Edible & Ecological Landscapes
Landscape Planning & Planting Design —
Upstate South Carolina
Edible, native, and regenerative landscapes designed to thrive beautifully — producing food, supporting ecology, and becoming easier to care for over time — even if you’re not sure where to begin.
Most landscapes aren’t designed to perform over time.
Homeowners usually arrive here while planning a kitchen garden, struggling with a landscape that feels harder than it should, or trying to make thoughtful changes from the start.
Many gardens and landscapes are planned for immediate impact, not long-term success.
Plants are often chosen without the chance to fully consider soil, water, maintenance demands, or how the space will actually be used. The result may look good at first — then require constant input, replacements, and frustration.
Whether it’s a kitchen garden, a planting bed, or an entire property, sustainable results don’t happen by accident. They require thoughtful planning, systems thinking, and informed decisions from the start.
Too often, homeowners are left maintaining spaces that fight them instead of supporting them. Most people don’t realize this until they’re already in it — and that’s a very normal place to start.
Most clients reach out before they build, plant, or hire contractors — so the layout works the first time.
Edible and ecological landscapes, designed as integrated systems.
Kitchen gardens are often where clients begin — but they are just one part of a larger landscape system.
Southern Garden Solutions designs edible and ecological landscapes as integrated systems — combining food-producing plants, native species, and site-specific plantings for long-term performance. Soil health, water use, plant relationships, and maintenance rhythms are considered from the start — whether the project is a kitchen garden, a native landscape, or a full property design.
Clients may choose consulting and coaching support, full installation, or seasonal management, but the goal remains the same: landscapes that become more resilient and easier to care for over time.
A design-led approach, grounded in how real landscapes function.
Every project begins with understanding the landscape as a system — not just a collection of plants — and translating that complexity into clear, practical decisions. Soil conditions, water movement, sun exposure, and how the space will be used all inform the design from the start.
Edible and ecological landscapes are planned together, allowing food-producing plants, native species, and well-suited ornamental plantings to support one another rather than compete.This integrated approach improves resilience, reduces unnecessary inputs, and creates landscapes that become easier to care for over time.
Clients may work with Southern Garden Solutions through consulting, coaching, phased design, installation oversight, or long-term optimization—depending on the needs of the site and the stage of the project. Regardless of the path, the focus remains the same: thoughtful planning, clear decision-making, and landscapes designed to perform well beyond the first season.
A Clear Path Forward
01
Discovery and site analysis
02
Design and strategy
03
Implementation, coaching, or phased support
About Southern Garden Solutions
I’m a horticulture-trained garden designer working across the Upstate of South Carolina, where I was born and raised. I help homeowners plan edible and ecological landscapes that are practical, resilient, and designed to improve over time.
My work is grounded in horticultural science, site-specific analysis, and real-world experience — with the goal of helping clients feel confident making thoughtful decisions about their landscapes, whether they’re just starting out or refining something already in motion.
Ways to Work Together
Most clients don’t need everything — they just need the right starting point.
Consulting
Thoughtful, one-on-one guidance for clients who want clarity before moving forward. Consulting sessions focus on site conditions, goals, and practical strategies — whether you’re planning a kitchen garden, ecological planting, or a broader landscape direction.
Best for clients who want clear direction before moving forward — even if they’re not sure what the right questions are yet.
Garden Coaching
& Ongoing Care
Ongoing support for edible and ecological landscapes, tailored to how involved you want to be. Clients may choose hands-on coaching and guidance, or opt for professional landscape management and seasonal care. The focus is on keeping systems healthy, productive, and functioning well over time.
Best for clients who want ongoing guidance or seasonal support.
Design &
Installation
Comprehensive design services for edible and ecological landscapes, with installation coordinated through trusted partners. Projects are thoughtfully planned and professionally overseen to ensure long-term performance and design integrity.
Best for full-scale projects and long-term landscape transformation.
Planning the property before the garden
Projects sometimes begin before any garden or planting plan exists — often while preparing a new property or thinking through long-term changes.
In these cases, the first step isn’t installation or even garden design.
It begins with understanding how the land itself functions.
A focused land planning session looks at water movement, sun exposure, access, and use patterns to clarify where future gardens, structures, and plantings should live before decisions are made.
Client Experience
Working with Stephanie brought clarity to ideas I had struggled to articulate. I was looking for someone who could take what was in my head and translate it into a design that actually worked — and she delivered far beyond that.
She turned what felt like a basic concept into something thoughtful, balanced, and intentional. I now understand how much goes into a successful landscape — from design and materials to proportion and long-term function. Choosing Southern Garden Solutions was an excellent decision.”
— Ashley, Homeowner
