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Gardening Service
updated: Apr 05, 2010, 6:55 PM

Does anyone know of a gardening service for our 8 unit condo complex - that knows about the needs of plants, a green gardener that is not merely a blow & go? I would love to know who to hire!

Places People Are Talking About:

Californica Landscapes	Cicileo Landscaping	Enviroscaping
Grassroots Fine Gardening	Kitson Landscape	Leaf Landscape
Plowboy Landscaping Services	Shangri la Gardens	Valencia Landscaping

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 67166	2010-04-05 07:03 PM
Kitson Landscape at 681-7010 does great work and has excellent customer service. Kitsonlandscape.com
COMMENT 67171	2010-04-05 07:32 PM
Kitson is a trash pick up service, not a landscape maintenance firm. They just blow dirt from one lot to the adjacent one. These guys should be stopped!! They create so much noise and dust, trim everything into balls, boxes, etc. Put the power tools away Kitson, your is an unsustainable operation.
COMMENT 67185	2010-04-05 08:53 PM
I disagree with 67171. I own a tree care company and my clients that use Kitson are happy. They train their employees, advocate best mgmt practices, and used well maintained equipment. When they have a question, they get an immediate response (a refreshing perk in the landscape industry). My advice for the condo HOA is to interview several outfits to find the best match for your budget and expectations. First, confirm that they are licensed and insured (www.statecontractorslicenseboard.org). Second, get a list of properties they currently maintain and go look at them and talk to the property managers. Lastly, ask lots of questions especially regarding their expertise in irrigation, plant material, and disease/pest management. As an arborist, I shake my head at the number of trees killed by poor landscape mgmt. A buck saved here, can cost you later. Invest well.
COMMENT 67186	2010-04-05 08:59 PM
Do not use Mr. Green Thumb. They are hired by my property manager to be here 1 hour a week. They show up about every 3 out of 4 weeks....never at the appointed time, and then they stay for less than 30 minutes. They have left my gate open (bad since I have a cat), and they do nothing except Moe and Blow. They suck!
COMMENT 67193	2010-04-05 09:40 PM
I feel 67171 is way out of line in trashing Kitson and his landscaping services. I suggest going to Google and checking his history and record. Unsustainable? Brent and Sally started that business while still in college in 1969 and it has grown and prospered. I write not as a customer or a personal friend, but a woman formerly connected with Goleta Beautiful who has personally handed him award certificates. Whether or not the person needing a gardener needs this particular expert service provided by Kitson can be determined by meeting with other companies as suggested by the arborist in 67185. check out the Kitson website for confirmation of this.
COMMENT 67202	2010-04-06 12:16 AM
At my condo complex we've used several vendors and currently use Kitson. They are expensive but by far the best of the local landscapers we've used. Our landscaping is far and away better than it's ever been and they are very good about recommending ways to reduce irrigation water usage.
COMMENT 67206	2010-04-06 05:48 AM
Enviroscaping- They are a truly environmentally conscientious, professional and knowledgeable landscaping company. link
COMMENT 67207	2010-04-06 06:16 AM
We also use Kitson. They are outstanding in terms of quality of work and the staff is very nice too.
COMMENT 67227	2010-04-06 07:28 AM
Dan Seibert whose photos are frequently seen on Edhat! Best gardener in SB and very green. Trustworthy and talented.
COMMENT 67232	2010-04-06 07:37 AM
Michael Snyder and his crew at Californica Landscapes are fantastic and green.
CHERIDIANE	2010-04-06 07:47 AM
Thank you for the useful responses. I will take them to the other owners. Kitson does the complex across our street where they run a loud blower every week. I did not know Dan Seibert was a gardener! We will research our choices, including Enviroscaping. Any more?
MARCMCGINNES	2010-04-06 08:21 AM
Based on several years experience, I am delighted to recommend Grassroots Fine Gardening 886-2062 info@grassrootsfinegardening.com
COMMENT 67248	2010-04-06 08:28 AM
Dan's great, but not sure condo complexes are his passion. He's more of a private garden type. That said, if he's interested, grab him. No one is better. If you want a no-blower gardener, you'll have to make it clear to the gardener when negotiating. Everyone will charge more for silent maintenance. Kitson is excellent, but you'll need to talk to them about the noisy and polluting machinery that everyone uses in spite of the SB ordinance. Sadly only SB has the ordinance, and more sadly, most people ignore it anyway. BTW, Brent some time ago, leaving the company in the capable hands of daughter Sarah Kitson and her husband Dave Fudurich. They are much more sustainability-oriented than the elders, and they really know their stuff. The DO use the nasty power tools, but will work with you if you object. Finally, you might try Organic Greens Landscape Maintenance (Ramon Jimenez) 488-2816. Newish in the business but very experienced, thorough, knows his plants and how to care for them. Whomever you end up working with, YOU need to set the criteria, enforce your own rules, and monitor the results. If you want sustainability, quiet, and healthy plants, you'll need to be ready to PAY for it. But, you should be happier with the results.
COMMENT 67253P	2010-04-06 08:36 AM
Our large complex in Goleta uses Enviroscaping. They do a great job and even take on some small maintenance chores in the common areas.
CHERIDIANE	2010-04-06 08:53 AM
Thank you, COMMENT 67248! You really covered it all. I am now thinking it is possible to get a no-blow gardener, who knows plant care, if we negotiate for our wants at the beginning and be willing to pay for the extra time it takes. I now have more information. Thank you to the other commenters as well, and any more who post.
COMMENT 67275	2010-04-06 09:15 AM
Wow, thanks for the compliments! An eight unit property sounds a little big for me, but I am available for anyone with a small yard. Love pets, and my only criteria is my clients have to be nice. (and I take great photos of your property.) Dan Seibert 637-1252
COMMENT 67298	2010-04-06 10:06 AM
Bob Chamlee of Shangri la Gardens - 570-2341. Excellent work, reasonable, knowledgeable, and nice!
COMMENT 67305P	2010-04-06 10:31 AM
Plowboy Landscaping Services does the entire SB Highlands townhouse complex up on the Mesa. Looks like they do a good job. You can call Jill the manager at 805-963-0326 and ask her if she recommends them.
COMMENT 67318	2010-04-06 11:14 AM
Valencia Landscaping is absolutely excellent, and the owner, Rosendo Vakencia, is a pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable, trustworthy and conscientious, and his crew is the best. You will never have a problem with them.
COMMENT 67336	2010-04-06 11:52 AM
Enrique Rosas 452-5166. Excellent hard working and very knowledgeable.
OLDLAWOMAN	2010-04-06 11:55 AM
My two strong sons. Ask edhat for my email address. Guaranteed great deal.
COMMENT 67341	2010-04-06 12:08 PM
Peyton Scapes, Cicileo Landscaping - both work at my HOA's (I'm a bookkeeper) and do great jobs. Be specific in what you want done, especially if you don't want the noise.
COMMENT 67381	2010-04-06 01:50 PM
Our HOA went from Kitson to Ciceleo - both OK. Figure out, state and have an understanding of your expectations with whichever landscape service you contract.
COMMENT 67464	2010-04-06 07:34 PM
GO BY and lQQk at the landscaping at South Coast Church in Goleta (on Cathedral Oaks Rd, 1 block west of Fairview Ave) email me @ ret@cox.net if you want the name of person who does the landscaping = honest, great work/personality...
COMMENT 67465	2010-04-06 07:36 PM
South Coast Church - I forgot to mention won Goleta Beautiful Award last month.
CHERIDIANE	2010-04-06 09:39 PM
I am so grateful for all your responses. Such good info, from real SB people. 67464, I will go look at S. Co. Church. Knowing how to talk to gardeners, to gently insist on what we want, monitor after a hire, is very helpful. We can get the sort of nice green caring gardener we want, it would seem. I now know I will be prepared for the next owners meeting with useful information, including names and numbers. Thank you EdHat! and all of you.
COMMENT 67690	2010-04-07 12:56 PM
To know how to talk to gardeners is to habla Espanol.
COMMENT 166081	2011-04-21 10:24 AM
LEAF Landscape offers Landscape Audits that save money on water and maintenance, make your garden more efficient and ecolgically friendly, and give you ideas about how to live more sustainably.