Some of the services included in Property Stewardship:
- Maintaining garden beds using methods that support ecological health
- Enhancing existing beds with appropriate native species
- Managing invasive plant species (Some of the common species we have successfully eradicated include: Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberries, English Ivy, Daphne, Periwinkle).
- Building healthy soil in beds using leaf mulch, compost and soil amendments
- Developing restoration plans to convert unused areas into wildlife habitat
- Planting mini forests and native shrub hedgerows




Is your property a good fit for our Stewardship Program?
Your property is a good fit for our Property Stewardship if:
- You love the idea of including native plants: Maybe you’re already a native plant enthusiast or you’re excited to learn. Or maybe you just want the team that manages your landscaping to have this knowledge – either way, we strive to enhance the biodiversity of native species.
- You’re keen to remove the invasive species on your property: If your property has invasive plants established, we will work with you to develop a management plan to get rid of them once and for all!
- You want your gardens to be low maintenance: While this seems obvious, traditional gardening approaches often create more maintenance over time. We use restorative gardening techniques to transition high maintenance areas into lush, PNW landscapes.
- You love to embrace nature in your gardens: We don’t believe in sterile gardens. While gardens on our Stewardship properties can look tidy, we ensure that leaf mulch, small debris and spent blooms are utilized to cycle back into your garden as nutrients. We’re all about creating habitat, embracing wildlife and nurturing healthy soil.
- You are excited to work with a team passionate about ecosystem restoration: We’re excited to work with property owners who want to make a difference with their properties. We love to chat with our clients about restoration and pass along information about the plants and ecosystems on your property.
What does the Stewardship Program include?
Feel good knowing your property is taken care of by reliable, environmentally minded professionals. Property Stewardship is a core part of what we do.
For newly installed landscapes, regular stewardship visits ensures that the plants successfully root and fill in ahead of weeds and invasive species. We’re also ensuring plants are receiving enough water, plant replacements are taken care of within the warranty window, and any adjustments to plant placement is taken care of before plants mature. Often the first three years are crucial to steer the landscaping towards the desired aesthetic and plant species.
For mature landscapes, stewardship can be minimal. We’re often filling in gaps with to enhance native diversity, building soil by adding leaf mulch, and managing invasive species. Often properties designed with traditional landscaping are more work than necessary. We can help transition the landscape to a lower maintenance, more natural space.
How much does it cost and how often do we come?
The cost of our Property Stewardship Program is based on the number of hours spent on your property, the materials installed (plants, mulch, etc,) and disposal costs. Please get in touch for an estimate for your property.
We also offer a variety of frequency options. Some clients like us to come every two weeks in the growing season, others prefer seasonal visits (3 each year).
We can tailor the program to your properties needs and your budget.
How is the Alder approach different?
Our landscaping techniques are not traditional. We focus on incorporating native plant species, planting densely and retaining a cover of mulch year round. We never apply pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers.
The PNW has some of the most beautiful native plant species in the world. We are fortunate to live in such a spectacular climate – one of the reasons many of us choose to live here. To us, it is a no-brainer that our local plants are included in our landscaping since they thrive here naturally making them especially low maintenance, resilient to climate change and disease resistant.
Whenever we work on a property we ask ourselves, what would nature do here? We take time to understand the elements at play and microclimates of each area and following natures lead, create landscapes that celebrate our region’s natural beauty.
Can one property actually make a difference?
On Vancouver Island we have one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the world. We also have among the highest number of species that are at risk of extinction. Habitat loss is the biggest reason why plants and animals go extinct and climate change is adding pressure to an already challenging situation.
Your property is an important piece of habitat in our community’s ecosystem.
Whether you have a small garden space or a 10 acre parcel, there is more and more research supporting the idea that every piece of intact or restored native landscape makes a difference for species at risk and climate change resilience.
Not only that, you are not alone in your endeavour to make a difference. We’ve worked with hundreds of property owners who have used restorative landscaping on their properties – together we are building a network of habitat and biodiversity.
What are the benefits to using native plants on your property?
The benefits of using native plants on your property include:
- Lower maintenance, hardier and more adaptable than most exotic species
- Reduced dependency on pesticides, water and irrigation systems
- Resistant to frost damage, drought, common diseases, and herbivores
- With maturity, will form self-sustaining plant communities
- Produce long root systems to hold soil in place and resist erosion
Is there still room for your favourite non-native plants?
We often get asked some version of: ‘What about my lavender, ornamental roses or magnolia tree? Can I keep non-native plants and still create a positive environmental impact with my property?’
The answer is: Yes!
We believe the most important thing is that you are connected to your property. Many of us have sentimental attachment to certain plants, appreciate the vibrancy of certain flowering ornamentals, or utilize non-native herbs and cut flowers. While we WILL encourage you to remove the invasive species that do damage to our local ecosystems (and will never plant them for you), we are happy to incorporate your favourite non-native species into our projects as well.