We launched In Harmony in 1994 to provide a more natural approach to landscape management. Our goal has always been to create landscapes that thrive in harmony with nature.

We started In Harmony in 1994 to offer a more natural, sustainable alternative to the chemical-heavy landscape practices of the time. From the beginning, our mission has been to create landscapes that are beautiful, resilient and thrive in harmony with nature.

Now, as we celebrate our 30th year in business, we’re proud of how far we’ve come and grateful for the community that’s supported us along the way.

Our company’s success is rooted in our commitment to the three P’s of sustainability: planet, people and profit.

Planet

When we started, sustainability was rarely discussed. Today, people recognize that healthy, eco-friendly landscapes help sustain our planet. Our comprehensive approach includes:

Natural lawn, tree and shrub care

• Building healthy soil through organic fertilizers, organic mulch, beneficial microbes, mycorrhizae fungi, kelp and microminerals.
• Supporting robust, pest-resistant landscapes through aeration, overseeding and seasonal pruning.
• Using natural products to support soil and plant health. Our three 500-gallon tanks brew compost tea in spring and fall. Over the years we have applied over 2.7 million gallons of compost tea, over 500,000 gallons of effective microbes and more than 500,000 pounds of natural organic fertilizers to landscapes.
• Using only the least-toxic solutions when problems arise in order to protect soil life and people’s health. We have never used pre-emergent pesticides or non-selective pesticides such as Roundup.

Landscape design and installation

We design landscapes that flourish for years, allowing our clients to enjoy nature’s beauty at home. Our expert designers select plants that are well-suited to our local climate and site them in the right location in the landscape. Our installation crews amend the soil to get plants off to a strong start. We use sustainable materials, such as recycled concrete for patio substrates and efficient lighting and water pumps, to reduce our environmental footprint. To date, we have planted over 9,000 trees, making a lasting positive impact.

Education

We are dedicated to educating both clients and the public about natural yard and garden care. Our outreach includes fact sheets, blog posts, videos and talks on topics like watering, mulching, plant selection, lawn care, sustainable design and less-toxic pest management. Co-owner Ladd Smith has given around 600 talks to gardeners in the community. Our popular YouTube videos and 350 blog posts continue to engage audiences.

Adaptation

We update our practices as we gain new knowledge. To protect pollinators, we stopped using certain insecticides. As the climate changes, we have educated our clients on drought stress and watering strategies. In recent years we’ve created education programs on invasive chafer beetles and Bee Friendly Lawns.

People

We value both our clients and our employees, building relationships that last. We have many loyal clients; a large number have been with us for over 20 years. Our team enjoys benefits like health insurance, continuing education (monthly classes), paid vacation and retirement—benefits that rare in our industry. With a focus on respect and internal advancement, we’ve maintained a stable, experienced staff. Three employees have been with the company for more than 20 years, and seven for more than a decade.

Profit

Our dedication to environmental stewardship has helped us grow. We gained early recognition for pollution prevention and sustainability. Today, our 32-person team serves the Puget Sound area with four landscape crews. eight service technicians and 10 service trucks. Our marketing now centers on digital outreach, using blogs, social media and video to connect with and educate a wider public.

From a two-person startup to a thriving, respected company, In Harmony continues to learn, evolve and strive for harmony with the natural world.

Want to learn more? Contact us today.