This pro has maintained an average of 4.5+ stars throughout their time with Angi.
About us
ONLY 10-time Super Service Award Winner in Massachusetts Landscape Industry. Mid-sized landscape design & build. Lawn replacement strategies. Activity and gathering areas, home entries, glorious beds. Exceptional horticulture and site engineering. Owner, Leisha Johnson is an accomplished landscape designer, with hundreds of installed designs. A talented horticulturist and Certified Master Gardener, she holds a Masters' degree in Engineering and has extensive large-scale project management experience. Leisha and her team work to stay current on industry technology, environmental, plant and materials advances. The staff which includes horticulturalists and certified horticulturalists enjoy bringing natural beauty to our clients. Many projects are employing turf alternatives, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic landscapes. The owner holds a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and pulls permits for projects when needed. We always enjoy a challenge.
Business highlights
20 years of trusted experience
Women Owned & Operated
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Eco Friendly
Services we offer
Only 11-time Angie's List Super Service Award winner in Massachusetts Landscape Industry. Exceptional horticultural and landscape methodology knowledge. Sustainable and ecologically responsible landscapes. Specific practices include lawn minimization strategies, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic-styled garden spaces. Glorious planting beds, grading, drip line irrigation, masonry (walls, walkways, patios, firepits, outdoor kitchens), water drainage improvements, organic plant and soil care, surface water management. Our landscape design & build expertise transforms spaces for our clients to enjoy and share.
Services we don't offer
We do not provide hardscape, drainage, or lighting work unless it is part of a larger, overall project which usually contains plantings. For example, we design and install front entry areas which often include a walkway, landing and stairs, drainage, along with new plantings and beds, irrigation, and lighting. However we do not have a business dedicated to just hardscape, or just lighting, or just drip line irrigation. These services are incorporated as a part of an overall solution.
Leisha and the team at Garden’s by the Yard helped me address some very difficult landscaping issues. Our lot borders conservation land and is slopped and extremely rocky. In addition, it is not accessible to heavy machinery. We experienced significant drainage and erosion issues. The team put in two French drains to help with erosion and Leisha developed a planting plan that leaned toward natives, would provide multiple season colors, aid in water control and would thrive in our complex soil conditions. They also installed an irrigation system to help set us up for success. The team has returned multiple times to check on the plantings and provide additional upkeep and guidance The yard turned out beautiful and I am extremely pleased. Leisha and her team were knowledgeable and easy to work with. The crews were hard-working and extremely respectful of our property.
Description of Work: Install 2 French drains and re-terrace hills. Design and install a planting plan to add color, renaturalize, and help with water control. Install irrigation system
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$33,000
Kathy T.
10/2024
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
We have been thrilled with Leisha, her team, and collaborators. Leisha’s knowledge of horticulture is vast, and she really listens to the client about their goals for the space. I especially appreciated her ability to balance my desire to reuse healthy plants on the property with a new design that is visually appealing, increasing ‘curb appeal’. We discussed goals for use and visual design, concerns about wildlife impact, water runoff, etc. Leisha is very collaborative. She’ll explain why something you had envisioned may or may not work, and also provide alternative ideas that get at the spirit of what you want. This makes her an extremely valuable partner. Her team is prompt, careful, and leaves everything looking beautiful. It’s easy to check in with them if I have a question. People walking down the street love the garden, and when I am outside many folks stop and say how beautiful and lush the garden looks. I have referred several people!
Description of Work: We started out by ripping out a huge border hedge of spirea on the side of our property and eliminating the bittersweet that had grown into it. Once the invasive vine was curbed and garden beds prepped, we replanted a privacy border with evergreens and easy care plants, both new plantings and also plants that had been divided elsewhere on the property. The second part of the project was ripping up and redesigning the front entry, including the front step and front walk, and extending the foundation gardens to replace turf grass. We removed an old flagstone entry step, graded the whole area to be a gentle incline, and the masonry team working on the project created a gorgeous curved front walk with pavers.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$13,000
Cindy B.
10/2024
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
We are extremely pleased with the work, communication, dedication, and knowledge brought to this large project by Leisha and her whole Gardens by the Yard team. As explained below, we were starting with a clean slate, giving us the opportunity to create a new and different landscaping from the one that we inherited when we bought the property. With Leisha’s guidance, we jointly designed a landscape that addressed practicality, traditional expectations, and environmental concerns simultaneously. It was definitely a process! We became educated about native plants, pollinators and their host plants, and lawn alternatives. We had as much – or as little – input into the design as we wanted. Thankfully, if we opted out and asked Leisha to just do what she felt was best, she’d come through for us. As always, the crew was great! We appreciate their knowledge, respect, and dedication. We especially enjoy their ability to work with us in a team effort to create a place of peace and joy.
Description of Work: Following the installation of a new septic system, which required cutting down trees and digging up the yard, we brought in Gardens by the Yard to design and install natural gardens providing habitat for pollinators, install sod and ornamental beds, and provide drip-line irrigation throughout. As part of the project, a sitting area and stone walk were created for viewing butterflies and, separately, a Zen garden was constructed featuring stone and wood. The total area renovated was about one-third acre. The project is now in the maintenance phase, which gives us an opportunity to see the crew throughout the seasons and witness their continued devotion. Gardens by the Yard does not have a ‘mow, blow, and go’ mentality; theirs is more about nurturing nature to provide the best environment for both the landscape and the people.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Julia V.
10/2023
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
Leisha and her crew at Gardens By the Yard provide superior care of our landscaping. Her employees are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly and passionate about their work. Our yard has never looked better. GBTY is the best landscaping company with whom we have ever worked. Highly recommend!
Description of Work: GBTY performs annual maintenance of our 5 acre property, including spring and fall cleanups, mulching, trimming, and planting of seasonal flowers.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
David F.
10/2023
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
The project was a tremendous experience. Leisha and her team took a shaded area where nothing was growing and transformed it into beautiful woodland garden. She showed me that with the right selection and installation of native plants I could have an attractive, low maintenace garden that supports birds and pollinators. She’s an expert gardener and designer and has a team that are considerate and professional. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Description of Work: Landscape design, installation, and maintenance. And educating me.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$12,000
Christine N.
07/2023
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
Leisha and her crew were wonderful! She is a wonderful listener and her expertise was just what I needed. The crew were hard working, consistent and talented.
Description of Work: I wanted to create a remembrance garden for my late husband. This involved transforming a wild and unruly side yard into a charming oasis of flowering trees, plants and sculptures.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000
Jon K.
02/2023
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
Leisha and team turned our dream into reality! She worked with us through concept, design, and implementation of our project. Our yard was crab grass surrounded by a falling down fence that had been savaged by our kids. It is relatively small and we wanted to make it more livable and amenable to entertaining. Work done included laying of two patios, a custom designed grill station and outdoor table, pergola, shed, outdoor lighting, irrigation, new stairs, fence, and lots of plantings. It is completely transformed! We even find excuses to socialize in our new outdoor living space in the winter. Attention to detail was 10/10 and she was always an email, text message, or phone call away. Cost and budget was straightforward and not billed until all work was complete (including the details). I highly recommend Leisha and Gardens by the Yard.
Description of Work: Patio, fence, stairs, plantings.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
$120,000
Anne M.
10/2022
5.0
landscaping, irrigation systems, masonry, mulch, pavers, gravel, tree service, hardscaping
+ 5 more
Gardens by the Yard worked with us every step of the way, offering design suggestions but never insisting; providing expertise when it came to finicky underground sprinkler systems as well as overall expertise as to what was recommended for sunny and shady areas; responding to last-minute calls for advice and guidance about watering, etc.; and just generally being available. They paid specific attention to our rather unusual request for moss beds. We would like to make a particular shout-out to the Gardens by the Yard crew. Every single member was wonderful to work with: knowledgeable, responsive, friendly and caring when it came to achieving what it was we were aiming for. They also interfaced very well with other contractors (stone masons, irrigation specialists, tree crews, land survey crews, etc.) In short, Gardens by the Yard knows how to achieve a great result and they did. We anticipate that the full impact of our project won't be known until Spring 2023, but we expect it to be a very good one.
Description of Work: We have been working with Gardens by the Yard and are nearing the completion of an extensive natural landscape project for our backyard. This entailed the removal of several trees and de-limbing of others to create a tree canopy which would bring sunlight into key parts of the space. After that, there was grading of the ground and installation of an awesome patio followed by several gradual processes of placing rocks discovered underground and adding flowering trees, green plants, bushes, flowers (mainly perennials; some annuals), and moss (something we particularly requested and which isn't the easiest to install and nurture).
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Edmund P.
10/2022
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
I trust Gardens by the Yard. Leisha and her team are dependable and diligent. Even if I had the time, will or skills, I could not do outdoor projects as well as they do.
Description of Work: Designed and installed natural gardens to fit our woodland setting; bed management and annuals for seasonal color; horticultural knowledge, expert pruning, reset walkway gravel foundations and surface stones. The projects and timing varied so there was no overall project cost. GBTY charges are reasonable especially in light of the value they provide.
Better than I ever could imagine. Leisha has been wonderful and her crew is skilled in masonry as well as knowledgeable about trees, plants. Leisha is sensitive, listens well and has a plethora of resources. We are working on finding the perfect water feature
Description of Work: Total overhaul and redesign of my side yard to create a remembrance garden for my late husband. This is a year long project that has been partially finished and will be complete by June of 2023.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
Ian T.
10/2022
5.0
landscaping, mulch, drain pipe
+ 1 more
Leisha and here team seamlessly managed the project from start to end, working with a number of local providers (irrigation, fence installation, tree work, seeding) in addition to their own crew. The results have been fabulous - Leisha set a vision that met our needs and presented multiple options and approaches to accommodate budget. She is detailed oriented and keeps the homeowner's preferences top of mind.
Description of Work: Complete property rehab - landscaping, dry well, top soil and lawn prep, project mgmt
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$25,000
Susanne S.
07/2022
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
I am very happy with the work of Leisha and her team! I wanted to transform a part of our backyard lawn into a pollinator garden. Although this was not a huge piece of land Leisha took the request seriously, came to see the yard and its surroundings and then made a reasonable offer. She designed what plants would be put in and drafted an online plant book for me with more information about the plants. Communication was always easy and quick - I'm very happy with the result and love the view out of the kitchen window now!
Description of Work: Installation of a pollinator garden
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
MARY H.
10/2021
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
Leisha, Robert, and the rest of the GBTY team have completed several landscape projects for us over the past couple years, and they do fantastic work. We had a 20-year-old vegetable garden with timber-framed raised beds on a slope in various stages of wearing out. They replaced and repaired the timbers and walkways in place without tearing down the whole garden. This was a very hard job done well that required careful work around irrigation and fencing in process of replacement as well as preservation of fertile garden soil. We are partway through another project where they have carefully removed invasive species across one side of our property and will be planting a meadow of native plants as an alternative to conventional lawn in the spring. GBTY has also spruced up and helped maintain our many beds of flowering plants. GBTY is a versatile and enthusiastic team that is easy to work with and can tackle any landscape project.
Description of Work: Renovate timber-framed terraced vegetable garden
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$10,000
Kimberly W.
10/2021
5.0
landscaping, lawn service
+ 0 more
Very nice to work with and great job done on cleanup, pruning and planting
Description of Work: Landscaping
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
David F.
10/2021
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
Leisha listened carefully to my wishes and proposed a creative and beautiful native plant garden. She was flexible as we encountered unforeseen challenges and her team did an excellent work installing a wildlife-friendly planting. I am very happy with Leisha and her team. I enthusiastically recommend her for garden design - and especially for anyone considering a rewinding or native plant project.
Description of Work: Garden design and installation
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000
Candace H.
08/2021
5.0
landscaping, lawn service, mulch, pavers, gravel
+ 2 more
Gardens by the Yard is a a phenomenal landscaping team from its owner and head landscape designer to the entire group of workers. I asked for a low maintenance, perennial garden at the best possible price. Leisha listened carefully to my needs and thought carefully about what would work in a heavily shaded space and what colors would look best with mu house and the overall environment. Consulting me as they went along, her team planted everything perfectly. I have never encountered a more courteous, helpful group. Leisha has designed a gorgeous garden that is giving me immense pleasure and will do so for many years to come--and at a price that I could afford. In short, my experience with Gardens by the Yard was simply terrific!
Description of Work: Central project was to creat a garden at the frnt of my property so we could sit on the porch and enjoy. Additionally, work was done pruning, seedng grass, mulching, weeding, and planting some hedges.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Laura S.
08/2021
5.0
landscaping
+ -1 more
Work was excellent. I am thrilled with the results. Leisha worked with me to get the results I wanted and her crew is wonderful!
Description of Work: Landscaping and design
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
3.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$11,000
Sharon K.
10/2020
5.0
landscaping, lawn service, drain pipe
+ 1 more
Leisha and her team are top notch professionals- very knowledgeable about perennials, weed management and water/drainage issues. They are pleasant and hard working. Covid and weather issues (excessive rain and heat) prevented work from being done as initially scheduled but Leisha was a reliable communicator who kept me updated. She was so easy to work with that I ended up expanding the project to include trimming of my hedges along my property line. I was extremely pleased with the finished result of my project and have rehired her to tackle another section of my property. I was especially impressed by her software which made designing the many project details easy to envision.
Description of Work: Flower bed redesign, addition of drainage and watering zone, elimination of invasive Japanese knotwood
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000
Linda K.
09/2020
5.0
landscaping, mulch, drain pipe
+ 1 more
GBTY was great to work with. Leisha took into account my budget and provided options to choose from. Her landscaping staff was professional, prompt and kept the yard neat during the installation. She has followed-up with me multiple times to make sure the new plants are thriving.
Description of Work: Design and installation of new yardscape
Leisha is extremely knowledgeable in her field and guided us every step of the way. Her prices were reasonable and well documented, her service was excellent and responsive and the results are outstanding
Description of Work: Complete overhaul of landscape design, including new irrigation system, lighting, hardscape/masonry, new plantings, tree service and maintenance
The crew constructing the stone wall was fabulous! All rock came from the property, was split by hand as needed and built into a terraced hillside. Leisha is very knowledgeable about plants and landscape design. She has a wealth of experience in what grows well in different sites and which nurseries are best. Her crew is efficient, delightful to work with and very knowledgeable in their areas of expertise. They not infrequently come up with suggestions on how to improve the project.
Description of Work: We have done several projects with GBTY over the last 2 summers and plan have them do several more. Projects so far included stone wall construction, correcting drainage around the back of the house and garage, designing and planting several beds including a pollinator garden, initiation of a native ecosystem on the property which we will continue to expand.
Leisha and her Gardens by the Yard team were a pleasure to work with. She is an excellent project manager. She managed her own employees and hired/oversaw excellent independent contractors including irrigation and lighting experts, masons and driveway pavers - and transformed our home with their expert work and fair prices. Leisha was both creative and attentive. And she managed the project/organized the work on time and very close to on budget. She continues to take care of our home with thoughtfulness and pride, as we have hired her to maintain the landscaping she worked so hard to create.
Description of Work: Big project! Redesigned our landscaping. Resodded the lawn and re-engineered the irrigation system. Rebuilt front and side entry steps with bluiestone. Added lighting in beds and along driveway. Repaved driveway.
Garden’s by the Yard (GbtY) was great! Leisha, the owner and designer, was incredibly helpful through the whole process. She’s an engineer by training and very knowledgeable about plants and hardscape. Her employees were courteous, diligent and cleaned-up after themselves. We also met her mason, Cartegiane, who we thought was fantastic. We bought our house last year and the previous owner had bricked-in a large portion of the backyard (it wasn’t the most thought-out utilization of space). Before reaching out to GbtY, we searched for local landscape architects via Angie’s list and we were drawn to GbtY’s portfolio. During Leisha’s first visit, we walked our property discussing our likes and dislikes. Shortly afterwards, she developed a design and we worked through several iterations balancing aesthetics with budget. GbtY uses OneNote to upload designs and track all project-related progress, which we found very useful in tracking ideas, phases, and payments. Once we settled on a design, Leisha also provided a CAD video that helped us get a sense of the space. It took a couple of months of design and scheduling before GbtY dismantled the old patio. In hindsight, we should have placed our deposit earlier to get scheduled quicker. Leisha understandably operates on a first-come-first-served basis. As the work progressed, we were in constant communication via emails, texts, and calls about the on-going work and any changes in design. In addition to the patio and garden design, both Leisha and Cartesian helped us mitigate some basement water issues by fixing our egress windows and installing a drainage system against the house. We were very impressed with the flexibility of the team while keeping aligned with our budget (we were a little crazy about our budget). Leisha would even suggest items and tasks that we could do ourselves in order to cut costs. When the final invoice arrived, Leisha graciously sat-down and went over each line-item. We are very detailed-oriented people and this was hugely appreciated. In the end (of this phase at least because we will go back with her in the spring to finish the front yard), we were a little over budget. However, the fact that our backyard is BEAUTIFUL makes it well worth it! Our neighbors constantly tell us how wonderful it looks as we water our garden and maintain our new lawn.
Description of Work: Backyard redesign and construction
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Ellen T.
09/2019
5.0
landscaping, hardscaping
+ 0 more
Gardens by the Yard was great. First, they were super professional, responsive and had really great attention to detail. Leisha listened to what we want to accomplish, offered good suggestions, was open to midcourse corrections when what we had in mind needed to change; and it was all done in a professional positive manner. They helped us redo an aging brickway way and rebuild a stone wall. The final product look great, will prevent weeds from growing thru, and is pitched to prevent moisture issues. Their work digging out old bad fill and putting in new compost and soil was excellent, they took care not to damage existing trees and utility lines and to work with our other contractors to design and support the installation of a drip irrigation system. Their landscape design knowledge is wonderful, strong knowledge of what grows well, what is deer resistant, etc. The crews has good attention to detail, were polite and professional. I'd recommend them for sure.
Description of Work: hardscaping (new brick walkway, stone wall), soil reconditioning, plantings, irrigation support
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
RUTH P.
06/2019
5.0
landscaping, lawn service, mulch
+ 1 more
The owner/principal of Gardens by the Yard was exceptional. In advance of our first meeting, she put considerable time into capturing photos of our yard. She was prepared with renditions and plans that she felt would showcase the focal points of our property. The trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials she selected provide colors and textures that will extend through multiple seasons and are low maintenance...a high priority for me. All were documented in an online notebook for reference. With her direction, her talented foreman and team of diligent workers created gardens that showcase our home and increased its value instantly! The non-stop compliments we have received from neighbors and others walking/driving by are a testament to superior craftsmanship and beauty...we are happy to share! I waited many years before investing in the gardens...thankful to have found the talented owner and exceptional team of hardworking gardeners at Gardens by the Yard! It was worth the wait!
Description of Work: Replacement of overgrown/diseased trees and redesign of front garden
All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.
*Contact business to see additional licenses.
Service Categories
Landscaping,
Lawn and Yard Work,
Mulch and Topsoil,
Pavers and Hardscaping,
Tree Service,
Lawn Irrigation,
Stone and Gravel,
Masonry,
Drain Pipe Installation,
Lighting,
Leaf Removal,
Snow Removal
FAQ
GARDENS BY THE YARD is currently rated 4.7 overall out of 5.
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
GARDENS BY THE YARD accepts the following forms of payment: Check,PayPal
No, GARDENS BY THE YARD does not offer free project estimates.
Yes, GARDENS BY THE YARD offers eco-friendly accreditations.
No, GARDENS BY THE YARD does not offer a senior discount.
No, GARDENS BY THE YARD does not offer emergency services.
No, GARDENS BY THE YARD does not offer warranties.
GARDENS BY THE YARD offers the following services: Only 11-time Angie's List Super Service Award winner in Massachusetts Landscape Industry. Exceptional horticultural and landscape methodology knowledge. Sustainable and ecologically responsible landscapes. Specific practices include lawn minimization strategies, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic-styled garden spaces. Glorious planting beds, grading, drip line irrigation, masonry (walls, walkways, patios, firepits, outdoor kitchens), water drainage improvements, organic plant and soil care, surface water management. Our landscape design & build expertise transforms spaces for our clients to enjoy and share.
We do not provide hardscape, drainage, or lighting work unless it is part of a larger, overall project which usually contains plantings. For example, we design and install front entry areas which often include a walkway, landing and stairs, drainage, along with new plantings and beds, irrigation, and lighting. However we do not have a business dedicated to just hardscape, or just lighting, or just drip line irrigation. These services are incorporated as a part of an overall solution.