Projects & Challenges
Examples of work we have done.
Resolution of irrigation well function challenge:
The customer had two wells: a legacy well that was used as an irrigation well and a potable well. The overhead irrigation was not operating optimally and the irrigation company said the client needed a new well. We reviewed the existing well completion report, reviewed less expensive options for viability, and decided to retest the well before acting. The autumn well retesting clarified that the original well depth was by not drilling a new well, and simply purchasing a new pump type and changing its depth in the well to improve performance.
2018 - Boxwood Blight Response:
After a customer’s annual integrated pest management program had ended for the year, Bespoke Gardening was on site and able to visually make a tentative identification of boxwood blight on a group of 12 three-year old boxwood shrubs. The same day we quickly took samples to submit for pathology lab confirmation, as this disease can move fast, and there is no cure. The test results were positive and were shared with the client, who opted to remove the shrubs. Bespoke Gardening directed the removal crew to make sure that recommended protocols for removal and sanitation were followed, reducing the chance of spread to other boxwood on the property.
2018 - Collaboration to rework pruning approach on driveway border:
The client asked for help reworking a deciduous shrub border that had been pruned into a long monolithic face. Bespoke Gardening collaborated and shared information with the pruning crew, providing guidance from the foreground as they pruned the shrubs along the driveway in order to an airier, more natural look.
2017: Unusual Apple Disease ID:
During a maintenance visit, Bespoke Gardening discovered an unfamiliar leaf spot fungus on a customer’s apple trees, accompanied by leaf drop. No fruit tree resources mentioned it, but we found a single mention in a landscaping newsletter of an old apple tree infested with Marssonina coronaria. The characteristics seemed to match, so samples were sent to a plant pathologist to confirm the ID. We then worked with the fruit tree specialist to adjust the spray program. We alerted other professionals working on fruit trees of the presence of the disease and found that it had been missed or incorrectly identified in several states. This disease can cause premature fruit drop and reduced yields if left untreated, so it was useful to pursue the unknown until we understood what it was and alert other professionals to the issue.
2012 - New lawn approach to thinning lawn:
A customer adjacent to a nature preserve had a crew that was mowing their fine fescue quite short weekly, causing the fescue to thin and more lawn weeds to take hold. In this naturalistic setting, we proposed to reseed as a low-mow fine fescue lawn, and had the new crew mow far less frequently and higher. The soft, undulating appearance is congruent with the natural setting and is less intensive to maintain. Bespoke Gardening continued to advise and recommend, collaborating with the crew on care of this lawn.
The customer had two wells: a legacy well that was used as an irrigation well and a potable well. The overhead irrigation was not operating optimally and the irrigation company said the client needed a new well. We reviewed the existing well completion report, reviewed less expensive options for viability, and decided to retest the well before acting. The autumn well retesting clarified that the original well depth was by not drilling a new well, and simply purchasing a new pump type and changing its depth in the well to improve performance.
2018 - Boxwood Blight Response:
After a customer’s annual integrated pest management program had ended for the year, Bespoke Gardening was on site and able to visually make a tentative identification of boxwood blight on a group of 12 three-year old boxwood shrubs. The same day we quickly took samples to submit for pathology lab confirmation, as this disease can move fast, and there is no cure. The test results were positive and were shared with the client, who opted to remove the shrubs. Bespoke Gardening directed the removal crew to make sure that recommended protocols for removal and sanitation were followed, reducing the chance of spread to other boxwood on the property.
2018 - Collaboration to rework pruning approach on driveway border:
The client asked for help reworking a deciduous shrub border that had been pruned into a long monolithic face. Bespoke Gardening collaborated and shared information with the pruning crew, providing guidance from the foreground as they pruned the shrubs along the driveway in order to an airier, more natural look.
2017: Unusual Apple Disease ID:
During a maintenance visit, Bespoke Gardening discovered an unfamiliar leaf spot fungus on a customer’s apple trees, accompanied by leaf drop. No fruit tree resources mentioned it, but we found a single mention in a landscaping newsletter of an old apple tree infested with Marssonina coronaria. The characteristics seemed to match, so samples were sent to a plant pathologist to confirm the ID. We then worked with the fruit tree specialist to adjust the spray program. We alerted other professionals working on fruit trees of the presence of the disease and found that it had been missed or incorrectly identified in several states. This disease can cause premature fruit drop and reduced yields if left untreated, so it was useful to pursue the unknown until we understood what it was and alert other professionals to the issue.
2012 - New lawn approach to thinning lawn:
A customer adjacent to a nature preserve had a crew that was mowing their fine fescue quite short weekly, causing the fescue to thin and more lawn weeds to take hold. In this naturalistic setting, we proposed to reseed as a low-mow fine fescue lawn, and had the new crew mow far less frequently and higher. The soft, undulating appearance is congruent with the natural setting and is less intensive to maintain. Bespoke Gardening continued to advise and recommend, collaborating with the crew on care of this lawn.