Native Plant Landscape Design Services in Charlotte, NC
Create beautiful, wildlife-friendly gardens with expert ecological landscape design tailored to Charlotte's unique climate and growing conditions. We help homeowners throughout the Charlotte area, including Matthews, Belmont, Fort Mill, and surrounding communities, plan attractive, low-maintenance landscapes using native plants and ecological principles.
Why Choose Ecological Landscape Design?
Support local wildlife and pollinators
Reduced maintenance and watering needs
No ongoing chemical inputs needed
Better adaptation to Charlotte's clay soil and climate
Long-term cost savings
Increased property value
Types of Landscape Design Projects
Pollinator gardens - Native wildflower gardens that support bees, butterflies and birds
Foundation plantings - Refresh existing foundation beds or design new plantings
Woodland shade gardens - Elegant solutions for challenging shaded areas
Screening / privacy hedges - Diverse mix of native shrubs and trees to provide privacy and ever-changing seasonal interest
Green mulch - Replace yearly mulching with well behaved living mix of low groundcovers and grasses
Lawn alternatives / reductions - Replace lawn sections with diverse native grass and wildflower plantings
Meadows - Large-scale seeded grass and wildflower planting
Pocket forests - Resilient low-maintenance dense tree planting that converts a section of lawn to a miniature forest
Rain Gardens - Beautiful gardens that capture and filter stormwater naturally
Our Landscape Design Process
Step 1: Phone Consultation (free) - Brief introductory call for you to walk us through your project and for us to explain our process.
Step 2: Design Consultation & Proposal ($150) - If it feels like we are a good fit, we will meet in person for 1-2 hours to review your design goals, project budget, discuss any known challenges (i.e. drainage, deer) and walk the site together. Throughout the consultation, we will listen to your concerns/goals and offer thoughts on feasibility as well as initial recommendations. Following the consultation, we will provide you with a design estimate including areas covered, planting types, site challenges, and deliverables.
Step 3: Design Development - Upon acceptance of our proposal and deposit payment (typically ⅓ of design fee), we begin creating your plan. Design fees typically range from $500-$1,750 depending on complexity, based on estimated hours required.
Site Analysis: Multiple site visits to measure areas, inventory existing plants, and conduct soil testing for drainage, texture, and chemistry as needed.
Drafting Phase: Using site measurements, we create scale drawings and develop design concepts. We start broadly, then narrow down ideas based on your preferences and site conditions. Plant selection considers aesthetics, environmental fit (soil, sun, moisture, deer pressure), costs, and availability. Additional site visits may be needed to refine the design.
Design Review: In-person meeting to discuss the design. Completed design deliverables (digital scale drawings and detailed plant profiles) will be provided upon final payment. One round of revisions included; additional changes billed at $85/hr.
Installation: Once the design is finalized, we can move seamlessly to installation. Click here to learn more.
Ready to start your landscape design project?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the design process take?
A typical design takes 3 to 4 weeks, with more complex designs taking up to 2 months. While the design could be completed sooner, we find that it helps to revisit a design several times with a fresh perspective.
Do you work with existing plants?
Yes, we hate to unnecessarily remove existing plants and will work with you to include them in our design. That being said, we will recommend removal if it’s a rank 1 or 2 invasive plant on North Carolina’s invasive plant list.
Do you work with non-native plants?
Yes, but due to their ecological value, we require that native plants make up at least 70% of the design.
What if I want to install the design myself?
That is fine. The design is yours once you have paid for it. You are free to install it yourself or hire another installer. That being said, we are still happy to assist with sourcing plants or helping to lay out the plants prior to planting.
How do you ensure plants will thrive in Charlotte's climate?
We combine a thorough site analysis and knowledge of plants (both book and experiential) to choose plants that match your site conditions.
Do you design hardscapes?
Yes, we provide basic hardscape design, including paths, smaller patios, and fire pits. However, we would refer you to a hardscape specialist to finalize the material and installation details. If hardscapes are the main part of the design, we are probably not the best fit.
About
I’ve been an avid gardener for 15+ years, starting off growing vegetables in a Southern California backyard, before evolving to an interest in ornamentals after moving to Charlotte in 2013. Gradually, I noticed that a lot of the standard gardening practices were creating needless work and expense as they were in opposition to how plants grow in nature (i.e. trying to grow a grass lawn under a tree canopy). Furthermore, I noticed that a lot of our plant choices (i.e. Nandina, Privet) either provided little benefit to nature/wildlife or were downright harmful. These led me to gradually adopt ecological gardening practices in my yard. With Charlotte Ecological Gardening, I hope to use what I have learned to add a bit of beauty and nature to your yard.