A Clear Process For Growing A Stronger Relationship
With The Land
The Orchard Keepers Process
Orchard Keepers began with home orchard care in Santa Cruz and now provides edible garden care, native landscapes, irrigation systems, and ecological installation and maintenance across Santa Cruz County, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Portola Valley, Woodside, Los Altos Hills, and the greater South Bay. Across every phase of the process, the work is shaped by site conditions, local horticultural knowledge, clear communication, and long-term stewardship.
Orchard Keepers’ process begins with understanding the property, identifying priorities, and determining the best path for design, installation, or ongoing care. Everything starts with a phone conversation about your property, your goals, and what is or is not working today. For care projects, the next step is usually a site visit so our team can assess existing conditions, evaluate plant health, irrigation, soil, and site performance, and identify the initial work needed to move the landscape forward.
01. Start With Discovery
02. Assess The Site And Set Priorities
Next, we take a closer look at the land itself, including climate, soil, irrigation, plant health, and how you want to use the space. This step helps clarify what matters most now, what can wait, and which decisions will support better outcomes over time.
When a property needs more than routine care or small improvements, design becomes the next step. Orchard Keepers offers design support ranging from plant lists and concept sketches to more detailed plans for larger renovations and hardscape changes. This gives clients a clearer path for planting, irrigation, layout changes, and phased improvements.
03. Develop Design Plans When The Property Calls For It
04. Build, Plant, Or Improve The Landscape
For installation work, Orchard Keepers handles the landscape components needed to help the property function well over time, including planting, irrigation systems, hardscaping, and other supportive landscape elements. The goal is not simply to finish a project, but to put the right systems in place so the landscape can establish well and continue developing after the initial work is done.
05. Provide Ongoing Care And Clear Communication
Long-term care is a core part of the process. Our team’s maintenance work includes frequent visits, fruit tree care, pruning, fertilizing, pest and disease management, vegetable garden maintenance, and updates after visits so clients understand what was done and what needs attention next.
Trusted by Homeowners Who Care Deeply About Their Land
Very happy working with Orchard Keepers. They really listened to us and were patient with any last minute changes. They also removed a pond and planted a Mandarin tree. Armando was very creative with rock placement. Big improvement!! The site was cleaned up and everything hauled away.
Susan G., Google Reviews
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FAQS
Questions About How Our Process Works
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The process starts with a conversation about your property, your goals, and what is or is not working. That helps Orchard Keepers understand the site, identify early priorities, and determine whether the next step should be a site visit, design planning, or ongoing care.
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After the discovery phone call, most projects benefit from a paid on-site assessment, where the team evaluates plant health, irrigation, soil, existing conditions, and how the landscape is functioning overall. That visit shapes recommendations around what your property actually needs.
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Design becomes part of the process when a property needs more than routine care or small improvements. Orchard Keepers can develop site design plans to guide planting areas, irrigation updates, layout changes, and larger installation work with more clarity.
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Ongoing care can continue after installation when the property needs long-term horticultural support. That may include orchard care, garden maintenance, irrigation oversight, pruning, soil support, and seasonal attention to help the landscape establish well over time.
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Recommendations are based on site conditions, local growing knowledge, client goals, and the long-term health of the landscape. The process is meant to reduce guesswork and help clients make informed decisions about care, design, and installation.
Santa Cruz Area Landscape Care Rooted In Stewardship And Local Knowledge
A clear process helps you understand what your land needs now, what can wait, and what will support healthier growth over time. Schedule a consultation to talk through your property, your goals, and the best next step for design, installation, or ongoing care.