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Rooted with experience and grown with care


Welcome to Growing Guidance

With over 30 years of experience in Horticulture and garden design. I bring a skilled eye and practical approach that is focused on sustainable plant care and practical design solutions.

Services Offered:

1:1 On-site Garden Consultations:

Walk through your gardens with a Horticulturalist and ask away! Plan to take notes as I will be sharing a lot of information offering practical and thoughtful suggestions for your goals and the garden's health, form, function, and creative solutions tailored to your garden's specific needs.

(Fill out intake form at bottom of page)

Horticultural Pruning:

• Seasonal shaping of flowering & fruiting plants

• Older or overgrown shrubs needing renewal

• Fine-tuning established plants to bring out the best

• Restoring structure and vitality to plants with history

I naturally shape plants solo to enhance their beauty, health, and longevity while balancing the practical with the artistic within your landscape including edible, native and ornamental shrubs, perennials, small trees, and heritage plants. Fine pruning is where I bring together artistry, horticultural knowledge, and attentive care. Many of my clients have watched their gardens flourish after just a few thoughtful pruning sessions.

Horticultural Garden Designs: Plant lists and garden design for enhancing existing gardens or creating new spaces. I offer plant and tree lists that are practical, sustainable, edible plants. The right plant in the right place considering form, function, cohesiveness and flow. 

Learn to garden! Personalized Garden Coaching:

1:1Coaching in your garden in person real time! Guidance in pruning, dividing, transplanting, planting, soil health, watering, and seasonal care. Empowerment through learning so you can care for your garden confidently and have a solid understanding of your garden's needs. 

*I don't offer traditional yard maintenance, installation of large gardens, clearing, mowing or hauling. 

I listen closely to your goals, observe your space, and offer guidance that honors your unique vision. Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned gardener, I'll meet you where you are and help you move forward with confidence and a fresh holistic perspective.


Gardening and caring for your landscape is about more than just plants- it's about fostering connection between you and your garden, creating space that not only nourishes your plants but your well-being. I am here to empower you with the skills and confidence to care for your landscape and deepen your connection with the natural world. 

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Testimonials:

"Shannon offers a unique service to those of us who want to keep working in our gardens and continue to learn more about our landscape. Meeting her has been a gift! She is just what I needed at this age (75) to help me motivate and get outside to care for my landscape. Shannon has become my project buddy. We work together 1-2 times a month side by side in my yard. As we work together she teaches me various things about my landscape such as how to propagate desired plants, how to deal with critters the best way and time to prune. She also offered recommendations for natural fertilizer that has produced so much beautiful growth in my established plants. She evaluated water needs and pointed which plants might be lacking water and how to remedy that problem. She also gives me reasonable tasks to accomplish before our next visit!" 

Joan F.

Bonny Doon, CA

"We hired Shannon Robbins to tour our newly purchased property to give us insights into how we can best manage and beautify the rather wild growth. Her counsel was thoughtful and detailed, and we are still employing a number of her ideas. She knows her stuff and is an expert in her field. Even better, she is an excellent teacher and trained us well on how to approach caring for our land in a responsible and cost effective way." 

Linda & Jeff K.

Bonny Doon, CA

“I really enjoy working with Shannon on a personal and professional level. Shannon is warm, genuine and overflowing with information that really helped me make good decisions for long term growth and abundance in my garden. She has assisted me in my garden life lab at school as well so that I could plan ahead for the seasons when teaching garden science and working with young students . She is very clear with her instructions on how to make good choices when planting and rearranging plants . She focuses on long term satisfaction and knows what it takes to support any garden or landscape big or small. She can make sense of a few garden beds or a wild backyard . I will certainly be calling on her in the future.” 

Casey H.

Bonny Doon, CA

"We have been working with Shannon for the last 8 months starting last spring in preparation for a large outdoor event. She evaluated our existing landscape, offering great solutions many of which we could do on our own or have implemented by our weekly gardener. We love the plants she suggested adding and subtracting to create cohesiveness, beauty and flow. She continues to return a few times each season to ensure that our garden is performing at its best with health and vitality being the goal. From initial consultation to completion, every step in the process has been promised."

Sue B.

Scotts Valley, CA

​"Shannon Robbins is a Master Gardener who has become an invaluable resource to me and my gardens. Shannon has exceptional understanding of plant care, and her deep knowledge of each plant's specific needs- whether it's watering, soil type or pruning requirements- has transformed my garden into a thriving and healthy space. I appreciate her ability to approach each plant's needs individually ensuring that my garden flourishes throughout the seasons. Whether its recommending the right watering schedule or advising on soil amendments, Shannon's expertise has been instrumental in maintaining the health and beauty of my plants. She is especially skilled at fine hand pruning. She has a keen eye for detail and an innate understanding of how each plant should be shaped and maintained. I'll admit that sometimes I question whether trimming is needed as much as she suggests, but every time, I am amazed at the results. Her pruning is always carefully considered, and the plants respond with remarkable growth and vitality. I am extremely happy with all the work Shannon has done for me. She approaches every task with professionalism and her knowledge and expertise are clear in every interaction. She is dependable, thoughtful, and a true expert in her field. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, skilled and professional. She is much more than a gardener, her artful eye adds so much to her skill. Thank you Shannon for all of your hard work and dedication. My garden is thriving because of you!"

Sincerely,

Jacqueline G.

Ben Lomond, CA

About Shannon:

My Roots in the Garden

 

I fell in love with plants as a young child. During college where I became a Certified Master Gardener, lived on an organic farm and cared for many residential gardens. 

 

After a formative summer with Alaska State Parks implementing a Native Plant Trail— I returned to further study Horticulture and Landscape Design at Merritt and Cabrillo Colleges. I worked for a senior garden designer and a landscape contractor before working on my own creating vibrant, healthy and resilient gardens from Santa Cruz to Los Gatos. 

For the last 20+ years we've been building a modern homestead in the Santa Cruz mountains filled with—fruit trees, vegetables, native plants and a landscape full of life: pollinators, birds, healthy soil. Every part of our property tells a story of observation, care, pruning, composting, companion planting, and learning directly from the land and tuned into nature’s cycles—and in the quiet power of tending things slowly over time.

 

Helping others grow their own garden sanctuaries—spaces that nourish both people and the planet—is not just my work, it’s my passion.

 

Lets get growing! Scroll down to fill out the new client intake form.

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Pricing & Availability

 

2 hour garden consultation: $160

A personalized 1:1 garden consultation walk through, includes on-site immediate Horticultural garden support answering your concerns, plant health, design flow as well as demonstrations, personalized guidance, and thoughtful follow-up. 

Ongoing detailed guidance, seasonal care, and progress support with you side-by-side.

​​Seasonal fine hand pruning

starting at $160

• Older or overgrown shrubs needing renewal

• Seasonal shaping of flowering & fruiting plants

• Fine-tuning established plants to bring out the best

• Restoring structure and vitality to plants with history

1-Hour Mini : $100 Only offered locally (Bonny Doon). Great for small ongoing projects, check-ins, diagnosis, or when you just need a quick boost of expert help.

Garden Design Services & Plant Lists: Walk and talk on site design services. We work together to be sure all of the necessary elements important to you are represented-flow, form, function, location and hydration. Most sessions include me working on site.

 

Pricing Philosophy

At Growing Guidance, I offer over 30 years experience, thoughtful, personalized support that honors both the land and the people who care for it and a deep commitment to helping others grow.

 

*I believe in a compassionate and realistic approach—especially for our local long-time elderly of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I occasionally offer sliding-scale options and can also facilitate and help coordinate community/family work days for those with limited means. 

Gardening is a relationship, not a race.

Let’s grow something beautiful—together.

 

Proudly staying local in Bonny Doon 

(limited Westside Santa Cruz, Felton/Ben Lomond appointments based on availability)

(Please provide 24 hours' notice for cancellations as appointments are scheduled with efficiency and care.)

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Shannon Robbins text or call 831-247-2654

Growing Guidance License# BL-111798

Ready to Begin growing?

 

I work with DIY-minded property owners and garden enthusiasts of all abilities to create beautiful, natural and functional outdoor spaces. To get started, please fill out the 2025 Client Intake Form below.

This helps me better understand your needs and determine if we're a good fit. Once I review your form, I’ll reach out to schedule next steps.

Your answers are kept private and help me tailor support that fits your land, your goals, and your lifestyle.

Property size/type
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