Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — and honestly, that’s the right order to do it. Before any planting or hardscape goes in, we do a site analysis that looks at grading, water flow, and problem areas. If your yard holds water after a rain or you have a chronic wet spot, we’ll address it first with solutions like French drains, regrading, or corrected slope. There’s no point in installing a beautiful patio that ends up underwater after the first Cincinnati thunderstorm.

Yes. Our designers develop detailed plans that show you the full vision before a single shovel goes in the ground. We work through the layout, material selections, plant placement, and sight lines — so you can see how the finished space will look from your kitchen window, your back door, or the street. No surprises, no “that’s not what I pictured” moments when the crew shows up.

Absolutely. We install smart controllers and wireless rain sensors that integrate with your phone, so you can adjust zones, run a cycle, or shut the whole system off from anywhere. If you have an older manual timer, we can retrofit it. The rain sensor alone pays for itself — it prevents the system from running during a downpour, which is something the old systems never knew to do.

Call us. High water bills after irrigation installation are almost always traceable — common culprits include a cracked backflow preventer, a stuck zone valve, or a damaged line. Our technicians are experienced at finding the problem without tearing up the whole yard. We’ve diagnosed leaks buried under large rocks and deep in lawns that other companies couldn’t locate. If something isn’t right with a system we installed, we want to know about it.

Modern LED landscape lighting runs at a fraction of the cost of older incandescent systems. We install LED fixtures exclusively — they use significantly less energy, run cooler, and carry much longer warranties than the systems many homeowners have had for 10+ years. Most clients leave their lighting on nightly timers without any meaningful impact on their electric bill. If you have an old system with constantly burning-out bulbs, ask us about upgrading — we can often apply a credit toward a new LED system.

Yes. When you see a Tepe truck pull up, you’re seeing our own crews — people who have been with the company for years. That matters because it means there’s real accountability on every job. The standard of work that Mark and Gregg Tepe built this company on in 1980 runs through every team member, from the designers to the install crews.

We’re flexible. If you’re partway through a project and want to add a light fixture, adjust a planting bed, or make a change to the layout, talk to your project manager. We’d rather hear about it and work it in than have you end up with something you’re not completely happy with. Our goal is that the finished product matches — or exceeds — what you had in mind at the start.

Spring and fall are ideal — cooler temperatures give root systems time to establish before the stress of summer heat or winter cold hits. That said, we plant successfully throughout the growing season. The key is proper site prep, the right plant material, and adequate watering in the weeks after installation. We’ll give you a care guide and tell you exactly what your new plantings need to get established.

Yes. We offer ongoing maintenance programs covering irrigation startup and winterization, landscape lighting service, seasonal cleanups, and general landscape upkeep. Many of our clients have been with us for 10, 15, even 20-plus years — we’re invested in keeping your property looking its best long after the install crew leaves. Ask about maintenance options during your consultation and we’ll put together a plan that fits your property and schedule.

Yes. We offer a one-year warranty on plant material, provided plants receive adequate watering during the establishment period. We’ll give you a watering guide at the end of every project so you know exactly what your new plantings need. If something isn’t thriving, contact us and we’ll work through it with you.

We help with projects at a range of scales. If budget is a concern, we’re happy to talk through phasing — breaking a larger vision into stages that you can tackle over time as budget allows. What we find is that most homeowners who think their project is “too small” are actually just at the beginning of a longer relationship with their property. We’d rather meet with you, understand what you’re trying to accomplish, and figure out the right approach together than have you guess from the outside whether it’s worth a conversation.

Cincinnati’s climate sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a-6b, which means your trees need to handle summer heat that regularly pushes past 90°F, clay-heavy soils that hold water after a rain, and winters that can drop well below zero in a bad year. The trees that consistently perform here are ones that have adapted to exactly those conditions.

For shade, Red Maple is one of our most-used choices — it establishes quickly, handles a wide range of soil types including the wet spots that defeat a lot of other trees, and delivers some of the best fall color in the region. Oak is a longer-term investment but one of the most rewarding: once established, oaks are virtually indestructible, support more wildlife than almost any other genus, and add real structural presence to a property that smaller trees simply can’t provide.

For ornamental impact, Eastern Redbud is the tree we specify more than almost anything else. The spring bloom — pink and purple flowers that open before the leaves — is unmatched for early-season color, and it stays manageable in size for most residential lots. Flowering Dogwood earns its place in nearly every design with spring flowers, red fall berries, and a layered branch structure that looks intentional even in winter. Serviceberry is worth considering if you want something that attracts birds and pollinators while still providing white spring flowers and good fall color.

Cincinnati’s climate sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a-6b, which means your trees need to handle summer heat that regularly pushes past 90°F, clay-heavy soils that hold water after a rain, and winters that can drop well below zero in a bad year. The trees that consistently perform here are ones that have adapted to exactly those conditions.

For shade, Red Maple is one of our most-used choices — it establishes quickly, handles a wide range of soil types including the wet spots that defeat a lot of other trees, and delivers some of the best fall color in the region. Oak is a longer-term investment but one of the most rewarding: once established, oaks are virtually indestructible, support more wildlife than almost any other genus, and add real structural presence to a property that smaller trees simply can’t provide.

For ornamental impact, Eastern Redbud is the tree we specify more than almost anything else. The spring bloom — pink and purple flowers that open before the leaves — is unmatched for early-season color, and it stays manageable in size for most residential lots. Flowering Dogwood earns its place in nearly every design with spring flowers, red fall berries, and a layered branch structure that looks intentional even in winter. Serviceberry is worth considering if you want something that attracts birds and pollinators while still providing white spring flowers and good fall color.

Deer pressure varies significantly across the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. Properties near wooded corridors, creek drains, and undeveloped land experience much higher browse pressure than urban lots. No plant is completely deer-proof when a population is stressed and food is scarce — a hungry deer will eat almost anything — but there are species they consistently avoid under normal conditions.

Among trees, they tend to leave most oaks, spruces, and birches alone once established. Among shrubs, boxwood, arborvitae, and most ornamental grasses are rarely bothered. Spicebush, itea, and most native ferns are also generally avoided. Deer tend to be most destructive with hostas, tulips, arborvitae in exposed locations during winter, and young trees whose bark they strip in late fall and early winter.

When deer pressure is a known issue on your property, we factor it into the plant selection from the start rather than trying to retrofit a solution after installation.