Landscape design + build in Burlington, Vermont.
Hill Section, Old North End, South End — every Burlington neighborhood has its own grade, soil, and architectural language. We design landscapes that read as belonging to the city, not imported from a catalog.
— What we see in Burlington
Burlington properties have specific challenges.
Burlington’s neighborhoods range from the sloped Hill Section’s century-old maples to the South End’s converted industrial properties. Soil varies; lake-effect microclimate varies; what works on North Avenue won’t work below College Street.
Soil variation across the town.
Burlington’s soil ranges from heavy clay-loam in the lower wards to gravelly sand on the elevated benches.
Climate that runs colder than the catalog.
Lake-effect moderates winter temps near the waterfront; the Hill Section runs colder. Plant choices and construction methods need to reflect the actual local climate, not ‘New England’ generally.
Grade changes that demand engineering.
Many properties in this town have significant slope. Retaining walls, stepped paths, and drainage all need to be engineered — not improvised.
Heritage architecture that wants matching detail.
Older homes and rural properties often have stone foundations or vernacular details. New landscape work has to respect that language without copying it.
— Burlington, by the numbers
— What we do in Burlington
Four disciplines, one shop.
Most Burlington projects combine two or more disciplines. Typical scope:
Landscape design
Master site plans, planting plans, hardscape design, stamped construction drawings — by a registered Vermont landscape architect.
Hardscape
Dry-laid and mortared stone walls, bluestone patios, granite walkways, retaining walls. Local Vermont stone, frost-line footings.
Cedar structures
Pergolas, garden pavilions, custom fencing, gates, raised beds. Eastern white cedar from Vermont mills, mortise-and-tenon joinery.
Water features
Pool surrounds, naturalistic ponds, streams, fountains, plunge pools. Designed to read as native to the site.
Native planting
Plant palettes rooted in zone 4b, regional natives, and proven Vermont performers.
Common Burlington project types
Hill Section restoration gardens with mature tree integration. Old North End courtyard rebuilds. Waterfront condo terraces.
— The Cairn & Cedar Method
Same Method, every project.
Whether you’re in Burlington village or on its outskirts, every project follows the same four-step Method.
Site visit
Two-hour walk with the architect. We listen, you talk. Light, slope, drainage, existing material — measured. No PowerPoint.
Design
Hand-drawn schematic, then full construction documents. Material specs, sections, footing detail. Two reviews built in.
Quote
Fixed-price proposal, line-itemed by trade. You see the math. Change orders signed before any change happens.
Build
Our in-house crew on site every working day. Weekly progress photos. Architect at every milestone.
— Recent work
Three recent projects.
Lakefront master plan, 2½ acres.
Three terraced rooms stepping down to Lake Champlain. 240 ft of dry-laid stone wall, cedar pavilion, native pollinator beds.
Read project →
Seven-terrace hilltop garden.
Re-grading a north-facing slope into seven dry-stone-walled terraces of perennials, fruit trees, and a 60-foot meditation walk.
Read project →
1,400 sq ft contemporary courtyard.
Bluestone paving, cedar slat screening, a small reflecting pool, and three Japanese maples for autumn color.
Read project →— Working in Burlington
What we hear from Burlington clients.
Are you actually based near Burlington?
Yes. Our shop and crew are in Chittenden County. Burlington is in our daily service area — most site visits are 15-30 minutes from the shop.
Do you handle Burlington’s permitting requirements?
Yes. Our principal is a registered Vermont landscape architect, and our drawings are accepted by the Burlington town offices for grading, drainage, and shoreline permits where required.
What’s the typical project budget in Burlington?
Burlington projects range from $25K standalone hardscape to $400K+ full estate master plans. Most residential projects fall between $80K and $220K. Site visit and budget conversation is free.
Can you work with the heritage character of Burlington?
Yes — we work hard to ensure new landscape work reads as appropriate to the local architectural and rural language. We’ll match stone, joinery, and planting palettes to what’s already in Burlington.
How quickly can you start a project in Burlington?
Site visit usually within 2 weeks of contact. Design phase 8-14 weeks. Most construction schedules 3-6 months out. We’re now booking 2026 design and construction.
Do you do small projects in Burlington?
Smaller hardscape ($25K+) or single cedar structures ($8K+) are within our typical range. Below that, we’ll point you to a few smaller specialists in Chittenden County we trust.