Our mission is to design gardens & landscapes that impact how people experience their property while supporting local ecosystems.

We balance creativity with science.

We love naturalistic plantings of different colors and textures. We know what plants enhance a space and what plants will thrive and why, based on both soil conditions and soil science. We consider native plants, pollinators, insects and animals; and what will look great throughout all four seasons. We understand the idea that we feed soil, not plants. We build on a foundation of ecology & horticulture. Working in tandem with nature, we design to help the local ecosystem in whatever small ways we can.

 
 

We value knowledge and education.

We study and understand the horticulture, soil science and ecology of every property. We know what the soil needs, what to plant and how to make it grow.

 

We believe in hard work.

We’re hands on, diligent and we love what we do. We believe in the value of hard work, and we always strive to go above and beyond.

 

We are inherently collaborative.

We listen to clients’ ideas and work as a team to make a plan that accomplishes our vision.

 

Trust is the foundation of our best relationships.

We value our relationships with both clients and staff. We believe in being honest, pricing our projects fairly and doing right by people. 

 

We are in your service.

We’re committed to excellent customer service. We respond quickly, we show up when we say we’re going to, we do the work we promised and we follow up to ensure success.

Our team.

  • Max Apton

    Max Apton is a former vegetable farmer and the founder of Sweet Clover Design, a full-service design firm working with residents in Westchester County. Max is a firm believer in the same basic tenets that defined his time working in regenerative agriculture. He believes it is always better to work in tandem with nature, to pick the right plants for the right location, to plant native plants whenever possible, and to pay attention to the cues given by the soil, the site conditions and existing vegetation.

  • Tina Fischer

    Tina earned her degree in landscape architecture in Germany. She draws inspiration from her extensive travels, studies and experience of garden aesthetics from all around the world. Tina has a lifelong passion for nature and landscapes and prides herself on finding practical and aesthetically pleasing solutions for all our clients.

  • Our Crew

    It is true that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. We are very fortunate at Sweet Clover Design to employ a team of very hard working, knowledgable gardeners. Our team of 6 has a combined decades of experience and is trained in the art of planting, pruning, trimming and all aspects of fine gardening.