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Lush Landscape Lighting
Posted by: In: Christmas Lighting, Christmas Lights, Landscape Lighting 19 Sep 2021 0 comments Tags: , ,

Custom Christmas light installation service from Parksville to Victoria.

 

The winter of 2009 was the darkest in Lush history. We had opened our doors months earlier boasting eco friendly lawn care services but quickly experienced the limit to our growth. After residing in the prairies for 32 years, my family and I had decided to head west in search of gold. We were 100 years too late. It didn’t take long for the reality of a Vancouver Island winter to set in. Lack of light, too much rain and not enough revenues. The darkness was acute.

 

“You spent way too much time on the couch that first winter.  Remember how you cried while watching Rudy?” – Angie Close

Thanks hon, but I got this. 

 

We knew we wouldn’t survive another winter like that so the following year I decided to get Lush into the Christmas light business. 

 

“I never thought it would work.” -Angie Close

 

In Angie’s defence, I had zero experience with ladders or exterior illumination. Plus, I had a re-occurring fear of falling head first off a roof. Undeterred, I bought a book on how to install high-end holiday lighting and the following winter we found a client who believed in us and we decorated their modern home (pictured above). Not bad for our first one eh 🙂 

 

The next season we decorated 6 homes, then 15, 30, 40 and 50 homes. One summer, we turned Bastion Square and Fernwood into a festive wonderland for a Hallmark movie (6 years later, our lights still hang above the Fernwood Inn and my Mom still forces her friends to watch the movie). Last year we decorated over 80 homes and this year we expect to finally hit triple digits and transform over 100 homes from Oak Bay to Nanoose Bay.  I recently celebrated 10 years of holiday lighting by re-watching Rudy. 

 

“And he cried again!!!” -Angie Close

 

After a decade of experience in outdoor lighting, we have come to appreciate the power of light. The joy on people’s faces, the transformation of their homes…light is powerful! And it deserves to be seen year round!

 

Earlier this year, we set out to create a year round lighting experience and we are happy to announce, after much research and training, we now offer premium landscape lighting.  The average homeowner will invest tens of thousands of dollars in their yard but without light, much of it will remain hidden half the time. We believe a property with lush lawns, colourful foliage, waterfalls, stone features and a beautiful home deserves to be highlighted. Celebrated! In fact, we believe every home on our beautiful Island deserves to be celebrated. If you’re like me and you’re unlikely to have a waterfall or stone feature installed anytime soon, landscape lighting is still an important investment to consider. Here’s a few reasons why:

 

Quality

Unfortunately, when most people think of landscape lighting, they picture unreliable and cheaply made solar lights that every big box store (Costco) blows out this time of year. You can get 5 for $50 but they kinda work and can be broken by a small child. Your property deserves better.  

Security

If you were a criminal, would you try and burgle a home cloaked in darkness or one lit up from every angle? Light eliminates darkness of all kinds and brings peace of mind.

Safety

The older we get, the more safety can be a concern. Well positioned light decreases the chances that you’ll slip down the stairs or trip when taking the garbage out to the curb. It also allows you to navigate your yard day and night.

Ambiance

Think about one of your favourite dinners out. Or a romantic evening spent with a loved one. Whether you realized it or not, the lighting played a starring role. Well balanced light enhances the mood and creates a memory that can last a lifetime. Now you can experience the magic of light while at home.

Value

We already know the tremendous value premium landscaping can bring to a property. Premium landscape lighting is no different. Not only does it highlight what’s already there, it highlights the more that usually gets missed. 

 

We have partnered with a local supplier to bring premium lighting to your landscape and home so you never have to watch Rudy again. 

 

Tired of living in the dark? Email or text (2507323013) us today to see how we can bring you the magic of light.

 

 

Our Pro Grade LED product has been built to handle our wet, west-coast winter and the challenges of every season throughout the year. It also comes with an unprecedented double digit warranty. As impressive as our product is, its job is to disappear and highlight what matters most. The place you call home.

 

 

 

How I Came To See The Light
Posted by: In: Christmas Lights 10 Oct 2020 0 comments

2020 has been rough. And super dark!  Last month, as the smoke engulfed us and blocked out the sun, it felt even darker. There was a heaviness in the air and we were all feeling the affects. So, I took to social media on one of the darkest days of the year and wrote these words.

I get it.
 
We’re living in dark times.
 
I used to miss the blue sky too.
 
Until I realized…
 
The sky is blue.
 
It’s always been blue.
 
It’s blue right now!
 
And clouds and smoke and Trump don’t mean shit. Like Breaking News, they blow in and blow out and no matter how dark they make things feel, the blue sky remains – above us and within us.
 
We can curse the clouds and choke on the smoke or we can soar above them to clearer days and bluer skies.
 
Come fly with me.
 
—————————————
 
11 years ago, I was feeling a darkness. Lush had performed well in its first year but the cold, hard winter had come minus the cash.  The first month I attempted to shovel people’s walks but quickly discovered I needed snow for that to work. By January, I was depressed. Unmotivated. I cursed the clouds and cried while watching Rudy in the morning. I was a fiery entrepreneur yet here I was smouldering on the couch. Eventually, the clouds lifted and blue skies emerged and before I knew it, I was back out on the lawns. Busier than ever!
 
As summer came to an end, I was reminded of my couch smouldering days. Winter was coming and I knew we wouldn’t survive another one like last year. I was going to have to figure it out.
 
One of my obstacles is I’ve never been naturally good with my hands. Which is why when it came to adding winter services, I couldn’t just offer Fence building or Retaining Walls or even Fruit Tree Pruning to my list of possible Lush services. I didn’t have the knowledge, expertise or even a ladder…..  Well, it turns out, ladders aren’t that expensive. And I’ve always loved Christmas. So, I went with what I love. 
 
I knew if I was going to offer Christmas light installation, it would have to be on brand and on par with our other premium Lush services. This meant I would have to find a supplier (the big box stores wouldn’t cut it) and although there was a huge demand for it (and still is) I wouldn’t be able to offer to hang customer’s existing lights (they all bought from the big box stores). After much research, I found a supplier of premium LED customizable Christmas lights and they even came with a manual on how to install them. Armed with real knowledge and a shiny red ladder I felt excited to get going until it occurred to me that I would have to climb that ladder. And houses tend to be high. 
 
Undaunted, I hired someone who was less afraid of heights than I was and together we took our time and decorated 1 house that first winter. We made some money and laughed through our silly mistakes. But we didn’t fall and the lights didn’t dim and I gotta say, the house looked amazing and we gave a family a wonderful Christmas that year. (yup, that’s the house pictured on our Holiday Lighting page) The joy we brought to their faces made it all worthwhile.
 
The second year we decorated 6 houses. Then 18. And 32. Last year we maxed out at 60 homes and I’m happy to report that not only have I lost my fear of heights. I now know that the Philips has a star end and the Robertson screw driver has a square end. Who cares if I just googled that right now. 
 
Although our Lush Holiday service is incredibly busy, I’ve never forgotten where I started. Or why I do it. And still, every year when I pull up to that first house in Mill Bay, I pause and remember. And thank them for believing in my idea and saying yes to our lights that first year.. Their house sits on a hill and 10 years later their lights still shine just as bright. Illuminating the darkness all around.
 
Life can often appear dark but I’ve learned the light always remains, above us and most importantly, within us. We alone possess the switch. 
Trust me
Posted by: In: Garden Care, Pruning 07 Aug 2020 0 comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s August 7th, I just turned 44 and it appears summer has finally arrived on Vancouver Island. 2020 is continuing its trend of not following a trend or any plan whatsoever. This lack of norm has become the norm and depending on your perspective, it’s either devastating or long overdue. One thing we can all agree on, playoff hockey in August is AWESOME and the balanced weather has created exponential growth for your lawn and garden! With summer now in full swing, we should expect another month of hot days, dormancy and little rain (despite the random inch we got the other night).

So, what’s this mean for your yard this Fall? And is Fall a good time to do stuff in your yard? The answer is, not much and absolutely! Let’s start with a quick lawn reminder.

All grass on Vancouver Island is cool season grass. You don’t have to be a horticulturist to know this probably means your lawn prefers cooler temperatures. It really does. Once the thermometer surges above 25 your grass will let you know how it feels. The lushtre (wink) fades and depending on how committed you are to watering, your lawn will turn brown or in some cases, it may even appear white. Contrary to popular belief/what your partner says, your lawn is not dead. It’s not even dying. It’s dormant. All this mean is its energy has gone into the roots and it doesn’t give a damn how it looks. Insert life metaphor. This is not to suggest we should intentionally deprive this plant (yes grass is a plant, folks) of water for the summer but we can relax knowing that the lack of water is unlikely to be deadly. 

Fall brings cooler temperatures, rain and an unprecedented opportunity to re-imagine our space. It gives us several months of cool days and consistent water allowing the roots of our new plantings to grow deep. There is simply no better time of year to replace your lawn, renew your garden or transform your space. It’s not even close, folks. Fall is by far the BEST time of year to…

You get the picture. Fall is cool and well watered and we must take advantage of these bonus freebies from Mother Nature.

As convincing of a case as I believe I’ve just made…I can hear some resistance…

  • But but John, I always aerate my lawn in the spring…
  • But but John, I always plant my flowers in the spring…
  • But but John, I always have my hedge trimmed in the spring…
  • But but John, I always get a spring cleanup in the spring…
  • But but John, I always budget for landscaping in the spring….
  • But but John, my partner says you’re full of sh…

I hear ya. And I respect you for pushing back. It means you’re engaged.. thinking. But, after eleven years of award winning lawn and garden care and thousands of satisfied customers, I’m going to push back and say… trust me. And trust the horticulturists I employ. Hell, trust your plants. They tend to speak up if you’re listening.

We got this!

Let’s get er done. 

In Support of Grass Stains
Posted by: In: Lawn Care 03 May 2020 0 comments

It is May 3, 2020. The world is entering its third month of the worst pandemic in a hundred years. While society idles on and businesses are forced to close their doors, we have seen a sharp increase in the demand for both new and renovated lawns. Gardens too! West Coast Seeds are currently 2 months behind on their Spring orders. Good luck getting through to them. In fact, our soil supplier sold more soil in March then all of last spring combined. There are likely many reasons for this somewhat surprising surge.

The most obvious reason is people are stuck at home and have become a little TOO familiar with their property. They don’t like what they are seeing and wish to make improvements. 

Another possibility is with the closing of restaurants and travel, people finally have some financial wiggle room to invest back in their property. 

The third reason is grass stains. 

As a kid, I grew up on the Prairies, in a tiny village, outside a small town, in rural Saskatchewan. It was glorious. I spent most of my time outdoors, skating on frozen ponds in the winter and building forts and playing kick the can in the summer. I frequently frustrated my mother by coming home late for supper covered in grass stains from head to toe. As I rushed past her to grab some grub I remember her saying something about, “never be able to get these stains out.” As a kid, I didn’t care. I was having too much fun to worry about laundry.

Over time, the stains evolved into giant holes in the knees. We used to have to earn the style we now pay big bucks for. The eighties style police didn’t embrace rips and stains so I was forced to help pay for the next pair. I barely cared. I was having the time of my life!! New jeans were simply the price of adventure. 30 years later, I’m still coming home covered in grass stains. And people pay me to do it. 

As a species, we were created in nature, by nature and for nature thus we were made for adventure, exploration and yes, grass stains. When forced to stay home, we ache for days gone by. We long to have the freedom to get back out in nature where we belong returning home with rips and stains from our various adventures.

Thankfully we can re- create these spaces at home and be reminded of simpler days, long summer nights and parents who supported our many dirt covered adventures.

The surge we’re seeing? It’s nostalgia. 

We’re returning to the place we belong.

 

To Renovate or Replace? That is the question.
Posted by: In: Lawn Care 25 Feb 2020 0 comments Tags: , , , ,

Renovate or Replace your LawnWhile lawn care is a science, it’s not rocket science. 99% of your issues can be solved in 2 ways. 1. See a Therapist #2. Daily exercise. 🙂 But when faced with lawn issues in particular – moss, weeds, thatch, bumps, lumps, or perhaps you hired too many chumps, you have 2 legitimate options to fix your lawn. Yes, we all love Sponge-Bob band-aids because they’re cheap and easy but make no mistake, all Band-aids do is cover up the infection plus they hurt like hell when they’re removed.

If you want your lawns fixed, you’ve came to the right place. And you have 2 options. Renovate or Replace. Both are great options! Choosing which option is best for you often comes down to these important questions.

Can my lawn be reached? Replacing a lawn involves running an excavator machine that is roughly 6-8 feet wide/tall and often much larger. If there’s no way for this machine to reach your lawn, replacement is not an option. Answer: Renovate.

 

Is my lawn over-run with moss and weeds? Most lawns have a bit of both and renovation is ideal for that situation but any lawn with an invasion of moss or weeds is a lawn that doesn’t have what it needs to grow healthy. Like internet trolls, weeds and moss are opportunists, feasting on the imperfections of others. Although the sight of either is enough to make you do the angry dance, the real problem is actually invisible. Lest you blame the gods or your sketchy neighbour, the real reason your lawn is struggling is it has been trying to grow on a few inches of rocky, grainy, sandy fill. Make no mistake. Grass is a plant. Without 6 inches of rich black soil, it will be forever over-run with back yard trolls no matter how much you water, fertilize, curse or fire your landscaper. Answer: Replace if you have access. 

 

Do I have more money or time? If you’re tempted to say, um..I don’t really have a lot of either? 😉 we hear you! But, this is actually an important question. The process of renovating a lawn can take upwards of a year in order to correct all of the issues and…. you might not have as much patience as you think. If you want your lawn to be lush now, replacing it is the way to go. The cost of replacing is roughly double the cost of renovating, at least upfront, although renovating is often more expensive over time as the inputs required never end. Why don’t they end?

When the problem is a lack of good soil, renovating can work around this issue but won’t correct the issue. The only way to correct this issue is to take out the bad soil and put in good soil. Aka, Replace. That said, lawn renovations are very effective when done correctly and we’ve successfully renovated hundreds of lawns over the years – it’s just important for you to realize that the real problem is still lurking under the surface and until that is corrected, the work will never officially be done. Make sense? Answer: Money or time. You decide.

 

Am I committed to follow up care? If you’re willing to invest thousands of dollars to have a healthy lawn (and we think you should 😉 ), it’s important that you are also willing and able to continue to invest money and time moving forward. Just because your lawn is finally in good shape doesn’t mean it will stay in good shape, especially if you neglect it. Think of your last new years resolution. Regardless of whether or not you you choose to replace or renovate your lawn, you must have the ability to maintain and care for it properly! We offer fantastic worry free programs that will put your mind at ease.

 

Well done everyone! You’ve asked some good questions today. You probably have a good sense of which direction you plan to go in. In fact, you’re probably ending us a text/email right now so you can book your free estimate. Looking forward to meeting you! 

Wonderful job mowing

“I just LOVE the way they edge my borders, they are super friendly and do a wonderful job mowing!!!”

Kathi, Ladysmith

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T05:24:19+00:00

Kathi, Ladysmith

I just LOVE the way they edge my borders

Hardworking, pleasant and patient

“Great staff; hardworking, pleasant and patient with older folks. Always leave the yard looking so much better!”

Joanne - Ladysmith

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-13T20:03:43+00:00

Joanne - Ladysmith

Hardworking, pleasant and patient

Professional and Purposeful

“The team was professional and purposeful. They did what they said they would do, when they said they would do it, and they did it well and efficiently – for a price slightly less than the quote. Also, the crew was friendly, tidy, organized. And I didn’t have to wait three months for the job to be scheduled in. Awesome!!”

Janet

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T05:16:05+00:00

Janet

The crew was friendly, tidy, organized.

Friendly and Respectful

The workers are friendly and respectful when they are on our property.  The work is completed in an efficient manner.

Cal Kaiser, Maple Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:46:04+00:00

Cal Kaiser, Maple Bay

The work is completed in an efficient manner.

Recommend without hesitation

Lush stepped up when another company I had hired experienced difficulties. They were quick to respond and every single one of their employees has been great. I would recommend them without hesitation.

Iris, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2021-02-10T01:26:37+00:00

Iris, Chemainus

Recommend without hesitation

Pleasant and Patient

Great staff; hardworking, pleasant and patient with older folks. Always leave the yard looking so much better!

Joanne Kipp

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T04:26:59+00:00

Joanne Kipp

Always leave the yard looking so much better

Super nice and friendly

“These guys are awesome! I can’t say enough! Not just an organized, prompt to reply, easy billing system, and a well run company, they are fast, efficient, and they go the extra mile. As well as they are super nice and friendly!! The really are the best and no I am not a relative or friend!”

Phyllis Linklater

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T04:18:05+00:00

Phyllis Linklater

The really are the best and no I am not a relative or friend!

They are the best

I recommend them to everyone because they are the best!

Lynne, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:32:48+00:00

Lynne, Chemainus

I recommend them to everyone

Lovely people who take care of my parents

Great service and lovely people who take care of my parents Christmas lights.

Deborah, Duncan.

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:34:36+00:00

Deborah, Duncan.

Great service and lovely people

Yard looks fantastic all of the time

Amazing crew that goes above and beyond each and every visit. I never have to worry about scheduling, the yard just looks fantastic all of the time. 

Trish, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:11:18+00:00

Trish, Chemainus

I never have to worry about scheduling

Best hedge trimming ever

Best hedge trimming ever!! 10/10!

Catherine, Duncan

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:16:47+00:00

Catherine, Duncan

10/10

Outstanding service, quality, teamwork

“Outstanding service, consistent quality, good teamwork
and the friendliest service providers one could hope for.” 

Irene Hawkins

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:17:07+00:00

Irene Hawkins

“Outstanding service, consistent quality, good teamwork."

They’re our go to for any landscaping work

The caliber of work performed by Lush Eco Lawns is always outstanding! They're our go to for any landscaping/lawn related work and always will be!

Drum-roaster, Cobble Hill

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:22:14+00:00

Drum-roaster, Cobble Hill

The calibre of work is always outstanding

Great People

“Great People and they do a wonderful job.”

Joan Brooks

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:20:34+00:00

Joan Brooks

They do a wonderful job

Available to answer questions

They are professional, reliable, and just overall good people! John is amazing at communicating what needs to be done, respectful of what you want, and most importantly, available to answer questions. A+

SuAnn, Oak Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:39:53+00:00

SuAnn, Oak Bay

John is amazing at communicating

Great company to work with

Great company to work with....reliable and does an excellent job.

Vincent, Nanaimo

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:55:05+00:00

Vincent, Nanaimo

Reliable and does and excellent job

Polite, friendly, hardworking and careful.

They were polite, friendly, hardworking and careful. They did a great job and knew what they were doing.

Sandra, North Saanich

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:31:18+00:00

Sandra, North Saanich

They did a great job and knew what they were doing.

My house looks amazing

Very professional. Their estimates and final costs were bang on and my house looks amazing.

Jeremy, Sooke

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:40:09+00:00

Jeremy, Sooke

Their estimates and final costs were bang on

Pleasure to deal with

“Hard not to give a perfect rating for such a great service. Pleasure to deal with, no hassles, no B.S.. Just consistent good steady maintenance."

The Window Viper

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:30:43+00:00

The Window Viper

No B.S.. Just consistent good steady maintenance

Excellent, quick & tidy work

“Excellent, quick & tidy work. Respectful employees.”

Derek, Cedar

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-13T20:02:32+00:00

Derek, Cedar

Excellent, quick & tidy work

You guys rock!

Great people! Great service! Great work! You guys rock!

Courtney, Cobble Hill

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:18:47+00:00

Courtney, Cobble Hill

Great people! Great service. Great work!

Totally reliable and thorough

They are fantastic - totally reliable and thorough!

Valerie, Oak Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:34:11+00:00

Valerie, Oak Bay

They are fantastic!

Helpful, knowledgeable, friendly

We needed help with our gardens. Lush has been very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and especially easy to communicate with. Their teamwork is evident and they work efficiently.

Bob, Victoria

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:36:52+00:00

Bob, Victoria

Their teamwork is evident and they work efficiently. 

Professional high quality service

“Quick response time to initial request. Excellent follow through from initial conversation to setting up the start of the job. Professional, high quality service. Left the work site cleaner than when they started. They delivered exactly what they said they would. Pleasant and polite."

Sandy, Maple Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T06:24:52+00:00

Sandy, Maple Bay

Left the work site cleaner than when they started

True to their word

True to their word; thorough, extremely reliable, respectful, wonderful service and I was absolutely thrilled with the result!

Christina, Maple Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:26:27+00:00

Christina, Maple Bay

I was absolutely thrilled with the result

Knowledgable, efficient & friendly

“Knowledgable, efficient, friendly, conscience,

.the complete package. AND as a result of their work -we love our garden again.”

Ron and Irene, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-13T00:15:39+00:00

Ron and Irene, Chemainus

Knowledgable, efficient, friendly

My lawn could not be greener

“John is an expert in the field. Efficient and proficient. My lawn could not be greener and more lovely.”

Christine

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T05:18:07+00:00

Christine

John is an expert in the field

Our Christmas lights are amazing

Our Christmas lights are amazing. John and his crew were very friendly. A pleasure to do business with!

Paul, Victoria

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:32:24+00:00

Paul, Victoria

A pleasure to do business with

Great service and great crew

Great service. Great crew. They did what they said they would do in a timely manner. I would have them back from my next project for sure.

Wendy, Sidney

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:42:45+00:00

Wendy, Sidney

I would have them back from my next project for sure. 

Best at what they do

“There is no job too big or too small, these guys are the best at what they do!! Friendly, fast and efficient! Love you guys!!”

Kathi White

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:26:48+00:00

Kathi White

No job too big or too small
5
30
Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
2021: A Perfect Vision for your Yard
Posted by: In: Garden Care, Lawn Care, Pruning 22 Feb 2020 0 comments
Seasonal Cleanups Lawn & Garden Maintenance Hedge & Fruit Tree Care Lush Holiday Lighting TOTAL Property Care TOTAL Property Care

TOTAL Property Care!

If there’s one thing we’ve learned after a decade in the landscaping business – it’s this. You prefer us to do everything! 🙂 In the beginning, we weren’t able to deliver everything because it was just John with a lawn mower and an adorable home-made business card. Now that we have 4 trucks and trailers, several experienced employees and three locations serving Vancouver Island, we can finally deliver on all things plants. In fact, if it grows, we’d really love to take care of it for you!

Although we have made our reputation creating Lush Eco Lawns, we are no longer just a lawn care company. We offer TOTAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE and CARE including the favourite 5:

  • Seasonal Cleanups: You just bought a house and the yard is a mess. Email us. You need to sell your house and the yard is a mess. Email us. You meant to get to it but you ran out of time. Email us. You tried to do it yourself but ran out of will. Email us. Your partner tried to do it and you ran out of patience. Email us. You need it done right the first time. Email us! We’ll make you look good, we promise! Plus, you’ll love our happy hard working employees! So.. email us! 🙂 
  • Lawn care and maintenance: Lawn mowing, lawn renovations, new lawn installation, year round lush lawn maintenance and care including spring startups and fall cleanups! We are 100% chemical free and the chosen company by children and pets everywhere.
  • Garden care and maintenance: This includes new plantings, transplanting, weeding, seasonal pruning, mulching, property beautification and year round care including spring and fall cleanups. Most importantly, we offer drought tolerant, low maintenance solutions that your deer will hate and your wallet will love.
  • Fruit tree care and maintenance: Apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach you name it. If it’s under 20 feet, we’ll properly prune it! We’d also love to plant your new trees!
  • Hedge care and maintenance: Cedar, Leylandii, Laurel, Hemlock, Yew name it. 🙂 If it’s under 20 feet, our hedge trimming wizard Justin will prune it to perfection. We’d also love to plant your new hedge!

Although we don’t offer hardscaping or fence solutions (remember, if it grows, we take care of it 😉 we work with many excellent companies that do and would love to refer them along! 

 

There is one very notable exception to our “plants only” approach. In the winter, we run one of the Island’s biggest and most unique Holiday Lighting Programs! This season we decorated over 60 homes! We’d love to brighten your holidays this coming season!

 

Looking for a Company that does it all? Email or text us today to get on our Spring 2020 schedule or schedule your free estimate.

 

Bottom Line: We are the preferred choice for total property maintenance and care! But don’t just take our word for it….

 

Recent 10/10 Reviews (there’s hundreds more where these came from ;))

  • “Knowledgable, efficient, friendly, conscience,…….the complete package. AND as a result of their work -we love our garden again.” Ron and Irene, Chemainus
  • “Hard not to give a perfect rating for such a great service. Pleasure to deal with, no hassles, no B.S.. Just consistent good steady maintenance.” The Window Viper, Duncan.
  • “Great staff; hardworking, pleasant and patient with older folks. Always leave the yard looking so much better!” Joanne, Ladysmith
  • “Excellent, quick & tidy work. Respectful employees.” Derek, Cedar
  • “Attentive to needs and expectations. Property, although small, is always picture perfect.” Rosemarie, Nanaimo
  • “Friendly and very hard working. Quality and tidy work. Environmentally responsible. We have dogs out playing on the lawn, so pet friendly products are so important. John and staff are cheerful and easy to reach via Facebook Messenger, email, etc. Looking forward to years to come.” Janna, Cowichan Bay
  • “Very professional and took me in on short notice. Their estimate and final costs were bang on and my house looks amazing. Thanks again!!” Jeremy, Sooke

 

Professional and Purposeful

“The team was professional and purposeful. They did what they said they would do, when they said they would do it, and they did it well and efficiently – for a price slightly less than the quote. Also, the crew was friendly, tidy, organized. And I didn’t have to wait three months for the job to be scheduled in. Awesome!!”

Janet

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T05:16:05+00:00

Janet

The crew was friendly, tidy, organized.

Available to answer questions

They are professional, reliable, and just overall good people! John is amazing at communicating what needs to be done, respectful of what you want, and most importantly, available to answer questions. A+

SuAnn, Oak Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:39:53+00:00

SuAnn, Oak Bay

John is amazing at communicating

Knowledgable, efficient & friendly

“Knowledgable, efficient, friendly, conscience,

.the complete package. AND as a result of their work -we love our garden again.”

Ron and Irene, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-13T00:15:39+00:00

Ron and Irene, Chemainus

Knowledgable, efficient, friendly

Excellent, quick & tidy work

“Excellent, quick & tidy work. Respectful employees.”

Derek, Cedar

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-13T20:02:32+00:00

Derek, Cedar

Excellent, quick & tidy work

Great company to work with

Great company to work with....reliable and does an excellent job.

Vincent, Nanaimo

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:55:05+00:00

Vincent, Nanaimo

Reliable and does and excellent job

You guys rock!

Great people! Great service! Great work! You guys rock!

Courtney, Cobble Hill

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:18:47+00:00

Courtney, Cobble Hill

Great people! Great service. Great work!

Great service and great crew

Great service. Great crew. They did what they said they would do in a timely manner. I would have them back from my next project for sure.

Wendy, Sidney

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:42:45+00:00

Wendy, Sidney

I would have them back from my next project for sure. 

True to their word

True to their word; thorough, extremely reliable, respectful, wonderful service and I was absolutely thrilled with the result!

Christina, Maple Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:26:27+00:00

Christina, Maple Bay

I was absolutely thrilled with the result

Helpful, knowledgeable, friendly

We needed help with our gardens. Lush has been very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and especially easy to communicate with. Their teamwork is evident and they work efficiently.

Bob, Victoria

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:36:52+00:00

Bob, Victoria

Their teamwork is evident and they work efficiently. 

Hardworking, pleasant and patient

“Great staff; hardworking, pleasant and patient with older folks. Always leave the yard looking so much better!”

Joanne - Ladysmith

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-13T20:03:43+00:00

Joanne - Ladysmith

Hardworking, pleasant and patient

My house looks amazing

Very professional. Their estimates and final costs were bang on and my house looks amazing.

Jeremy, Sooke

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:40:09+00:00

Jeremy, Sooke

Their estimates and final costs were bang on

Yard looks fantastic all of the time

Amazing crew that goes above and beyond each and every visit. I never have to worry about scheduling, the yard just looks fantastic all of the time. 

Trish, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:11:18+00:00

Trish, Chemainus

I never have to worry about scheduling

They are the best

I recommend them to everyone because they are the best!

Lynne, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:32:48+00:00

Lynne, Chemainus

I recommend them to everyone

Wonderful job mowing

“I just LOVE the way they edge my borders, they are super friendly and do a wonderful job mowing!!!”

Kathi, Ladysmith

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T05:24:19+00:00

Kathi, Ladysmith

I just LOVE the way they edge my borders

Pleasure to deal with

“Hard not to give a perfect rating for such a great service. Pleasure to deal with, no hassles, no B.S.. Just consistent good steady maintenance."

The Window Viper

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:30:43+00:00

The Window Viper

No B.S.. Just consistent good steady maintenance

Our Christmas lights are amazing

Our Christmas lights are amazing. John and his crew were very friendly. A pleasure to do business with!

Paul, Victoria

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:32:24+00:00

Paul, Victoria

A pleasure to do business with

Best at what they do

“There is no job too big or too small, these guys are the best at what they do!! Friendly, fast and efficient! Love you guys!!”

Kathi White

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:26:48+00:00

Kathi White

No job too big or too small

Recommend without hesitation

Lush stepped up when another company I had hired experienced difficulties. They were quick to respond and every single one of their employees has been great. I would recommend them without hesitation.

Iris, Chemainus

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2021-02-10T01:26:37+00:00

Iris, Chemainus

Recommend without hesitation

Best hedge trimming ever

Best hedge trimming ever!! 10/10!

Catherine, Duncan

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:16:47+00:00

Catherine, Duncan

10/10

Totally reliable and thorough

They are fantastic - totally reliable and thorough!

Valerie, Oak Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:34:11+00:00

Valerie, Oak Bay

They are fantastic!

They’re our go to for any landscaping work

The caliber of work performed by Lush Eco Lawns is always outstanding! They're our go to for any landscaping/lawn related work and always will be!

Drum-roaster, Cobble Hill

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:22:14+00:00

Drum-roaster, Cobble Hill

The calibre of work is always outstanding

Pleasant and Patient

Great staff; hardworking, pleasant and patient with older folks. Always leave the yard looking so much better!

Joanne Kipp

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T04:26:59+00:00

Joanne Kipp

Always leave the yard looking so much better

Professional high quality service

“Quick response time to initial request. Excellent follow through from initial conversation to setting up the start of the job. Professional, high quality service. Left the work site cleaner than when they started. They delivered exactly what they said they would. Pleasant and polite."

Sandy, Maple Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T06:24:52+00:00

Sandy, Maple Bay

Left the work site cleaner than when they started

Polite, friendly, hardworking and careful.

They were polite, friendly, hardworking and careful. They did a great job and knew what they were doing.

Sandra, North Saanich

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T20:31:18+00:00

Sandra, North Saanich

They did a great job and knew what they were doing.

Lovely people who take care of my parents

Great service and lovely people who take care of my parents Christmas lights.

Deborah, Duncan.

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:34:36+00:00

Deborah, Duncan.

Great service and lovely people

Great People

“Great People and they do a wonderful job.”

Joan Brooks

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:20:34+00:00

Joan Brooks

They do a wonderful job

Super nice and friendly

“These guys are awesome! I can’t say enough! Not just an organized, prompt to reply, easy billing system, and a well run company, they are fast, efficient, and they go the extra mile. As well as they are super nice and friendly!! The really are the best and no I am not a relative or friend!”

Phyllis Linklater

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T04:18:05+00:00

Phyllis Linklater

The really are the best and no I am not a relative or friend!

My lawn could not be greener

“John is an expert in the field. Efficient and proficient. My lawn could not be greener and more lovely.”

Christine

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T05:18:07+00:00

Christine

John is an expert in the field

Outstanding service, quality, teamwork

“Outstanding service, consistent quality, good teamwork
and the friendliest service providers one could hope for.” 

Irene Hawkins

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-16T03:17:07+00:00

Irene Hawkins

“Outstanding service, consistent quality, good teamwork."

Friendly and Respectful

The workers are friendly and respectful when they are on our property.  The work is completed in an efficient manner.

Cal Kaiser, Maple Bay

Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
5
2020-02-17T03:46:04+00:00

Cal Kaiser, Maple Bay

The work is completed in an efficient manner.
5
30
Lush Eco Lawns & Gardens Ltd
Is your lawn in good shape?
Posted by: In: Lawn Care 26 Mar 2018 0 comments Tags: ,

Is your Lawn in good Shape?As the 41 year old owner of a busy landscaping company, staying in shape is essential to prevent injury and keep my energy up. Besides the physical grind that comes with landscaping, most weeks I work out at my local gym 3-4 mornings as well as play hockey and jog on the weekends. It’s a lot but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  This morning I returned to the gym after a 10 day hiatus (it was closed for spring break) and wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t feel quite as strong as when I’m consistently there. In fact, as I sit typing this my lower back growls as if to say,”well, what did you think would happen, you are 41…” My back can be kind of a dick… but it’s right! Consistency is the key to strength!

Every spring, we receive phone calls/emails from concerned clients who can’t seem to understand why their lawn is, “still struggling” even though they just paid for a costly renovation 6 months or a year ago. “It’s almost as if my lawn is getting weaker, just look at the moss/weeds that have come back.” Usually one question clarifies things. “What have you done to your lawn since you got the renovation?” Blank stare followed by, “I thought that’s what the renovation was for?” Well…I say….”that would be like me taking 6 months off from the gym and then blaming the trainer for my decreased strength and subsequent weight gain.” Hmmm…

Your lawn is alive and like all living things it needs consistent care to thrive. Air, water, food even exercise in the form of weekly cutting. Without these consistent inputs, your lawn, like you, will lose its natural glow and will gradually weaken – increasing its risk for injury and disease. And like the flu virus, there’s nothing moss/weeds love more than a weak environment with a compromised immune system.  A new lawn or lawn renovation is a restart. It’s a process that gets your lawn back in shape but your lawn will not remain strong without consistent care. 

Summer Lawn Care
Posted by: In: Lawn Care 23 Jun 2017 0 comments Tags: , , , , , ,

Today is my kid’s last day of school? How??? Also, Help! haha. Summer is officially here! You’ve probably noticed that lawns don’t love the summer. They turn brown, some almost white, as they try to hang on during the oppressive heat. West Coast lawns are planted with cool season grasses meaning…they prefer cooler temperatures. Under 22 degrees. This is why lawns look their best in May and September. In August, they don’t care how they look, they are just trying to survive. Which is why you need to treat your lawns with care this summer. And always. Btw, if you ignored your lawns this spring (didn’t fertilize, water or maintain them properly) your lawn is about to have its grass kicked 😉  Regardless of its current state, there are some important things everyone needs to do to keep their lawns growing healthy throughout the summer.

1. Mowing. Only mow in the early morning or early evening. Mowing in the heat of the day is a recipe for shock and awwww what, why is my green lawn suddenly brown?? Mowing your lawn with dull blades will create this same shock to your lawn. Have the boys at Highway Rentals or your local place sharpen them for you. Mowing your lawn short at any time is a recipe for shock, awwww and what??? where did those weeds come from?? If we currently mow for you, we take these things into consideration and we have got you covered. By the way, we can mow for you 🙂 We’d love to mow for you! Especially this summer when you go away. Email us! 

 

2. Weed control. Weeds come every year at this time so you shouldn’t be surprised. Like a cold, they are a natural result of an imbalance or deficiency in your lawn and are there for a reason. I actually wrote an award winning (my words) article on weeds recently. Btw, all of my articles can be found under the blog section of our website.  Anyways, you probably don’t care why you have weeds, you care how not to have them. Well, I have a solution! Don’t live on the West Coast! 🙂 Also, I’ve been testing a new Eco weed killer in my own backyard and I’m pleased to announce that it actually works. It is harmless to you, your pets and your grass too or I wouldn’t recommend it! You may have already seen it, its called Weed B Gone. You may have already tried it too and were disappointed. It’s because you didn’t use it properly, silly. 🙂  Based on my trials, here’s how Weed B Gone must be used in order to actually be effective. Btw, my backyard was FULL of moss, buttercup and dandelions 2 months ago. We just bought our house ok, no judging…haha. This spring, I used the exact same methods as I use on client’s lawns PLUS Weed B Gone and now… my backyard looks like a park. It really does. We walk barefoot all the time on our velvety carpet.
Note:  Weed Be Gone ONLY works an a healthy, growing lawn. If your lawn is half dead and weed ridden, don’t bother. You need a lawn replacement. That said, if your lawn is healthy yet has weeds, Weed B Gone is a good solution. Follow these steps and you should experience some good success.
Step 1 – Spray your weeds on a non rainy day, the day before you mow. You want your weeds as big as possible! Spraying right after you mow is pointless.
Step 2 – Make sure the product sticks to the weeds. It is 0% effective in the soil. Aim and shoot carefully.
Step 3 – Do this 2-3 weeks in a row.
At Lush, we don’t spray weeds for many reasons but are always happy to recommend good, eco-friendly solutions!

 

3. Watering. Water restrictions aside, every summer customers exclaim proudly, “I don’t water my lawn.” ‘Yeah I know’, is my reply, as I glance at their lawn -haha. For some, their decision is a cash savings, for others, it’s an eco decision. Regardless of why you don’t water your lawn, you need to water your lawn. Grass is a plant. Do you take the summer off from watering your garden? I highly doubt it. If you’re against watering grass, replace the grass with gravel. Or plants. Why continue to grow something you don’t care for? A lawn needs to be watered 1-2 x weekly for 40 min each time to continue to grow healthy in the summer. People also say, “Nah, it’s fine, my lawn will come back in the fall.” It sure will! Along with weeds, crab grass and fungal diseases which you then will end up spraying with toxic chemicals -very un-eco. Not watering may seem eco but the results are not. Best to water. And definitely best to follow your local watering restrictions lest your nosy neighbour decides to rat you out.

 

4. Summer Fertilizing. Nope.

 

5. Summer Aerating. Are you serious.

 

6. Summer Seeding. Why.
A healthy lawn can have numerous ecological, environment, financial, emotional and psychological benefits. These summer tips will help protect your investment.
If you want your own piece of velvet to walk on, email us! We can make it happen 🙂
Have a great summer everyone!

 

Killing Richard
Posted by: In: Lawn Care 06 Jun 2017 0 comments Tags: , , , ,

Every June without fail, our email and phones will light up with frantic messages from customers wondering what to do about their annual weed invasion. The first thing we do is calmly remind them that this happens every year, annually in fact, and to not worry too much about it. The second thing we do is remind them that weeds are actually beneficial in many ways not the least of which is their pure motives. They really are just trying to help. Weeds are opportunist plants that detect deficiencies in your soil and then work to correct those deficiencies. Sure they get a kick back but not before giving you important information first (assuming you haven’t already  shot or beheaded the messenger)… I know, your skeptical. You see a weed and your itchy trigger finger starts twitching. But hear me out first….
 

Let’s say your lawn has a dandelion. Its name is Richard btw. Conventional wisdom says you should behead Richard and Round-Up all his friends for a mass execution. Kinda harsh but in your defence, Richard is a known trespasser so… But what if Richard was there for a reason? Wouldn’t it be kinda rude and even irresponsible to shoot him before first hearing him out? I would think so. The good news is many people have started to listen to Richard and have started to get the message.. “Your soil is currently low in calcium and quite compacted. I recommend a future application of lime, core aeration and some topdressing would be great too. Feel free to pull me out and put grass seed back in my place. Just make sure to get all of me or I’ll be back!” I know, who knew dandelions were so eloquent? Not only is Richard eloquent he’s hellla popular. (thanks to my teenage daughter for inspiring that hip sentence) Richard has this one cutie named Buttercup who is super well connected. If you listen closely, Buttercup will tell you (in a sultry voice for some reason), “I love shady, poorly drained, compacted soil.” Buttercup isn’t as sweet as Richard but you should definitely hear her out and make the corrections. Same goes with Clover. Don’t let her daintiness fool you. She may be small but she comes in huge numbers and can overtake your lawn by the time you get back from vacation. By the way, she would tell you that your lawn needs to be top-dressed with a compost rich soil and fertilized with a natural fertilizer. Note: Harry the horsetail is tough as nails and has been around for thousands of years thus he will be impervious to any of your clever methods of eradication. Basically he’s here to stay so we suggest you get to know him. Sure, you can pull him out. But like those bad guys from the Matrix, he’ll pop up again.
 

Ok…now that I’ve named some of your weeds, I bet you’re feeling a bit bad. haha. Don’t beat yourself up too much, we’ve all killed Richard and friends at some point but the takeaway from this is simple.. weeds are not meant to be feared! They are meant to be named..:) and noticed, listened to and sure, once you’ve received the message, they are more than happy to be sacrificed in the name of healthy soil, but listen to them first! Healthy soil has always been their end game. And if you want a lush lawn, it must be yours! Stay away from toxic weed killers (use Weed B Gone if you just have to spray, its eco approved and we have found in our trials it works very well under strict conditions) Ultimately though, your weed problem has ALWAYS been a soil problem. So listen and act accordingly. If you’d rather not, reach out to us! We’d love to work with you. Just don’t ask us to spray.
 

Man Hours
Posted by: In: Garden Care, Lawn Care 09 May 2017 0 comments Tags: ,

As with most trades, we calculate our billing based on something we call “man hours.” Yes, we also employee women haha, man hours is simply a more convenient and smoother sounding term then human hours. Anyways, we get asked ALOT about how our man hours work and there tends to be much confusion on this topic -so much so -I decided to write this. I hope it proves to be a helpful exercise.

For ease of explanation, I’m going to focus on our mowing service. We currently charge $45/hr for mowing in the Cowichan Valley. If a customer, lets call him Jerry, is being charged $45/visit, it is because that is how long it it takes for 1 human to mow, trim, and edge his property.  We run a busy business and often mow dozens of lawns a day so we work in crews of 4. This means our friend Jerry’s lawn will be mowed by 4 humans, not 1.. This is where the man hour confusion often begins. If 4 paid-by-the-hr-humans mow Jerry’s lawn, how long would you expect it take them? If you said 1 hr, you are wrong haha. With 4 humans, it should take no more than 15 minutes a visit. 4 humans x 15 min= 1 hr.  If it does take longer then 15 min, like 1 hr for instance, Jerry is not being charged near enough which means Lush isn’t able to pay its hard working employees and no one wants that! Lush pays its employees an average of $18/hr which means in this case, Lush, would be paying an average of $72/hr in employees salaries to mow Jerry’s $45 lawn not to mention other expenses like fuel, equipment, insurance, WCB etc. Although Jerry would be happy and we’d be happy that Jerry is happy, our accountants would be sad. We believe Jerry, our employees and Lush can all be happy. And that is why we charge based on the smart system of man hours.

Hope this helps! See you on the lawns 🙂