About Us
Frequently Asked Questions
About Backyard Eats & Our Services
Do you only install vegetable gardens, or do you do ornamental landscaping too?
Our specialty is raised-bed vegetable gardens and other functional plantings — including perennial edibles, pollinator habitats, and medicinal herbs. We don’t offer traditional ornamental landscaping or lawn care, but our designs are always beautiful and intentional, built to be as attractive as they are productive.
What’s included in a full-service edible garden?
Full-service edible gardening means we handle the entire design–build–care process, from the first sketch to harvest. We can design, install, plant, and maintain your garden — even delivering fresh vegetables right to your doorstep. You’re welcome to be hands-on or simply enjoy the harvest while we do the rest.
What’s your service area?
We install gardens within two hours of our office in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, and provide ongoing garden care within one hour. For special projects outside that radius, we’re always open to a conversation — if it’s the right fit, we’ll find a way to make it work.
Do you work on existing gardens or only build new ones?
We do both! Many of our favorite projects are garden renovations — refreshing soil, rebuilding structures, or replanting established spaces. Whether your garden needs a full redesign or just a little love, we can help bring it back to life.
Do you work with schools or community gardens?
Yes — we love partnering with schools, community groups, corporate campuses, and retirement communities. Beyond the design and planting, we can help with organization, funding, and grant writing to bring your garden vision to life.
Design & Consultation Process
What’s the difference between a discovery call and a site assessment?
A discovery call is a short, no-commitment conversation with one of our designers. We’ll talk through your goals, ideas, and questions to see what kind of project might be the best fit in terms of scope, design, and budget.
A site assessment is a paid appointment where we visit your property to confirm your goals, evaluate potential garden locations, take detailed measurements, and finalize details for installation and care. It’s the step where ideas start to become a real plan.
Is there a fee for the consultation or design?
Yes — there’s a site assessment fee, which covers the designer’s visit, professional evaluation, and proposal preparation. If you move forward with your installation, that fee is credited toward your project. For some garden packages, the consultation cost is already built into the price.
How long does the design process take?
For our Signature Series gardens or other predetermined designs, we can often provide a proposal on the spot or within 48 hours of your site assessment. For fully custom gardens, timelines vary slightly, but we move quickly — most clients receive their full proposal within a couple of days.
Can I provide my own garden design?
Absolutely. If you already have a design or inspiration, we’ll review it and offer professional guidance on details like layout, materials, and plant selection. We’re happy to help refine or adapt your ideas to ensure your garden performs beautifully in real life.
What should I prepare before our first meeting?
Think about how you want to use your garden and how it fits into your lifestyle — for example, whether it’s for serious food production, a family hobby, or a space to unwind outdoors. If you have a preferred location or photos of the space, that’s helpful too. We’ll ask questions about your goals, what excites you about growing, and what success looks like for you.
Installation & Site Preparation
How long does installation take?
Installation timelines vary depending on the size and complexity of your project. Most gardens take anywhere from a single day to a few weeks. We prefabricate many components ahead of time to minimize on-site disruption and ensure a smooth, efficient installation process.
What happens if my site needs grading or prep work?
Most gardens don’t require site prep — our systems are designed to build directly into your existing landscape. For larger or sloped properties, some grading or prep work may be needed, which our team can almost always handle in-house. We’ll assess this during your site visit and include it in your proposal if necessary.
Do you have a warranty?
Yes. We stand by our craftsmanship with a five-year workmanship warranty. If a latch breaks, a screw comes loose, or any part of your installation fails due to our workmanship, we’ll make it right. Our goal is for your garden to stay as functional and beautiful as the day it was installed.
How do you handle weather-related delays?
Since we work outdoors, weather is always a factor. We carefully plan around rain and extreme conditions to protect your property — and our crew. Prefabricating many components helps reduce downtime, but if the weather makes work unsafe or messy, we’ll reschedule promptly and communicate clearly so you always know what to expect.
Maintenance & Ongoing Care
Can I get maintenance without installation?
Yes! We maintain existing gardens all the time, even if we didn’t build them. During a site assessment, we’ll often recommend light renovation work — like soil improvement or irrigation upgrades — to bring your garden up to our care standards, but ongoing maintenance is always available on its own.
Can I pause or cancel my maintenance plan?
Absolutely. While our maintenance service is structured as an annual plan, you’re never locked into a contract. You can pause, adjust frequency, or cancel anytime. If you change or end service mid-season, we’ll reconcile your balance so you only pay for what’s been completed.
Do you offer organic pest control?
Yes. All of our pest and disease control methods are organic and environmentally safe. We’re not certified organic, but our products, seeds, and plants are — and every technician on our team is a licensed pesticide applicator trained in organic management practices.
Who will be my point of contact throughout the process?
We maintain clear communication from start to finish. Your designer guides the project through planning and proposal, your installation foreman oversees the build on-site, and your assigned gardener handles ongoing care throughout the season. Behind the scenes, our Client Experience Director ensures everything stays organized and responsive.
Sustainability & Growing Practices
Are all your practices organic or regenerative?
Yes. All of our plants, seeds, and pest-control products are certified organic. We use natural, regenerative methods to maintain healthy soil and resilient gardens, avoiding synthetic fertilizers and harmful chemicals entirely. Our goal is to support both productive ecosystems and long-term soil health.
Do you use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers?
Never. We rely only on certified organic products and integrated pest management techniques to control pests and diseases naturally. Every member of our care team is a licensed pesticide applicator, trained specifically in organic and ecological management practices.
How does Backyard Eats approach sustainability as a company?
We’re committed to sustainability in every sense — from how we source materials to how we care for our people. We use locally and responsibly sourced products wherever possible and continuously refine our practices to minimize waste and impact.
Who are the people caring for my garden?
Our team members are full-time, licensed, and insured professionals who receive a full suite of benefits and year-round employment. We provide a safe and supportive work environment, guided by our internal safety committee and policies. We believe sustainability starts with the people who make it happen.
Guarantees, Policies & Warranties
Do you guarantee your plants?
Yes. We guarantee our plants for Tier 1 full-service maintenance clients — meaning when we’ve installed the garden, provided all recommended infrastructure, and fully maintained the plants, we’ll replace anything that underperforms at no cost.
For all other maintenance levels, we still replace plants as needed during regular visits — the only difference is that materials or time may be billed separately.
What happens if something dies or fails?
If a plant or component fails while we’re providing care, we’ll replace it during a visit to keep your garden healthy and productive. Our team monitors every garden closely, so we catch and address issues quickly before they become major setbacks.
What is your cancellation or rescheduling policy?
Because we work outdoors, weather and site conditions can affect scheduling. We occasionally reschedule installations or maintenance to protect your property and our crew, but we always communicate early and clearly.
We take pride in proactive communication and transparency, keeping you informed so expectations are aligned every step of the way.