GETTING A GRIP ON YOUR GARDEN
A question for all enthusiastic gardeners who want to transform their yard but don’t know where to begin:
What’s really stopping you?
True or false: Your current yard isn’t working for you and your family
You want an outdoor space that’s functional and beautiful.
A space to entertain friends and let your kids or grandkids run around and play in. A space for you to relax in.
But right now? What you have is an eyesore.
An overgrown, shrubbery-rich space that’s more ‘sad droopy plants and last year’s Christmas tree’ than ‘thriving sanctuary’.
Every sunny day when you’d love nothing more than to relax on a sun-lounger with a good book in hand and a chilled beverage close by is a reminder of what you're missing out on.
Hosting BBQs, having a space for the whole family to enjoy, inviting your friends round to celebrate holidays together – nice ideas that grind to a halt every time you look out your kitchen window.
Every time your friends host you in their garden for the Fourth of July, you can’t help but look around enviously at the space they’ve got...
...and be instantly reminded of the overwhelm and frustration you feel.
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Because when it comes to getting your garden looking the exact way you want it to? You don’t even know where to begin.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to your garden, here’s a secret:
The answer doesn’t lie in buying another gardening book
And it doesn’t lie in buying fancy tools, shopping for more plants than you know what to do with, or watching hours of HGTV trying to get some inspiration for tackling your garden.
The truth is you’re tired of avoiding your garden but you have to grit your teeth and shake your head when your well-meaning spouse pleads with you to “just hire someone to do it all already”.
Because you’ve heard the horror stories of projects that finish up 10 times over budget, of people being unknowingly oversold on unnecessary add-ons, and of contractors who don’t listen and steamroll over their client’s ideas.
So, the idea of handing over your garden to someone else scares you: you don’t want to end up with a garden that looks nothing like what you want, doesn’t work for your family – and comes in at thousands of dollars over your carefully detailed budget.
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What you really want is to be able to take ownership of your yard – so that whether or not you eventually do hire a contractor to help build out your design, you’ll know exactly what you want, why, where, and for how much.
Instead of ending up as another garden-project-gone-wrong horror story your friends tell at dinner parties...
...you want to swerve that and feel in control of your garden transformation by being involved in the whole process of creating your dream garden from the ground up.
It’s your yard – so it makes sense that you’re the one who designs it
And it makes sense that you get to call the shots on what you include in the design and how much you end up spending.
The only problem?
You’re stuck.
Because instead of seeing a blank canvas of a yard, ripe with possibilities and opportunities…
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...you see a big old overwhelming amount of space.
You can’t fathom the idea of taking ownership of your yard and feeling in control of the process when you don’t even know where to begin.
What do you do first? Do you really need a vineyard?! What kind of plants will grow in this type of soil? Why does it have to be so complicated?!
Instead of leaving you feeling pumped and excited to get started, you feel overwhelmed and frustrated
And you can’t help but feel like you’re going to be stuck always imagining what your yard could be, avoiding hosting duties, and having to take your kids to the park to give them someplace to run around outside…
...instead of getting to have the garden you’ve always wanted to have, designed by you.
But what if you could turn your uninspiring yard into your dream garden – and learn all you need to know to take full ownership of the project in the process?
And what if you could finally….
Feel content when you look out on your garden from your kitchen window – and feel excited at the thought of hosting a party for your friends on your new terrace
Have a garden that is as beautiful to look at as it is to spend time in. A garden that’s filled with thriving plants, bountiful fruit trees and seating areas you won’t want to leave
Know how to design, care for, maintain and nurture your own ideal outdoor space from the ground up. An outdoor space that ticks all your boxes and rings all your bells
Be completely in the know and in control when it comes to the project of transforming your yard into the relaxing, inspiring, enjoyable oasis you’ve always wanted
...sounds pretty great, doesn’t it?
Well, here’s the good news: this can now be your reality
Introducing
Getting a Grip on Your Garden
A 6-week comprehensive virtual program where you’ll get actionable steps and personalized advice to help you design the garden of your dreams from the ground up – and learn everything you need to know to take full ownership of your garden transformation in the process.
Enrollment now Closed!
In Getting a Grip on Your Garden you’ll…
Get easy-to-follow videos and worksheets that guide and walk you through the steps to follow when planning and prepping your garden so that it’s ready to be transformed.
Learn how to analyze, measure and strategize your garden so you can start implementing changes and improvements straight away
Get personalized and custom advice from an expert Landscape Designer who’ll talk you through designing your dream garden from the ground up.
Leave equipped with all the know-how, resources and advice necessary to go make your vision a reality – without being oversold to, given the runaround or going over budget.
“Our backyard was completed a few weeks ago, and we are enjoying it every day.
“We wanted to replace the lawn and create an outdoor living area in the back that would feel like an extension of our home. We also wanted drought resistant plants and a more water efficient watering system. The problem was, we had no idea where to start. We were so impressed with the detail in Laura's final design plan. Our backyard was completed a few weeks ago, and we are enjoying it every day. We now have a large paver patio, a moss rock wall lining our back fence, and beautiful plants and trees surrounding our space. We have so much more usable space for the kids to run around, and to entertain. We would never have been able to come up with this design without Laura, and we are so thankful we found her!!” – Melinda S, Moraga, CA
“We are really happy with how everything turned out and we get so many compliments on our new yard.”
“Laura did an excellent job on our landscape project. She took our front yard, which was mostly dead grass and looked outdated, and totally revamped it for us. Laura has a very thorough and thoughtful process. From the beginning she comes up with several 'vision' options and talks through each one. We were not super knowledgeable about plants and she explained the pros and cons of each type. She took our feedback and revised the design. The contractor that did the demo and new irrigation and planting were also great and easy to work with. We wanted something low maintenance but drought tolerant and it turned out beautiful. We are really happy with how everything turned out and we get so many compliments on our new yard. Thanks Laura!” – Melissa B, San Francisco, CA
“When it comes to your garden, I firmly believe you deserve to have the outdoor space of your dreams”
I’m Laura Osteen – Landscape Designer, outdoor enthusiast, and California native.
I grew up appreciating the outdoor landscape at an early age, spending many hours in the garden, digging in the dirt, planting flowers, and hiking the surrounding hills.
I believe that everyone deserves to have an outdoor space that they can enjoy. Your yard is your immediate connection to nature and so I want for your garden to be a place that draws you outside and makes you want to linger a little longer...instead of being a place that makes you feel frustrated every time you look at it.
But I know that when it comes to transforming your yard into your dream outdoor space there are a myriad of potential problems and fears – especially if you’re determined to be involved in the process yourself and not necessarily hand it all off to someone else.
Working closely with my 1:1 clients to transform their yards into their very own sanctuaries gives me endless pleasure – but I also want to help enthusiastic amateur gardeners, like you, who want to be fully involved in their own yard transformation.
So that’s why I created Getting a Grip on Your Garden.
I’ll help you design your dream garden from the ground up and empower you with all the knowledge and skills you need so that you can be in full control of the project of turning your uninspiring yard into your idyllic oasis – whether or not you want to get your own hands dirty.
The only DIY gardening program that comes with your own gardening expert
With personalized feedback, direction and guidance from an experienced, certified Landscape Designer, here’s exactly what you can expect from Getting a Grip on Your Garden:
To sum it up? As part of Getting a Grip on Your Garden, you’ll get...
2 x 60-minute 1:1 consult calls to help you clarify and finalize your design
Bitesize “Gardening Guide” videos and detailed worksheets that guide you through each week’s objectives and show you how to undertake that week’s task in your garden and, step-by-step, create your garden design
Email support and accountability to help you work through any problems
Practical help and advice with determining things like bidding out to contractors, sticking to your budget, and creating an action plan so that your finished design actually gets brought to life on budget (and doesn’t get shelved for “one day”)
Help and advice with choosing a local nursery, selecting appropriate plants for your garden, and how to take care of and maintain those plants on a monthly basis
“Laura helped us complete our dream of having a functional, fun, gorgeous backyard! She did a great job working with our vision and shaping the yard into a useful space for all ages to enjoy...we could not be happier!!” – Ale L, San Francisco, CA
“We converted our front yard to a drought tolerant greenscape. Laura provided alternatives: design ideas and various plants that thrive in our area with relatively little maintenance. It was a pleasure to work with her, and we are excited with the result! Her advice is invaluable” – Judy L, Moraga, CA
It’s time to get a grip on your garden and finally get the yard of your dreams!
“As an experienced Landscape Designer, I’ve literally seen thousands of gardens and done hundreds of garden consults”
Join with confidence with the Secret Garden Landscape Happiness Guarantee
No matter who I visit, or what state their yard is in, every single person walks away with valuable, practical next steps to make their garden better. In Getting a Grip on Your Garden, you’re going to learn how to design your dream garden from the ground up so you can finally have an outdoor space you can be proud of and can enjoy to its fullest potential. Plus, you’re going to learn all you need to know so that you can take full ownership of your yard and avoid any potential pitfalls when it comes to bidding out to contractors or getting help to build out your design. Consider me your gardening advocate – you will be fully supported in the design and skill-building process. I’ll take you from feeling overwhelmed at not knowing where to begin with your garden to feeling confident and excited at the garden you’re going to be enjoying and nurturing for years to come. I truly believe in the value you’re going to get from Getting a Grip on Your Garden so much so that I’ve created the Secret Garden Landscapes Happiness Guarantee. If you apply for the program, get started with designing your dream garden by doing the prep work in weeks 1 and 2, and then decide it’s not for you? You can apply for a full refund.
“Our neighbors are all telling us how much they love our yard as well!”
“We couldn't be happier with how our yard turned out. Our neighbors are all telling us how much they love it as well. Laura is a fabulous landscape designer! She made our front yard dream landscape a reality. We found her to be an excellent listener with great ideas, a very creative mind, and practical solutions to some of our yard's biggest challenges. Her eye for design is absolutely impeccable - she turned our yard of dirt into a beautiful masterpiece. She was extremely responsive, easy to work with and exceed our expectations throughout each step of the project.” – Jennifer W, Moraga, CA
“Laura did a fabulous job designing our new front yard drought-tolerant landscape”
“Laura did a fabulous job designing our new front yard drought-tolerant landscape. She helped us select a well-integrated set of plantings that fit our tastes, and worked with our gardener to ensure that everything was planted correctly. It has been almost a year since the landscape was re-done and we are extremely happy with how it has turned out and how well-established it looks already. – W.D., Moraga, CA
Your dream garden design is just 6 weeks away...but let’s clear up any questions you might still have
Will this take up a lot of my time every week?
The time you’ll need to dedicate to the program is approximately 2-4 hours per week, but don’t worry – I will detail out exactly what you need to do each week so that your garden is prepped and primed to be transformed into your very own sanctuary. Gardening does take time! But by doing the work as part of Getting a Grip on Your Garden, you’ll not only save yourself hours of time. You’ll also save yourself thousands of dollars in wasted equipment and unsuitable plants, and you’ll avoid being oversold to by contractors because you’ll leave with a list of exactly what you need to bring your design to life.
I don’t live near you...can I still take part?
California is a beautiful place to garden...but yes, you can live anywhere in the USA and take part! As long as you have the enthusiasm, ability and time to dedicate to the program, you can learn how to turn your ugly or overrun yard into your very own sanctuary. As part of Getting a Grip on Your Garden, I will work to put you in contact with a locally run plant nursery to help you finalize the plant and materials list and so that you have a reliable ‘on-the-ground’ expert who can help you turn your design into a reality
Why do I need to fill in an application form?
I want to make sure that this program is the right fit for you. Also, because this is a hybrid gardening mentoring experience, I only have room for a limited number of participants each round. Priority will be given to those that qualify on a first come first serve basis. If there is not enough space for you this time round then you will be given priority in the next session of the program.
How do I know if this program is a right fit for me?
Are you passionate about gardening and want to develop your green thumb? Then this program will teach you everything you need to know about prepping, planning, cultivating and nurturing your dream garden. We work from the ground up, covering all the necessary elements of a garden design – but you’ll also leave more knowledgeable about garden maintenance, plant care, hiring contractors to build out your design, and how you can truly create a better ecosystem in your backyard.
“Laura did a fabulous job designing our new front yard drought-tolerant landscape”
“Laura did a fabulous job designing our new front yard drought-tolerant landscape. She helped us select a well-integrated set of plantings that fit our tastes. It has been almost a year since the landscape was re-done and we are extremely happy with how it has turned out and how well-established it looks already. – W.D., Moraga, CA
“Secret Garden Landscapes turned our backyard into a space we love to use!”
“Secret Garden Landscapes turned our backyard into a space we love to use! Now, our terraced garden has a beautiful seating area amongst a thoughtful variety of drought resistant and local plants. Laura's vision, knowledge, and passion for the craft showed through from beginning to end.” – Alison A, Moraga, CA
If you’re ready to stop feeling frustrated and stuck at the thought of transforming your yard into the garden you’ve always wanted – and you’re ready to put your budding green thumbs to work in designing your dream garden from the ground up...
...then it’s time to get a grip on your garden so you can finally start enjoying your backyard
In order to qualify for a full refund under the Secret Garden Landscape Happiness Guarantee, you must be able to provide evidence of having at least attempted to undertake the activities of weeks 1 and 2 (e.g. providing evidence of having filled in your worksheets, watched program videos, etc). I will also require you to hop on a quick call with me to explain why you are seeking a refund – sometimes it might just be a case of you feeling stuck and so I want to be able to give you the opportunity to get back on the right path towards your dream garden! If, having done all of this, you would still like a full refund, I will happily provide you with this. Refunds cannot be sought after week 2 of the program.