Providing ecological restoration, design, installation, and maintenance gardening services in central Ottawa.
Services
Creating customized, wildlife-friendly spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
Design & Consultation
We provide full design services, re-designs for existing gardens, and design consultations.
We work closely with you to design a space that meets your needs and preferences. We balance this carefully with an analysis of the site conditions and the local ecosystem.
Preparing custom design drawings, mood boards, and/or curated selections of native plants for all types of gardens. Our specialties include full lawn conversions, rain gardens, shade gardens, kid-friendly alternative lawns, and small urban spaces.
Guiding seamless transformations from high-maintenance, traditional gardens to lower maintenance, natural gardens that blend non-invasive ornamentals with native plants.
In-person or online design consultations may include:
Professional advice on selecting optimal plant locations, creating plant communities, and demonstrating cues to care.
Helping homeowners to identify which plants are invasive and harmful to wildlife, how to prioritize their removal, and how to effectively remove and dispose of them.
Working with existing design drawings or other landscaping companies to select appropriate native plants for your project.
Native Plant Installation
We install healthy, robust plants from our trusted local suppliers who specialize in native plants. Services may include:
Planting native trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and perennials in ideal growing conditions to meet their sun, water, and nutrient needs.
Amending depleted urban soils to restore fungal and microbial life by adding bone meal, mycorrhizal fungi, leaf mold, or natural mulch where appropriate.
Mulching with a variety of available natural mulches.
Planting clients’ own winter-sown native plant seedlings.
Planting seasonal planters using native perennials and non-invasive annuals.
Completing the installation stage of other landscape designers’ plans - with the exception of installing any invasive species.
While our small team does not specialize in large tree maintenance or hardscaping installation, we have built strong relationships within the industry and can refer you to trusted arborists and contractors for your project .
Ecological Restoration
We restore ecosystem function by identifying and removing invasive species and making space for native plants. This may include:
Revitalizing neglected or overgrown gardens to create space for native plants.
Identifying and removing invasive species such as periwinkle, lily of the valley, and dog-strangling vine.
Sustainable Maintenance
We maintain and enhance your garden space:
Ongoing seasonal maintenance including weeding, pruning, splitting, edging, mulching, and other eco-friendly care for houses, condominiums, apartment buildings, and commercial landscapes.
Consultations with homeowners to develop simplified and individualized maintenance plans so that you can care for your garden with confidence and ease.
About Us
Tara Beauchamp (she/her)
Founder & Lead Designer
Garden ReLeaf Inc. was born out of a desire to step away from the computer and into the outdoors. Realizing my profession was not aligned with my values, I turned to what I love to guide me into a new chapter in my career. As I spent countless hours dreaming in my own garden and returned to university to study Sustainable Urban Horticulture and Landscape Design, Garden ReLeaf Inc. came to life.
As an environmentalist, I see the benefits of native and pollinator plants and trees. My particular interest is designing and introducing native species to established gardens, enabling my clients to continue to enjoy the garden they love while also supporting their desire for a more wildlife-friendly garden.
As an avid gardener, I also see the personal health benefits in caring for a wildlife garden. I’m passionate about teaching these skills to others so that they too can become confident eco-wise gardeners and experience the joy in nature.
Aside from working with our clients, I have a special interest in advocating for communities and schools to create natural green spaces that foster environmental awareness, contribute to physical and mental well-being, and encourage social and emotional development in our children. I’m thrilled to be able to volunteer with both my children’s school and the Glebe Community Association Environmental Committee.
Mission & Values
Creating and caring for urban gardens that enhance local ecosystems and support biodiversity.
Choosing materials and methods that minimize our environmental impact.
Strengthening our community by supporting local small businesses and partnering with local community groups for educational workshops and sustainable gardening initiatives.
The Algonquin Anishinaabeg culture, knowledge, and presence has nurtured the land we live and work on for millennia. Systemic racism has had devastating and lasting impacts on all of our relationships – human, plant, insect, and animal. May we come together to restore and reconcile all of our relations.
Testimonials
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"I had no idea where to start with our garden. Tara helped us clean up what was there and assess what native plants we could introduce to enhance both the beauty and function of the space. She was a really effective communicator and made the whole process fun and accessible. Tara’s vast knowledge and enthusiasm for sustainable gardening is infectious!" - Morgan
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“Tara helped me out immensely in the redesign of my front garden. I had wanted to introduce more native and pollinator-friendly species while keeping some of the existing plants that I liked. Tara involved me in the entire process - from selecting the plants, deciding what would go where and why, and then actually doing some of the gardening work together. It became a tremendous learning process." - Kate
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“Tara and the team at Garden ReLeaf did a remarkable job on our landscaping project. My family and I moved into our home and the greenspaces on our property were neglected. Luckily for us, she designed and planted appropriate landscaping, paying close attention to our preferences, budget, and needs. The result? An utterly charming, eco-friendly urban garden that is, thank goodness, also easy to maintain.” - Jenn
Workshops
We offer educational workshops for community groups, events, and businesses. Get in touch to book one of the workshops below or to request a customized workshop.
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Are you looking to transform your traditional, high-maintenance garden to a lower maintenance, wildlife-friendly garden? Garden ReLeaf specializes in designing transitional gardens that incorporate native plants among existing non-native, non-invasive plants. This workshop covers key aspects of garden maintenance that either support or harm wildlife and habitat. We highlight popular invasive species that must be removed and provide guidance on removal techniques. Finally we outline transitional garden design principles and recommend native plants that often suit traditional garden styles.
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This hands-on workshop teaches participants how to successfully winter sow native plant seeds. It covers seed harvesting and storage, winter sowing supplies, sowing techniques, spring seedling care, thinning, and transplanting. Each participant will sow seeds to take home. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!
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This multi-day workshop covers the foundational knowledge and skills of ecological garden design and guides participants through the design process. Participants learn how to apply key design principles to wildlife-friendly gardens, assess garden conditions, and select native plants to build resilient plant communities in a variety of settings. This workshop is ideal for those who do not want to hire a garden designer but wish to create a beautiful, functional, and ecological garden.
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Whether they were brought here intentionally or unintentionally, invasive plant species have significant negative impacts on our local vegetation and wildlife (e.g. lily of the valley, periwinkle, and dog-strangling vine). This seminar looks at these impacts and covers practical techniques for species identification, removal, and responsible disposal. It also highlights design strategies for replacing invasive species with native alternatives. Through knowledge, persistence, and community-led approaches, we can restore balance in our local ecosystems.
CONTACT US
Book a visit. We’ll assess your property, discuss your project goals, and provide you with a quote. At $100 per hour, this visit will be credited towards your project.