Gardens built for wet winters and dry Augusts.

Design, planting and seasonal care in Olympia and Thurston County. Native-first plans that need less water every year.

A brick house behind young white birches, with a clipped lawn, round-headed standard trees and a curving timber boardwalk — **Front garden, Tumwater, planted 2023.** Birch grove over shasta daisies and clipped boxwood. *Betula papyrifera, Leucanthemum × superbum, Buxus*

4.8 average from 150+ reviews (sample)
Since 2009 in Thurston County
Licensed, bonded, insured WA contractor (sample)
1-year plant guarantee If it dies, we replace it

The garden year, March to February

What we do in your garden each season, and when. Tap a season.

SpringMar-May SummerJun-Aug FallSep-Nov WinterDec-Feb

When each job is done, March to February
Job	March	April	June	September	October	November	December
Planting	March to May				October and November
Pruning			June and July, light pruning				December to February, dormant pruning
Mulching	March and April					November
Lawn care		April to June		September and October
Watering			June to September
Leaf clean-up					October to December

Main window Light work only

Spring visits

Cut back grasses and perennials before new growth
Plant and divide while the soil is cool and wet
Edge every bed and mulch to two inches
First mow and a slow lawn feed

Spring clean-up from $380

Summer visits

Light pruning after shrubs finish flowering
Drip system check and a watering plan for August
Weeding and deadheading every three weeks
Staking for tall perennials

Summer care from $340 a visit

Fall visits

The best weeks to plant trees and shrubs
Leaves cleared from beds, lawn and paths
Lawn aeration and overseeding
Spring bulbs in by mid-November

Fall clean-up from $420 Our busiest season

Winter visits

Dormant pruning of trees, shrubs and roses
Fruit trees pruned in February
Storm checks after big wind
Design season: plans drawn for spring planting

Winter pruning from $300

Which service do you need?

Read it like a plant key: pick the line that fits your garden and follow it to the answer.

1aStarting from lawn, bare soil or a new housego to 2

1bA garden is already therego to 3
2aYou'd like a plan to plant yourselfPlanting plan from $650

2bYou'd like it designed and builtDesign and build from $6,500
3aIt needs regular keepingSeasonal care from $340 a visit

3bIt needs a one-time resetClean-up and renovation from $480

Not sure? The garden walk is free, and we'll tell you which line you're on.

Recent projects

Gray stepping stones running through a dense bed of boxwood, marigolds, petunias and grasses — **Stepping-stone border**
Locality
South Capitol, Olympia
Planted
May 2024, 1,100 sq ft
Key plants
*Buxus, Tagetes, Carex*

Eight timber raised vegetable beds on a gravel path, edged by a split-rail fence — **Kitchen garden**
Locality
Steamboat Island
Built
April 2023, eight cedar beds
Key plants
*Vaccinium, Allium, Brassica*

Blue hydrangeas and potted plants along a brick path under tall trees — **Shade garden under firs**
Locality
Tumwater
Planted
September 2022
Key plants
*Hydrangea, Hosta, Heuchera*

Native grasses in a gravel-mulched rain garden edged with fieldstone — **Rain garden at the downspout**
Locality
Lacey
Planted
October 2024, takes 400 sq ft of roof
Key plants
*Carex obnupta, Juncus, Deschampsia*

From garden walk to first bloom

Garden walk
Free, about 45 minutes. We look at light, soil and drainage, and listen.
Planting plan
A to-scale drawing and plant list in about two weeks. Credited if we build it.
Build
A crew of three or four, usually one to three weeks. Plants go in when the season is right.
First-year care
Watering checks through the first summer, and the plant guarantee.

What clients say

4.8 average from 150+ reviews (sample)

“Maren's plan replaced half our lawn with natives. We water twice a month in August now, and the bees found it in a week.”

Joanne P., Olympia Sample review

“The fall crew left the beds tidier than we've ever had them, and hauled away every last leaf.”

Curtis M., Lacey Sample review

“Two hydrangeas didn't make it through the first winter. They were replaced in March without me asking.”

Lena F., Tumwater Sample review

A cobbled path climbing between moss-covered stone walls, ferns and hostas — Maren's own path in West Olympia. New plants get a season here before they go on a plan.

One designer, one crew, one county

Maren Holt studied horticulture, then spent ten years at a native plant nursery in Shelton before starting Salal & Stone in 2009. She walks every site and draws every plan herself.

We only work in Thurston County, so we know its clay, its frost pockets and which slopes stay wet until June. That's why most of what we plant is native or close to it.

Crew: 6 gardeners, year-round
On staff: Certified arborist
Guarantee: Every plant, one year

Book a garden walk

Free, about 45 minutes, anywhere in Thurston County.

Hours
Office	Mon-Fri 8 am-4:30 pm
Crews, Mar-Nov	Mon-Fri 7 am-3:30 pm
Dec-Feb	Pruning and design only

We work in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Steamboat Island, Boston Harbor and Yelm.

(360) 555-0172Call the office Text (360) 555-0172Send a photo of the problem spot 2418 Harrison Ave NW, OlympiaYard and office