LEGACY GARDENS & TREE CARE

unknown

We've been trusting Robert with our 2 acre garden for 2 years now. Very responsive, friendly, and KNOWLEDGEABLE. Robert does his own work and brings in help for the heavy lifting, but is always there personally to supervise the project. A+++ recommendation. I hesitate to write this, because I'd hate for him to get too busy!

It has been great. Robert has a strong sense of what is right for our trees and landscaping. We really appreciate that he takes the initiative to do what he sees needs to be done instead of just checking off maintenance boxes. I trust that he knows what is best for our plants to keep them healthy and looking their best and appreciate that he makes decisions as if it were his own land. He personally does our maintenance and brings in helpers only for a couple larger cleanups per year and only working along side him. He is not the lowest cost option but I've found it worth the additional money to know that I can trust his judgment and that my property will look its best without my checking up on it.

I first called Robert when I wanted a professional arborist's service to prune the trees on my property.  Since we both love trees, it has been a pleasure to work with him to select more trees for the yard, always striving for the right tree in the right place.  Last year he also assumed regular maintenance for the yard, which first required an aggressive effort to control horsetail and Canadian thistle and now involves supervision of irrigation.  He has made solid recommendations for improvements, most recently by improving the drainage underneath the gravel paths to cut down on weeding requirements.  I can truly say that, since I turned over the maintenance responsibility of the yard and garden to Robert, I am at last able to truly enjoy it (before, when I walked through or sat in it, I was always seeing work that I needed to do, now I can just bask in its beauty).  And I have received many compliments on the garden from visitors.  Robert has high standards and demands a high level of professionalism from those he works with, and the results show it.

Robert Mills has provided a regular series of services to help us maintain and improve the extensive variety of trees and other plants on our property. He has helped us with planning improvements and with retaining the favorite features of the property. 
Working with Robert has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience. His knowledge of botany and of garden or landscape design is impressive and is shared in a considerate and constructive manner. During the time we have worked with him, he has shown that he understands and values the character of our home and its natural setting. For example, in this most recent planting, he gave us information about possible tree choices, about the best setting for the mountain hemlock that we selected, and then he located and planted a beautiful three-trunk specimen that reminds us of trees we see on mountain hikes in the Cascades.

Robert and his team consistently do quality work. We have them out three times a year to help us take care of our 1 acre plot of land. The yard always looks great when they finish, and we know that not only are we getting surface visual appeal but also the best work needed for long term health of our garden. Robert is quick to suggest ideas for improvement, or to discourage ideas that won't benefit the garden in the future. We really enjoy his straight to the point approach and the care and pride he takes for the work he does. You will find cheaper landscapers out there, but you definitely get what you pay for with Robert. You're not just paying to maintain your garden. You're paying to improve it and optimize it over time.

And - he always comes in right on budget for his initial estimates. We've had no surprises.

We initially hired Robert for simple consulting, but have moved on to have him out on a regular basis - and our garden thanks us for it!

Robert re-designed our yard, both front and back, and oversaw the design and construction of a back yard brick patio that we had added as well. 
Overall, the experience was amazing. In the past- we have had some issues with landscapers- not quite doing all the work as specified, ignoring some sections of the yard, not weeding completely, etc. Robert, on the other hand, is a stickler for details, and the finished result is amazing. From our first consultation, he asked questions about not only what plants we were hoping to see, but also how we wanted the yard to look/smell year-round, what we wanted to use the yard and patio for, and plans for the future in the yard- should he plan for an addition to the patio in a year, etc. After much discussion,  and several meetings, we agreed on a hard budget, including referral and  selection of a hardscape contractor, we selected plants, and then he started his magic. Every time he said he would be out to do some piece of the work, he was there, always on time ( typically a bit early!). Becasue he had done a thorough surve of our yard, and what plants we already had, he was abale to reuse many of our plants, but rearranged them in ways that actually improved both the plants and the overall landscape.  
When construction of the patio was started, Robert was also on top of that, serving as the general contractor to ensure that time/money details were being attended to. Robert took great care to also ensure that we were happy at every stage of this process, even insisting at one point that bricks that had been laid be taken out and replaced because the work, and alignment, was not quite satisfactory. Unfortunately, while doing some of the pre-construction work to build the patio, a leak was discovered in our landscaping system. Robert was also able to get a landscape irrigation company out at very short notice to repair and triage that issue as well, actually saving us from a more expensive irrigation repair bill down the line. When all the work on the yard and the patio was done- the results was even better than we had anticipated, and we have gotten many compliments on the absolute beauty of the yard and the patio. As intended, our yard ended up being our second "living room " this summer, and has added to the overall liveability and beauty of our home. 

I have been a client of Robert's for over five years and I couldn't be
more pleased with the job that he has done.  I have used him for routine
maintenance as well as re-landscaping my yard.  While some may find his
approach abrasive (see previous review) to the contrary I have found
him to be a great partner in helping me make my vision into a reality. 
He has great suggestions in types of plants, and keeps my entire yard
beautifully maintained.  I have received multiple compliments on my
landscaping which has been a direct result of his hard work and vision. 
so, if you are looking for someone who will give you an honest opinion
and then follow through while exceeding expectations then he is your guy
- you will not be disappointed.  However, if you want someone who will
do just what you ask and nothing else then go ahead and look elsewhere.

We first contacted Robert Mills when a neighbor complained about several trees which were blocking the view.  Removing the trees and re-landscaping our backyard was an intimidating project.  We knew that only a landscaper with an extensive knowledge of trees and shrubs, and the ability to design a beautiful garden within a budget, would be right for the job.  Roberts Mills did all of this and more.  He is a consummate professional and takes great pride in his work.  The transformation in our backyard is incredible, and we have enjoyed its beauty throughout the seasons.  Robert was easy to work with and gave us many options of trees and plants to choose from while designing the garden.  He also worked through details for attractive rockery, and proper irrigation of the new plants.  The level of detail and planning that he provided was exceptional.  We could not have been more pleased with his work.

Very professional, very direct abrasive aproach to customers, contracted labor and opinions of landscapes. Great work, on time. Did what was promised with punctuality.

Robert completely transformed our small front yard from its bland, boring, builder-shrub dreariness to an elegant, interesting landscape of contasting textures and colors that magically blends into a beautiful seamless whole.  It is relaxed and casual, and doesn't look at all out of place against the neighbors' mostly builder-shrub landscapes. 
I had disliked the front yard ever since we moved into the house nearly 4 years ago, but could never figure out what to do with it.  Based on the reviews here I contacted Robert and we began the redesign.  Together we decided what had to go, what we wanted to stay in the same place, what we wanted to keep but move to a new spot, and considered and agreed on new plants.  After that I stepped back and left the design up to him.  Robert designs as he goes - you won't see a landscape plan or a drawing, so you have to have faith!  You'll be consulted all along, and especially before any agreed-on plant is changed, and you can be more involved in the design if you like - you don't have to give up all control. But if you can manage it, take my advice to simply let go and trust the process, and you will end up with an amazing result. 
Things we really liked about working with Robert and his crew:  They showed up when they said they would, worked hard, were pleasant, left the worksite clean when they were done for the day, and just did an overall wonderful job.  Robert coordinated with the hardscape contractor and the irrigation company to make sure that everything was installed according to his plan, and on the necessary schedule.  He listens to your preferences and takes them into consideration in his plant selections.  If he suggests something and you don't like it, just say so; he won't be offended.   
This was the first time we had worked with a landscape designer, and we feel truly fortunate to have found Robert.  It was a fun and interesting experience, and we would not hesitate a moment to hire him again.

I've worked with Robert before on a number of projects and knew that he had a penchant for Japanese-style gardens.  I asked his opinion about converting my raised bed to a Japanese style garden and he came up with a number of great ideas.  He also brought over some reference books to give me some ideas of how we could set up the space.  I drew up some initial variations and we discussed various design aspects.  He also accompanied me to find the boulders and other stones and gravel that we needed.  He then started the excavation of the bed.  I contracted with another outfit for delivery and placement of the gravel and boulders under Robert's direction.  After the boulders were placed, Robert started the placement of the trees and the placement of the irrigation heads.  I am absolutely thrilled with the results! I could not have asked for a better design and execution.

Same as above -
We know Mr. Mills steadfastness and skills better than most. Five years ago he designed our gardens (front and back). He has cared for these beautiful creations ever since. We just moved. Too bad he won't move to where we are going! Robert is college educated, reliable, has great botanical credentials, and totally unafraid of hard work. In five years of providing service to us he was never late. Because Robert works with diligence and knows his craft, his pricing is higher than the lowball bidders, but what he delivers is tops, therefore he gets an A on pricing as well as everything else. (Note: Due to the limitations of the questionaire we could not put the actual amount of money spent over five years without leading to misunderstandings about his prices, therefore we arbitrarily chose $2,000 so as to indicate that this was not just a one time brief visit.)

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE DONE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF REMODELING OVER THE 28 YEARS IN OUR HOME.  
   
   I AM VERY GLAD TO PASS ON A HIGH RECOMMENDATION IF ANYONE HAS LANDSCAPING NEEDS. ROBERT HELPED
   US REALLY CHANGE AND IMPROVE OUR LAKEFRONT YARD WHICH WAS IN DIRE NEED OF AN UPGRADE. HIS IDEAS
   MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
   ROBERT IS A PLEASURE TO DO BUSINESS WITH. HE IS HONEST, PROMPT, STAYS TRUE TO HIS BID AND MAKES SURE 
   HIS CLIENTS ARE PLEASED WITH THE WORK HE COMPLETES. THE SUB CONTRACTORS HE BRINGS INTO HIS PROJECT
   ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND ROBERT OVERSEES THE WORK HIMSELF TO BE CERTAIN HIS CLIENTS ARE SATISFIED 
   WITH THE RESULTS. WE WILL USE ROBERT AGAIN!!  WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIS SERVICES.
  GARY AND BARBARA HOPE
   

I first contacted Robert sometime in April last year. My backyard was in a semi-finished condition, with retaining walls and some steps installed, but not much else. I searched for a landscaping company on Angie?s List and Legacy Gardens struck me as a good company. Well, I made the right choice. Robert transformed my empty lot into a beautiful garden, and we?ve had compliments from neighbors and visitors.  Robert found a good hardscape company to finish up the retaining wall project, including some important details, and Robert supervised everything in the project closely. In the end, we had to redo the irrigation as well, and again Robert found the company for me and made sure everything went smoothly. I like how Robert works-professional, knowledgeable, pays attention to details, takes care of the problems, doesn't leave you with the unfinished job. I am very happy with Legacy Gardens. As a matter of fact I have hired Robert to do maintenance for me as well.
 

My experience with Robert was excellent.  From the very first time I contacted him, he was very responsive.  He set up an appointment very quickly and when I explained what I would like to get done, he was very straightforward about what he could and could not do. He was forthright about how much the work would cost, and when the work was done, it was right in the ballpark of how much he had said it would be.  He explained in great detail what he would be doing, and he was very thorough in making sure that our ideas of how the landscaping should be done are in line.  He also made sure that I understood how much more work would need to be done past Phase 1, and what else would need to be done further down the road.  In short, Robert is very thorough in his work, and he takes great pride in what he does.  Just the kind of guy you want working on your landscaping projects!  We will be getting Robert to continue with the other phases of our landscaping project.

I have worked with Robert for 5 years now and have found him very knowledgeable and professional with all things relating to my lawn and garden.  Recently, I had an apple tree that was quite old and finally gave up the ghost and died.  Robert cut the tree down, gave me the nicely cut wood for the fireplace, and made sure that the remaining brush and roots were well disposed.  He recommended someone to come out to grind out the stump (who was very reasonable) and after that, Robert cleared out the area in preparation for a replacement tree.  While he was digging out the extra roots, he found that the tree had not only been very old, but it had sustained a LOT of root rot, thus hastening its demise.  He suggested that I put in a river birch that could make good use of the moist area.  We did that and it looks fabulous.
He has also done a great job training my weeping blue atlas cedar.  He built a lovely support structure out of bamboo and has it trained to grow along the poles in a very artistic manner.  Beautiful work.
Robert is always on time and if he needs to reschedule for some reason, he gives me plenty of notice.  He has a great network of folks he works with and they, too, are very reasonably priced. 
He is definitely worth the rates he charges!

It went great.  The crew arrived on time and worked hard.   Every time we looked at the front yard they were pulling stumps out, pulling grass and weeds out or taking pruning shears to the stuff that to be taken out.  By the time they were done, my jaw was slack at how awesome it looked.  Robert is great to work with and he was right on all accounts.  I've learned the hard way that you get what you pay for and with Robert that statement is true.  You get a consumate professional who knows what he's talking about. I will definitely call on Legacy again!!!!

I like how he approached the project, and how he's involving me in it. He's very responsible, knowledgeable and professional. I've been very happy with everything. His prices are reasonable.

They worked by the hour and it was like $85 to $100 an hour.  It went really well.

We purchased this home a few months ago and needed help with the landscaping.  While it was supposed to be low maintenance, a number of things concerned me including soil erosion on the hill near the pisa wall, a large nest of caterpillars in one of the trees, a large Vanderwolf pine planted very close to our home and near the foundation, and other odds and ends related to plant care, pruning, and shrubs.  I called Robert because I figured it would be a good idea to get the expert help of a certified horticulturalist.  His first visit and consultation was free.  Besides telling me what was planted in our yard, I learned in that visit that for future work, he doesn't provide firm price quotes, but gives ballpark estimates.  If the project ends up taking a little longer than expected, you may be charged a little more.  However, having said that, he always told us what he was planning to do and asked for our approval before doing it.  One project went over the estimate by $80, I think, but no other surprises.  He was also very dependable as far as timeliness, quality and cleanliness.  All in all I was able to learn some things about caring for my yard, had it all pruned, new Vanderwolf pine installed, and 8 cf of mulch laid out, coordination with a tree rescue service, and work with the sprinkler-system guys to develop a low-cost system to water our trees in a way that would minimize disease and erosion of  the topsoil.  I should mention that Robert concentrates on plants and trees, and leaves the rest including irrigation systems, and tree planting, to experts.  He has a list of tried-and-true contacts which he uses, and he coordinates that work.  Billing for outside help also tends to be included in his billing, so it is all taken care of.  Having seen all he did in an expert and professional manner, I feel he saved me a great deal of time in labor and research.  At one point a friend offered to do the mulching for a little less that what Robert quoted.  However, we went with Robert because we knew he was dependable.  In fact, the day he came to do the mulching, it was raining fairly hard and cold, but he and his assistant still came, and worked nonstop until the mulch was laid and everything was cleaned up.

We purchased a house in July with almost a half acre of yard that had not been maintained.  We were coordinating the work from out of town and were only planning on being at the house for a few days.  Robert Mills gave us an initial estimate that was quite reasonable, and when we explained that we would like to be present during the work for the narrow window of time that we were in town, he was able to fit us in and make sure that the work was completed while we were there to inspect it.  Robert is very knowledgeable and easy to work with.  He listened to what we wanted done and provided suggestions and advice to ensure that the job was completed appropriately and to his high standards.  Robert personally oversaw the work being done and performed the more critical pruning tasks himself.  We were thrilled with the efficiency of both Robert and his crew.  The work was done as promised and just under his quoted price.  Robert also works closely with a tree company that does phenomenol work.  Robert coordinated some substantial tree pruning and shearing of a large laurel hedge and stayed on site to ensure that the work was done exactly as we wanted and to our satisfaction.  We felt extremely well taken care of and important as customers to Robert.  We would highly recommend Legacy Gardens and will continue working with Robert in the future.

We have worked with Robert on two occasions and have been very pleased with both projects.  He is knowledgeable, professional and creative.  Our first project involved some tree pruning and creation of a usable space in a front yard that does not have grass.  The second project was a major clean up of a heavily wooded space.  He was able to help create spaces that are usable and within our budget.  During both projects, the pricing we intially discussed was accurate, the projects were completed in a timely manner and we were very happy with the end result.

Robert is very quick to respond, shows up when he says he will, and does a great job of seeing to the wellbeing of my plants.  If I ask for a particular service or ask his advice, he gives me the pros and cons and lets me decide.  He never tries to push any products on me or anything of the sort.  Initially I had him revamp my overgrown yard and since then has performed monthly maintenance.  Several times he has brought in someone to consult on other matters he doesn't do (pathways, lawn), and he has never charged me for coming out. 

He accidentally broke a piece of the tubing for the drip irrigation and instead of just pretending it didn't happen--and who knows how long it would have taken me to figure it out--he told me about it, fixed it, and didn't charge me for his time.  This is pretty confidence-inspiring!   

He checks before coming out, and as I am not often home, he just goes about and does his thing--no worries for me. Robert also has a very dry sense of humor, which makes his visits more enjoyable when I am home.