Ballard Vegetable and Herb Garden Installation Services
Imagine plucking fresh greens bursting with flavor, enjoying homegrown tomatoes that ripen under the Pacific Northwest sun, and snipping herbs just steps from your kitchen. At Neat & Tidy, we specialize in creating low-drama edible gardens that thrive in Ballard’s unique climate—cool nights, wet winters, and warm late summers.
What Challenges Do You Face?
- Are your garden beds sagging after winter, turning into mud or hardpan?
- Tired of endlessly watering only to see your crops bolt by August?
- Are pests and weeds zapping your gardening enthusiasm?
- Fed up with flimsy store kits that warp and provide questionable soil?
- Struggling with garden planning—too much lettuce at once, tomatoes that never ripen, or sulking basil?
Our Installation Process (and Why It Works)
Sturdy Cedar Raised Beds: We use 2×6 or 2×8 cedar boards, coupled with stainless or coated fasteners—no rotting railroad ties here! This ensures durability against Ballard’s damp conditions.
Premium Soil Blend: Our veggie soil mix is compost-rich, well-drained, and peat-free, topped with a layer of mulch to retain moisture, essential for Ballard’s variable rainfall.
Efficient Drip Irrigation: We install a simple timer-controlled system with a pressure regulator and backflow preventer, ensuring your plants receive the right amount of water, particularly during dry spells.
Supportive Trellis Systems: Perfect for climbing plants like tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers. Choose from sturdy galvanized panels or classic wood frames tailored to your garden’s aesthetics.
Season Extension Options: We offer low hoops and frost cloth/insect netting to protect your crops and extend the growing season beyond Ballard’s typical frost dates.
Clean Paths: Our paths are constructed with compacted gravel or arbor chips, including weed fabric underneath to keep things tidy and functional.
Ballard-Friendly Plant List (No Diva Varieties Here)
Cool-Season Superstars: Lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale, chard, sugar snap peas, carrots, beets, radishes, cilantro, and parsley.
Warm-Season Favorites: Cherry tomatoes (like ‘Sungold’ and ‘Sweet Million’), ‘Early Girl’ slicers, bush beans, compact cucumbers, zucchini (one plant is plenty), and basil (with heat or cover).
Herbs That Thrive: Thyme, oregano, chives, rosemary, sage, mint (best in a pot), and flat-leaf parsley.
Tip: We utilize staggered plantings (succession sowing) so you enjoy a continuous harvest without overwhelming amounts of produce at once.
Our Annual Maintenance Plan (Your Garden’s Routine)
Succession Schedule: We provide an easy-to-follow calendar for sowing, planting, and harvesting, keeping your beds productive all season long.
Irrigation Tune-Up: Seasonal adjustments to timers, emitter checks, and deep watering during summer.
Pest and Slug Management: We use iron phosphate bait, beer traps, and netting/row covers to keep your garden healthy.
Soil Health Maintenance: Regular compost top-dressing and gentle organic amendments tailored to your plants’ needs.
Winterization: We can assist with cover crops or mulching, draining lines, and storing trellises/fabrics for winter protection.
We pride ourselves on being a low-maintenance landscaping team. Our mission is to minimize issues between visits and reduce your workload.
Service Options (Choose What Works for You)
Quarterly Services: Ideal for spring and fall resets, plus two mid-season check-ins.
Bi-Monthly Services: Perfect for maintaining steady harvests and managing weed pressure.
(For new installations, we can kick things off on a monthly basis for the first 90 days, then adjust as needed.)
What’s Included in Our Annual Maintenance
- Bed edge re-cutting and path refreshes to keep everything looking sharp.
- Targeted weeding and mulch touch-ups (we never weed against plant stems).
- Assistance with trellis installation/removal and plant tying as your vines grow.
- Comprehensive drip system audits: timer programming, pressure and flow checks, and emitter replacements.
- Seasonal health assessments for your plants (checking for bolting, deficiencies, or mildew) with actionable fixes.
Why Annual Maintenance Is Essential
More Continuous Harvests: Timed plantings keep your table full and reduce gaps in production.
Efficient Watering: Our methods promote deep, infrequent watering, encouraging strong root growth and reducing your water bill.
Fewer Pests: Healthy soils and strategic timing can eliminate the need for most pest sprays.
Long-Lasting Beds: Well-maintained paths and proper mulching protect your lumber and soil.
How Our Process Works
Free Estimate: Send us photos or video, or schedule a quick walkthrough; we promise clear, upfront pricing.
Design & Layout: We create a sun map and plan out bed sizes, materials, irrigation, and crops tailored to your Ballard property.
Installation Day: Our team constructs the beds, fills them with our premium soil blend, sets up the drip irrigation, installs trellises, and plants your chosen crops—all labeled for your convenience!
Follow-Up: We provide a watering guide, a simple harvest chart, and add-ons whenever you’re ready.
Why Ballard Chooses Neat & Tidy
We’re a local crew that understands Ballard’s unique weather patterns and gardening challenges.
Fully licensed & insured; we maintain neat work sites and deliver clean finishes.
Transparent pricing—all materials, labor, hauling, and disposal are included.
Punctual, respectful service with no mess left behind.
Eco-Conscious Approach: We use peat-free soils, integrated pest management strategies, and efficient water use.
Ready to Grow Delicious Food—Without the Drama?
Call or text Neat & Tidy for a customized raised-bed plan, efficient drip setup, and a planting schedule that produces bountifully in Ballard. We handle the setup; you get to enjoy the fun of picking and eating your fresh produce!
