Good Oak Ecological Services

Good Oak is a first rate company, who I've come to depend on since I started a major restoration project around my home in 2013. Each year since then, I've called on Good Oak to help me take another step in the restoration process. In addition to the removal of invasive woody plants, Good Oak has installed a large border garden in my yard and several native shrubs for screening. I have also utilized their landscape design services to establish garden pathways and this year I am following their guidance in the installation of a rain garden. While I've enjoyed working with all members of the Good Oak team, I'd like to give special thanks to Allison, Athena, and Amy Jo, as I've interacted with them most frequently throughout the last few years. Thanks for all your great work! I look forward to another fun planting season!

Frank and crew arrived on time. Always willing to answer questions. Really developed a sense of trust. Crew cleaned up very well. We plan several more projects with them. Frank is very knowedgeble about native plants, erosion issues and sustainability.

Allison from Good Oak was recommended by our building inspector. My husband has called or emailed 4 times in order to have them come out and construct a landscaping plan for us. No one, however, has returned phone calls or emails. I understand they may be very busy, but this seems quite unprofessional to me. We went with Schmidt Landscaping and were very pleased with their services.

Good Oak is an amazing ecological restoration company. I am extremely impressed by the knowledge, skill, and efficiency of Good Oak's professional team. From my first consultation, it was clear that they really understand local ecological systems and can help provide homeowners practical strategies for supporting native plants and wildlife. Since my interaction with Good Oak, I am learning how to be a better steward of the tress and shrubs surrounding my home. Not only is Good Oak's team smart and skillful in applying restoration techniques, they are great to work with. Everyone I met at Good Oak was friendly, respectful, professional, punctual, and very responsive. Good Oak thoroughly answered all of my questions and was able to accommodate additional work requests after the initial brush removal. I am grateful for the work they have done this fall, and I look forward to working with them again next spring.

Cannot find estimate with total price I paid but was over $300. 1. For initial consult, I received an estimate with a list of plantings but no visual plans for plantings; I then asked for a diagram. 2. First planting went okay. 3. Second planting (more plants/wild grass) not okay. Owner told me he'd be at my house 8 AM. At 10:30, no one had yet arrived. I went on to do errands. When I returned home, a worker was waiting. Per worker, owner had said to just go plant. However, the 8 AM meeting was for me to tell them where I wanted plants/wild grass planted. Had I not returned home, I would have had a surprise. 4. Returned in a day or two to move wild grass to site wanted. I had emailed owner I would use them again. After much thought, I would not.

We liked Joy's suggestions so we hired Good Oak to implement them. They have completed much of the work and will continue in the spring. We have been very happy with the quality of the work and the professionalism of all the individuals that have worked on our yard. Definitely recommend Good Oak to anybody looking for sustainable landscaping.

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received the list via mail. need to do some work to the home prior to proceeding with plantings.

Excellent.

We were pleased with the information and direction Alison provided us. We also were pleased with the job completed by Good Oaks.

I bought the deal for a visit and estimate on Angie's list from Good Oak. The person who came was very knowledgable, helped to identify the plants and trees in the yard of our new home (poison ivy, dogwood, honeysuckle, etc.), provided a plan and quote for dealing with them and also followed up with an email including books and other resources. I did not have them come in and clear the brush just because it was a bit overwhelming to deal with the yard and remodeling in the first year after our second child was born. I would call them in the future after I have a more complete plan and am looking for someone to work with, however.V

The person who we dealt with was pleasant, punctual and knowledgeable. She identified various native and invasive plants I had questions about, and gave us recommendations for future planting. She also sent me three really helpful lists of WI native plants. I would feel confident using this firm for future landscape planning.

The project went very well. Frank responded promptly to our call and provided us with ideas for planting and maintenance of the hill. The project began right after the bid. Frank and an assistant did a wonderful job removing some aggressive weeds and replacing them with about 150 native plants. The job was difficult because the hill is extremely steep. We are very pleased with the result and continue to use Good Oak for maintenance of the hill.

We were most impressed with their eye for design in both the shaping of the mulched area and in the planting of the perennials. Also noted the quality of vapor material and the depth of mulch used which should translate to a long term weed free area. Work was done very efficiently with no mess at all left behind. We were looking for someone who would do ecologically sound work and we could not be happier.

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this was a special through Angie's List. Alison from Good Oak came to our house and reviewed our current landscape. She provided some options for what she could do and we agreed that a landscaping plan detailing planting locations and types would be best. She got back to us in a couple of weeks with a detailed plan that we could use to make the additions. For the price, the service was excellent. This would normally have been about a $90 service, which I believe is very fair considering what some landscaping companies charge for the same type of service.

Joy was very prompt and professional throughout our meeting. She was quite helpful in identifying plants and making suggestions for replacing wild and other plants with native plants.

The Good Oak people have a passion for bringing back the plants that once graced Wisconsin, and do fine and careful work. Because they have such a passion, they also are very good at educating me about how to identify invasive plants, and how to maintain the native landscaping on my own. The owner is doing a good job of hiring committed local people who share his focus on native plants. I hired Good Oak several years ago to undo the damage that years of neglect and incompetence have down to my property, and they are making good progress.

The overall experience was wonderful. I have a wall in place which is functional and good looking. Frank and Joy were on time and on budget- very professional. There were no hassles which all too often go with a job like this. What I truly appreciate is the integrity Frank brought to the job. He did not come to just sell another job. He has so much consideration for the environment and the impact we have on it. He truly works to make the world a better place.

We like Good Oak. They did a good job and did what they said they would do. They planted two trees that died, but we've had no problems with replacing those trees. The plants weren't taking off so well, which is typical for native plants, but they've been incredibly responsive and they're trying to figure out what the cause of the problem is. This past summer was much better than last summer. Their prices are comparable to other companies. They're great to work with and really nice people.

Everything was done to our expectations and then some. Frank is professional and pleasant. He is extremely well versed in native plants and their maintenance. We have a very steep hill and he and his staff work tirelessly to do a good job. We continue to use Frank on an annual basis for controlled burns and maintenance. I would highly recommend him.

I interviewed three different landscapers and I ended up using another one. I talked to these guys and they worked up a tentative estimate and they were going to work up another one but I decided to go with another company. The interaction was very good. They seemed knowledgeable and very professional. They were fine and they were my second choice. I really hit it off with the woman that I used. They arrived when they said they would. It did seem kind of long to get the estimate. I didn’t have any problem with them and they were professional.

Good Oak has done a good job explaining the process, executing the work and keeping us informed of the progress. They always call before coming out and post the area after herbiciding. G/O also worked with the city to get this project approved since the prairie is actually on city property. So far there is visiual progress. Frank (owner) is very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. Total success of this project however is unknown since prairie plantings take at least three years to fully develop.

We are very happy with the outcome and process. Good Oak did a nice job of capturing our interests, selecting and sourcing appropriate and interesting native species and prepping the site despite challenges with utilities and existing tree root systems.