The idea that a garden could be bad for the environment may come as a surprise, but sadly this is a reality for most New York and Connecticut home gardens. Many gardens feature plants that can be very beautiful, but ultimately provide nothing for native habitat. Plants advertised as “drought tolerant” are not always good for our local environment, and certain species are terribly invasive.
Most home gardens are maintained by “mow and blow” garden crews. These crews use loud, gas guzzling machines to perform their work, with no knowledge of how to properly care for plants. Instead of pruning knowledgeably and with proper care for the plant, they hack each plant into an inorganic square shape, resulting in an ugly and unnatural look.
In the hands of these “gardeners”, home owners are often left frustrated with the lack of communication and control over their garden, feeling disempowered in their own home space. This type of loud and uncaring maintenance is horrible for plants, the environment, pets and children, and ultimately, the homeowner.
In the face of all this, we at Peter Atkins and Associates feel a deep responsibility to offer new solutions to homeowners. We believe the home garden should be both beautiful and good for the environment. That’s why we do things differently.
We offer a unique approach to home garden care. Our gardeners are knowledgeable, passionate, and devoted to giving the highest quality garden care. We are approachable, friendly, and always available for communication. We typically offer once monthly visits, but are happy to work with the home owners schedule and unique servicing needs. Bi-monthly and seasonal maintenance plans are also available. Our garden maintenance plans are customized directly for your personal needs.
Our Approach:
JOHN & DEBBIE, CT
Project Date: January 2024
Peter takes wonderful care of our landscape. We feel very fortunate to have his advice and services. He has a fantastic eye for designing harmonious planting spaces. He is a meticulous planner and delivers everything that he promises. His exceptional crew brings his visions to life and they take great care of our property. We strongly recommend Peter and his team!
WHAT IS FINE HORTICULTURAL CARE ?
Appointed trained gardeners who work with an New York Botanical accredited Horticulturist. This team honors the respect of your gardens and delivers services that are completely trustworthy. Thoughtful, year-round organic garden care from a crew you can trust.
This is not your average “mow, blow, and go” yard care service. At Peter Atkins and Associates we provide our maintenance clients with the kind of organic garden care usually available only to the finest estates.
Our trained and supervised accredited horticulturist teams prioritizes naturalistic pruning and sustainable practices such as leaving leaves in your garden beds to use as free mulch as well as waiting to remove seed heads until spring to increase available food sources for insects and birds during the winter.
Trees and Shrubs require yearly pruning to encourage new growth and to keep them healthy. Late winter and early spring, when the plant is dormant, is the time to prune for most trees or shrubs to reduce the stress caused by pruning. However some plants, shrubs especially, require pruning in May because their spring blooms formed the previous year.
We start by removing dead or weak branches. This is important because straight, clean cuts are easier for plants to heal than a jagged or ripped edge caused by these branches breaking on their own. Next we focus on thinning the foliage to allow sunlight and air into the plant. This keeps the plant from choking itself out and encourages it to grow stronger. Lastly, if the tree or bush requires, we shape it.
HARD PRUNING
When a tree or shrub grows out of control for too long, or isn’t doing as well, a hard pruning can be the best choice. A hard pruning cuts off two or three times more than a regular pruning, giving the plant a fresh start. Not all plants can handle this and knowing how far you can cut back different plants is vital. But our trained gardeners are experts at rejuvenating overgrown or sick trees and shrubs. All pruning is done with hand pruners, pole clips and arbrosit hand saws. Chainsaws only for large limb beyond a hand saw. Rarely do we use power shears except on topiaries.
Your homes pots and planters provide a great opportunity for our design team to create seasonal displays for bulbs and pansies in spring, a variety of colorful annuals and perennials in summer, with pumpkins, corn stalks and mums in the fall. Let us help you dress up your pots and planters with color-rich, seasonal charm. Schedule a consultation with one of our pot and planter designers. (914) 234 -0161 - Ask for Peter
A maintenance contract provides a solid basis when it comes to putting the agreements into formal writing. Peter Atkins and Associates organizes which tasks should be carried out and you know exactly what you can expect from us. We will also provide a clear financial picture, in line with your personnel budget so that you will not be faced with any unpleasant surprises.
• Appointed gardeners stay with your property each year. This team understand your schedule, how you wish to have the property maintained and what colors you like for your pots, beds and special events. This team is supervised by Peter Atkins or Mary Ann Henry daily.
We are proud to announce that we have been an accreted Northeast Organic Land Care business now 23 years. We will NOT use any chemicals on our property that will do harm to the natural work, the land, the water, pets and people or mother earth. Our goal is to maximize a property’s top value while minimizing its environmental impact in how it is maintained currently and the years to follow. Horticulture is a science that supports beautiful healthy gardens. Is science supporting your landscape maintenance program?
Wellington House (Dog)
North Stamford, CT
"I have never met anyone who knows and who cares more about plants than Peter Atkins. After hiring multiple people to create a garden for my shady yard and then it not looking or growing the way I wanted, I had almost given up on having a cottage garden. I’m so glad that I didn’t and when a friend saw a message on "Next Door" about Peter Atkins, I reached out with hope for a knowledgably gardener. From planning to installation and periodic maintenance to the perennial garden, Peter been kind, patient, and beyond knowledgeable. I completely trusted all of his recommendations—his eye for detail and creativity are outstanding. This year we had a drought for three months, Peter lost one Red Twig Dogwood and that is amazing since we do not have an irrigation system".
Peter Atkins and Mary Ann Henry are the eyes and ears behind our family business. We are a hand on owners, meaning we will arrive at your property when the team is working. We will keep the communications channel simple with direct communication always. At the conclusion of all daily work for the week or project Peter will send a email sharing what was completed that day and what is planned for the next visits. This is also a time to keep the communication channel focused on you.
Tulips Dance in Garden
LARRY
Katonah, NY
"Peter is a great communicator and is excellent to work with. He and his team not only possesses excellent plant knowledge, but their recommendations for cutting gardens, vegetable garden and perennial gardens have been spot on. The landscaping is gorgeous, all the plants, trees and shrubs are thriving and perfectly situated. I am now able to entertain and enjoy this space every day. I highly recommend Peter!"
We are proud to be an accredited Organic Land Care (NOFA) company.
Accredited Horticulturists (Study in Soil Science, Botany and Chemistry)
Why use an ACCREDITED HORTICULTURIST
Team Performing Necessary Fine Gardening Projects
Seasonal color changes occur three times per year; tulips, primroses, daffodils in February and March, geraniums, petunias, begonias in May and June, and pansies, mums, kale in September and October. Seasonal flowers and textures brighten all spaces and work beautifully to highlight focal areas such as entrances, beds and borders, long driveways, driveway gated entrances and anywhere the imagination request vibrant color and contrast.
Pamela S
North Greenwich, CT
"Everything, from start to finish, was a great experience working with Peter supervised gardeners. During the consultation, Peter and Maryann was thorough in making sure we understood what we wanted. Initially we were looking to complete a border area of the yard with ongoing maintenance as our grass cutter is great at cutting grass but has no horticultural background. They pruned our shrubs into mushrooms until Peter arrived and stop that nonsense. Now a year later the shrubs and trees actually show off their beauty and those razor cuts we once had have disappeared. Peter is a pleasure to work with, and his care, patience and knowledge are what made everything come together beautifully"
MARK
New Canaan, CT
"Peter is very creative and easy to work with. He anticipates growth patterns and advices the client on area that money can be saved by not over lapping services. Maintenance gardeners do a consistently superb job and if we ever have an issue (which is very infrequent) Peter ensures it is corrected and doesn't happen again."
Peter Atkins and Associates is a proud accredited North East Organic Land Care (NOFA) business. Peter Atkins and his plant health care technicians are licensed and accredited with NOFA. We all had to pass a meticulous state exam in each state and must recertify each year. Approximately 800 plus professionals from 18 states are accredited by NOFA.
Have you ever noticed that some landscapes and gardens seem to glow with healthy vitality while others appear a bit more scraggly and unimpressive? The difference between a garden with exceptional beauty and one that blends in or even looks unattractive often comes down to the health of the plants AND the organic soils that support those planting beds.
Just like us, plants need food to be strong, rich in color and nonstop flowering. Most people we talk with initially will tell us they have Never fed their plants. Wow, you eat a meal daily, Plant also require food found in fertilizers, compost and organic soils left on the beds. Plant health care is about responsibility.
You want your garden to be beautiful and you want your investments into plants to pay off in beautiful landscaping, so you want your plants to stay healthy. Plants don't just stay healthy on their own.
Active planning and treatments are needed if you expect your plants to stay as healthy as possible. In short, if you have plants and care about how they do and whether they look good, you need plant health care. Here are some of the reasons that you need to be on top of plant health care.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT PLANT HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR YOUR PROPERTY?
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAWN NEEDS FOOD AND REMEDIES TO KEEP IT HEALTHY
BUT
WHAT ABOUT YOUR SHRUBS AND TREES...WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ACTUALLY GAVE THEM SOME VITAMINS? WE HEAR THIS OFTEN,.... MY SHRUBS AND TREES WERE FED WHEN THEY WERE PLANTED IS THAT NOT ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEM?
Fertilizer last 12 months. Plants require annual feeding, that is a fact.
Choose Peter Atkins and Associates as Your Plant Health Care Specialist
We work with two highly trained companies that are experts in providing the absolute best care to plants in the hamlet towns around Bedford, NY in both Westchester and Fairfield County. They use only the most cost-effective and environmentally sensitive practices and treatments to maintain and improve the appearance and vitality of your landscape.
We can identify and detect all sorts of pests and diseases which may be affecting your garden. They have treatments, prescriptions and management programs to fit every problem, budget, and garden.
Finally, we offer integrated pest monitoring so that you'll know if something unwanted arrives in your garden right away. Peter Atkins and Associates is experienced in treating and preventing the Emerald Ash Borer, along with other pests and diseases, so you can feel confident that your trees will be safe from this pest as it moves into your area.
Beverly
North Stamford, CT
“Professional honest prices, program with 7 application treatments actually does what Peter Atkins said it does. Applications are fantastic!”. This lawn was a disaster zone and now two years later I can see that it will be showpiece in the 3rd year.
By utilizing natural soil supplements and organic fertilizers, the Organic Base program builds up the strength and health of your lawn naturally. This program also makes use of integrated treatments to keep pests and weeds in check.
As your lawn becomes organically richer, these non-organic treatments can often be reduced over time. Organic-Based care works well as both a stand alone program and as a gateway to Pure Organic lawn care.
A healthy, thick lawn with a diversity of turf species protects itself naturally. The 100% organic fertilizers and treatments in this program help create biologically sound, hearty turf. This program also focuses on improving soil conditions with compost, compost tea and other natural soil supplements. We follow the core standard for the Northeast Organic Land Care standards (NOFA). We use no chemical imputes or synthetic products on any of our lawns. This projects you soil, water, air, children's, pets, mother earth and your family from anything that can harm you.
(We have three rescue dogs)
Stamford, CT
" Peter Atkins team did everything I asked, and then some. I was so pleased that Selvin and Jose see what needed to be done without being told, and jumped right on anything specific I asked them to do. Always cheerful and willing to help. In and out in the designated timeframe and I couldn’t be happier. I’d rate their work above and beyond my expectations. This same team has been pruning, weeding and maintaining our property for seven years now. Always with top value."
We have known Peter for a couple of years as we live in the same small quiet town. I had no idea he was involved in grounds maintenance. My only complaint was not calling on him sooner. He and his crew did an amazing job cleaning up our 1.5 acre yard and the cost effectiveness was well worth it. Much appreciated.
User
Peter takes wonderful care of our landscape. We feel very fortunate to have his advice and services. He has a fantastic eye for designing harmonious planting spaces. He is a meticulous planner and delivers everything that he promises. His exceptional crew brings his visions to life and they take great care of our property. We strongly recommend Peter and his team!
Designing installing and maintaining gardens
Peter and his team have provided fine garden maintenance on my property for the past two seasons. I reached out to them because, after many attempts at hiring landscapers to maintain my planting beds, the results were always the same. Plants lost to disease, improperly pruned annuals trimmed at the wrong time of year, and the use of chainsaws on all shrubs made me realize I needed a company that was schooled in fine garden design and maintenance. Fortunately, online research led me to Peter's company. After meeting to discuss my goals and hearing his plans, I was thrilled at the possibilities. The transformation was nothing short of magical! The gardens became stunning displays of natur...
Houzz User
When I contacted Peter he was enthusiastic about our smallish project to renovate the circle area of our driveway. In the late winter we met and spoke about the goals. After a careful review he gave us a quote which was reasonable and filled all our desires and more for the project. I would reservedly recommend using him for a landscaping project. In fact there are other areas of our property that we may work on with him in the future. (The actual cost was at the very low end of the approximate cost range.)
John Zimmerman
Peter took care of a very personal garden area of mine and always made it beautiful. He is very flexible with ideas and budgets and continually created just what I wanted. He is very reliable, completely knowledgeable and I feel has a great love for his work. I would recommend Peter highly.
Andrea Peattie
We have known Peter for a couple of years as we live in the same small quiet town. I had no idea he was involved in grounds maintenance. My only complaint was not calling on him sooner. He and his crew did an amazing job cleaning up our 1.5 acre yard and the cost effectiveness was well worth it. Much appreciated.
User
Peter takes wonderful care of our landscape. We feel very fortunate to have his advice and services. He has a fantastic eye for designing harmonious planting spaces. He is a meticulous planner and delivers everything that he promises. His exceptional crew brings his visions to life and they take great care of our property. We strongly recommend Peter and his team!
Designing installing and maintaining gardens
Peter and his team have provided fine garden maintenance on my property for the past two seasons. I reached out to them because, after many attempts at hiring landscapers to maintain my planting beds, the results were always the same. Plants lost to disease, improperly pruned annuals trimmed at the wrong time of year, and the use of chainsaws on all shrubs made me realize I needed a company that was schooled in fine garden design and maintenance. Fortunately, online research led me to Peter's company. After meeting to discuss my goals and hearing his plans, I was thrilled at the possibilities. The transformation was nothing short of magical! The gardens became stunning displays of natur...
Houzz User
When I contacted Peter he was enthusiastic about our smallish project to renovate the circle area of our driveway. In the late winter we met and spoke about the goals. After a careful review he gave us a quote which was reasonable and filled all our desires and more for the project. I would reservedly recommend using him for a landscaping project. In fact there are other areas of our property that we may work on with him in the future. (The actual cost was at the very low end of the approximate cost range.)
John Zimmerman
Peter took care of a very personal garden area of mine and always made it beautiful. He is very flexible with ideas and budgets and continually created just what I wanted. He is very reliable, completely knowledgeable and I feel has a great love for his work. I would recommend Peter highly.
Andrea Peattie
We have known Peter for a couple of years as we live in the same small quiet town. I had no idea he was involved in grounds maintenance. My only complaint was not calling on him sooner. He and his crew did an amazing job cleaning up our 1.5 acre yard and the cost effectiveness was well worth it. Much appreciated.
User
Let's talk about your dream yard
Initial consultations is $150 fee. This will be returned back to you when you sign a contract with us. Peter Atkins will come to your property, listen to your ideas and talk about how we can work together to create your dream landscape.
Tell us about your landscape goals! Are you interested in stonework, a new planting installation, habitat restoration, or maintenance services for a natural-looking landscape? Or maybe all of the above?
Book a FREE Discovery Call (914) 234 -0161 to learn more about how we can create a functional and Beautifully designed space that's uniquely you.
PLEASE SEND ME US AN EMAIL - PeterAtkinsandAssociates@gmail.com
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