I hired the Pickel Group to design and install a new foundational planting in my front yard and fill in several areas around my yard where my geothermal system had caused subsidence. They quoted a reasonable $1,800 for this. On the plus side, they responded quickly to my query, were on time for appointments, had nice staff members, and did not do any damage to my home or lawn. The plants they delivered and installed were all healthy.

On the minus side, I had two major disappointments with the Pickel Group:

1) The designer repeatedly suggested plant species that were not suitable for my location (needing full sun while my site gets at best 3 hrs of direct sun each day, etc.). So basically I did tons of web research and talked to neighbors who know about plants (which I do not), then suggested plants to the designer. He then put them in a visualisation. He was nice about going through this process, but not much help in choosing appropriate species.

2) In the areas of subsidence, they contracted to “Fill depressions from geo-thermal, seed and cover with curlex.” They covered the seeded area with straw and plastic netting, held down with lawn staples. The grass started sprouting and growing through the netting. One morning I found a snake trapped in the netting, unable to free itself. Since Pickel had given no instructions about what was supposed to happen to the plastic netting, I emailed to ask whether it was permanent and to express my concern about wildlife being injured. The next thing I know, they have come out, torn up and removed the netting, and disappeared again. In tearing up the netting, they also tore out most of the grass they had planted (see photo). When I contacted them to ask what was supposed to happen now, they said they would “come take a look.” They did not do so until I contacted them twice more, during which time I received multiple “reminders” to pay them the balance due. Finally one morning I saw a Pickel staffer in my yard. They were literally throwing grass seed on the ground (no ground prep, no communication with me, no plan to install straw to protect the seed). When I went out to ask what they were doing and how they expected grass to germinate under those circumstances, they said I would need to pay more money if I wanted them to “re-seed” the area that they destroyed when they removed the netting.

I contacted Pickel and said that I once I paid my balance due, I would consider their effort complete and would review them accordingly. I gave them a chance to deliver a decent result because they seem like decent people. But the state of my lawn is unconscionable and I really can’t recommend that anyone trust their expertise.

Pickel Landscape Group is an excellent company. They are always on time and deliver the very best job. The employees are respectful and have a lot of experience in what they are doing. They are here on a weekly basis to take care of our lawn and landscape and it always looks fantastic! We also had an area in our back yard consisting of two walls of boulders and landscaping lights that needed some help but my husband and I did not know what would work. As soon as Pickel looked at the area they quickly gave us several ideas; the project started and completed in the time frame they gave us; now we have a beautiful area in our back yard. With Pickel we found the best price for the professional work that they deliver. Nikki at the front office will always take care of any details that need to be taken care. Thank You!

Working with the folks at Pickel has been, and continues to be, wonderful. From the first meeting with Mike to walk the property and get an idea of what we wanted, to design review sessions with Sam, to construction updates with Matthew, to administrative interactions with Nikki, everyone at PLG is friendly, professional, knowledgeable and personal.

PLG transformed our property from dark and dreary to bright and beautiful. This is a phased project, and the first portion was a complete remodel of our retaining wall, side yard and patio areas. They removed 30+ year old landscaping timbers and re-terraced the retaining walls with boulders and planting beds. They removed a set of unused, unnecessary and a bit unsafe steps and put in a planting bed circled with the same boulders as the retaining walls. They redesigned the under-deck patio to extend it and make it more useful. They designed and installed a garden complete with boulder steps, stepping stones and a circular stone sitting area. This area was made so that it wrapped around the extended patio and met up with the planting bed where the steps used to be. Accent lighting was installed throughout the area.

The construction took about a month, some of which occurred while we were out of town for an extended time. During our absence, we received numerous updates from the crew via text and phone, as well as a few photos. When we returned home, we were greeted with a finished project that looked amazing.

The folks at Pickel are talented, innovative and flexible. They listen. They suggest. They deliver.

Would we work with this group again? Without hesitation!

Pickel Landscape group recently updated our 16 year old landscaping. We were looking for a natural look that could be easily maintained season to season. Pickel landscaping worked with us to create a design that was attractive and aligned with our taste. They were flexible about plant selection and incorporated some of our existing “favorite” plants that we did not want to loose.

The end product is a very inviting landscape with lighting that complements the plantings and also provides needed lighting for family and guests as they arrive or depart!

Sam and the Team did an Outstanding Job in first understanding what our Priorities were for the series of potential projects that we discussed with our first initial meeting with Sam, the designer.
There was NO pushiness, NO here is what you need to spend with us, but just a focus on how they could deliver quality work, also considering the fact we needed it done quickly, because of a family event we had going on at the house and we wanted our Yard and Our Landscaping to look Awesome.
And that is Exactly What Pickel Landscape Group Delivered
On Time, On Budget and On Point….
Thanks to Everyone @ PLG…..
Great Job…

We moved into a home on a lovely wooded (but sloped) lot two summers ago, and we were faced with the challenge of addressing an issue with rain water running from the top of the property, creating channels in our front yard, and then settling in puddles at the bottom our our hill. Pickel Landscape Group came to our rescue after we worked unsuccessfully with two other area landscape companies. Mike Pickel and Sam Eashum did exactly what we asked: they drew up colorful, scaled digital photos of several different landscaping ideas to address the drainage and to add more color to our wooded yard; then they created a dry landscape bed with native plants that bloom at different times of the year, which add color across the seasons; and all of this is extremely low maintenance and both deer- and kid-friendly. The Pickel team is a pleasure to work with, and we recommend them enthusiastically!

We met with the landscape designer and owner that helped us put our thoughts into the perfect design for our landscape. Our plan included Boulder walls, new plantings and changing existing ones. Patio and stairs, walkway, landscape lighting and firepit area. We had a good experience, everyone we encountered during the project was friendly and we are happy with the finished product