Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Franz Witte has three departments, each of which specializes in a different aspect of building or maintaining your outdoor living space:
Landscape Construction – Specializing in residential design/build contracting, and also providing commercial and residential bid/build work that has been designed by independent architectural firms.
Garden Center – Walk-in retail sales support, scheduled consultations, delivery, and installation/planting.
Landscape Maintenance – Commercial and HOA services: Lawn care, tree care, shrub bed maintenance, enhancements, color, and snow removal.
We source primarily from Idaho and along the west coast – mainly Oregon and California.
Idaho’s Treasure Valley lies between Hardiness Zones 6b and 7a. Everything listed in our Plant Finder library is suitable for our area, with a few exceptions (requiring micro-climate conditions).
We accept all major credit cards, cash, and checks
Landscaping Questions
Like any construction project, the cost depends on the scope, materials, and time to complete. For a better idea, use our landscape builder tool to see a range of styles and options. In short, Franz Witte residential landscaping projects generally start in the $15k – 20k range and go up to $100k – $500k. We serve a wide range of clientele, and enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of working with every budget!
Our construction department services the entire Treasure Valley and beyond — Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Emmett, Mountain Home, and occasionally out of state projects. Maintenance and garden center services are limited to the Boise/Nampa metro and are subject to crew availability.
We guarantee our labor for one year. Damage or losses due to infection, negligence, or “Acts of God” are not covered by warranty.
See our process section for a more in-depth answer.
In general:
Design – As a design/build company, designs are unique to your project. Our plans are integral to our construction process — as such, we do not offer stand-alone designs for external bidding. Our in-house designers are seasoned experts who know the ins and outs of the industry, and will ensure the project succeeds from start to finish.
Meeting – The initial meeting is where we carefully listen to your landscape requirements, input on design elements, likes/dislikes, and budget obligations. We’ll use this meeting to gather site documentation, property lines, measurements, and pictures of existing conditions. Design concepts are presented with a landscape proposal to complete the installation.
Finalization – Once the design and proposal are finalized, we will request the contracts and deposits.
Installation – Upon receipt of the contract and deposit, the project is scheduled, production managers and crews are assigned, materials ordered, and pre-construction meeting is scheduled. This is followed by the landscape installation, wrap-up, payment and follow-up.
There is no charge for estimates and consultations. Our design fees are based on the requirements of the client’s level of detail and HOA and city permit requirements. They can range from $250-$1,500 for a standard residential design.
Similar to the cost of landscaping, the answer depends on the scope of the project. The range is generally 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks. Our crews work efficiently, and never skip around jobs – your property is our focus!
Though Franz worked for 50 years building the company legacy, he now enjoys a life of retirement and spending time with his family.
In a word, longevity. We started in 1971, and have earned the trust of Idahoans over 50 years as the most skilled, unique, and people-focused landscaping business in the game. Our projects are built to “wow”, and built to last.
Yes, but it does depend on the buyer’s interests. Many homeowners want to live somewhere with a landscaped property. Privacy is a huge issue with buying a new house, so having arborvitaes or another form of screening is often a selling feature.
As of 2021 Franz Witte no longer provides residential maintenance.
Yes — irrigation is vital to any landscape, and we take care to design, install, and maintain your sprinklers so you can enjoy lasting results.
We source primarily from Idaho and along the west coast – mainly Oregon and California.
Idaho’s Treasure Valley lies between Hardiness Zones 6b and 7a. Everything listed in our Plant Finder library is suitable for our area, with a few exceptions (requiring micro-climate conditions).
The most popular screening option is the arborvitae. However, buckthorn and junipers also do a wonderful job.
Yes!
We offer an installation service at 70% of the tree cost, or we can deliver anywhere in the Treasure Valley starting at $65 (depending on zip code and size/amount of material).
Yes, we are happy to place custom orders. We do require minimums, and all material is subject to availability, due to seasonality and location of our growers.
We offer a design consulting service for $160/hour, which you can book here. House calls are made at no extra charge.
Garden Center Questions
The most popular screening option is the arborvitae. However, buckthorn and junipers also do a wonderful job.
Yes! We offer an installation service at 70% of the tree cost, or we can deliver anywhere in the Treasure Valley starting at $65 (depending on zip code and size/amount of material). Installation fee includes delivery and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Yes, we are happy to place custom orders. We do require minimums, and all material is subject to availability, due to seasonality and location of our growers.
Any plant we install is guaranteed for one year from the date of purchase. Plants installed by customers are guaranteed for 30 days from the date of purchase. Please keep your receipt and present with your return(s).
Yes, please send inquiries to [email protected] or call us at (208) 853-0808.
We have a 30 day limit to holding purchased plants. Out of consideration for other customers we do not hold items that have not been purchased.
Yes, we sell wholesale to anyone with an Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Nursery, Florist, & Landscaping license, as required by law.
We do not. For plant diagnostics, please call the University of Idaho Extension office at (208) 287-5900.
Big box stores offer low prices and large quantities of select plants, but they lack the health/quality, variety, and expert knowledge you will find at Franz Witte. Additionally, our plant material is sourced and hand-selected from regional growers, and enjoys optimal sun and watering conditions from seed to sale.
Our season’s largest volume of inventory is in early to mid-May. However we re-stock regularly, and have plenty of inventory all year round.
There is never a bad time to plant, but there are some seasonal considerations. The benefit to planting in the spring is you’ll find a better selection, and trees/shrubs put their energy into new growth. The benefit to planting in the fall is trees put their energy into producing strong roots and acclimating to their new environment.
Our average last frost is the first to second week of May. True annuals do not have any frost tolerance, but hardy and half-hardy annuals can withstand colder temperatures.
Annual – A true annual is a plant that germinates, flowers, sets seed, and dies in one season. They’re usually planted for their vibrant color and instant gratification.
Biennial – A biennial is a plant that takes two years to complete its growth cycle before flowering and dying. Examples include dianthus, hollyhock, and foxglove.
Perennial – A perennial is a cold-hardy plant that returns again in the spring. They often have long life-spans, and require varying degrees of maintenance.
Tender Perennial – A tender perennial, also known as a “temperennial”, is a plant that is winter-hardy in warmer growing zones, but not in northern zones where they are grown as annuals or houseplants. Examples include many succulents and tropical plants.