Kitchen Garden Design & Coaching in Decatur GA
What shapes a Decatur garden
Start with the canopy. Decatur has made its trees a priority, with a citywide canopy goal and a permit required before a tree comes down. We share that priority, so we never design a Decatur garden around losing a tree. We read your sun twice, now and at full leaf-out, and plan for the light you'll actually have: greens and herbs in the dappled spots, and the sunniest pockets saved for tomatoes.
Then the historic districts. Decatur has five local historic districts: Clairemont Avenue Corridor, McDonough-Adams-King's Highway, Old Decatur, Parkwood, and Ponce de Leon Court. Inside them, changes visible from the street, such as front-yard fences and some outbuildings, can need approval from the Historic Preservation Commission before you build. We confirm which rules cover your Decatur address before we draw anything.
Finally, the soil. Most of Decatur's older homes, from 1920s bungalows to postwar ranches, were built before the 1978 lead paint ban, and lead collects in the soil along foundations. That's one reason most of our Decatur gardens use raised beds filled with clean soil over a barrier layer. For anything planted in the ground, we test first.
Two markets in Decatur, and what they can't sell you
Decatur has two producer-led farmers markets: the Decatur Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoons from spring through fall at First Baptist on Clairemont, and the Oakhurst Farmers Market on Saturday mornings year-round at Sceptre Brewing Arts. Between them, the staples are covered almost every week of the year.
So a Decatur garden can grow what a market table can't. Under a canopy the city intends to keep, that often means shade-tolerant plants: mint, parsley, chives, and sorrel by the back door, with lettuces and mustard greens in beds that catch the morning sun. If you have room for a small tree, consider a native pawpaw. Its ripe fruit bruises too easily to travel, so it rarely makes it to market. You'll want two trees for pollination, and a sunnier spot helps them fruit.
Start your Decatur garden with a garden consultation
Every Decatur garden we design starts with a one-hour visit. We'll read your sun, map your canopy, plan your soil test, and confirm whether your lot falls in a historic district. You leave knowing what will grow well in your Decatur yard, whether you hire us for the rest or not. Book your Decatur garden consultation.
Garden Consulting — A one-time, one-hour walk-through of your property with personalized recommendations you can implement yourself. Learn more →
Garden Coaching — Ongoing, one-on-one support to build your skills and solve problems as your garden grows. Learn more →
Garden Design — A detailed, scaled plan with plant lists, soil prep, and a phased implementation strategy. Learn more →
Garden Installation — Full build-out, from soil prep and bed construction to planting, so your garden is ready to grow. Learn more →
Book a 60-Minute Garden Consultation — $200
I'll walk your property with you and read what's already there — sun, soil, slope, water — while we talk through what you actually want to be eating. You'll leave with a hand-drawn sketch of where the beds go and why, and a written plan in your inbox within 48 hours: what to plant, when to plant it on Atlanta's calendar, and what to fix first. Whether you build it yourself or hire me to build it, you'll know exactly what you're building.
Tell us where you are and what you'd love to grow. After thirty years here, we've probably stood in a yard a lot like yours.