I received a Diploma in Forestry in 2004. Spanning over 20 years I have absorbed knowledge from various masters of the craft. I held lead positions such as : lawn & landscaping foreman, irrigation technician and stonemason helper.
To serve you with authentic transparency and create beautiful landscapes that you feel deeply connected too.
We believe in sustainable practices, incorporating native plants and conserving supplemental water. This would include gardens that are self sufficient, healthy and relatively easy to care for. Using practices like permaculture and xeriscaping you can achieve beauty, without breaking the bank. Some of these include: drought tolerant designs, raised garden beds, pollinator gardens, rain gardens and drip irrigation. These attract : mason bees, butterflies, birds, hummingbirds, lizards and worms. It is our goal to guide you in making the right choices with your property. Working with the laws of nature.
The client had clay and dead grass in front yard which lead to water problems down the side of their house. So we came up with a design solution that was both functional and elegant. We installed a flagstone patio with “sangina” placed into the crevices. We continued that same Vancouver Island stone into a random pathway that meanders into the back of the house. The drain rock stopped any potential flooding and is low maintenance. We added three deer resistant “raised garden beds” to balance out the slate . Many of the plants are native to Vancouver Island and deer resistant.
A simple front yard makeover makes our portfolio . On the left hand side we removed all the grass and planted an elegant garden that is deer resistant. The colors of the mulch and the reds of the rhodos matched the exteriors house color. Giving the house and garden a feeling of unity.
I smile every time I drive or walk up on our house. Love love the work you did and how it looks! I only hope we can take good care of it all so it thrives. You were a professional throughout our dealings and I think you will do very well in your business because you are easy to deal with, you listen to your customers, and your work is awesome. I am your advocate and will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone.
We want to thank you and let you know that we are very pleased with your garden design and installation work for the garden at the front of our home. You created a collaborative landscaping design that respected our wishes and incorporated your creativity, knowledge and sense of design. You did the work promptly, reliably and well. Your rates were fair and reasonable. It was a pleasure dealing with you from start to finish. We look forward to working with you on further garden re-design and installation work.
Shyam did a wonderful job in my garden. He responds promptly, does what he says he will do, and does a wonderful job. Most importantly, he knows garden design and appreciates what is already there, working with it and improving upon it. Shyam and Genevieve spent two days in my garden and made a tremendous difference, gave me several practical suggestions, and listened to what I envisioned as well. They show up on time and work hard. Most importantly, Shyam loves gardens. I would definitely hire Shyam again, and I’d also recommend him to anyone who wants their garden looked after entirely, requires seasonal help, or needs design ideas to create a dream garden
We have used Shyam’s services from the beginning of his enterprise and fully appreciate his energy, value, thoughtfulness and kindness.Because I cannot be a passionate gardener anymore I am glad to have found a worthy successor.
I contacted Salt of the Earth Landscaping after seeing their sign in front of a yard that was transformed from dead lawn / weed garden to an amazing garden sanctuary in just a few days. Shyam was able to understand what my intent was for my space and advised me on what plants to use for my specific conditions. Shyam’s ability to guide me through the process from start to finish was a welcome and refreshing change from most of the contractors I have dealt with. Shyam was able to take my incomplete vision and give it clarity. Most importantly, within my budget and in the timeline I had in mind. Salt of the Earth landscapings customer first approach to service makes me give them a 5 star rating and I would recommend them to help with any project from design to maintenance and everything in between.I will be contracting Salt of the Earth for my future projects.
I hired Salt of the Earth to landscape my back yard Garden, and I am so pleased with the outcome!Shyam has a creative mind for design, strict standards for work quality, and stands behind his work.He helped us conceive the designs, offered many new ideas, helped us select materials and plants, and executed with an eye for detail. He was open to our feedback along the way and made adjustments with ease.Once the job was complete, he was responsive to our follow-up questions and requests.He takes customer satisfaction very seriously. We look forward to working with him again!
I knew when I viewed Shyam’s work on his website that he was the landscaper for my front yard. I particularly liked his simple designs, and the way he incorporated rocks into many of his projects.Shyam was very persistent in trying to figure out what I wanted. I would have been happy to have him provide a design without my thoughts; however, I think in the end my minor input combined with his gardening knowledge and creativity gave me a front yard that is not only beautiful and unique, but it truly feels right for me.
I contacted Salt of the Earth on a whim because I liked the name. I was impressed with Shyam from the beginning. Our yard, back and front looked like no one cared. It was dull, lifeless, out of shape, boring, incomplete. Shyam did a “clean up” of both front and back and somehow it came to life even without any new plants. Just his thoughtful trimming, design and clearing out. I can’t wait to have him do a new design and add new plants, really put his knowledge and skill to work! I would recommend him to anyone any time. He listens and gets what his customer needs – he gets what the house and land needs.
Salt of the Earth Landscaping | Victoria, B.C