Frequently Asked Questions

Home & Garden Landscapes is a North Carolina Licensed Landscape Contractor (NCLC #2591) established in 2002 by David Payne, a lifelong horticulturalist. Based in Hillsborough, NC, we specialize in mature landscape installation, privacy screening solutions, and specimen-quality tree and shrub plantings throughout North Carolina’s Triangle region and beyond. Our work has been featured in Walter Magazine and Home Decor & Design Magazine.

We primarily serve the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle region, including Orange County, Durham County, Wake County, Guilford County, Chatham County, and Forsyth County. Communities we regularly work in include Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Mebane, Raleigh, Durham, Wake Forest, Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and Pittsboro. We also serve select customers in South Carolina and Virginia for larger projects.

Yes. Home & Garden Landscapes is a North Carolina Licensed Landscape Contractor, license number NCLC #2591, issued by the NC Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board. We also hold a North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Plant Pest Certificate (050-6298). We carry full liability insurance for all projects.

We have been in business since 2002 — over 22 years of landscape design and installation experience in North Carolina. In that time, we have completed thousands of projects ranging from individual tree plantings to full estate landscape transformations.

Our core services include: privacy screening and instant screening solutions using mature trees and shrubs; mature shade tree, ornamental tree, and specimen tree installation; complete landscape design and installation for residential and commercial properties; swimming pool landscaping; cold hardy palm installations; backyard retreat design; curb appeal makeovers and landscape renovations; estate and country retreat landscaping; lake and waterfront landscapes; historic landscape restorations; and hardscape construction including walls, patios, fireplaces, fire pits, and water features.

Our key differentiator is our specialization in mature, specimen-quality plant materials. While most landscapers install young nursery-stock plants, we install trees and shrubs that are already 10 to 20+ feet tall. This means you get instant results — a landscape that looks like it has been growing for years, installed in just a matter of days. Our founder David Payne’s deep horticultural expertise, combined with our catalog of over 80 plant varieties, allows us to solve complex landscaping challenges that other companies cannot.

Yes. We work with homeowners, businesses, and institutions throughout North Carolina. Our residential projects include everything from single-tree privacy solutions to complete estate landscaping. Our commercial and institutional work includes office parks, HOA common areas, and historic property restorations.

Yes. Our team includes landscape designer Christopher Vann, who is currently enrolled in the Masters of Arts in Landscape Architecture program at NC State University and brings international design experience from projects in France, the United Kingdom, and Russia. We provide complete design services from initial concept through finished installation.

Instant privacy screening is the installation of mature, full-grown trees and shrubs — typically 10 to 20+ feet tall — to create an immediate visual barrier on your property. Unlike planting small nursery trees and waiting years for them to grow, our mature screening plants provide complete privacy from the day they are installed. This is ideal for homeowners who have lost privacy due to new construction, Leyland cypress decline, or tree removal on neighboring properties.

We use a variety of plants depending on your property’s specific conditions, including sun exposure, soil type, and the level of privacy needed. Our most commonly used screening plants include Emily Bruner Holly (one of our favorites for its adaptability to sun and shade), Nellie Stevens Holly, Southern Magnolia, Green Giant Arborvitae, Cryptomeria, Eastern Red Cedar, and Canada Hemlock. We work with each client to find the right solution or combination of plants for their unique situation.

Emily Bruner Holly is one of the best privacy screening trees for shaded areas in North Carolina. It performs well in conditions ranging from full sun to full shade and can reach heights of 20+ feet. It is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and maintains dense evergreen foliage year-round, making it an excellent long-term screening solution for properties with limited sunlight.

Leyland cypress has been massively overplanted across North Carolina and is increasingly prone to serious diseases including Seiridium canker and bot canker, as well as root rot in our clay soils. Many homeowners are discovering their Leyland cypress hedges failing after 15–20 years. Superior alternatives for screening in NC include Emily Bruner Holly, Nellie Stevens Holly, Green Giant Arborvitae, and Cryptomeria — all of which offer better long-term disease resistance and adaptability to North Carolina conditions.

The size of trees at installation varies by species and project requirements. For privacy screening projects, we commonly install hollies in the 14- to 18-foot range, and we have installed trees as tall as 18+ feet. Shade trees and specimen trees may be even larger — we once installed a 6,000-pound flowering cherry tree. During your consultation, we’ll recommend the ideal size for your specific situation and budget.

Most screening installations are completed in one to three days, depending on the number of trees and site accessibility. One of the key advantages of our approach is speed — you get complete privacy in days rather than waiting years for small plants to mature. Larger landscape renovation projects typically take one to two weeks.

We maintain a catalog of over 80 plant varieties organized into several categories: shade trees, ornamental and flowering trees (including crape myrtles, Southern magnolias, camellias, and dogwoods), hollies, coniferous evergreens (including Green Giants, Cryptomeria, cedars, spruce, Emerald Green arborvitae, and Eastern white pine), Japanese maples, cold hardy palms, and mature bamboo. Visit our Plant Catalog for detailed descriptions of every variety we carry.

Yes! Several palm species are cold hardy enough to thrive in North Carolina’s climate zones (7b and 8a). We specialize in cold hardy palm installation and maintain our own palm growing operation. Species such as Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) and Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) can withstand Triangle-area winters. Our Cold Hardy Palm Oasis project gallery showcases successful palm installations throughout the region.

Yes. We offer plant care guides for many of the varieties we install, available on our website at our Plant Care Guides page. These guides cover watering, fertilization, pruning, and seasonal care specific to North Carolina growing conditions.

The Triangle region of North Carolina falls primarily in USDA Hardiness Zones 7b and 8a. Zone 7b has average annual minimum temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while Zone 8a ranges from 10 to 15 degrees. All of the plants in our catalog are selected for proven performance in these zones.

Getting started is easy. Call us at 919-801-0211 or email info@homeandgardenlandscapes.com to schedule a consultation. David Payne personally visits your property to assess your needs, discuss your goals, and recommend solutions. There is no obligation — we want to make sure our services are the right fit for your project.

During the initial consultation, David Payne will visit your property to evaluate the site conditions including sun exposure, soil, drainage, existing plantings, and any privacy or aesthetic challenges. We’ll discuss your goals, timeline, and budget. For projects that require a formal design, our landscape designer Christopher Vann will create a detailed landscape plan. We’ll then provide a comprehensive proposal with plant recommendations, sizing, and pricing.

We stand behind the quality of our plant materials and installation work. We source specimen-quality plants that have been grown under ideal conditions for extended periods, resulting in healthier, more established root systems. Specific warranty terms are discussed during the proposal process and may vary depending on the plant species and project scope.

In North Carolina, fall (October through December) is generally the best time to plant trees and shrubs because the cooler air temperatures and still-warm soil encourage strong root development before winter. Early spring (February through April) is also excellent. However, because we install mature, well-established plants with robust root systems, we can successfully install year-round with proper care and watering protocols.

The cost of mature tree installation varies depending on the species, size, quantity, site accessibility, and project complexity. A single mature screening tree installation may start in the range of several hundred dollars, while comprehensive privacy screening projects with multiple large trees typically range into the thousands. Full landscape renovation projects vary widely based on scope. We provide detailed, transparent proposals after the on-site consultation so you know exactly what to expect before any work begins.

Mature trees cost more upfront because they have been professionally grown for many additional years, require specialized equipment for transport and installation, and deliver immediate results. However, many of our clients find the investment worthwhile because they receive instant privacy, instant curb appeal, and a landscape that would otherwise take 10 to 15 years to achieve. The enjoyment and property value increase begin on day one.

Payment terms and options are discussed during the proposal process. Please contact us at 919-801-0211 to discuss your project and budget, and we’ll work with you to find an approach that fits your needs.

Our hardscape team, led by specialist Steve Winkler, designs and builds retaining walls, patios, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, water features, walkways, and other structural landscape elements. We integrate hardscape design with our planting plans to create cohesive outdoor living spaces.

Yes. Swimming pool landscaping is one of our specialties. We design lush, resort-style plantings around pools using a combination of palms, ornamental trees, screening plants, and tropical-look plantings suited to North Carolina’s climate. Visit our Swimming Pool Retreats gallery to see examples of completed pool landscaping projects.

Yes. We have experience with historic landscape restorations, working to preserve the character and plantings appropriate to the period and style of the property. Our team understands the specific plant varieties and design principles used in different eras of Southern landscape design.