MEL Client FAQs

How do you know if Meadow’s Edge Landscaping is the right fit for your project? Read below to find out.

What does gardening for wildlife mean?

Your outdoor space is more than a place to play or have a barbeque, it can also provide home and food to many plant and animal species year-round. My landscape management practices focus on creating spaces that are both beautiful and ecologically healthy.

Will you mow my yard?

MEL is not a turf management company. Mowing may be a small part of some projects such as seasonal weed control or maintaining paths in the garden.

Will you collect and remove my leaves?

There are a few circumstances where I would recommend removing all leaves from a property, such as disease management or solarization treatments. MEL does not have the equipment to remove large amounts of leaf matter. Fallen leaves are important to ecosystem health. They return nutrients to the soil and provide winter habitat. They also help prevent   I encourage homeowners to leave at least some of their leaves and work them into the landscape for mulch.

Will you use chemicals on my property?

I am working towards a commercial applicator license. When that happens, my policy will be: Targeted herbicide treatments are sometimes necessary for the removal of invasives such as bittersweet, honeysuckle, autumn olive, Japanese knotweed, and buckthorn. Poison ivy in workspaces is always treated before other work will begin. I do not apply glues, dyes or other consumer product chemicals  to the landscape.

Will you spread mulch or gravel at my property?

I can spread up to 3 cubic feet of material.

How much time is my project going to take?

It depends on the size of the site and types of need. A simple pruning or spring weeding can usually be completed within 1-2 days. A site redesign and/or maintenance plan may be contracted on an annual basis as needs change throughout the seasons. It takes multiple seasons to understand a landscape.

How do you handle invasive species?

Many yards contain trees, shrubs, and flowers that are invasive. These include popular landscape plants like burning bush and barberry, as well as weeds like garlic mustard. I work with homeowners to replace invasives with native species whenever possible. If the plant can’t be fully removed, I remove flowers and seed heads. Strategies for managing invasives vary by site.

What if I just want a tree removed?

I will only remove small  trees and shrubs if they will be replaced with other vegetation. A licensed arborist will need to be consulted is work can’t be done from the ground.

What if I want a plant that is not a regional native?

Humans have strong emotional connections to plants. Certain smells, colors, a tree that reminds you of a passed loved one. These specimen plants have an important role to play. I do plant non-native plants at  times, but my strong preference is for regionally available species.