Alford's English Gardens

It went good! There were issues with the premise but other than nothing else, easy to work with and the landscape turned out beautiful!

wonderful job. loved all their work

All was very good? the team was very easy to work with and very professional? all work done to perfection and in a very timely manner.

The crew started work promptly and worked very efficiently. They answered all questions that I posed and kept us informed with what was going on. The project was completed in a timely manner and looks beautiful.

Planning started with many questions to understand what we wanted, then there were computer-generated images of variations of how the finished product might look, followed by our input and then revisions to incorporate our wishes. In-house crews assured that work was done to Alford's high standards - and mine. Homeowner input, including some hardscape and lighting changes during the course of work were cheerfully accommodated. Extra underlayment materials were used in the driveway so that the same paving stones could flow seamlessly from patio to driveway and still stand up to the stress of very heavy cars. We have enthusiastically recommended Alfords English Gardens to all who have asked about our beautiful front yard and patio.

Alford’s does top notch work. I have had them landscape the front and back. The crew is always a pleasure to work with and Kathy is amazing. We truly have a great home and enjoy our yard due to the great work Alford’s has done. Our backyard kitchen is a dream and the landscaping is beautiful.

I had a great experience because the designers took my rather eclectic ideas and made them work without moving some trees and a vegetable garden that were important to me. My yard looks totally different, yet still has some familiar items. I'm very happy with the results.

From the very beginning of meeting and designing, Kathy and her team were exemplary. I got 4 bids. Kathy listened carefully and created a beautiful plan that was what I wanted. She made excellent suggestions to keep cost down but did not compromise on quality. Ultimately, her work was not the cheapest but it was by far the best from day one to today. Her team were on time, excellent in skill, creativity, problem solving, craftsmanship. The site was clean and secure at the end of each day. I love the final product. I spend hours in my yard now, enjoying the beauty and tranquility. Kathy has been responsive to small issues and questions. I have referred her to 3 friends who have each used her services and have been pleased.

FANTASTIC! Kathy and her team did a wonderful job transforming our dated front yard into a beautiful patio and garden area! Kathy was easy to work with, answered questions quickly, her team was meticulous in all of their work from the removal of our old lawn and garden to the installation of our patio and beautiful new plants. We could not have asked for a better partner to make our home and front yard look beautiful!!

What a great experience and enjoyed every minute from the meeting with Kathy and her crew. To having her design team draw up our design. Then a week or so later her incredible team came out with over 85 plants and turn our front yard into a a beautiful and colorfully garden. THANK YOU KATHY AND OUR TEAM !!!!

In one word: Amazing! From start to finish, this was a great experience. My house is 100 years old, so I've done quite a few projects. This, without a doubt, was my best experience. I met with several landscapers before Kathy, and she was the first to listen to my ideas, then convert them into a design I loved. Her team was awesome -- I can't say enough about them. Miguel and his crew treated the project with pride; you could tell they were extremely invested in delivering a great product. I even ordered the wrong grill -- completely my fault -- which meant it wouldn't be ready before the project was completed. However Miguel drove up on a Saturday to install it at no extra charge. This is three weeks after they'd technically fulfilled their contract, but there were no questions asked. Everyone in the office was amazing, and the communication was great in terms of payment schedule, etc. And to top it off, Kyle did some great graffiti art that added the finishing touches to the project. I can't overstate how happy I am with the project and the work that was completed. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this service.

Very well! Very responsive and professional.

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The demo and installation went very well. Additional charges due to change in scope of work were fair (Often, I think add-ons are too expensive). Crew was on time and cleaned up each day. Kathy spent time with my wife and I to learn how to manage our new irrigation and new planting. 

I heartily recommend this company and suggest that you open up about your concerns and what you want? they do listen!

Great job.  Cleaned up overgrown yard, hauled off all debris, pruned back garden, trees and bamboo

This is a QUALITY company! Quality in terms of the people, quality in terms of their attention to detail, quality in terms of their listening to the owners and responding to their questions/concerns.  It has been an unmitigated pleasure working with them.
Once we contacted her, Kathy came to our house and spent almost 2 hours going over an existing plan with us, and generally getting to know us.  While other bids consisted of a paragraph of detail and a quote, Kathy's was a 5-page, detailed estimate of each stage of the process.  When the estimate was complete, we met with Kathy in her offices along with several of her associates.  All seemed eager to work with us.  
Once we agreed on price and detail, the gang showed up early the next week ready to work.  A porta-potty was delivered the first day, and serviced regularly, not a small plus in my mind.  The lawn and hardscape removal was very quick and there was no down time between the end of one process and the beginning of the next.  (Kathy has contacts who recycle the existing plants and hardscape where possible.)  There were often 4-5 employees working on a couple of different areas at once.  Kathy visited often, and made suggestions as things progressed.  
Since we had a conceptual plan without construction detail, Kathy and her folks regularly asked our ideas on how to proceed, feeling free to make suggestions when we weren't clear on what we wanted.  Everything about the job was first-rate.  So far as I am concerned, no corners were cut, no materials sub-standard.  In fact, many choices of materials seemed inspired.  The stones around the dry stream bed are fabulous!
I'll call out Miguel in particular, for acting as if it was his own yard.  His artistic suggestions made a huge improvement.  While we were in progress, Miguel suggested modifying the posts on our porch into Craftsman-style.  (At an agreed on cost.)  The transformation is stunning, and essentially remakes the front of the house.  
We accompanied Kathy, Rocky and Kyle to Tree of Life Nursery where we got quite an education on the plants we were there to choose.  And the final choices have worked out amazingly well.  We met Kathy on a Sunday morning to choose a special pot as a focal point.  She seems to work seven days a week to make things happen.  
As an example of their forethought, they installed low-voltage wiring all around the yard, so in case we decide later to add lights, the wiring will be there.  The installed irrigation system has 6 circuits with individual emitters for each plant.  It can be expanded as well.
There were several "almost" final inspections by Kathy's folks, each leading to another bit of a tweak.  And finally, the decomposed granite was sealed so it would not wash off onto the sidewalk.  We are awaiting only the final sealing of the flagstones which will occur after a few hot/dry days, plus Kyle will come by and install plant labels so we and others will know what they are.  Kathy and Rocky came by this morning to sit with us overlooking the yard and talk about what it all means to us.
This was a big project for us and it seemed to be as important to Kathy as it was to us.  At no point did we feel rushed, nor sidelined for another competing job.  
We will have Kathy visit us sometime later in the fall to help us do some upgrades to our back yard.  We're sure it will be as fun as it has been working with Kathy and her group.

It was well done. Basically, they did a good job.

The first time we met with Kathy at her place of business nearly two years ago.  She was very friendly and accommodating.  They started the work when they said they would with a crew of workers.  They prepared the land, laid electrical wires, installed lights and outlets, then went to work installing plants.  I asked that there be no spaces between the plants and also told them that I did not want a gravel path.  I asked for lots of flowering perennial plants because I advised Kathy that I did not have a green thumb at all.  Kathy and her husband came and oversaw their crew as they installed the garden and a gravel path.  I did not remind her that I didn't want a gravel path.  The garden was beautiful!  Kathy said she would do a re-fresh of the garden as needed or I could just call her when I wanted re-fresh work done.  After a while, I requested a re-fresh.  Kathy and her crew showed up and did one.  It was very expensive--over $600!  Sometime later, I requested another refresh.  This time two of Kathy's employees showed up--eventually--to do it.  They didn't finish and said they would return the following week.  They did not show up.  I called Kathy's office several times.  I was never able to speak with Kathy again.  It seemed that everytime I asked to speak with Kathy, her employees would do "gate keeping" so that I could only speak with them.  I advised them that I was told someone would come back to finish the re-fresh and they told me they would send someone.  It took probably two/three weeks for someone to show up.  They finished the work.  Again, many months later, I asked for another re-fresh.  As usual, I was not able to speak with Kathy.  Her office staff told me someone would come and do it, but they never showed up again!  I waited several weeks.  Finally, I called the office and again was denied the ability to talk with Kathy.  This time the office staff told me that Kathy did not do re-fresh of gardens any longer because Kathy's husband had taken ill.  I offered my sympathies, but really did not understand how that would stop the service of re-fresh since neither Kathy nor her husband did them!  I found Kathy's office staff very cold, unresponsive, haughty, and uncooperative.  They are friendly when they first get your business, but after that, they treat you like a leper.  They never allow you to speak with Kathy after your initial contact and from then on act as though you are intruding upon them.  Also, I noticed that their website has not changed indicating that they are conducting business as usual when in fact they are not!

The process was straight forward. You make an appointment to meet with Kathy Alford and discuss your ideas. She takes your to her office backyard garden to get a feel for your particular style. She requests a $750 deposit to begin the design process. A draftsman comes to your home to take thorough measurements and photographs shortly thereafter. She asks you to visit Houzz.com and select designs that appeal to you and forward them to her. In a few weeks the design is complete. She goes over the design and corresponding price list and asks that you take it home and review it before making the final payment. You make a second appointment and discuss any needed revisions. We asked for a list of current projects that we could visit, which she immediately supplied. Then you have the option to sign a contract and begin the project.

We did have some communication issues responding back and forth via the company website, but when given a specific number to call and personal office email, the problem was resolved.

We did not start our project due to the $40K + sticker shock. We got other quotes to verify that Alford's English Gardens pricing was not unrealistic. It is just more expensive because she is fully licensed, insured, and pays her workers a living wage. We did tell Kathy that our budget was $25K and she revised the plan by reducing plant sizes and limiting the hardscape walkway to a sunken patio and changing the patio from flagstone to cement. The price still came in at $29K+ without lighting, sound, and other accessories.

We are not opposed to Alford's English Gardens doing the project, we just need to prepare financially or accept a less lush landscape. We have not decided our course yet.