Real Life Garden Solutions

Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers

About Us

REAL LIFE GARDEN SOLUTIONS is a design service meeting the needs of a wide variety of homes and families, from contemporary new homes to traditional older ones, patio/balcony design (including creating container gardens), as well as garden coaching for those who just want a little assistance. Specialties include wildlife and rain gardens, natural or modern water features, lawn alternatives. Real Life Garden Solutions inspires in the client a love for gardening, for learning and using principles of sustainable horticulture, gaining the confidence to create spaces that can grow and evolve over the years. Janet is a graduate of University of Guelph’s Creating Landscapes Certificate program. She is an active qualified member of Vancouver Master Gardeners (Master Gardeners Association of British Columbia), participating in local outreach clinics, and is a member of the Garden Design Group of British Columbia.

Services Provided

Custom Water Features, Deck Design, Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Edible Gardens, Garden Design, Green Roofing, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Plans, Living Walls, Natural Swimming Pools, Organic Gardens, Outdoor Lighting Design, Patio Design, Pond Construction, Pool Landscaping, Project Management, Site Planning

Areas Served

Metro Vancouver, Anmore, Barnet, Belcarra, Burnaby, Coal Harbour, Coquitlam, Deep Cove, Delta, Hastings-Sunrise, Hollyburn, Ioco, Killarney, Kitsilano, Ladner, Lynn Creek, New Westminster, North Burnaby, North Surrey, North Vancouver, Panorama Park, Port Coquitlam, Port Mann, Port Moody, White Rock, Langley, West Van, Richmond

Awards

Creating Landscapes Certificate U of Guelph Master Gardener (Master Gardener Association of British Columbia)

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7 Projects

New Westminster, BC

Credentials

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Write a Review

3 Reviews for Real Life Garden Solutions

Lynda Gibson

Relationship

Client

Janet and her team did a great job. She has a great flair for design and knows her plants. I recommended her to another job who rate her very highly. Her team was very good as well and she had reasonable access to suppliers. On schedule and on budget.

April 13, 2019

Comment from Real Life Garden Solutions:

Thanks Lynda. And thanks for that referral as well. Two great projects, two (three) great clients!

Louise W.

Relationship

Client

Janet was a delight to work with. First, she really listened to what I wanted. Then, she came through with intelligent plant selections and a garden design that has given me, (and my neighbors) a great deal of pleasure. She met all the deadlines and worked within the budget we had discussed. I wouldn't hesitate to hire her again.

February 9, 2019Last modified:February 9, 2019

Comment from Real Life Garden Solutions:

Thanks Louise. Your own contributions added long-lasting colour, texture and layers. So glad you're all enjoying it.

yvette botfield

Relationship

Client

Janet designed the foundation trees and shrubs for my new back yard and did the landscape design for my front yard. She was fun to work with because of her incredible knowledge and passion but also because she listened to what I wanted. Both my yards are lovely and I am so happy with them. Two years later I asked her to come back and give me some design ideas because I wasn't completely happy with the shrubs and perennials that I had added myself to the back yard. Again she was very helpful and enthusiastic and gave me some great design ideas for moving the plants around so that everything flowed and was in the right place. On both occasions she was able to work within my limited budget with lovely results. I would definitely recommend her to anyone who needs help with their yard and garden.

February 9, 2019

Comment from Real Life Garden Solutions:

Thanks Yvette. Always very gratifying to work with someone who's keen to develop their own garden!

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55 Ideabooks

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28 Comments

Commented: Love the wild mountain meadow effect you have created.Thanks. It's Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'. South facing so full sun, so it stands nicely.

April 23, 2019

Commented: What is it? Friend or Foe?I guess I wasn't clear. Bindweed would be the common name of Convolvulus arvensis, an aggressive spreading vine, difficult to eradicate because if its ability to regenerate from the smallest piece of ...

May 21, 2018 in Name That Plant!

Commented: Tall stalk with flowers and thin leavesDepending on where you are John, you may find these take over as easily as your LOTV did. I have volunteers in the very shady (no direct sun ever) area of my garden, and I have to control where they s...

June 10, 2016 in Name That Plant!

Commented: know the name of this upside down, almost tulip-looking plant??Fritilaria mealgris, snake's head fritillary.

April 17, 2015 in Name That Plant!

Commented: Great Garden Design- ? About 1 plantGood to hear all your negative comments about helictotrichon. I've just planted it heavily in a North Vancouver site, so I'll see how it fares this winter. I agree, don't cut down grasses--or almost a...

February 17, 2015

Commented: Want to know name of grassLiriope muscari or L. spicata. Considered invasive in a lot of the US (esp SE), not just because it grwos by rhizones but also because the birds eeat the fruit and then disseminate the seeds.

April 13, 2013

Real Life Garden Solutions