Our story
We grow gardens. And we grow with them.
Green Leaf Gardening was founded on a simple belief: that every outdoor space, no matter how small or neglected, has the potential to become something genuinely beautiful. We're a team of passionate, experienced gardeners who care deeply about plants, people, and the places we work.
13+
Years in business
400+
Gardens transformed
8
Team members
95%
Client retention rate
Claire Whitmore
Founder, since 2012
How it started
Green Leaf Gardening began in 2012 when founder Claire Whitmore left a career in landscape architecture to start something smaller, more personal, and more hands-on. She wanted to work directly with homeowners — to have real conversations about their gardens, to get her hands in the soil, and to see the results of her work every time she drove down a street.
What started as a one-person operation with a van and a passion for plants has grown into a close-knit team of eight, serving homeowners across the Greater Toronto Area. But the ethos hasn't changed: we take on work we can do well, we communicate honestly, and we treat every garden as if it were our own.
Over the years we've planted thousands of perennials, pruned hundreds of hedges, designed dozens of gardens from scratch, and built lasting relationships with clients who come back to us season after season. That loyalty means everything to us.
What we believe
The values that guide our work
Plants first
We make decisions based on what's best for the plant and the garden — not what's quickest or cheapest. Healthy plants make beautiful gardens.
Honest communication
We tell you what we think, what's realistic, and what things will cost. No surprises, no upselling, no jargon.
Long-term thinking
We design and plant for the future. A garden planted well today will reward you for decades. We think in seasons and years, not just days.
Respect for your space
We treat every property with care and leave it cleaner than we found it. Your home is your sanctuary — we never forget that.
Ecological responsibility
We favour native plants, avoid unnecessary chemicals, and encourage biodiversity wherever we can. A garden that supports wildlife is a garden that thrives.
Pride in craft
We take real pride in the quality of our work — in a cleanly pruned hedge, a well-planted border, a garden that looks exactly as it should.
The people behind the gardens
Meet the team
We're a small, experienced team who love what we do. Every member brings genuine expertise and a shared commitment to doing the work well.
Claire Whitmore
Founder & Lead Designer
Claire founded Green Leaf in 2012 after a decade in landscape architecture. She leads all design projects and brings a trained eye for plant combinations, structure, and seasonal interest.
James Okafor
Senior Horticulturist
James has over 15 years of hands-on horticultural experience. He leads our maintenance and pruning work and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of trees and shrubs.
Priya Nair
Planting Specialist
Priya specialises in perennial and native planting schemes. She has a particular passion for pollinator-friendly gardens and brings creativity and botanical knowledge to every project.
Come and meet us
We'd love to visit your garden, hear about your vision, and talk about what we could do together. Every project starts with a free, no-obligation consultation.