DISCLAIMER: Garden Cycles LLC; Lic# GARDECL825RM; Apr 15, 2024 version
DISCLAIMER: Garden Cycles LLC; Lic# GARDECL825RM; http://gardencycles.com/; (206) 650-9807
As a Limited Liability Company, Garden Cycles LLC, DBA Garden Cycles, is able to accept work in inherently risky environments provided that you, the property owner, have an awareness that – having domain over owned land and any workers you hire – that landowners assume the risks of soil slides/movement which could be due to cumulative factors such as normal bluff retreat, exacerbated by weather, climate change, earthquakes, unconsolidated fill dirt or other unknown soil characteristics, improperly drained roof runoff, surface and underground water flow from adjacent areas or properties, decades of logging/development/tree and plant removal by current or previous landowners, and the encroachment of weak-rooted invasive or ornamental plants.
As a “restoration practitioner,” Garden Cycles LLC services mostly forested areas or chooses to work with clients who want to maximize their ecological contribution to remnant forests, meaning, restoring ecological function: stormwater retention (lawn reductions, re-vegetation and soil improvements), habitat value (native plants), and reducing invasive seed sources (removal of ivy, holly, laurel, Himalayan blackberry, etc.).
Garden Cycles is licensed (GARDECL825RM), bonded, insured, and insured for personal injury with Labor and Industries industrial insurance, which can be verified at: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/. For contracts over $1000, L&I asks customers to sign a disclosure statement to inform the customer of rights to a $6000 bond for valid claims against work, and of a potential lien against your property in case of non-payment of a materials-supplier or subcontractor. A signed statement is not necessary on my behalf because I operate on a pay-as-we-go-Time & Materials basis, and ask for deposits before purchasing materials. Here is a link for your information (https://www.lni.wa.gov/Forms/pdf/F625-030-000.pdf).
Choosing Garden Cycles' plant expertise and any steep-slope "vegetation restoration" needs to be a conscious decision by you, the landowner, weighing tradeoffs between vegetative management and geo-technical engineering (retaining walls, pin piles, etc.). Native vegetation enhancements as preventative measures are less expensive, having little soil-binding benefits in the short term, with increasing benefits starting in 3-5 years and improving with age. Even though I chemically treat invasive stems, leaving roots in the ground to slowly decay, it’s important to note that the transition from shallow-rooted invasive plants entails a risk exposure when roots of native plants have yet to establish, when geo-textile fabrics are the main protection to reduce surface erosion. If the landowner is risk-averse, or if a slope appears precarious, we may advise delaying herbicide treatment of any invasive roots and begin with planting deeper-rooted natives among the invasive infestation. If a slope is in motion or appears to threaten life or property, call 911. It is always advisable to consult a qualified geo-technical engineer.
Geo-technical engineering has immediate benefits to assess soils and address slide concerns beyond Garden Cycles' capabilities, and geo-techs are sometimes necessary to mitigate shifting soils near homes and foundations. But often in larger natural areas, the price of geo-tech reports alone plus conservative recommendations could be too costly to implement, suggesting a careful comparison on return on investment. Geo-techs often recommend vegetative restoration, with invasive plant removal and native re-vegetation having aesthetic and wildlife benefits, plus soil-binding qualities that can rival geo-engineering over time. This can be verified, with qualifications, in the Dept of Ecology resource, https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/9331.pdf.
Nonetheless, it's always a good idea to have soil analysis and perspective from qualified geo-techs (http://www.seattlegeotech.org/firms.html), and proper permitting intended to limit overzealous clearing and ensure replanting and proper weeding/maintenance (http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Publications/CAM/cam331.pdf, if applicable). It is the responsibility of the landowner to handle any necessary permits, or accept the punitive consequences of not getting permits. It’s also important, and the responsibility of the landowner, to inform adjacent landowners of your efforts, and to have a consensus moving forward.
Know that generally, plants can't stop a moving slope, but are a preventative measure to reduce the rate of slides. Restoration is usually done with smaller plants that are less expensive, that have a greater likelihood of survival, that grow at a faster rate and establish better root systems than nursery root-bound plants. 100% plant survival is never guaranteed due to various factors such as soil and sun conditions, and budget for mulch and watering. We expect a percentage of plant mortality in restoration, therefore practitioners plant densely to account for expected losses, and to create shade that suppresses weed re-infestations, pre-placing, thinning or “windowing” trees later as needed for views and proper spacing, and letting shrubs and groundcovers battle for space in what we hope will be a native thicket. This is aesthetically different than ornamental landscaping, but more attractive to pollinators, birds, and wildlife. We rarely remove organic matter from site (unless diseased or a seed source), rather, we use woody debris or purchased coir logs as cross-slope nurse logs to slow water and erosion (helping us more safely navigate slopes without sloughing excessive soil). Logs are temporarily secured with wooden stakes that are intended to break down and feed soil food webs, so I cannot assume other’s risks of walking/working on the slope. We also use woody debris to build “habitat piles” for birds, or we may chip brush for mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce kindling loads.
To proceed on any slope work or planning, I need you, the landowner, to respond to this email that you understand that there are cost/benefit choices with unknowns, and that you agree to accept risks of soil movement for less-expensive-slower-benefits of vegetation restoration. If you do decide on vegetative restoration, you also need to weigh the costs, risks and permitting requirements for aggressive restoration (herbicide applications that are more efficient/cheaper, leaving decaying roots in the ground to temporarily hold and build soil) vs. conservative restoration (pruning of invasives, leaving invasive roots alive until supplanted by native plants) considering the greater cost and the exposed period of manual slope work (foot traffic, soil erosion from maintenance weeding, weight of mulching, prolonged period of work and excessive commuting).
Garden Cycles is a licensed Commercial Applicator specializing in woodland and aquatic herbicide applications which can be verified at: https://agr.wa.gov/services/licenses-permits-and-certificates/pesticide-license-and-recertification/pesticide-and-spi-licensing/license-search). The herbicides and surfactants that we use are vetted by the Dept. of Ecology, Dept. of Agriculture, and various city and county municipalities tasked with protecting environmental and human health. Our products are deemed wetland-safe and human-safe when used as directed, and Garden Cycles is practiced at minimizing quantities used with targeted cut-and-paint or injection methods, and we avoid off-target damage when sprays are a necessity. It is not our intention to promote pesticide use, but we believe herbicide is a tool to reduce greater harms of soil erosion or neglect of invasive infestations that are prone to pest outbreaks and zoonotic diseases. A rationale for herbicide used in restoration can be found at: https://www.seedrain.org/herbicide-info.html. Property owners should consider this perspective augmented with additional research/reading, and proceed with “best practice” chemical methods only after accepting the health-risk and environmental-cost tradeoffs of chemical removal methods. Note that “organic” manual removal methods may well have greater toxicities from pollution deposited in soils and emulsified with soil disturbance, resulting in erosion that exacerbates tainted stormwater that can affect the health of salmon, orcas, and humans. While we are relatively skilled to avoid drift during herbicide applications, on rare occasions, translocation and damage to non-target plants may occur, including to ornamental plants. We cannot accept all risks of sentimental replacement value, only that we are willing to replant replacement native plants.
With or without proper permitting, Garden Cycles employs best-management practices assuming that invasive removal (usually with judicious use of herbicide) will be followed by the application of erosion control materials (coir matting blankets, jute, burlap, wood straw, woody debris placement, constructed wood supports, mulch, and coir or straw wattles). And we assume that invasive removal and erosion protection work will be followed by replanting of native plants and maintenance (weeding) until native plant communities establish, usually 3-5 years. Even with skilled herbicide applications, invasive removal is never 100% given weed-seed pressures on and off-site, particularly with knotweed where the vast root system may cross property boundaries or be inaccessible under pavement or building structures, or due to premature pruning. Weeding maintenance should be expected for 3 -5 years or as needed, whether by the landowner, Garden Cycles, or another crew.
Please note that Garden Cycles cannot accept risks of mishaps from the delivery of woodchips. You may request free or low-cost arborists’ woodchips at: https://getchipdrop.com (follow their directions carefully). Quantity and quality vary, and the date of delivery is never guaranteed – it depends on your bid offer that bumps you up the queue, whether tree crews are in the vicinity. You may also request logs that can be useful on slopes, kept round, or better split and placed as mulch next to new plantings which is labor-expensive. The size of their load varies (no partial dumps), and you must have a spot clearly marked, free of overhead wires, and open for the duration until the load is delivered, from days to months, sometimes not at all. Garden Cycles may also purchase a woodchip delivery at a price for a more dependable quantity and delivery date. Note that spores from composting woodchips can be a (usually temporary) lung-hazard (congestion) requiring at the least a fitted N-95 masks or respirator. Spore exposures combined with flu or COVID symptoms suggest hiring professionally-equipped, non-smoking healthy workers.
Also note that Garden Cycles does not necessarily fell trees over 6” DBH (diameter at breast height) unless the site is remote enough to be done safely, so any treated invasive trees that pose a hazard are the responsibility of the landowner to hire a tree service for such work. Any tree removal that is done too soon after treatment may have reduced effects on preventing re-sprouts. Stump removal is not recommended – the point of herbicide is to leave rotting roots in the ground to hold and improve soil.
Most of Garden Cycles’ work is in remnant forests for municipal clients. I strive to share our expertise with individual landowners, but I must prioritize public clients in peak summer/fall seasons. To account for time managing and communicating with individual clients, and to avoid over-estimating (to account for unknowns and incidental time), I work only on a Time & Materials & Mileage basis. I do not offer free estimates and may charge a minimum 4 hrs for site visits at $75/hr Project Mgt (PM) rates to account for setup/administrative time. I can ballpark a rough estimate and can discuss progress and contingencies at monthly billing intervals well before I approach the initial ballpark figure. We suggest that you set a budget that covers Best Practice basics (invasive removal, erosion protection, replanting and plant maintenance), and I will get as much done as possible on a T&M basis. I always strive to maximize cost efficiency given a surplus of available work and the amount of work that needs to be done.
My starting rate is $75/labor hour plus materials, for time on site, set-up and clean-up at HQ, and time on the road, an 8-hr minimum. For repeat business, this may change to my bulk rate at $65/hr, plus same as above, except for chainsawing, rappelling, rush jobs. Payment may be made by check, or through Zelle to my CHASE checking account with the email identifier [email protected]. I do not yet accept credit cards. I do not offer “consultations” for DIY do-it-yourselfers due to potential liability, but rather will work alongside you at our short-term coaching rate. If time is available, we can offer a restoration plan at $75/hr. Essentially, I invoice for all time dedicated to your job, whether for initial site visits, estimates, on-site work, transport, materials, materials procurement, communications, and any time spent on complications.
There may be variable rates depending on seasonal work flow and ability to pay, with a sliding scale prioritizing combined neighborhood efforts to reduce invasive seed sources (mainly ivy tree rings, and injections of holly, hawthorn, European Mt Ash, bird cherry, and laurel).
Employing the services of Garden Cycles LLC is “at will” for both the landowner and Garden Cycles, and services may stop or change according to changing circumstances. However, slope restoration in process should not be abandoned if neglected vegetation poses risks, so Garden Cycles may ask that homeowners assume responsibility in writing for maintenance of restoration, or that another qualified practitioner take over the job. Any rate changes will be announced prior to commencing work.
Before accepting any work, you will be asked to sign and date a hard copy to acknowledge that affected landowners understand the limits of vegetative restoration and accept all risks of commissioning our work.
As a Limited Liability Company, Garden Cycles LLC, DBA Garden Cycles, is able to accept work in inherently risky environments provided that you, the property owner, have an awareness that – having domain over owned land and any workers you hire – that landowners assume the risks of soil slides/movement which could be due to cumulative factors such as normal bluff retreat, exacerbated by weather, climate change, earthquakes, unconsolidated fill dirt or other unknown soil characteristics, improperly drained roof runoff, surface and underground water flow from adjacent areas or properties, decades of logging/development/tree and plant removal by current or previous landowners, and the encroachment of weak-rooted invasive or ornamental plants.
As a “restoration practitioner,” Garden Cycles LLC services mostly forested areas or chooses to work with clients who want to maximize their ecological contribution to remnant forests, meaning, restoring ecological function: stormwater retention (lawn reductions, re-vegetation and soil improvements), habitat value (native plants), and reducing invasive seed sources (removal of ivy, holly, laurel, Himalayan blackberry, etc.).
Garden Cycles is licensed (GARDECL825RM), bonded, insured, and insured for personal injury with Labor and Industries industrial insurance, which can be verified at: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/. For contracts over $1000, L&I asks customers to sign a disclosure statement to inform the customer of rights to a $6000 bond for valid claims against work, and of a potential lien against your property in case of non-payment of a materials-supplier or subcontractor. A signed statement is not necessary on my behalf because I operate on a pay-as-we-go-Time & Materials basis, and ask for deposits before purchasing materials. Here is a link for your information (https://www.lni.wa.gov/Forms/pdf/F625-030-000.pdf).
Choosing Garden Cycles' plant expertise and any steep-slope "vegetation restoration" needs to be a conscious decision by you, the landowner, weighing tradeoffs between vegetative management and geo-technical engineering (retaining walls, pin piles, etc.). Native vegetation enhancements as preventative measures are less expensive, having little soil-binding benefits in the short term, with increasing benefits starting in 3-5 years and improving with age. Even though I chemically treat invasive stems, leaving roots in the ground to slowly decay, it’s important to note that the transition from shallow-rooted invasive plants entails a risk exposure when roots of native plants have yet to establish, when geo-textile fabrics are the main protection to reduce surface erosion. If the landowner is risk-averse, or if a slope appears precarious, we may advise delaying herbicide treatment of any invasive roots and begin with planting deeper-rooted natives among the invasive infestation. If a slope is in motion or appears to threaten life or property, call 911. It is always advisable to consult a qualified geo-technical engineer.
Geo-technical engineering has immediate benefits to assess soils and address slide concerns beyond Garden Cycles' capabilities, and geo-techs are sometimes necessary to mitigate shifting soils near homes and foundations. But often in larger natural areas, the price of geo-tech reports alone plus conservative recommendations could be too costly to implement, suggesting a careful comparison on return on investment. Geo-techs often recommend vegetative restoration, with invasive plant removal and native re-vegetation having aesthetic and wildlife benefits, plus soil-binding qualities that can rival geo-engineering over time. This can be verified, with qualifications, in the Dept of Ecology resource, https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/9331.pdf.
Nonetheless, it's always a good idea to have soil analysis and perspective from qualified geo-techs (http://www.seattlegeotech.org/firms.html), and proper permitting intended to limit overzealous clearing and ensure replanting and proper weeding/maintenance (http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Publications/CAM/cam331.pdf, if applicable). It is the responsibility of the landowner to handle any necessary permits, or accept the punitive consequences of not getting permits. It’s also important, and the responsibility of the landowner, to inform adjacent landowners of your efforts, and to have a consensus moving forward.
Know that generally, plants can't stop a moving slope, but are a preventative measure to reduce the rate of slides. Restoration is usually done with smaller plants that are less expensive, that have a greater likelihood of survival, that grow at a faster rate and establish better root systems than nursery root-bound plants. 100% plant survival is never guaranteed due to various factors such as soil and sun conditions, and budget for mulch and watering. We expect a percentage of plant mortality in restoration, therefore practitioners plant densely to account for expected losses, and to create shade that suppresses weed re-infestations, pre-placing, thinning or “windowing” trees later as needed for views and proper spacing, and letting shrubs and groundcovers battle for space in what we hope will be a native thicket. This is aesthetically different than ornamental landscaping, but more attractive to pollinators, birds, and wildlife. We rarely remove organic matter from site (unless diseased or a seed source), rather, we use woody debris or purchased coir logs as cross-slope nurse logs to slow water and erosion (helping us more safely navigate slopes without sloughing excessive soil). Logs are temporarily secured with wooden stakes that are intended to break down and feed soil food webs, so I cannot assume other’s risks of walking/working on the slope. We also use woody debris to build “habitat piles” for birds, or we may chip brush for mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce kindling loads.
To proceed on any slope work or planning, I need you, the landowner, to respond to this email that you understand that there are cost/benefit choices with unknowns, and that you agree to accept risks of soil movement for less-expensive-slower-benefits of vegetation restoration. If you do decide on vegetative restoration, you also need to weigh the costs, risks and permitting requirements for aggressive restoration (herbicide applications that are more efficient/cheaper, leaving decaying roots in the ground to temporarily hold and build soil) vs. conservative restoration (pruning of invasives, leaving invasive roots alive until supplanted by native plants) considering the greater cost and the exposed period of manual slope work (foot traffic, soil erosion from maintenance weeding, weight of mulching, prolonged period of work and excessive commuting).
Garden Cycles is a licensed Commercial Applicator specializing in woodland and aquatic herbicide applications which can be verified at: https://agr.wa.gov/services/licenses-permits-and-certificates/pesticide-license-and-recertification/pesticide-and-spi-licensing/license-search). The herbicides and surfactants that we use are vetted by the Dept. of Ecology, Dept. of Agriculture, and various city and county municipalities tasked with protecting environmental and human health. Our products are deemed wetland-safe and human-safe when used as directed, and Garden Cycles is practiced at minimizing quantities used with targeted cut-and-paint or injection methods, and we avoid off-target damage when sprays are a necessity. It is not our intention to promote pesticide use, but we believe herbicide is a tool to reduce greater harms of soil erosion or neglect of invasive infestations that are prone to pest outbreaks and zoonotic diseases. A rationale for herbicide used in restoration can be found at: https://www.seedrain.org/herbicide-info.html. Property owners should consider this perspective augmented with additional research/reading, and proceed with “best practice” chemical methods only after accepting the health-risk and environmental-cost tradeoffs of chemical removal methods. Note that “organic” manual removal methods may well have greater toxicities from pollution deposited in soils and emulsified with soil disturbance, resulting in erosion that exacerbates tainted stormwater that can affect the health of salmon, orcas, and humans. While we are relatively skilled to avoid drift during herbicide applications, on rare occasions, translocation and damage to non-target plants may occur, including to ornamental plants. We cannot accept all risks of sentimental replacement value, only that we are willing to replant replacement native plants.
With or without proper permitting, Garden Cycles employs best-management practices assuming that invasive removal (usually with judicious use of herbicide) will be followed by the application of erosion control materials (coir matting blankets, jute, burlap, wood straw, woody debris placement, constructed wood supports, mulch, and coir or straw wattles). And we assume that invasive removal and erosion protection work will be followed by replanting of native plants and maintenance (weeding) until native plant communities establish, usually 3-5 years. Even with skilled herbicide applications, invasive removal is never 100% given weed-seed pressures on and off-site, particularly with knotweed where the vast root system may cross property boundaries or be inaccessible under pavement or building structures, or due to premature pruning. Weeding maintenance should be expected for 3 -5 years or as needed, whether by the landowner, Garden Cycles, or another crew.
Please note that Garden Cycles cannot accept risks of mishaps from the delivery of woodchips. You may request free or low-cost arborists’ woodchips at: https://getchipdrop.com (follow their directions carefully). Quantity and quality vary, and the date of delivery is never guaranteed – it depends on your bid offer that bumps you up the queue, whether tree crews are in the vicinity. You may also request logs that can be useful on slopes, kept round, or better split and placed as mulch next to new plantings which is labor-expensive. The size of their load varies (no partial dumps), and you must have a spot clearly marked, free of overhead wires, and open for the duration until the load is delivered, from days to months, sometimes not at all. Garden Cycles may also purchase a woodchip delivery at a price for a more dependable quantity and delivery date. Note that spores from composting woodchips can be a (usually temporary) lung-hazard (congestion) requiring at the least a fitted N-95 masks or respirator. Spore exposures combined with flu or COVID symptoms suggest hiring professionally-equipped, non-smoking healthy workers.
Also note that Garden Cycles does not necessarily fell trees over 6” DBH (diameter at breast height) unless the site is remote enough to be done safely, so any treated invasive trees that pose a hazard are the responsibility of the landowner to hire a tree service for such work. Any tree removal that is done too soon after treatment may have reduced effects on preventing re-sprouts. Stump removal is not recommended – the point of herbicide is to leave rotting roots in the ground to hold and improve soil.
Most of Garden Cycles’ work is in remnant forests for municipal clients. I strive to share our expertise with individual landowners, but I must prioritize public clients in peak summer/fall seasons. To account for time managing and communicating with individual clients, and to avoid over-estimating (to account for unknowns and incidental time), I work only on a Time & Materials & Mileage basis. I do not offer free estimates and may charge a minimum 4 hrs for site visits at $75/hr Project Mgt (PM) rates to account for setup/administrative time. I can ballpark a rough estimate and can discuss progress and contingencies at monthly billing intervals well before I approach the initial ballpark figure. We suggest that you set a budget that covers Best Practice basics (invasive removal, erosion protection, replanting and plant maintenance), and I will get as much done as possible on a T&M basis. I always strive to maximize cost efficiency given a surplus of available work and the amount of work that needs to be done.
My starting rate is $75/labor hour plus materials, for time on site, set-up and clean-up at HQ, and time on the road, an 8-hr minimum. For repeat business, this may change to my bulk rate at $65/hr, plus same as above, except for chainsawing, rappelling, rush jobs. Payment may be made by check, or through Zelle to my CHASE checking account with the email identifier [email protected]. I do not yet accept credit cards. I do not offer “consultations” for DIY do-it-yourselfers due to potential liability, but rather will work alongside you at our short-term coaching rate. If time is available, we can offer a restoration plan at $75/hr. Essentially, I invoice for all time dedicated to your job, whether for initial site visits, estimates, on-site work, transport, materials, materials procurement, communications, and any time spent on complications.
There may be variable rates depending on seasonal work flow and ability to pay, with a sliding scale prioritizing combined neighborhood efforts to reduce invasive seed sources (mainly ivy tree rings, and injections of holly, hawthorn, European Mt Ash, bird cherry, and laurel).
Employing the services of Garden Cycles LLC is “at will” for both the landowner and Garden Cycles, and services may stop or change according to changing circumstances. However, slope restoration in process should not be abandoned if neglected vegetation poses risks, so Garden Cycles may ask that homeowners assume responsibility in writing for maintenance of restoration, or that another qualified practitioner take over the job. Any rate changes will be announced prior to commencing work.
Before accepting any work, you will be asked to sign and date a hard copy to acknowledge that affected landowners understand the limits of vegetative restoration and accept all risks of commissioning our work.
