Andrea Hallmark Landscape Design

I'm very pleased to share my experience with Andrea Hallmark. I asked her to help me do a complete makeover of my entire garden area in late 2019. From our first visit I could tell she was the one who could really bring my landscape ideas to life. When you think about hiring this kind of creative professional, I believe they must be able to put away their own egos and truly listen to the clients' wants/needs/desires. I think Andrea is unsurpassed in this way. She demonstrated her incredible professionalism and passion to landscaping in how she listened intently to all of my thoughts. I'm a somewhat knowledgeable gardener and I was able to express any/all of my ideas to her. She went straight to work and responded quickly with an incredible - and enhanced - interpretation to my vision. Her extensive knowledge of flowers/shrubs/trees was invaluable. When I mentioned an idea about this kind of plant or shrub, she would recite dozens of different options and colors from memory! Incredible! Once we had agreed upon a contract she kept in constant communication with me. She returns her calls and emails very promptly. Another very impressive part of her work ethic: During the installation of my very large project she was right in with the installation crew, specifying each planting and supervising the entire job. The job took about 3.5 days and she was on site the entire time. Another impressive data point: From our first meeting to completion of the project - just 7 weeks! She works fast - and right on your budget. She came back to me whenever our budget changed - and I almost always approved her recommendation. I'm glad I did. This review is long - but it needs to be. Landscaping is a big investment. You want it to last fora long time. You need to hire a true professional who is passionate about creating incredible outdoor spaces. You've found her in Andrea Hallmark.

Andrea Hallmark did a Landscape Installation for us and it is Beautiful! Full of color and so delightful to come home to. Makes the front of our house so lovely. Her crews were hard working and did the job quickly. We paid what she quoted and I feel it was worth every penny.

I paid for a professional landscape plan but Hallmark produced a hand-drawn plan that was entirely wrong - full of errors and wrong measurements. I needed an overall landscape plan for landscaping, re-grading, and to obtain permit for a shed - the driveway and three entryways were redone and changed the property. Hallmark advertises that she has a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and that she taught landscape design at Temple University, amongst other things. She visited my property. There are a number of beautiful old trees and plantings. I told her that the lawn needs re-grading and redoing, that I do not use chemicals, wanted new plantings where needed, native plantings, rain barrels, placement of a shed, and locations for path lights and entry post in front, which were wired, but awaiting placement and fixtures. Hallmark mentioned up-lighting front sycamore tree; I was emphatic about my concern for light pollution and not wanting to add any unnecessary lighting. Hallmark offered to do the landscape design for what sounded like a fair price for a professional landscape plan. We walked around the property. She took some photos. She did not take any measurements, which I assumed she would do at another time. I was also interested in estimate for installation work after planning. Hallmark delivered her plan - two 18 x 24 sheets of paper, hand drawn in light pencil. I looked at the plan and asked why the rain barrels were in the back corner of the yard, far from any downspouts. I said I needed to study the plan before deciding on any installation work. However, I paid for the plan as agreed upon. The plan was totally unusable. Following is a list of some of the problems with the alleged plan. 1) Length of driveway was drawn 8 feet wide. It is more than twice that width from the curb to the front walk about 29 feet away and 10 feet wide to side entry. Hallmark obviously did not even look at the driveway. 2) Path to the front door was wrong. 3) End of driveway is wrong width - is wheelchair accessible to the backyard. 4) Hosta garden, in front of the back patio, blocks handicap access from driveway to the backyard and blocks access from back steps to the patio. 5) At front of house, plan showed one window well and camilla [sic] bush and Otto Luyken bush were placed next to house. There are two basement window wells projecting 33 inches out. She put plants on top of window wells. (Window wells were on blueprint she borrowed.) 6) Two laurel bushes were placed on basement window-well at side of the house. (This window well also on blueprint she borrowed). 7) The entry post and front path lights, wired and awaiting placement, were missing from the plan; there were up-lights and eleven path lights in side and rear yards, which are already lit by porch and floodlights from house. 8) Shed was placed 2 feet from back property line -against code. 9) Plan shows a path from front lawn leading to 13 inch high side porch (no steps), which is not intended for front access. (10) Small raised vegetable bed morphed into 8x16 feet. It was clear that current plantings and lighting were not taken into account and nothing was measured. Home Advisor called me for a review. I said I would talk with Hallmark first. At my insistence, Hallmark came to my property on June 14. I walked the property with her and pointed out some of the numerous problems with her plan. I asked for a refund. After I spoke with Home Advisor again, they initiated a complaint and urged me to put a review on the web site. On June 21, Hallmark sent me a revised plan, which still contained many errors. The revisions changed a few items, were sketches off the top of her head and measurements were still wrong. Lastly, she moved the shed from 2 feet to 10 feet from the property line, a totally unacceptable location. The so-called plan I received is totally wrong and totally unusable.

Job well planned and executed, they know what they are doing, worth every penny, no surprises

Andrea has wonderful ideas and strong knowledge and experience. We have a great plan to implement as soon as we relocate to the area.