Frequently Asked Questions

What garden services do you offer?

Skeleton Figure offers garden consulting, design, installation, and ongoing maintenance throughout Greater Portland and coastal Southern Maine. I work with new and existing gardens, from small interventions to larger planting projects and ongoing stewardship.

Can you help with an existing or overgrown garden?

Absolutely. I can help edit overgrown gardens, identify what is worth keeping, relocate or divide existing plants, manage weeds and invasive growth, and introduce new plantings where they make sense.

Do you offer ongoing garden maintenance?

Yes. Ongoing care may include weeding, pruning, deadheading, dividing and transplanting, soil care, plant health monitoring, and seasonal adjustments as a garden grows and changes.

Do you offer mulching, compost, and soil amendment?

Yes. Mulching, compost application, and soil amendment can be incorporated into installations and ongoing care, with an emphasis on soil health, moisture retention, weed suppression, and long-term plant health.

Do you work with native and edible plants?

Yes. I work with Maine native plants, well-adapted ornamentals, vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants, and other edibles. Plant choices are based on the conditions and goals of each individual property rather than a prescribed palette.

Do you offer planters and container gardens?

Yes. I design, plant, refresh, and maintain outdoor pots, window boxes, and container gardens for residential and small commercial spaces, including seasonal plantings.

Do you offer indoor plant care?

Yes. Indoor plant care includes routine maintenance, pruning, repotting, soil refreshes, cleaning, pest monitoring, and troubleshooting. Indoor services are particularly available during the quieter winter gardening season.

Do you use pesticides or herbicides?

I prioritize ecological garden practices and do not rely on routine synthetic pesticide or herbicide applications. My approach focuses on plant and soil health, prevention, and working thoughtfully with the existing ecosystem.

What areas do you serve?

I primarily work throughout Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Scarborough, Portland, Falmouth, and surrounding coastal Southern Maine communities. I'm also happy to discuss projects outside my typical service area.

Do you work on islands or ferry-access locations?

Yes. I'm flexible to the access, scheduling, and maintenance needs of each island and have a ferry-accessible tool cart for transporting the tools and supplies needed for garden care. Island services and travel are arranged based on the location, ferry access, and needs of the property.

What makes Skeleton Figure different from a traditional landscaping company?

Skeleton Figure is intentionally small and hands-on. It's just me—from consultation and design through sourcing, installation, and ongoing care—allowing me to become familiar with each property and thoughtfully steward it over time.