FAQs

We provide professional garden care for residential properties, including ongoing maintenance, seasonal pruning, soil care and mulching, planting, and garden refinement. We also take on planting and design-focused projects when they align with long-term care of the garden.

Our work is grounded in horticultural standards and an understanding of how gardens develop over time. Whether we’re maintaining an established landscape or working on a specific project, the emphasis is always on health, structure, and lasting beauty rather than short-term results.

Is Kaleidoscope the right fit for my garden?

Kaleidoscope is a good fit for homeowners who care about the long-term health and beauty of their garden and see it as an important part of their property. Our clients tend to value thoughtful timing, sound horticultural practices, and care that improves the garden gradually over time.

Some clients work with us year-round through ongoing maintenance, while others engage us for specific projects or seasonal work. In either case, the best outcomes come from shared expectations, clear communication, and an appreciation for doing the work properly rather than quickly.

If you’re looking for professional guidance, steady care, and a garden that becomes more cohesive and resilient year after year, we’re likely a good match.

Do you work with new clients?

Yes. We welcome new clients throughout the year, depending on availability. Because we focus on maintaining a manageable number of gardens, new inquiries are reviewed to ensure we can provide the level of attention and consistency our work requires.

Getting started typically begins with a consultation so we can understand the garden, discuss goals, and determine the best way to move forward. This helps ensure a good fit for both the garden and the homeowner from the start.

What types of gardens do you typically care for?

We primarily work with established residential gardens where long-term care, pruning, and thoughtful maintenance make a meaningful difference. These are often gardens that have developed over time and benefit from consistent attention to structure, plant health, and seasonal timing.

That said, we also work with newer gardens, redesigned landscapes, and properties in transition, especially when there’s an interest in setting things up properly from the start. What matters most is a shared commitment to maintaining the garden as a living, evolving part of the property rather than treating it as a short-term project.

Do you require a consultation before starting work?

In most cases, yes. A consultation allows us to see the garden firsthand, understand site conditions, and talk through goals before any work begins. This ensures recommendations are grounded in the realities of the garden rather than assumptions.

For new clients, consultations help establish a shared understanding of priorities, timing, and approach. They also allow us to determine whether we’re the right fit and how best to move forward.

Occasionally, for smaller or straightforward requests, we may be able to begin without a full consultation, but we find that taking the time upfront leads to better outcomes in the long run.

What happens during a consultation?

A consultation is an on-site working visit where we walk the garden together and look closely at how it’s functioning. We’ll discuss plant health, structure, light, soil conditions, and seasonal timing, along with any goals or concerns you have for the space.

This is also a chance to talk through maintenance approach, potential improvements, and what kind of care will best support the garden over time. The focus is on observation and informed discussion rather than quick decisions, so recommendations are thoughtful and grounded.

What comes out of a consultation?

After the consultation, we prepare a written proposal or set of recommendations and email it to you. This may include options for ongoing maintenance, project work, plant changes, and estimated costs, depending on what was discussed on site.

The goal is to provide clarity around the scope of work, timing, and budget. That way you can make informed decisions without pressure. Not every consultation leads to immediate work, but each one is intended to outline realistic paths forward for the garden.

How far in advance should I plan seasonal work?

Whenever possible, we recommend planning seasonal work several weeks and often months in advance. Gardens respond best when work is timed intentionally, and our schedule fills well ahead of peak seasons.

Early planning allows us to reserve time appropriately, source materials thoughtfully, and address work when it will have the greatest benefit to the garden. While we do our best to accommodate urgent needs, advance notice leads to better results and a smoother experience overall.

Do you provide ongoing garden maintenance?

Yes. Ongoing garden maintenance is a core part of our work. Many clients engage us on a recurring basis so their gardens receive consistent, knowledgeable care throughout the year.

Maintenance visits are planned around the needs of the garden rather than a one-size-fits-all routine. Over time, this allows us to understand how each garden grows, respond appropriately to the seasons, and keep the landscape healthy, balanced, and well cared for.

How does your maintenance schedule work?

Gardens are placed on a regular maintenance schedule based on their size, complexity and care needs. Some gardens are visited weekly, while others are scheduled every few weeks or at longer intervals.

Visit dates are planned in advance, and we email a confirmation one to two weeks prior to each visit so you know when to expect us. While the schedule provides consistency, the specific work performed during each visit shifts seasonally.

This approach allows us to focus on what the garden actually needs at that time, rather than repeating the same tasks year-round.

How far in advance are visits scheduled?

Garden visits are scheduled in advance as part of your maintenance plan or project timeline. Once dates are set, we send a confirmation email one to two weeks ahead of each visit so you know when to expect us.

This advance notice allows for clear communication and helps ensure access and readiness on visit days, while still giving us the flexibility to respond to weather or seasonal conditions as needed.

What happens if weather affects a scheduled visit?

We work in most weather conditions, including rain. There are times when weather makes it unsafe or unproductive to be in the garden. Frozen ground, ice on roads or pathways, and snow cover can limit what work can reasonably be done.

If conditions require us to adjust a scheduled visit, we’ll communicate as early as possible and reschedule work for the next appropriate window. Our goal is always to work when it’s safest for our crews and most beneficial for the garden.

What is your approach to pruning?

Pruning is done thoughtfully and with intention. We follow established horticultural standards and work with a plant’s natural growth habit rather than forcing shape or relying on routine shearing.

When is the best time to prune?

The best time to prune depends on the plant and the intended outcome. Many trees and shrubs benefit from winter pruning, when structure is most visible and plants are dormant. Others are best pruned after flowering or during active growth to protect bloom or guide development.

We plan pruning across the seasons rather than treating it as a one-time task. This allows us to support flowering, manage size and structure, and keep plants healthy over the long term.

Timing is a key part of doing the work well, and we adjust our approach throughout the year as the garden changes.

Each cut is made to support plant health, structure, airflow, and longevity. We take a measured approach, stepping back often and pruning in stages so the garden retains balance and proportion.

Our goal is not just a tidy appearance, but a garden that grows better and looks more cohesive over time.

Do you shear hedges or plants?

Selective hand pruning is our preferred approach, as it supports plant health, structure, and natural form. In some cases, formal hedges or specific plants may benefit from occasional shearing, and we’re comfortable using that technique when it’s appropriate to the plant and the setting.

What we avoid is routine or indiscriminate shearing that prioritizes speed or a uniform look at the expense of long-term plant health. When shaping is involved, it’s done intentionally and with an understanding of how the plant will respond over time.

Our goal is always a garden that looks considered and grows well, not one that needs constant correction.

How do you balance plant health with appearance?

We see plant health and appearance as closely linked, not competing priorities. A well-pruned, well-timed, and appropriately placed plant almost always looks better in the long run than one managed purely for immediate visual impact.

Our decisions are guided by horticultural standards first, with an understanding of how the garden should read as a whole. Sometimes that means allowing a plant a little more room or time. Other times it means making a careful cut now to improve form and balance later.

The result is a garden that feels natural, composed, and increasingly beautiful over time without sacrificing its health to achieve it.

What happens to the garden debris you remove?

Everything we take from your garden continues its life somewhere else. All organic debris; leaves, branches, clippings, and brush is brought to DTG Recycle, a Pacific Northwest company that specializes in returning natural materials back to the landscape.

Once it arrives at DTG, the debris is carefully sorted, cleaned of contaminants, and transformed into useful products:

• Compost, which enriches soil and supports healthier regional gardens

• Hog fuel and wood fiber products, created from larger brush and stumps

• Bark and landscape materials that go back into the community

Instead of ending up in a landfill, your garden’s prunings become part of a circular system. Feeding soils, supporting new plantings, and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

It’s a quiet, satisfying loop: your garden grows, we make thoughtful cuts, and those trimmings help nourish the wider landscape. A small but meaningful part of tending a greener Pacific Northwest.

Do you do planting and garden design projects?

Yes. We take on planting and garden design projects that are rooted in site conditions, scale, and long-term care. Rather than focusing on one-season impact, plant choices and layouts are made with an understanding of how the garden will be maintained and how it will mature over time.

Design work often includes refining existing beds, editing plant palettes, improving structure and sightlines, or addressing areas that aren’t working as well as they should. Whether part of ongoing care or a standalone project, the goal is a garden that feels cohesive, functional, and enduring.

Can you help refine or edit an existing garden?

Yes. Much of our work involves refining gardens that are already in place. This can mean editing plantings that have outgrown their space, rebalancing beds that feel crowded or underperforming, or adjusting layouts to better suit how the garden is used.

Often, small changes, like thoughtful pruning, selective removal, or targeted new plantings make a meaningful difference. Our goal is to work with what’s already there whenever possible, improving clarity, health, and overall cohesion without unnecessary disruption.

Do you work on one-time or seasonal projects?

Yes. While many clients work with us on an ongoing basis, we also take on one-time or seasonal projects when they’re a good fit. These might include planting, pruning, or targeted improvements in specific areas of the garden.

One-time projects are approached with the same horticultural standards and attention to detail as our ongoing maintenance work. Clear communication around goals, timing, and expectations helps ensure the work is successful and beneficial to the garden over the long term.

How do you choose plants for a garden?

Plant selection is based on site conditions first; light, soil, drainage, exposure and available space all matter. We also consider scale, seasonal interest and how a plant will mature over time within the garden.

We source plants from trusted local nurseries, particularly in Woodinville and Redmond, choosing material that is well grown and suited to our region. Rather than chasing trends or one-season impact, we favor plants that perform well long-term and integrate naturally with the existing landscape.

The goal is a garden that settles in, grows comfortably, and becomes more cohesive year after year.

Will the same crew work in my garden each visit?

We aim for consistency whenever possible. Familiarity with a garden allows our team to work more effectively, notice subtle changes, and make better decisions over time.

While schedules and workloads can occasionally require adjustments, we try to keep crews consistent so the people caring for your garden understand its history, patterns, and priorities.

How do crews decide what to focus on during a visit?

Priorities for each visit are guided by the season, the condition of the garden, and any previously discussed goals or concerns. While we arrive with a clear plan, our crews also assess conditions as they work and adjust as needed.

This allows us to respond to what the garden actually needs that day. Whether that’s addressing new growth, adjusting pruning, managing weeds, or focusing on plant health. Communication between account managers, crew leads, and clients helps ensure work stays aligned with overall priorities.

How do you ensure quality and consistency across visits?

Quality comes from experience, clear communication, and continuity. Our crews are trained in horticultural best practices and work within shared standards for pruning, planting, and garden care.

Consistency is reinforced through familiar crews, detailed notes, and regular communication between the field and the office. Because we care for a manageable number of gardens, we’re able to stay attentive and responsive rather than rushed.

The result is work that feels steady, intentional, and increasingly refined over time.

How do proposals and estimates work?

Proposals are based on time and materials and are presented as estimates rather than fixed prices. Gardens are living systems, and the exact scope of work can vary once we’re on site and working with the plants.

Our estimates are informed by experience and intended to provide a realistic range for decision-making. If conditions change or the scope shifts in a meaningful way, we communicate that promptly so expectations remain aligned.

This approach allows the flexibility needed to do the work thoughtfully and correctly, without being constrained by a fixed scope that doesn’t reflect the realities of the garden.

Do you charge time and materials or fixed pricing?

Most of our work is billed on a time-and-materials basis. This reflects the reality that gardens vary widely, and conditions can’t always be fully understood until work is underway.

Time-and-materials billing allows us to respond appropriately as we go, adjusting for plant health, site conditions, or new discoveries without rushing or cutting corners to meet a predetermined number.

For stand-alone or one-time projects, we typically request a 30% deposit before work begins, with the balance billed upon completion. For certain well-defined scopes, we may provide a more detailed estimate, but our focus remains on doing the work properly rather than forcing it into a rigid price structure.

How and when will I receive invoices?

Invoices are typically sent at the end of each month and reflect the actual time and materials used. For one-time projects, invoices are issued after the work is completed, following any agreed-upon deposit.

Invoices are sent by email by default, but can also be mailed via USPS if preferred. Each invoice includes a clear summary of work performed and associated charges. If you ever have questions about an invoice, we’re always happy to review it with you.

What areas do you serve?

We primarily serve Seattle, Edmonds, Medina, Woodway and surrounding communities, focusing on areas where we can maintain consistency and quality of care across our visits. Find our zip code map here.

If you’re unsure whether your location falls within our service area, feel free to reach out, we’re happy to confirm availability.

Do I need to be home during visits?

No. You’re welcome to be home, but it isn’t required. As long as we have clear access to the garden and any necessary instructions ahead of time, our crews can work independently.

If anything comes up during a visit that requires input, we’ll reach out. Otherwise, we’ll proceed as planned and follow up as needed.

How do you access the garden on visit days?

We rely on clear access arrangements being in place on scheduled visit days. This may include unlocked gates, permission to enter side yards, or instructions for accessing specific areas of the property.

If there are special considerations; pets, gate codes, parking notes we ask that those be shared in advance so the visit runs smoothly. Clear access helps us use our time efficiently and focus on the garden itself.

How do you think about long-term garden care?

We approach gardens as evolving systems rather than finished projects. Good care is cumulative, the result of many small, well-timed decisions made over years, not weeks.

Long-term care means pruning with the future in mind, allowing plants to mature at the right pace, and adjusting as the garden changes. Our role is to guide that process quietly and responsibly so the garden becomes more balanced, resilient, and beautiful over time.

How do gardens change over time under your care?

Over time, gardens tend to settle rather than escalate. Plants grow into better proportion, structure improves, and seasonal work becomes more preventative than corrective.

As we get to know a garden, decisions become more refined, fewer reactive cuts, more intentional timing, and a clearer sense of what truly benefits the space. The result is a garden that feels calmer, more cohesive, and easier to maintain, while still gaining depth and character year after year.

How do you help gardens add value to a property?

Well-cared-for gardens contribute to both the daily experience of a home and its long-term value. Through consistent maintenance, proper pruning, and thoughtful plant selection, we help gardens mature gracefully rather than decline or become overgrown.

A garden that is healthy, balanced, and well maintained tends to feel intentional and established, qualities that enhance how a property is used, perceived, and cared for. Our focus is on creating landscapes that age well and continue to support the overall quality of the home over time.