Terracotta Tropic Services
Ask me about free consultations for new clients!
Horticultural Consultations
Expert advice for hands on gardeners
I work closely with you to put your project on the right track. Consultations are typically an hour. During that time we’ll square away everything from what kind of soil you have, to how to set up your irrigation system and what amendments to use when planting. A consultation includes all the knowledge a home gardener needs for success! Many of my consultations are for new home owners who’ve never had a garden before, but are looking to take pride in their new home. Some clients have me over yearly to check in on the garden and give ongoing advice.
Garden Design
I think of gardening as painting and it shows
I work with YOU to develop a unique design, whether it is a from-scratch garden or a complex redesign. Unlike other designers I don’t just repeat the same plantings over and over. Your design starts with a consultation where I’ll interview you and hone in on your unique ‘thesis’ including which colors to ‘paint’ with. Each thesis encapsulates a specific garden design and allows us to tie together complex plantings with continuity. I build thoughtfully curated gardens with rare and unusual plantings. I will build you a conversation-worthy garden.
Other designers don’t account for availably and often you are stuck with a design you can’t execute. Alternatively they use very common plants (that they know will be available) and your garden ends up looking like everyone else’s. All my designs are built from currently available plants ready to go into your garden, ask me how!
Garden Maintenance
A garden is never finished
Unlike most gardeners, I work through a philosophy of ‘ongoing design’ where we constantly push your garden forward, using your thesis as an anchor. As part of this strategy, clients often add a monthly shopping budget for additional plantings. This allows me to find those special, rare and unusual plants that may not be available during your installation. An ongoing design budget adds complexity and depth to your garden over time and each plant is specifically chosen based on your thesis.
Join my community of monthly maintenance clients!
New Garden Installations
Working with your blank slate
If you have dozens or even hundreds of new plants I can coordinate a team to help with the work, but also have the flexibility to work with your crew. Clients love that I can manage a big install and make sure your plants are put in to the highest standards. I know how big the holes need to be, and the right amendments and fertilizers to get your garden growing!
Fire Retardant Gardens
Specializing in fire suppressing gardens
I design fire resistant gardens to protect homes. Your garden is a valuable investment and by carefully choosing the right plants it will both defend your house and bounce back quickly after a forest fire. On a personal level I’m often appalled at the plants designers choose in high fire areas, and hope to bring a more sustainable gardening mindset to the urban interface.
My own fire suppressing garden burned in a forest fire while saving my home, so I have unique experience with what works and what doesn't.
Serving the Following Areas
Santa Cruz, Aptos, Soquel, Capitola, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Mountains and Los Gatos. Please call if you are interested in my services outside these areas.
My rates for all work are $200 for my first hour and $100 an hour for additional hours. A typically garden takes me between one and three hours a month to maintain.
About Tyson
I was born and raised by artist in the mountains of Big Sur. After graduating Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Industrial Technology, I elected to travel the world, and during these travels was inspired by the flora of other continents.
In 2016 I moved to San Francisco, allowing me to pursue a career in garden design after landing a position at the renowned Flora Grubb Gardens.
I have lived through multiple forest fires and seen their devastation first hand, including having multiple friends lose their homes. This has inspired me to build fire resilient gardens. In 2008 my first fire resilient garden was tested, my own, and it played a key part in saving my home from the Basin Complex fire.
Looking to move my young family closer to home, I relocated to Santa Cruz in late 2022 where I am currently building unique gardens.
My design inspirations are the deserts I visited in Bolivia or Namibia, my time hitchhiking the Australian outback and also the lush tropics from trips to Madagascar or Venezuela. This juxtaposition of arid and verdant inspired me to start…
Terracotta Tropic.
