Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we work with a variety of entrusted vendors including, but not limited to, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, engineers, architects, fencing and asphalt companies. Our vendors are experts in their field who are licensed and insured. They allow us to provide a full package service and a turn key process for all types of installation projects.

Yes, we have our New Jersey HIC license (#13VH11528600). We do have full general liability, workman's compensation, and commercial snow insurance. A certificate of insurance can be issued upon request.

Spring of 2018

Yes, Golden Wolf Landscape & Design does offer full designs in both 2D rendering and 3D cad drawings. Also, we work with an engineer, from French & Parrello Associates in Hackettstown, NJ, for all projects that do require engineered plans.

Discover more about our design services.

-ICPI (International Concrete Paver Institute)

-NCMA (National Concrete Masonry Association)

-Techo-Pro Certified

-Fertilizer Applicator License

Plants offer an element of beauty in one's landscape. Plants are living organisms that require care and routine maintenance. When deciding when the best time to install plants at your property, there is no one size that fits all answer. Some plants can withstand being planted at different times of the year or different weather conditions compared to others. Any new plant that is installed will require attention in the first few months, no matter when it is installed. Spring and Fall are commonly the best time of years to plant, but not the only time of year you can. The reason for this is because during those seasons, temperatures of the air and soil are often cooler and there is historically more rainfall. All plants go through a transplant shock when first installed. This is because they are in a new home with different conditions potentially compared to where they initially came from.

Plants can be installed in the Summer with no harm but may require a bit more attention with watering efforts and potential of heat stress. Likewise, in the early or late Winter, plants can be installed as well. Depending on the type of plant, they are often dormant when installed during the cooler months out of the year, which is safe to do. Maintenance and care for plants does vary depending on the time of year. The biggest factor to consider is watering until the roots get established and take hold in the soil.

Also, having a Plant Health Care (PHC) program in place after the plants are installed will help protect your investment no matter the time of year. Fighting insects, disease, funguses, etc. Are all components a PHC program is in plant to protect against.

Pruning or trimming plants is an art. In order to do it properly, the optimal time to trim them is during the Spring or Fall. The reason is because the cooler temperatures allow for a quicker recovery time. Trimming or pruning is a shock to the plant system, so the added stress of a hot summer’s day will not be optimal for the plants recovery and health.

Learn mroe about plant health.

Mulch is a great product to use, for both aesthetics and functionality in your landscape. Mulch does help retain moisture around root layers of plants, it helps insulate the plant roots as well, reduces the risk of erosion, and also looks beautiful when installed.

ICPI standards call for a minimum of 6 inches of base for pedestrian applications and a minimum of 8 inches for vehicular applications. The base material is like the footing to the structure, so ensuring it is constructed properly is optimal for its longevity and success.

Any retaining wall that is 4 feet or above, from the bottom of the first block to the top of the cap, needs to be engineered.

For larger projects that need to be designed, permitted, engineered, etc., the time frame from initial contact to starting the job can take a few months depending on specifics. For smaller projects that do not require as much back-end work, the turnaround can be from a few weeks to a few months. Planning your project appropriately to accommodate your ideal time frame of installation, it is necessary to understand the time it takes to prepare a project to be installed.

Learn about all our hardscaping services.

According to RealEstate.com, they suggest that both landscaping and hardscaping projects do have an ROI as high as 150%. This puts it ahead of popular home improvement projects such as kitchen and bath remodels.

Depending on the exact scenario, there are three different options of drainage solutions. French Drains, PVC pipe with basins, grading, and swales, or a combination of them, can be used to best solve water management issues. French Drains are best for collecting water over a large run, where water is not pooling in one area. PVC pipe and basins are used when water is collecting in a specific location. Grading is used to help direct water into a desired location. A swale is used to control water direction, reduce erosion, and reduce runoff velocity of the water.

Depending on the type of material used and the temperatures, it is possible, but more caution needs to be taken in order to do it right. The main concern is when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, freezing temperature. Excavated areas would need to be compacted and have the base installed prior to temperatures going below freezing. Concrete blankets can be used to help keep soil temperatures above the freezing mark. Polymeric sand, in patios and walkways, cannot be installed when temperatures are below freezing. Depending on the brand of glue being used for retaining wall or seat wall caps, it can be applied below freezing, but it is not ideal. The majority of hardscapes can be installed during the winter, but certain phases of a project may need to be timed properly to allow for a proper installation.

When soil temperatures in the Spring reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit, that is when crabgrass and other weeds start to emerge. Getting your first pre-emergent down as close to this time from as possible is ideal to time it right.

Watering is by far the most important ingredient for establishing plant material. A good schedule to follow is to water your plants twice a week (hot summer days you may have to water more frequently). Trees should receive 5-10 gallons of water every 2-3 times per week. Shrubs get 3 gallons of water every 2-3 times per week. The best options for large planting areas are to set a sprinkler on the entire area, or use a soaker hose. To measure watering, place an empty can about six feet away from the sprinkler.

When there is an inch of water in the can, it is time to move the sprinkler to the next area. Perennials will frequently dry out faster and should be watered as needed (possibly daily). It is better to water deeply and less frequently than to lightly water every night. It is also possible to over-water, so before watering again, stick your finger a couple of inches into the soil, (making sure you go through the mulch), if the soil is wet – do not water. Check daily and water again when necessary. Once the plants are established, once-a-week watering should be sufficient. In year 2, monitor your plants during the heat of the summer, they will need to be watered during hot or dry periods.

NOTE: Just because it rains do not assume you do not have to water. We have to receive at least one inch of rainfall to skip watering.

Annuals are types of plants that last one season and die off when the temperatures get cold in the late Fall. Perennials come back every year and regrow in the Spring after being dormant during the Winter.

Yes, of course! Every living plant does its job to filter carbon dioxide out of the environment — one tree that is planted can remove 26 pounds of CO2 annually, equaling about 11,000 miles of vehicle emissions. Plants also help keep debris and pollution out of our water supply. Furthermore, trees that cast shade on your home will keep it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, which give a break on your HVAC units. If you’re thinking about planting additional trees, shrubs, or flowers, they will all benefit the environment in some way as well as make your yard look beautiful!

This is tough question, because there is no way to 100% prevent weeds from growing, however, there are ways to greatly suppress and slow the growth of weeds. Plants and weeds both grow in the same environmental conditions. First of all, use a landscaping fabric in your landscape beds and garden to cover the soil where you don’t want weeds to grow. After that is installed, apply a pre-emergent, such as Preen, to further suppress weed growth. If weeds do appear, pull the entire weed, including the root. For cracks in concrete and pavers, use a commercial herbicide to kill weeds that appear. If you are looking for an organic method, try using vinegar in a spray bottle. Be careful, herbicides, including vinegar, will kill all plants they touch, not only weeds.

Usually, the mowing season is approximately 30-32 weeks long depending on the weather. Mowing usually starts around Tax Day, April 15th , and ends around mid-November.

When processing electronic payments, those payments can be made online through our customer portal. Our customer portal allows our clients to store payment information, view invoices and proposals, as well as process payments for services online.

To be able to access the customer portal, you must be a current client of Golden Wolf Landscape & Design. To be able to access the portal, you would need to use your email and create a password. For security and privacy, that information will be needed every time you want to log in to the portal.

There are many factors associated with the payment schedule for services. A large contributing factor to how a payment schedule is set us is based on the type of service(s) being performed as well as the overall price for the service(s).

For example, reoccurring maintenance services are billed upon the completion of each service with a card or account information on file. These services include lawn mowing and lawn applications.

When it comes to non-reoccurring services, we do require a deposit to be paid prior to the service(s) are performed. The most common type of payment schedule we see is a 50% deposit and then the remaining 50% of the service price to be paid upon job completion.

As the pricing of services increases, there will be progress payments added to the payment schedule. For example, for services above $30,000, we do require one progress payment to be made during the installation of the job.

As pricing increases from $30,000 on up, the amount of progress payments increases as well depending on the job size. The most amount of payment we require is a total of 6. That is for jobs over $250,000. Please note that payment schedules do vary from job to job depending on the overall price.

What are your payment terms?

When an invoice is received, our payment terms are listed on the invoice. Our payment terms are classified as Due On Receipt. This means that when you receive an invoice from Golden Wolf, we are expecting payment to be made same day.

Are there late fees I can be charged for an overdue payment?

If an invoice is classified as late or overdue, Golden Wolf Landscape & Design does charge a 4% compounding late fee for each month it is overdue. To avoid this, please make sure to be processing payments for invoices in a timely manner.

When it comes to installing patios, many people's concerns is having the patio sink or grow weeds in the joints. After investing tens of thousands of dollars (more or less), making sure your newly installed hardscape lasts for years is essential.

What causes weeds to grow in patios?

The main component to having weeds grow in the joints of the patio is not using a proper jointing material. Jointing materials are used to create interlock in a patio and connect the paver to one another. Jointing material is often referred to as polymeric sand.

Using specific types of polymeric sand can either allow or repel weeds from growing. Polymeric sand with more fines (dust, dirt, etc.) allows the weed seeds to root into the soft sand and grow. Also, the sand can wash out leaving room for weed seeds to fall into the gaps and grow. Weeds do not grow from beneath the pavers, they come from the joints.

How to prevent weeds from growing?

The main cause of weeds sprouting up in patios is the lack of quality jointing sand, using a premium polymeric sand is essential to having your investment be as weed free as possible. Using permeable products such as EasyJoint, allows water to pass through the joints freely and does not wash out the sand or create pooling on the surface.

Using premium polymeric sand may be a bit more expensive, but properly installing a patio for a quality end result is priceless. Some contracts use more cost-effective solutions when installing polymeric sand, resulting in the likelihood of weeds growing.

There is no 100% way to prevent weeds from growing since you are battling Mother Nature. Taking this step on ensuring a quality polymeric sand is used will allow you to fight Mother Nature limiting and sometimes preventing woods from growing.

When it comes to installing patios, many people's concerns is having the patio sink or shift. After investing tens of thousands of dollars (more or less), making sure your newly installed hardscape lasts for years is essential.

What causes patios to sink or shift?

There are several reasons why patios can sink or shift. Shifting pavers comes from a failed edge restraint. An edge restraint is used to hold pavers together on the sides of the exposed edges of the pavers. If the edge restraint were to loosen, break, and/or crack, then there is nothing holding the pavers on the sides. With a failed edge restraint, this is one of the large factors that can lead to pavers shifting over time.

When pavers sink, there are a few reasons why that happens. Sinking pavers is caused by settling in the base and/or the sub soils. When pavers are installed, dirt needs to be excavated to allow room for the base material to be installed. While excavating, the subsoil gets disturbed leading to air fluffing up the dirt. Likewise, when installing the base material, air can fluff up the material (depending on the type of base being used).

The ingredient of air is a natural process when installing pavers. Where pavers sink is when those air pockets are not removed. Over time, the air pockets can burst resulting in the soil and/or the base settling. With both the base and soil being the foundation for the pavers, if they sink, then that would result in the pavers sinking.

How to prevent patios from sinking or shifting?

Avoiding pavers from shifting can be solved by using a quality edge restraint product. The product recommended is called Perma Edge. Perma Edge is a reinforced concrete product that contains small strips of fiberglass reinforcement. The fiberglass works like rebar allowing the concrete to keep its structural integrity over time by preventing it from cracking, shifting, or breaking. Straight concrete alone will not work since there is no reinforcement. There are many different reinforced concrete edge restraint products on the market, but Perma Edge is one of the industry leaders.

Preventing pavers from sinking is done through the process of compaction. Compaction involves moving a vibratory machine over the excavated area and base material to get rid of the air pockets. The vibrations move the material around allow the air to escape and burst densely compaction the material where the pavers will sit. Running any plate compactor over the area once is not good enough. Making sure that the proper size compactor is being used and following certain patterns will make sure that the area properly compacted prior to laying pavers. Also, compacting in the right size “lifts” will make sure the compactor being used is properly removing any air pockets from the soil or base material. Usually, depending on the size of the compactor, compaction lifts can be done approx. 4”-12” at a time.

Also, for added peace of mind, woven stabilization fabric can be installed in between the subsoil and the base material to add extra strength to the paver base. It also helps separate the soil from the base preventing migration of both materials into one another. Geogrid can be sandwiched in the base material to help disperse loads more evenly and add extra strength to the overall structure.

When it comes to understanding what the investment is when installing pavers, there are several factors to consider. We have seen many clients over the years not truly understand the pricing of pavers because there is not enough educational information online that factors in all of the potential elements that contribute to the final price. Generic national websites often miss the key factors, so being mindful of square foot pricing or the industry average is a great starting point, but often does not reflect the true price of a patio.

Type of pavers-

The type of pavers that are being used does play an effect on the end price of your project. Different manufactures have different products that vary drastically in price. The low end of pavers is around $3 per square foot and the high end can be $15 per square foot (+/-). Due to the wide range, final paver choice can play a large factor in the overall price of a job. On average, the most commonly used pavers fall somewhere around the $5-$10 per square foot price.

What is pre-existing-

The process of site prep for installing a patio does vary depending on the conditions that are pre-existing. For example, a patio that is to be installed in an area that is currently grass compared to an area that has a 6” thick rebar reinforced concrete patio requires two very different preparation practices. The more demo and site prep needed to perform before a single paver can be laid will result in an increase overall price. Factors to consider are disposal costs, specialty equipment rentals, labor costs, and trucking fees.

Type of installation practice -

There are several different types of installation practices when it comes to how contractors install a patio. The three most commonly used options are dense graded base, open graded base, and synthetic base. Dense graded base uses quarry process (QP) and concrete sand under the pavers. Open graded base uses ¾" clean stone and ¼" clean stone under the pavers. Synthetic base uses ¼" clean stone and a man-made polypropylene material under the pavers. All three of these installation practices will provide a similar end result in terms of looks, however, the price of the materials, labor, and disposal costs do vary drastically. Being mindful of the type of installation practice being performed on your property is essential to analyzing the true cost of what an installed patio will cost.

Grade-

The grade, or slope of the ground, does determine if additional elements are needed to be incorporated into the patio project. For example, if a walkway is to be installed on sloped ground, it may require retaining wall(s) or step(s) to be installed to make the patio level. The additional elements needed for the patio installation will increase the price of the overall project.

Access-

How simple or difficult it is for crews and machines to access the work location will play effect into the overall price of a patio installation. If the crew must go around to the back of the home several hundred feet, with only being able to use a wheelbarrow and no machines, this is yet another factor that plays effect on the overall price. On the flip side, if a machine can be used in the same example, or instead of going all the way to the backyard, the work location is several feet from the driveway, this would greatly increase efficiency when installing the project which can help reduce cost.

Number of cuts -

When installing pavers, since they are modular units, the need to be altered to contour to curves, inlays, boarders, etc. The additional time and material wasted to preform custom cuts in a paver installation does play effect into the overall cost of a job. If a patio is circular compared to square, it would require additional time to cut each of the pavers to match the requested shape. Also, when cutting all the pavers, the cut portions are thrown out since they can’t be reused. This does result in additional material needed to be ordered to account for the increase in waste. A more efficient installation of pavers does require more straight lines which would result in fewer cuts and less waste.

All in all, the factors listed above are the most considered elements that affect the overall price when installing pavers. There can be additional factors that can affect price since each job is unique, hence the reason for not having a standard square foot price. Square foot pricing is great for giving ballpark estimates to set expectation of what a project could cost. Always keep an open mind when talking about price since there are several factors that can fluctuate the overall final project price. Asking your contractors to elaborate more on each of these factors can help you get a better idea of why the project may cost what is does.

When it comes to understanding what the investment is when installing a retaining wall, there are several factors to consider. We have seen many clients over the years not truly understand the pricing of pavers because there is not enough educational information online that factors in all the protentional elements that contribute to the final price. Generic national websites often miss the key factors, so being mindful of square foot pricing or the industry average is a great starting point, but often does not reflect the true price of a patio.

Material-

The type of material that is used does play an effect on the end price of your project. Different manufactures have different products that vary drastically in price. The low end of modular retaining wall block is around $8 per square foot and the high end can be $55 per square foot (+/-). On average, the most commonly used block falls somewhere around the $10-$20 per square foot price. Outside of modular block, which is the most common type of wall we see, other materials used include boulders, cinder block with veneer, poured in place concrete, as well as gabion block. Due to the wide range of material options available, material choice does play a large factor in the overall price of a job.

What is pre-existing-

The process of site prep for installing a retaining wall does vary depending on the conditions that are pre-existing. For example, a retaining wall that is to be installed in an area that has no pre-existing wall compared to an area that has a pre-existing wall requires two very different preparation practices. The more demo and site prep needed to perform before a single block can be laid will result in an increase overall price. Factors to consider are disposal costs, specialty equipment rentals, labor costs, and trucking fees.

Type of installation practice -

There are several different types of installation practices when it comes to how contractors install retaining walls. The biggest factor that affects the installation practice is the type of material being used. For example, a modular block retaining wall compared to a poured in place concrete wall has two very different installation practices. The difference in installation practice has different installation times, specialty equipment needed, etc. Being mindful of the type of installation practice being performed on your property is essential to analyzing the true cost of what an installed wall will cost.

Engineering-

Depending on the overall height of the proposed retaining wall, it may require engineering. Typically, any wall over 4’ in height would require engineering documents in order to obtain the necessary township building approvals. Engineers do charge for their services which would add to the overall project cost. Also, depending on the site conditions, type of material being used, and height of the wall, the engineer may require specific building requirements to be installed when constructing the wall. For example, the engineer may require additional blocks to be buried to have a deeper footer, have more tightly laid geo grid lengths to disperse the weight of the wall, or require weekly on-site inspections to monitor the progress of the wall.

Vehicular applications-

If a retaining wall is being built to support a vehicular load (weight), an engineer may require specific installation practices or building specifications to be met in to withstand the weight over time. Vehicular applications are treated separately from non-vehicular retaining wall installations due to the increase in weight the wall needs to account for.

Access-

How simple or difficult it is for crews and machines to access the work location will play effect into the overall price of a retaining wall installation. If the crew must go around to the back of the home several hundred feet, with only being able to use a wheelbarrow and no machines, this is yet another factor that plays effect on the overall price. On the flip side, if a machine can be used in the same example, or instead of going all the way to the backyard, the work location is several feet from the driveway, this would greatly increase efficiency when installing the project which can help reduce cost.

Number of cuts -

When installing a retaining wall, depending on the material being used, they are modular units, that need to be altered to contour to curves. The additional time and material wasted performing custom cuts in a wall installation does play an effect on the overall cost of a job. If a wall is rounded compared to straight or have a 90-degree corner(s), it would require additional time to cut each of the pavers to match the requested shape. Also, when cutting all the block, the cut portions are thrown out since they can’t be reused. This does result in additional material needed to be ordered to account for the increase in waste. A more efficient installation of a retaining wall does require more straight lines which would result in fewer cuts and less waste.

All in all, the factors listed above are the most considered elements that affect the overall price when installing a retaining wall. There can be additional factors that can affect price since each job is unique, hence the reason for not having a standard square foot price. Square foot pricing is great for giving ballpark estimates to set expectation of what a project could cost. Always keep an open mind when talking about price since there are several factors that can fluctuate the overall final project price. Asking your contractors to elaborate more on each of these factors can help you get a better idea of why the project may cost what is does.

For our residential and commercial mowing clients, we only offer weekly mowing services. We do not offer bi-weekly mowing services. The reason for mowing weekly is due to the following:

• Allows your property to stay pristine and professionally maintained weekly. Also, it allows the grass to have an even more uniform height compared to letting it grow erratically

• Weekly service puts less stress on the grass because you are cutting a smaller piece of grass off weekly compared to cutting a larger piece less frequently

• Your lawn is less likely to attract disease, insects, and funguses due to the regular maintenance

• Weekly mowing takes less time than biweekly mowing since there is less to cut on each visit. This help keep the price of each visit lower compared to a less frequent biweekly service since you can be more efficient during each mowing

• Weekly service results in stronger grass roots because mowing stimulates the grass to grow deeper roots to look for nutrients.

Being a professional service provider, we want the best for your property. The benefits of weekly mowing service far out weight biweekly service, hence the reason that is the only mowing frequency we offer. Lea

Learn more about our lawn services. Click here.

The mowing season in NJ and PA is approximately 30 weeks (about 7 months) long. The mowing season typically starts around Tax Day, April 15th and concludes around Thanksgiving (+/-). Depending on the weather, the mowing season can vary a bit, but typically it is right around 30 weeks. That is the number of mowings we account for in a season for all of our clients. Additional services above 30 can be requested if needed, but no fewer than 30 services are offered.

At Golden Wolf Landscape & Design, we want to make your reoccurring service with us as simple and turnkey as possible. Our goal is to not have you be bogged down by weekly or monthly emails regarding services or having to take time out of our day to grab your wallet, go on your computer, enter your credit card info or write a check, etc. Everyone is busy, so we developed a system to make your life easier!

We require all mowing and lawn application clients to keep a card on file. Each month, at the end of the month, we charge the card on file for the agreed upon monthly payment listed in the payment schedule on the proposal signed off on by each client. The card on file will be charged a total of 9 times starting in February and ending in October. There is no credit card processing fee for keeping the card on file and there is no discount for paying for these services in another form of payment

The information below is listed to set expectations on how we handle and process payments for services. Every company is a little different in how they provide similar tasks, so we want to be able to share how we operate to provide clarity on payment processing.

What methods of payment do you accept?

When hiring Golden Wolf Landscape & Design, we do accept multiple forms of payments. We do accept the following forms of payments:

• Debit or credit cards

• Business or personal checks

• Cash

• ACH (electronic check)

• Financing options

For credit or debit card transactions, we do not charge a processing fee. Card payment can be made over the phone or online through our client portal.

For checks, those can be sent in the mail to our office at 59 East Mill Road, Building 4 Suite 4, Long Valley, NJ 07853. Checks can also be picked up by a representative. That would have to be arranged with the representative you are dealing with specifically.

For financing options, we use a third-party bank called EnerBank. After your application is approved, all payments will be directed through them. The specific term length and APR percent payment will determine the amount and frequency of the payments needed to be made. All payments with EnerBank are made electronically through the website.

Do you offer a cash discount?

When it comes to paying cash, Golden Wolf does not offer a cash discount. With running a licensed, insured, registered, and professional business, we cannot wave taxes for services. We do understand that there may be other companies that offer a cash discount, however that is not an exception we can offer to clients.

The multiple payment options we offer to our clients allow us to appeal to the different needs of everyone. All these payment options are available to all our clients no matter the type of job being performed.

Can I process payments online?

When processing electronic payments, those payments can be made online through our customer portal. Our customer portal allows our clients to store payment information, view invoices and proposals, as well as process payments for services online.

Providing warrantees are essential to giving the consumer peace of mind when moving forward with a project(s). There are several types of warranties that we offer.

Landscape Lighting:

Lighting fixtures that are installed and provided by Golden Wolf Landscape & Design are warrantied for the life of the product. If the product were to become defective, not work, or break from environmental reasons, then it will be replaced at no cost to our clients.

Irrigation:

All irrigation installations have a 5-year warranty for parts and a 2-year installation warranty.

Hardscapes Installation:

Hardscapes consisting of paver patios, walkway, and retaining walls consisting of modular block or boulders have a 5-year installation warranty. If the installation were to have any issues resulting from installation, not environmental problems, Golden Wolf Landscape & Design will fix the issue free of charge.

Hardscape Products:

Several manufacturers that Golden Wolf Landscape & Design work with provide a lifetime warranty on products. Those manufactures include Techo-Bloc, Nicolock, EP Henry, Unilock, and Belgard. For more information on each of these warranties, please ask us at Golden Wolf, or you can find more information on the manufacture's website.

Sod:

The vendor that Golden Wolf Landscape & Design sources our sod from offers a limited warranty on the sod itself. If installed and maintained properly after installation and it the sod does not make it, the sod will be replaced excluding labor and delivery. For more information on what steps needs to be taken to qualify for this limited warranty, please contact us.

Step 1: We receive your email, call, or filled out website form. We contact you to set up an onsite assessment with our sales rep for any job that is not listed below:

o Lawn mowing

o Lawn applications

o Fall cleanup

o Aeration & Over seeding

o Dethatching

All these listed services can be quoted via low flying arial photos we have access to on the software we use. Since this pricing does go off property size, it can be measured relatively quickly. We send all quotes over within the next business day for the services listed above.

Depending on the time of the year, you can anticipate having a sales rep come on site ranging yo next day for up to 1.5 weeks.

Step 2: One of our sales reps comes out to your property to meet with you. During this onsite meeting, we get a better understanding of how our team can assist. We ask a lot of questions, share ideas and solutions, along with taking photos and measurements. Depending on the type of service(s) being disused, site assessments usually take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour (+/-). For site assessments, we do require all homeowners to be present for the meeting to walkthrough the job with our sales rep.

Step 3: A proposal gets sent over to you that details the scope of work. The proposal is sent over with edited site photos and sometimes an interactive site map. This allows you to get a full understanding of the scope of work to be performed.

Step 4: Proposal gets approved on your behalf, and we process the deposit invoice. The deposit invoice gets sent out after the approval of the proposal. The deposit invoice can be paid electronically through our client portal, over the phone, or via mail.

Step 5: After we receive your deposit payment, we will get you on our schedule. There are many factors that go into scheduling, so we give ranges consisting of week of dates initially, then we refine to an exact day when we are a day or two out. We give updates along the way to keep you informed of any delays.

Step 6: The day has come; your job is underway! Our crew will begin work on your job which is overseen by an onsite foreman and our Production Supervisor. We ensure the job is complete to the approved scope of work, photos, and details provided on the proposal

Step 7: Upon the work being complete, we will send the final invoice to collect payment on the rendered services

When permits are required for your job, our team does offer to handle the permitting process with the township. We often deal with townships on a regular basis, so we are familiar with the permitting process along with township expectations that need to be met.

Our team is here to make your project as easy and turnkey as possible. We do not require clients to have us assist with the permitting process, but we extend it as an additional service. If you wish to handle the permitting process on your own, that is completely fine with us!

Typically, we do not bag grass clippings. The reason for this is because if the property is being maintained on a regular weekly basis, then the clippings will be small enough where they fall back into the turf down to the root layer. The clippings act as a free natural fertilizer assisting in the grass’s health and vitality. Grass clippings contain Potassium, Prosperous, and Nitrogen, all which are elements found in store bought fertilizer. Not collecting grass clippings is a very healthy and common practice performed by many professionals in the green industry.

For some clients, depending on the circumstances, we do bag grass clippings on the entire property or on a portion of the property. For example, if there is a large turf area around a pool, we will bag the clippings only around there to prevent grass from getting into the pool. There is an additional charge for bagging grass clippings since we have to account for disposal fees and additional time it takes to empty the bag in our truck per visit. Depending on the size of the area having clippings are bagged, it can add a substantial amount of time with all the back and forth to the truck to dispose of a full bag of clippings.

When you sign up with Golden Wolf Landscape & Design, there are a few things we preface with clients to set clear expectations.

One thing to keep in mind is with it being a new property for our crew the mow, it may take a few weeks or so to fully learn the property. By learning the property, we mean the specific unique elements that a lawn may have such as different elevations in the lawn, placement of certain objects, client preferences, etc. We appreciate the opportunity to service your property along with the understanding of the learning curve each property takes to service at our full protentional.

When signing up for services, we try to be as consistent with the day of the week and time of the day we come. Different variables such as weather and protentional equipment breakdowns could affect this ever so slightly. Infrequently, we may see us come to the property on a different day or time. We always do our best to communicate any large changes with our clients ahead of time.

If you were to have a specific request, question, or concern regarding a mowing service, please contact the office directly instead of talking to the crew on site. The reason for this is because the crew is on a set schedule for the day and any delay can cause a backup of properties to be services. Also, the crew does follow instructions set by the office on their tablet. If certain instructions are not listed on their tablet, they would not perform any additional service. It is always best to reach out to the office to address any additional needs you may have to make sure expectations are met.

Learn more about our lawn care services.

Clients often wonder why sometimes we have to charge additional for the first cut of the season or when we first take over a property with mowing services. If the property has been regularly maintained weekly or they sign up with us before the mowing season starts, then there is no additional charge for the first cut.

When additional charges are added to a service agreement is when the property has not been maintained regularly and the grass is 4.5” + tall. The reason for the additional charge is because it will take at least a double cut (mowing the entire lawn twice) on the first visit to be able to get it down to the proper healthy height of approx. 3” +/-. The reason for having to cut it at least twice is because with the grass being abnormally tall, two passes with a mower is essential to make sure all blades of grass are cut and there are not excessive clippings on top of the grass when finished.

After the first cut is performed with the increased rate being charged, the weekly and lesser rate will be in effect for the rest of the mowing season. Increased rates for the first cut are not very common, but it does happen to a few cleints of ours, especially new ones, when initially signing up with us for mowing services.

When it comes to lawn care, consistency is everything. We often get asked the question of when will I be able to see the results of my lawn application program. That is a hard question to answer and there is no generic answer to tell all clients. If your property was already being serviced regularly over the past year or so, you can anticipate results to improve more rapidly or consistently compared to if this is your first year receiving treatment. Also, if every year you sign up then cancel your lawn application program, it is difficult to develop consistent results with inconsistent service.

Typically, it can take up to a year (+/-) to get the full benefit of a lawn treatment program. Not every property is the same with elements and conditions varying on each. It is important to note that dealing with Mother Nature is not an overnight process. The timeliness and quality of the results are often dependent on the weather, amount of water and sunlight, time of the year, soil conditions, prior service schedules, current maintenance program, etc. all play an effect in having a beautiful healthy lawn. Results often take time to see in your lawn. The reason why we say it takes time to get the full results is because until the lawn has received a full year of all the different beneficial products we have planned for it, it is tough to see the full results of our program.

Infrequently, we may need to add in another service or specialty treatment if we notice something unusual or uncommon happening with your lawn. This is not something that happens often to our clients, but with many variables to consider, it has been something we have seen in the past.

Our team of experts are here to help answer any questions you may have about your turf application program. We are here to be able to provide the best results for your lawn. We greatly appreciate the understanding of all of the elements and timing regarding the expectations with your lawn program.

After a job is sold and in production with a crew actively working on site, it is best to contact our Production Supervisor. Our Production Supervisor oversees all our crews. When each job is sold, our team is inclusive of the individual who sold the job and our Production Supervisor has a pre-job meeting to share job details, photos, scope of work, client expectations, and much more.

The reason for this pre-job meeting is to ensure the job gets executed to the level of detail set or requested by the client during the site assessment. When you are talking to the Production Supervisor, they are aware of all the details involved in your job. The Production Supervisor would communicate with the foreman on site in charge of the crew with any updates, changes, or questions that came from a conversation with a client.

Installing to industry guidelines can allow for hardscape jobs to be installed year-round (weather dependent). The biggest element to keep in mind when installing hardscapes during the winter is the temperature of the ground. If the ground is excavated and compacted when the soil temperature is above freezing, then that will allow for a successful installation. If the soil is frozen and compacted when it is frozen, this could lead to settling come the Spring thaw. To keep the soil temperature above freezing for longer and to have more control over the soil temperature, a concrete blanket can be installed before and during the installation process.

A concrete blanket is a product, like a tarp, that is used to keep heat in and cold air out. Concrete blankets can also be used to cover masonry elements when curing if installed in the winter to prevent cracking.

Also, depending on the temperatures, when installing pavers, polymeric sand installation may need to be delayed. Polymeric sand requires water to install properly, so depending on manufacture specifications and outside temperatures during the day and night, it may need to be delayed to properly install.

Depending on the weather experienced during a winter, crews can work 12 months of the year. At Golden Wolf Landscape & Design, we choose to not have crews work outside when real feel temperatures are at a high of 32 degrees or less. We want to keep all out-staff members safe when installing projects. Being outside for hours on end in the cold is not fun for anyone, so caring for our people who construct these masterpieces is something we are always thinking about when the seasons shift.

The only year-round discount we offer to clients is a 5% off for all veterans. We are immensely grateful for the sacrifice our veterans made for our country, so giving 5% is the least we can do to support them!

We do offer a referral bonus for anyone who refers a new client who signs up for a service(s) with us. For each referral, you will receive a $100 Amazon gift card that is mailed to you.

Outside of that, there are seasonal discounts and coupons that are offered during the course of the year. There is no set plan at the beginning of the year to what those are going to be. We announce them to all our current clients via email and sometimes text along with it being posted on our website.

Depending on the type of services being quoted for a client, sometimes combining services together for a single project can help reduce the overall price since there are inefficiencies being saved on if a crew were to do it all at once. Material waste can be reduced, logistics can be simplified, and labor can be maximized for efficiency. There is no set amount of what the protentional savings could be, but it is worth exploring this option with your sales rep to see how to maximize the effectiveness of a crew on site.

We do not offer a discount for paying for your project in cash.

There are many variables that determine how long you can be expecting a project to take from start to completion. Ensuring the job is performed to your expectations and industry standards is not something we want to rush through. Our team understands that these projects are investments on your property and family, therefore project lengths do vary.

Some of the factors that determine the length of how long your project may take are the following:

• Weather

• Specific materials and/or installation practices being used

• Inspections from township building officials

• The overall size and scope of the work being preformed

• Time of the year

• Potential setbacks due to unforeseen issues that may arise once breaking ground

• The job involves other trades such as electrical, plumbing, etc.

The time a job will take is inclusive, but not limited to the reasons listed above. For a more detailed answer on how long you can anticipate your project to take, contact your accountant representative. Setting clear expectations when starting your project is essential to allowing for a successful end product!

When planning a job, starting with a design is essential to setting and managing clear expectations from start to finish. During the design process, we start with a conceptual plan to help lay out the space. This helps us get a clear picture of the flow of the space, where specific features will be, and how the final product will look upon completion in relation to your current home.

Once we have an approved conceptual design, then we drill down into the finer details of the project including specific materials to be used. When deciding materials, there are several options we offer to our clients to ensure that they are making the best selection:

• Our team provides photos and links to the product(s) specified in the proposal leading you to the manufacture's website

• We can bring samples of products to your home

• A time can be scheduled to visit one of our vendors who carry the product options to see a vast array of items to choose from. This can include plants, hardscape materials, decking options, etc.

Our team does not just hand you a catalog and expect you to pick one item from a 100 + page booklet. That can be overwhelming and make the decision process difficult for you. Our team is there to provide options, alternatives, and give our professional recommendations to make the materials selections process as simple as possible.

Here at Golden Wolf Landscape & Design, we offer different payment options for your next project. Having different payment options gives you the flexibility to decide what option(s) are best when moving forward with your project. Often, our team likes to say, “If we are not providing options, then we are presenting ultimatums” which is never a way to go about making sure you are conferrable and confident proceeding with services.

How do I get pre-approved?

To get pre-approved for one of the low monthly payment options we offer, filling out a quick 5-minute application online is all that is required.

How long does it take to get approved?

Once your application is submitted, it can take approximately 15-30 minutes to hear back from the lender.

Does submitting for a pre-approval affect my credit?

No, not at all! EnerBank, the lender we use, only does a soft pull on your credit. To get pre-approved will not affect your credit.

Who am I responsible for paying, the bank or Golden Wolf?

After you have moved forward with one of the loan options, you will be responsible for paying the bank. The reason for that is because the bank and you have made a financial agreement that they will be fronting you with the capital for the project(s) and the bank will be paying us at Golden Wolf.

Can I put a down payment on a project or do I have to finance the whole thing?

Lending options are up to $100,000. You can always put a percentage down and finance the remaining with the bank. If needed, there is no obligation to finance the whole project with the bank.

Are there pre-payment penalties?

No, there are no pre-payment penalties. If you decide to pay off the loan if ½ or ¾ of the term length, that is 100% fine. You will not be charged a penalty for doing so.

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Yes!  We offer a comprehensive Landscape bed maintenance plan as part of our lawn care services. This plan includes weed control, seasonal bed cleanups, mulch installation for weed suppression, and ongoing care to keep your flower beds looking their best. Please note that landscape bed maintenance is available exclusively to our lawn care maintenance clients.