Frequently Asked Questions

Are you insured?

Yes. We carry $3M in liability as well as the appropriate auto and workman's compensation insurance. A certificate of insurance is available upon request.

Do I have to call diggers hotline?

No, it is our responsibility to have the utilities located. Please know that this does not include private lines such as propane, underground dog fencing, irrigation, outdoor lighting, and satellite TV lines. We ask that you let us know in advance if you think any of these items may be within the area where work will be occurring.

What is a typical work day?

Crews will typically arrive to most projects between 8:30 and 9:00 am and will remain on site until 5:00 or 5:30 pm. Some days and projects may vary. Work will not occur before 7:00 am or after 7:00 am per most municipal ordinances. Our crews work Monday through Thursday, with Friday as an alternate in the event that a weekday was canceled.

What if I want to change my start date?

No problem! Please let us know as soon as possible so our calendar can be adjusted accordingly, and we'll work with you to find a new date.

How long will this project take?

Your contract will indicate how many days to completion. This may vary in the event of delays such as weather or backorders with vendors. We will inform you in the event of a delay.

What happens if it rains?

We attempt to work every day that we can. If the rain is insignificant and early, we will simply delay our start time. If the rain is significant and all day, we'll cancel the work day. If the rain is significant enough and the earth is saturated we may need to cancel the following day as well, but we'll be sure to communicate any changes in work days and times.

Do you need access to the house?

No, in almost all circumstances we will not need access to the house.

Do you need access to water or electricity?

Access to water and electricity is much appreciated. However, in the event that it can not be furnished, we are equipped to provide our own.

Will you be using the driveway?

We will often use the driveway to stage materials and park equipment. Typically, we will park trucks on the street. At the end of each work day we'll clear the area to allow access to the garage.

What should I do if I have a question during the project?

Questions relating to the construction and installation process should first be made with the project manager. In the event that the project manager can not answer the question, they'll contact their supervisor to get in touch with you.

What if I want to make a change to my project?

Small changes such as moving a plant or adding a stepping stone can often be accommodated in the field and approved verbally. Larger changes, such as increasing a patio size or adding a plant bed, will require a contractual change order.

Can I get a copy of the contract Terms and Conditions?

Terms and Conditions

Customer’s Duties. Customer shall: (a) provide the Company unobstructed access to the project location and site and shall keep persons and pets away from the work area; (b) provide necessary utility connections to enable Company to perform the work; (c) remove, protect and reinstall Customer’s personal property; (d) be responsible for complying with all zoning ordinances and private use restrictions and obtaining any required permits; (e) be responsible for correctly advising Company of the location of any underground objects other than public utilities; and (f) indemnify Company and its principals and agents and hold them harmless against any damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising out of or relating to Customer’s breach of any obligation herein. Customer warrants and represents that it is the owner of the real estate upon which services will be rendered. Customer assumes full responsibility for the location of the property lines for the property upon which material is to be installed and shall hold the Company harmless from all claims and expenses arising from questions of survey of said property or location of said lines. Customer assumes all liability for any damage caused by directing the Company to dig in the immediate vicinity of known utilities. If the installation is delayed or suspended at Customer’s request, or due to any action or inaction of Customer, Customer agrees to pay any increase in the cost of labor or materials occurring during the delay, and, to further pay for the expense of time and travel to return to complete the job.

Special Orders. All materials for a special order must be paid in FULL by Customer before Company will place the order. No customer changes after materials are ordered. NO REFUNDS.

Construction Materials. All materials and work shall be furnished in accordance with normal industry standards.

Delay. Work shall be completed within the number of working days indicated in this Contract, unless delay occurs due to a work stoppage by any public authority or the Customer, adverse weather conditions, labor disputes, changes by Customer or government authorities, unavailability of materials or supplies, unavoidable casualties, accidents, environmental hazards, Customer’s failure to make payment as required by this Contract, or any other cause beyond the Company’s sole control. Any such delay shall extend the time of performance by an amount of time equal to the number of days of the delay or, at the Company’s option, terminate this Contract if the cause of the delay cannot be resolved within fourteen (14) days. If the Company elects to terminate this Contract under this provision, it shall provide prompt written notice of termination to the Customer.

Changes. Changes to the plans and specifications of this Contract will be made only upon execution of a written Change Order and payment by Customer of 50% of the price of the additional work quoted by Company, in advance of the changed work being performed.

Utilities; underground objects. The Company will be responsible for having underground public utilities located and marked. However, the Company expressly disclaims liability for damage to any lines or other objects or facilities not immediately visible upon inspection of the surface, including without limitation public utilities, propane, underground dog fencing, irrigation, outdoor lighting, cable and/or satellite tv lines, rocks and boulders, old tree roots and stumps, and foundation walls (“Underground Objects”). Customer acknowledges and agrees that the contract price does not include the cost of removing or otherwise accommodating Underground Objects and in the event Company encounters such Underground Objects during the course of the work, the Contract Price shall increase accordingly.

Invitation; Disclaimer. This Agreement constitutes Customer’s agreement and invitation for Company to enter onto Customer’s property to complete the work. Customer acknowledges that Company uses commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard existing driveways and other hard surfaces on Customer’s property (“Existing Surfaces”) but that Company expressly disclaims liability for damage to Existing Surfaces during the course of the work as a result of Company’s activities.

Right to Cure: In the event of default by Company for failure to complete work to Customer’s reasonable satisfaction, Customer shall provide Company a reasonable written notice of such default, and Company shall have the right to cure any such default within 30 business days from the date Company receives written notice of default.

Cancelation of Contract: Customer may unilaterally cancel this contract by notifying Company in writing within 3 calendar days after signing this contract. In the event of cancellation of this Contract by the Customer more than 3 days after signing, the Company shall receive compensation from the Customer for all costs of labor and materials and all other expenses incurred by Company through the date of cancellation, plus the Company's anticipated profit under this Contract.

Guarantee: Nursery stock, except for perennials, annuals and container plantings is guaranteed for one year from the date of installation, barring damage from weather, animals, insects, vandalism, or improper watering (over or under watering). In the event guaranteed nursery stock is defective, Customer will provide written notice to Company and Company at its sole discretion will either replace the defective nursery stock or provide an equivalent replacement. Nursery stock will be replaced one time under this guarantee. Company provides a 2-year guarantee against defects in workmanship for all hardscape work, including without limitation retaining walls and patios (the “Hardscape”), when the Hardscape is used as intended; provided that the workmanship guarantee does not cover circumstances beyond the Company’s control, such as water issues not due to the workmanship, issues arising due to the work of other contractors or craftsmen or of the Customer, or the Customer’s use of the Hardscape other than as intended

Sodding/Seeding: Survival of seeded or sodded areas depends largely on the care given by customer after installation. Therefore, Company does not provide any warranty or guarantee for sodding and/or seeding.

Drainage Correction: Company has experience in correcting drainage and leakage problems but does not employ a professional engineer for that purpose. Accordingly, if asked to undertake such work, Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to correct drainage and/or leakage problems but does not guarantee the result and disclaims all warranties, express or implied, related to correcting drainage and leakage problems to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law.. Furthermore, the Company expressly disclaims all liability associated with work undertaken to correct drainage and/or leakage problems, including without limitation liability associated with foundation leaking, foundation cracks, and insufficient or misplaced gutters and downspouts.

Credit Card Terms: Credit card payments are accepted (Visa, MasterCard & Discover) and are subject to a 3.5% convenience fee. The convenience fee will be applied to the total balance due.

Lien Notice. As required by the Wisconsin construction lien law, Company hereby notifies Customer that persons or companies performing, furnishing, or procuring labor, services, materials, plans, or specifications for the construction on Customer’s land may have lien rights on Customer’s land and buildings if not paid. Those entitled to lien rights, in addition to Company, are those who contract directly with Customer or those who give Customer notice within sixty (60) days after they first perform, furnish, or procure labor, services, materials, plans, or specifications for the construction. Accordingly, Customer may receive notice from those who perform, furnish, or procure labor, services, materials, plans, or specifications for the construction and should give a copy of each notice received to Customer’s mortgage lender, if any. Company agrees to cooperate with Customer and the Customer’s lender, if any, to see that all potential lien claimants are duly paid.

Miscellaneous. If payment is not received as required herein, Customer agrees to pay a late payment charge of 1 1/2% per month on the outstanding balance, which is an annual rate of 18%. Customer agrees to pay all costs incurred in the collection of any amounts owed, including reasonable actual attorney’s fees. Customer further agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Company from all claims, demands, liabilities, lost profits, losses and damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to any act or omission of Customer in connection with this Contract or to enforce any of its terms. This Contract represents the entire Contract between the parties. This Contract is not assignable by either party without the other party’s written consent. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin law without regard to its choice of law rules. The venue for any legal action commenced hereunder shall be Dane County Circuit Court.

New Seed or Sodded Turf Areas

Watering

Seed: Keep newly seeded areas moist during establishment. Thoroughly water the area after mulching. This will provide moisture for seed germination and help stabilize the straw so wind is less likely to blow it away. Be careful not to over water or seeds will float to the surface. Irrigate at least once each day for 2–3 weeks or until the turfgrass has uniformly germinated. During each watering, apply enough to keep the seed and soil moist, usually 3–5 minutes (¼” inch) will suffice. Timers on automatic irrigation systems may be useful. Hot, dry conditions and turf on sunny slopes may require more frequent irrigation. Following germination, water once every 2–3 days. Early morning irrigation is best as it provides moisture throughout the day. Leaf surfaces remain wet longer when watered in the late afternoon or evening, creating a prime environment for disease development.

Sod: Irrigate thoroughly every 1–2 days, depending on the weather, until the sod has rooted into the soil and is difficult to pull up out of the ground (about 2 weeks after sodding). Do not irrigate so much that the soil becomes waterlogged as this will prevent root growth. Irrigate less frequently as the root system develops. On Going Watering Practice: Rainfall alone is often sufficient to sustain lawns. Occasionally, irrigation is needed to maintain a high quality lawn during dry periods. To keep lawns green throughout the growing season, they should receive approximately 1 inch of water each week, either from rainfall, irrigation, or a combination of both. Avoid light, frequent watering sessions as it encourages shallow rooting of the grass plants, making them more susceptible to environmental stresses. How to measure an inch of water. To measure the amount of water your sprinkler or irrigation system provides, set a series of several coffee cans, quart-sized jars or similar sized straight-sided containers at 5 to 10-foot intervals from the base of the sprinkler to the end of the irrigation pattern or width. Use the average amount of water collected in each container during a specific time period (e.g., 30 minutes) to determine the amount of water provided by the sprinkler.

Traffic

Seed: Young seedlings are particularly vulnerable to damage. Try to keep all traffic off the area for at least 4 weeks after germination.

Sod: Keep all unnecessary traffic off the sod for the first 4–6 weeks until it is thoroughly rooted.

Fertilizing

Do not fertilize new lawns for at least six weeks. After six weeks, apply a light fertilization of ½-pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Thereafter, fertilize according to label rate of fertilizer you have selected typically every 6-8 weeks.

Mowing

Seed: Wait until seedlings are 3 inches tall before mowing for the first time. Grass plants usually take 3–6 weeks to reach that height—the time required depends on the species planted and environmental conditions such as soil and air temperature, moisture, and fertilization. If an area is particularly weedy, you may need to mow a few weeks after germination to allow the seedlings to compete. Mow the grass to a height of 21/2–31/2 inches. Subsequent mowings will generally be required at about weekly intervals. Remove no more than one-third of the leaf height at any single mowing.

Sod: Mowing can begin whenever the sod has started to root into the soil and can be mowed without displacing the sod, usually within 1–2 weeks after sodding. Always follow the “one-third rule” for mowing: never remove more than one-third of the leaf tissue at any one mowing:

Weed Control

If weeds become a problem, a herbicide can usually be applied following the third mowing. Most herbicides can injure young turfgrasses, so always read the label before application to avoid problems. Siduron is the only herbicide available for use on newly seeded lawns and will prevent some annual grass and broadleaf weeds from germinating without harming the newly seeded turf.

Tree and Shrubs

Watering

The rule of thumb is to add one inch of water per week for established plants. That being said watering can be very specific to soil types and plant species. In general terms, it is best to apply 5-7 gallons to the root ball once a week for a newly planted tree or shrub. Differing soil and weather conditions will affect the frequency with which water must be added. Examine the soil moisture 4-8 inches deep to determine the need for water. If the soil feels dry or just slightly damp, watering is needed. Soil type and drainage must also be considered. Well-drained, sandy soil will need water more often than a clay soil that may hold too much water. A slow trickle of the garden hose at the base of the plant for an extended period or until the soil is thoroughly soaked is the best method. Avoid short, frequent watering as this does not promote deep root growth

Fertilizing

It is not a good practice to fertilize newly planted trees and shrubs in the first year as it encourages top-growth development versus the necessary root development. Fertilize newly planted plants every 2-3 years in the fall after the leaves have fallen or in early spring before growth begins. Apply it to the surface or place it in holes around the plants. Beware of burning turf if surface-applied. Water in surface applications. Do not apply nitrogen in late summer unless the plant is nutrient deficient, as this can promote new growth that may not harden off properly and can be damaged by winter weather. Apply phosphorus and potassium in the fall as they will enhance winter acclimation.

Pruning

Trees and shrubs do not need pruning immediately before or after planting. Pruning will stimulate a reaction with the plant to produce new growth drawing attention away from root development. Most nurseries prune out co-dominant leaders, limbs that rub against each other, and poorly angled branches, prior to sale. If the nursery has not pruned these problems, remove them after planting. Some limbs may be damaged in transit from the nursery to the planting site. Inspect the plants and remove these limbs immediately after planting.

Perennials

Watering

The rule of thumb is to add one inch of water per week for established plants. Soak the plants initially after planting and then check regularly to prevent drying out. Mulching helps to cut down on watering frequency. The general rule of thumb of one inch of water per week for established plantings holds true. Less frequent but deep watering encourage perennials to root more deeply and thus become better able to handle drought conditions. The most common and time efficient way to water perennial gardens is to use soaker hoses. Many perennial gardeners will snake a soaker hose through the garden and leave it there all summer. When water is needed they will connect it to a faucet and turn it on. To make the hose invisible, bury it just under the mulch.

Fertilizing

Most perennials do not require large amounts of fertilizer if the soils have been prepared properly. Many over fertilized perennials will produce excessive, soft growth and produce very few flowers. Many times perennials will tend to "lodge" or open up when over fertilized. As a general rule, unless a soil test indicates otherwise, perennials can benefit from one pound of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. Granular fertilizers with a formulation of 12-12-12, 10-10-10, 5-10-5 or similar are sufficient.

Dead Head & Cutback

Pinching encourages branching because it removes the dominant bud. The process encourages lateral development and fuller plants. Pinching can occur with newly planted perennials. Many plants will respond well to the process however others will not. Deadheading is the process of removing spent flower heads and or flower stems from a plant. Removing spent flowers from many perennials will encourage the plant to produce more flowers versus following its natural process to produce seeds. Deadheading can occur with any newly planted perennial. Cutting back often occurs in late fall or early spring. Most perennial species including perennial grasses will not produce new leaves on old tissue and need to be pruned back to the ground level.