Submit your question below:
1: “I see your service radius is within ten miles from Downtown Atlanta. I’m not sure I qualify for an in-person consultation for installation. Can you help me?”
Please submit a request here, indicating your full address, so we may better know how to support your landscaping needs! Should you be outside of our service radius for an in-person site consultation and physical installation, we offer several design packages that would help empower you to proceed with DIY projects, as well as installations through another organization.
2: “I need someone to mow my grass lawn, and to leaf-blow - is this something you all provide?”
We are happy to propose alternatives to conventional grass lawns which require less mowing, water, and fertilization - such as clover, thyme, meadow. Please see our page on lawn transformations for more information! Additionally, we provide maintenance that is oriented in land stewardship, rather than preservation of grass lawns - including invasive removal, restoring native species, pruning and fruit tree fungicide sprays, among other services. Please visit our monthly maintenance and invasive removal pages for more information.
3: “I need some trees removed. Is this something you are able to help me with?”
Depending on the type, height, and diameter of a tree, we may be able to help you remove them - for example, small saplings. If the trees are beyond our capabilities for removal (any tree six inches or more in diameter), our crew would readily refer you to a trustworthy partner who can help.
4: “I require ongoing maintenance of my landscape, but I'm not sure how frequently I will need your services. What do you recommend?”
Our maintenance lead, Albert, would be happy to visit your site! Our standard first-time maintenance visits are 3 hours. One hour of one-on-one coaching or consultation during which Albert would work with you to determine frequency of maintenance - and the two hours of physical maintenance work.
5: “Do you build retaining walls? What about pools?”
During your site consultation we can determine the size of wall you need and the best material choice. Walls under 3 feet tall we do in-house; larger walls we subcontract or refer out to our retaining wall partner.
We do not install pools.
6: “I am out of your service radius for an in-person consultation, but am interested in seeking your design expertise to determine project next steps” or “I am within your service radius for an in-person consultation, but want to "DIY" this project; I just want your help with design. Can you help?”
Comprehensive Site Analysis: A GIS (geographic information system)-informed report that gives data on a site’s unique water, slope, soil, native plants, wind, and sun exposure - all through a permaculture lens. Included with this service is a virtual or in-person consultation and a rough “napkin sketch” design of your desired projects. Pricing for this service is $150.
Perspective Rendering: A conceptual, 3D rendering of what your yard or property would look like after a landscape installation. Pricing for this service is $250.
Landscape Design: Our standard landscape design plan covers up to 2,000 square feet of designed space. This package includes a CSA, a 1 hour virtual or in-person consultation (depending on client’s location relative to our service radius), a detailed CAD (computer-aided design) plan, a scaled planting plan & plant list, scaled hardscaping plan, other material quantities (soil, mulch, rock, edging, etc.), and 1 Design Revision. If you have a larger space to design, our design price & plan will increase proportionally. Pricing for the standard 2,000 sq. ft. design starts at $600.
Click here to get started on your purchase!
7: “I want to install an edible landscape; is it too late since the weather is getting colder?”
We are able to install edible landscapes at all times of the year. Our site visit team will help determine what is most seasonably appropriate, and is able to follow up for an additional “phase” of your project should you desire additional edible plants that are not currently in season.
8: “What types of hardscapes installations do you provide?”
We offer a wide array of hardscape installations, including small retaining walls, patios, walkways, steps, terraces, fire pits, and more!
9: What sort of payment types do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards through our secure payment platforms: Stripe, Jobber & Shop Pay. We also offer financing through Wisetack for large projects!
10: “I am wanting a particular plant that I do not see listed on your nursery site. Can you help me find what I am looking for?”
We are happy to help source your desired plants to the best of our abilities! Timelines and feasibility for sourcing will depend on the type of plant species and the preferred size. If you have a unique or difficult-to-find plant in mind, it often works best if you procure them and have them on site for us to install. Our team would happily develop a quote for you that includes plants we are able to obtain.
11: “What kind of compost do you use?”
Our compost blend is all-natural – no chemicals!
12: “What are your raised beds made out of?”
Our raised beds can be made from cedar lumber, pressure treated lumber, metal, or stone. We utilize these materials to maintain the quality & longevity of the beds.
13: “Why are pollinator plants helpful?”
Pollinator friendly plants are helpful in three main ways:
1) They attract pollinators and provide them with food.
2) They attract natural predators for pest control.
3) They provide a habitat for pollinators to lay eggs and feed the caterpillars.
14: “When should I begin a fruit tree spraying regimen with Community Foodscapes?”
Our tree spraying regimen starts in the Fall, when trees go dormant, and can continue until trees flower. Once your trees flower, spraying must pause for pollinators to thrive. When trees have stopped flowering, tree spraying can resume if necessary. Each fungus/bacteria and tree species has different requirements.
15: “When would you be able to begin pruning my trees?”
Pruning is best done when trees are dormant, aka Fall/Winter. It is possible to prune during the summer months, although the tree will have a harder time healing.
16. “I ordered some plants from your nursery online. When can I pick them up?”
Our Program Coordinator, Lucian, and nursery team members can usually provide your plants within two days after you have placed an order online, and will reach out via text or email to establish a pickup time.
17: “What is the timeframe for planting fall fruit trees and bushes?”
November through March is the best shrub/tree planting season, although you can plant year-round as long as you water the plants weekly.
18: “What is CoFo’s fee for a site consultation?”
Our consultation fee is $150; this includes an in-person consultation + napkin sketch + itemized quote + CSA (Comprehensive Site Analysis) report. If you are an existing client, your next site visit will be free of charge (but does not include the CSA component. If you have not already received one as an existing client, these are available for purchase!)
19: “How quickly would I be able to get a site consultation?”
Though it may vary, we typically book site consultations about two weeks out. We encourage you to fill out a request form if you are interested in a site consultation with us. (Please see FAQ # 1 for the caveat!)
20: “How quickly would I be able to begin my project after I approve my quote?”
Similar to our site consultation schedule - though it may vary, we typically book installations about two to three weeks after your personalized, customizable quote is approved, and the deposit for that scope of work is paid.
21: “How long are quotes valid?”
We deliver all customized line-item quotes within one week of the initial site visit consultation. Quotes are valid for 30 days, from the date that we email you the quote. After 30 days, we would need to update the quote based on the rising costs of materials, supplies, plants, labor, etc.
22: “Are you able to source soil if I do not require your services to plant?”
We recommend sourcing your soil from Super-Sod, Green Brothers, or Cummin Landscape Supply – all of whom will deliver soil locally.
23: “Does CoFo provide seed planting services?”
We can, and do, plant things from seed, should this be an aspect of a larger installation, or recurring monthly maintenance (book here!). Additionally, we can plant vegetables from seed, and this would be included in our $85/person hour rate.
24: “I am experiencing some erosion on my property. Are you able to help with water management?”
We specialize in water management solutions that help to restore the land - such as: rain gardens, dry creeks, rain barrels, swales and berms, and more! Our team is dedicated not only to a quality installation, but will also provide follow-up inspections and improvements, should they be necessary after heavy, sustained rainy periods. Check out our reviews from happy clients who hired us to solve their drainage/erosion issues.
25: “Do you offer financial assistance of any kind?”
We have partnered with Wisetack, a user-friendly, paperless way for clients to pay for their projects over time by breaking up the cost of our services into easy monthly payments. Financing is available for jobs costing between $500 and $25,000.
Should you be interested in financing through Wisetack, check out this short video, and give their loan estimation calculator a try!
26: “Can we help you install the project to cut the project costs?”
We certainly encourage homeowners to jump in and get dirty with us! However, because of the increased time required for us to give instructions and quality control, we are not able to give any labor discounts. If we are using heavy machinery or dangerous tools on the site, then all residents and pets must stay out of the work site.
27: “Can you help us order all the materials and we will install them ourselves?”
Yes, we can provide assistance for your project, as long as it's within our skillset. We will charge you based on our hourly rate to procure and deliver the plants/materials & additionally provide coaching services based on an hourly rate to help you DIY your goals.
28: “How big will the plants you’ve installed be? How soon will they get as big as they are supposed to?”
Each plant is different in this regard. We like to think about plants in this way: “First they sleep, then they creep, then they leap!” This means you will not see a ton of growth for the first year or two, as the roots are developing, though, afterwards you should see a burst of growth.
Any plants that we start from seed (clover/wildflower) will take two weeks to germinate, then several months to grow in and fill the space.
Most of our plants are quoted/installed based on the size of the pot/container and not the height of the plant (because heights can vary dramatically and do not give an accurate portrayal of the age of the plant).
Of course, answers to these questions will vary, and our team will walk you through these details as your project progresses. Plant growth - from fruit trees or clover lawns - will be determined by factors such as light availability, appropriate watering, and soil quality. We also recommend minimizing disturbances (such as dogs and foot traffic) during early establishment.
29. What are the benefits of eco-lawns?
Lawn alternatives provide a multitude of benefits over traditional turf grass lawns. Some of which include:
1. Less frequent maintenance - no weekly mowing!
2. Less input - less water, fertilizations, dethatching, aerating.
3. More resilience: a polyculture of multiple species is less likely to die, fall, and leave bare patches.
4. Provides a food habitat for wildlife; native plants and flowers provide more food and homes for bees, butterflies, and birds. Simply put: we can help you save time, energy, and money by installing an eco-lawn for you!