 6 months to a year, depending on the plants involved. A low-maintenance landscape is one that, once established, requires very little extra care. It should not require fertilizing or pest-control. It should require watering only in periods of extreme drought and, for most plants, not even then. And, because water and nutrition are obtained naturally, the low-maintenance landscape should require less trimming and less weeding. It is easier and cheaper to maintain. A bonus is that plants are tougher and better able to survive Florida's extremes. What are "Native" plants? Generally, "Native" plants are the plants that were growing here in Florida before man arrived. "Native" plants thrived for thousands of years without irrigation systems, fertilizing or chemical pest control and are therefore excellent choices for our modern, low-maintenance landscapes. |
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| ©2005 - 2010 Flatwoods
Landscaping | This page last updated
February 2, 2010
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