Terms of Service

How We Work Together

Every engagement begins with a conversation. Before any work begins, we'll agree on a written scope: what we're doing, in what order, and what the expected outcome looks like. Clear communication keeps things running smoothly. We ask that questions, updates, and change requests come through in writing — email or text — so nothing gets lost. If something comes up between scheduled visits or calls, reach out anytime; we'll respond within two to three business days.

Changes to the Plan

Gardens evolve, and so do plans — that's expected and welcome. Here's how we handle it:

Small adjustments that can be absorbed within the day's work happen naturally. No extra steps needed.

Larger changes — a new direction, a reordering of priorities, or anything that meaningfully shifts the scope of what we agreed to — require a pause. We'll talk it through, and a revised plan will be documented before work continues. A change order fee applies, scaled to the scope of the project; the specific amount is named in your project agreement. If your engagement has no separate project agreement, a minimum $25 change order fee will be applied. If the change also adds labor hours or materials, those will be quoted separately and approved by you before we proceed.

Nothing in your garden gets moved, removed, or altered without your knowledge. If we think something should change that we haven't discussed, we'll raise it and decide together.

Payment

Invoicing and timing. Invoices are issued at the completion of each service or milestone, unless a different schedule is agreed to in writing. Payment is due within seven (7) days of the invoice date.

Remote services. Written assessments, consultation calls, and digital deliverables are paid in full before the work is delivered or the call is scheduled.

Deposits. Installation, planting, project work requiring material purchases, and full consultation packages require a 50% deposit before work begins. Deposits are applied toward the final invoice. Materials are not purchased until the deposit is received. Routine maintenance contracts do not require a deposit.

Payment plans. For larger engagements or routine maintenance contracts, payment plans may be available and will be outlined in your individual agreement. Payment plan schedules are subject to the same late payment terms described below.

Late payment. Late payment affects our ability to keep your project on schedule — materials orders, subcontractor commitments, and planned site visits all depend on timely payment. If payment is not received on time, work will be paused until the account is current. If you're experiencing financial hardship or a family emergency, please let us know — we're happy to work with you on a modified timeline.

Accepted payment methods. Apple Pay, Venmo, Zelle, bank transfer, check, and cash.

Materials

When a project requires materials, they are included in your project quote and itemized by category. All material needs are approved by you in advance.

Cancellation and Rescheduling

We understand that life happens. If you need to cancel or reschedule:

Consultation calls and remote sessions require at least 24 hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are subject to a partial charge of 50% of the session fee.

Physical work and on-site visits require at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice are subject to a partial charge of 50% of the scheduled visit fee, reflecting preparation, travel, and scheduling commitments.

If a cancellation is due to a genuine hardship or emergency, let us know — we'll work with you.

Shovel & Snips reserves the right to reschedule visits due to weather conditions or safety concerns. We'll notify you as early as possible and find the next available time.

Your Property and Safety

Children and pets. For everyone's safety, we ask that children and animals be kept out of the active work zone during on-site visits unless we've arranged otherwise in advance. Garden work involves sharp tools and heavy materials — we want everyone to stay safe.

Special or rare plants. If you have plants with particular sentimental or monetary value, please let us know before work begins. We'll flag them in the plan and take extra care.

Utilities and infrastructure. Texas law requires whoever is doing the digging to have underground utilities located before work begins. When a job moves earth to a depth of sixteen inches or more — planting trees or large shrubs, setting posts, trenching for irrigation or drainage, stump removal, grading, or similar work — Shovel & Snips contacts Texas 811 and waits the two business days the law allows for lines to be marked. The service is free, we handle it, and we will not start that work early.

Routine garden work — pruning, bed maintenance, planting annuals and perennials, mulching, hand weeding, container and raised-bed work — does not reach a depth of 16 inches or more, therefore 811 is not required.

Texas 811 marks lines owned by the utilities. It does not mark private lines on your property. Before ground work begins, please tell us where anything on your side of the meter runs: irrigation and sprinkler lines, landscape lighting, invisible pet fence, septic and drain fields, propane, well lines, pool and spa equipment, and anything a previous owner or contractor put in the ground. If you don't know, say so — we would rather dig by hand and find it slowly.

Where marked or reported lines run through a requested planting area, Shovel & Snips will propose a raised or above-grade solution rather than excavating.

Shovel & Snips is not liable for damage to private lines that were not identified before work began.

Confidentiality

Your personal information — name, address, and contact details — is kept strictly confidential. We will never share it without your consent. Portfolio and media use is governed by its own section below.

Media and Portfolio Use

Shovel & Snips may photograph or document work for portfolio, educational, or social media purposes. Here's how we handle it:

Anonymized use — photographs, before-and-after images, or descriptions of our work that do not identify you, your name, or your specific property may be used in our portfolio, website, and social media. If you prefer not to have your project documented at all, let us know in writing and we will honor that.

Identifiable use — any content that names you, shows recognizable features of your property, or could otherwise identify you will not be used without your written permission. We will ask in writing, describing the specific images or details we'd like to use and where they would appear. If we don't hear back, we'll follow up twice more over thirty (30) days. If we still have no response after three documented requests, we may proceed with that specific use and no other. You may request removal of any identifiable content at any time, and we will take it down promptly.

Intellectual Property

Design plans and custom work. All plans, assessments, and custom deliverables created by Shovel & Snips remain our property until paid for in full. Once payment is complete, the work is yours — you own it and may use it however you see fit, including hiring others to execute it. Shovel & Snips retains the right to display work it created, including plans and assessments, in its portfolio, subject to the Media and Portfolio Use terms above.

Educational materials and digital products. Guides, pamphlets, courses, articles, and other educational content created or distributed by Shovel & Snips are protected by copyright. These materials are licensed for your personal use and may not be reproduced, redistributed, or resold without written permission.

What We Can and Can't Promise

We bring twenty years of professional horticultural experience to every project, and we care deeply about doing right by your garden. That said, gardens are living systems influenced by weather, soil conditions, wildlife, watering practices, and countless other factors beyond anyone's control.

We guarantee professional care, honest guidance, and our full effort. We cannot guarantee specific outcomes — no ethical horticulturist can. If something doesn't go as planned, we'll tell you why, what we recommend, and how to move forward.

Shovel & Snips is not liable for plant loss or damage resulting from factors outside our control, including but not limited to extreme weather, drought, pest or disease events, acts of nature, or care decisions made outside of our recommendations.

Ending Our Working Relationship

Standard termination. Either party may end the working relationship at any time, for any reason, with written notice. The notice period depends on the type of engagement: seven (7) days for project-based or one-time work, and thirty (30) days for ongoing maintenance contracts or retainer arrangements.

Immediate termination for cause. Either party may end the relationship immediately, without a notice period, under the following circumstances:

Grounds available to either party: hostile, threatening, or abusive behavior; violation of these Terms of Service; or unsafe conditions that are not resolved after being raised.

Additional grounds for Shovel & Snips: non-payment after two consecutive missed payment cycles; being asked to perform work that is unsafe, unethical, or contrary to professional horticultural judgment; or a work environment that has been flagged as problematic and remains unresolved.

Additional grounds for the client: property damage due to negligence; breach of confidentiality or NDA; or repeated failure to show up for or deliver agreed-upon work.

Immediate termination is reserved for situations where continuing the relationship is untenable — not for disagreements or dissatisfaction, which are handled through conversation and the standard notice period.

Upon termination, regardless of the reason: outstanding invoices remain due and payable; any unused portion of a deposit will be refunded, minus the value of work completed and materials already purchased; and you retain ownership of any completed design plans or deliverables you've paid for.

No hard feelings. Our goal is always to leave your garden — and our relationship — in good standing.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

Agreement

By engaging Shovel & Snips for any service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms. These terms may be updated periodically; the current version will always be available at shovelandsnips.com/terms.

Individual project agreements may include additional terms specific to your engagement. In the event of a conflict, the project-specific agreement takes precedence.

Shovel & Snips Renèe Pusser, Owner Austin, Texas

Last updated: September 10, 2026