Southern Trillium is an award-winning and professionally licensed design/build company. As a state licensed contractor, we can handle any residential project and scope of work. Our primary focus is residential outdoor/environmental design and construction including landscapes, hardscapes, gardens, outdoor living spaces, outdoor kitchens, garden structures, decks and porches. Although we are primarily residential focused, we have designed and installed several commercial landscape spaces over the years. Below you will find basic guidelines and the corresponding fee structures.
Owner Lyle Collins is the primary person from the initial consultation through the entire project to completion. We choose to work with a limited number of select clients, which allows direct communication with, and engaged project design and oversight by, owner Lyle Collins. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or would like to discuss a project that does not seem to fit inside one of the below categories.
**Please note that these fees are guidelines only, as each project is unique. Costs may vary based on site requirements, location, scope of work, and duration of project. Travel time may be billable outside of our normal area. Please contact us for more information.
(Suggested 1-2 hour Client Meeting)
Our process begins with the initial consultation with owner Lyle Collins. This first meeting at your home provides an opportunity to meet and discuss the project needs, goals, expectations and site conditions. As a designer, a state licensed contractor, an ISA Certified Arborist, and a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, this meeting with Lyle is able to cover nearly all aspects of any desired project.
The consultation serves as a time to discuss site issues, general design suggestions, recommended improvements and maintenance changes, and recommended tree care and pruning concerns. A property assessment and a design proposal will be sent that will include a retainer to move forward through the design process towards construction and installation. If a client already has a detailed and scaled design to be quoted, the consultation is still the first step but no design fees will be necessary in order to provide a quote for construction.
Design fees begin at $1,250 and are typically billed as fixed proposals based on each project’s unique requirements discussed during the initial consultation. A standard residential project may cost between $1,250-$3,000. Larger properties, extensive hardscape construction, and detailed elements will require additional time at a higher design fee cost. If billed hourly, the hourly rate for design work is $125, including meetings. Designs can be hand-drawn or done digitally on the computer, black and white or in color. Computer 3D modeling is available at the rate of $125 per hour with a $1,000 minimum. Note: if a property survey is not available, either a survey will need to be done at an additional cost or the property will be measured and a basic site design prepared at the hourly rate of $125. Most permitted construction projects will require a stamped survey. As a specialty design/build company, we do not sell just designs, but instead work with each client through the entire design process to implementation of part or all of the project.
As an ISA Certified Arborist, Lyle Collins performs tree inspections and provides tree prescriptions as well as any other site inspection or approvals for tree permits or construction permits. Tree inspections are billed by time, not per tree, at the rate of $125 per hour with a $150 minimum charge. Southern Trillium is not a tree removal company, but can oversee tree work done by other companies at the hourly rate of $125. Written assessments, recommendations, tree prescriptions, and other requested paperwork is billed at the same $125 hourly rate. As an ISA Certified Arborist, Lyle knows how to properly care for your trees and plants for optimal health, beauty, shape, form, and safety. If access into tree canopy is required, this can be done, but requires a second trained person on-site in the event of emergency while one is in the tree. These prices are discussed if necessary.
With owner Lyle Collins being a Georgia Licensed Residential Contractor and an ISA Certified Arborist, Southern Trillium is a true professional company. We work with surveyors, engineers, architects, and other necessary professionals in order to properly see your project through the permitting process to completion. Most municipalities require detailed construction documents and site drawings for the permit applications. Our years of experience and network of licensed professionals allows us to handle large and complicated projects. Our history of projects includes regular building permits, arborist approvals, historical preservation approvals, HOA approvals, and even stream buffer encroachments. Permit documents and approval prices range greatly depending on each project. Our proposal will include an estimate for these fees, while certain items are billed hourly at our rate of $125. These processes are sometimes quick, but are more often slow and costly, taking months or longer for approval before being ready to break ground.
Following the acceptance of the design, a detailed proposal is prepared for the scope of work. We are happy to implement projects into phases. Each project requires a signed contract and deposit. Warranties are provided on our work, but vary depending on the materials (e.g. plant warranties are not the same as hardscape construction). These warranties are discussed with each project and are provided in the contract. Our minimum project size for new clients is $10,000. We enjoy working with our long list of past clients, but do request a $2,000 minimum for returning customers.
We work with skilled crews and subcontractors, each chosen for their specialty, to provide you with a high quality of work and attention to detail. Southern Trillium is also well equipped with trucks, trailers, equipment, machines, and the proper tools to see each project through to completion.
For our existing clients, expert pruning and skilled labor is billed at the rate of $85 per hour. Assisting labor is billed at the rate of $60 per hour. The majority of our projects are done by proposals and contracts and are not billed hourly. Please contact us for the hourly rates for our machines and other large equipment. We politely request a 4 hour ($340) minimum. *Please note that we do not remove trees or do large tree limb removals.
We offer personalized care recommendations and review to our past clients. A garden site visit by Lyle Collins ensures that your investment in your garden are being properly cared for and still on track for the success that began at design and installation. Irrigation system audits can be done on a garden site visit.
We can personally guide you through selection of additional elements to your landscape and outdoor living spaces. This may include furniture, urns, pottery, statuary, lighting, or other elements unique to your home. This service is available to existing clients at the rate of $125 per hour.
Following the consultation, a proposal is prepared that will move forward through the design process towards construction and installation . Recognizing that each client is different, each design process is unique and our fee structure is adjusted according to the needs of each project.
Sometimes, a design is a simple sketch for a small area of a garden. Other times, they are full master plans of a property that will require multiple phases of installation spread over several years. When permits or other approvals are required, we can handle all of the requirements to secure the necessary permits. These variables, and any applicable fees, are openly discussed at the consultation.
Upon finalization of estimates and agreement to proceed toward installation, a final contract is prepared and signed by both the client and Southern Trillium. Any discussed deposit is due along with the contract, and the project is then placed onto our installation schedule. We regularly operate on a backlog of work, which can often be several months, so it is best to contact us as soon as possible as you begin planning your project.
Southern Trillium handles all aspects of the site construction and installation. We can acquire all necessary permits for our projects. We use licensed subcontractors for any regulated work, such as electrical and plumbing. With many years of experience, and almost all equipment owned in-house, we work efficiently on every job until its completion. When you hire Southern Trillium, you will regularly see our marked company trucks and our equipment. You will be in direct contact with owner Lyle Collins throughout your project.
Southern Trillium is a State of Georgia Licensed Residential Basic Contractor (License #RBCO006317) and is fully licensed and insured, carrying both General Liabilty and Worker’s Compensation Insurance. All employees are paid W-2 with all payroll taxes paid. We also offer warranties on nearly every type of installation work that we perform. These warranties vary depending on the service, but each is spelled out in the contract.