Green Heron Garden Company
Master Services Agreement
This agreement explains how Green Heron Garden Company ("Green Heron") provides plant and landscaping services and what both Green Heron and the customer ("Client") can expect.
Services may include:
Interior plant installation and maintenance
Landscaping installation and maintenance
Outdoor container installation and maintenance
Seasonal and enhancement plantings
Approving a quote, making payment, or allowing work to begin means the Client accepts this Agreement and any applicable service addendum.
1. Payment Terms
All invoices are due upon receipt. A five (5) day grace period is provided for normal processing time. After this period, balances are considered past due and may accrue interest at 1.5% per month (18% annually) or the maximum allowed under Virginia law.
Green Heron issues one monthly invoice covering all maintenance services performed during that month unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Accounts sixty (60) days past due may have services suspended until the balance is resolved. The Client is responsible for collection costs, including attorney’s fees and court costs, if payment enforcement becomes necessary.
Card on File for Recurring Maintenance
Recurring maintenance requires a card on file unless a written commercial billing arrangement is approved. Cards are charged after the monthly invoice is issued.
Commercial Billing Arrangements
Approved commercial clients may pay through internal billing systems or agreed net terms confirmed in writing. All other provisions of this Agreement still apply.
Failed Payments
If a payment fails, Green Heron will notify the Client and retry after a reasonable opportunity to update payment information.
2. Environmental Conditions and Plant Placement
Plants need specific light, temperature, airflow, and moisture levels. Green Heron selects and places plants based on conditions observed at the time of the installation.
After installation, Green Heron is not responsible for decline caused by environmental changes, relocation, third‑party care, building operations, or other site changes. Green Heron may notify the Client of visible risks, but correcting those conditions is not included unless separately contracted.
3. Property Access & Site Conditions
Services are performed within scheduled service windows unless a specific appointment is arranged. Clients may request to be present by scheduling in advance.
By maintaining service, the Client authorizes Green Heron to enter accessible service areas without the Client present unless written alternate instructions are provided.
Knock, call‑ahead, and notification preferences may be requested. Missed service and plant decline due to unavailable access or disabled notifications is not Green Heron’s responsibility.
The Client must:
Secure animals
Maintain safe conditions
Keep entry instructions current (including alarm or gate codes)
Service may be postponed where safety risks exist. Green Heron is not responsible for escaped animals or triggered alarms.
The Client will provide reasonable access to work areas. For installations, nearby parking should be provided when reasonably available. Additional labor due to limited access may be billable. Green Heron is not responsible for parking violations when parking locations are Client‑directed.
Green Heron is not responsible for plant decline or corrective service resulting from denied, delayed, obstructed, or unsafe access.
For services billed per visit, if Green Heron arrives and cannot access the service area, the visit will still be billable as a completed service call.
4. Water and Property Damage
Client‑provided containers are used at the Client’s risk.
Containers made of porous or organic materials — including clay, terracotta, ceramic, wood, wicker, and similar materials — may allow moisture transfer or leakage.
Green Heron may point out visible risk conditions but does not guarantee container watertightness, drainage performance, or surface protection.
Green Heron is not responsible for water or moisture damage except where directly caused by Green Heron’s gross negligence.
5. Limitation of Liability & Uncontrollable Events
Green Heron’s total liability is limited to the amount paid for services during the three (3) months preceding a claim.
Green Heron is not liable for indirect or consequential damages, including loss of use or business interruption.
Green Heron is also not responsible for delays, service impacts, or plant loss caused by events beyond reasonable control, including severe weather, freeze, drought, flooding, supply shortages, labor disruptions, government restrictions, or building closures.
These conditions may affect schedules, service quality, and plant health.
6. Documentation and Communication
Green Heron may photograph service areas, plants, containers, and surrounding conditions before, during, or after service visits to document conditions and verify work.
Photos may also be used for portfolio, website, or marketing unless the Client requests otherwise in writing.
Green Heron may communicate service information by email, text, or service software notifications regarding:
Scheduling
Access issues
Plant health
Replacements
Billing
Notices sent to the last provided contact information are considered delivered when sent. The Client is responsible for keeping contact information current.
7. Suspension or Termination of Service
Green Heron may suspend or terminate services for:
Nonpayment
Repeated access denial
Interference with plant care
Unsafe or abusive conditions
The Client remains responsible for completed work and installed materials.
8. Plant Performance and Availability
Plants naturally vary in size, fullness, growth rate, and seasonal appearance. These variations are normal and not defects.
Replacement plants depend on seasonal and supplier availability. Comparable substitutions may be used when identical material is unavailable.
9. Abandoned Property
If access becomes permanently unavailable or the Client ceases communication for thirty (30) days, Green Heron may terminate service and consider installed plant material accepted as‑is.
10. Plant Replacement Standard
While an active maintenance service is in place, Green Heron will replace plants that decline due to conditions within Green Heron’s direct care control unless otherwise stated in an addendum.
11. SMS Communications
By providing your phone number to Green Heron Garden Company, you consent to receive text messages related to your service requests, appointments, project updates, or other customer care communications.
Message frequency may vary depending on your interaction with our business.
Message and data rates may apply.
You can opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message. For assistance, reply HELP or contact us directly at [your phone number].
ADDENDUM A — INTERIOR PLANT SERVICES
Client Care Restriction
The Client and associated persons shall not water, prune, relocate, repot, or treat plants maintained by Green Heron.
Warranty
Installation‑Only Service: Plants are confirmed healthy on the installation date. Responsibility transfers to the Client immediately after completion.
Maintenance Service: Green Heron replaces plants that decline due to conditions within Green Heron’s direct care control.
Replacement is not provided when decline results from:
Third‑party watering or care
Relocation or repositioning
Environmental or lighting changes after installation
Temperature outside recommended range
Power outages
Chemical exposure
Vandalism or theft
Acts of God
ADDENDUM B — LANDSCAPING SERVICES
Site Conditions and Utilities
Green Heron will notify the public utility marking service prior to excavation.
Green Heron is not responsible for damage to utilities that are:
Unmarked
Inaccurately marked
Privately installed
Outside marking tolerances
Subsurface conditions, drainage behavior, and soil composition may vary and may affect plant performance.
Weather Delays
Installation and maintenance services may pause during saturated soil, extreme heat, freezing temperatures, or unsafe working conditions and resume when conditions allow standard horticultural practices.
Warranty
Maintenance Service: Green Heron replaces plants that decline due to conditions within Green Heron’s maintenance control.
Installation‑Only Service: Plants are healthy at installation. Ongoing performance depends on watering, weather, soil conditions, and site environment and becomes Client responsibility unless maintenance service is provided.
Establishment Period
New plantings may take up to one year to establish. Wilting, leaf drop, dormancy, slow growth, and seasonal appearance changes during this period are normal and not plant failure.
ADDENDUM C — OUTDOOR CONTAINER PLANTINGS
Environmental Conditions
Outdoor containers are affected by sun exposure, wind, temperature swings, and seasonal cycles. Flower loss, discoloration, dormancy, or weather damage including freeze events are normal and not plant failure.
Warranty
Maintenance Service: Green Heron replaces plants that decline due to controllable care factors within maintenance service.
Installation‑Only Service: Plants are confirmed healthy at installation only. Ongoing performance depends on weather and site conditions after installation.