A Gardener’s Touch: The Timeless Practice of Sara Smith's Green Thumb
In a world of instant results and modern technology, Sara Smith, founder of The Girls Landscaping, stands as a proud testament to the art of gardening done the old-fashioned way. She has been cultivating gardens in the Nashville area for over twenty-five years, tending to the plants and soil with patience, care, and a deep respect for the rhythms of nature. Unlike many contemporary gardeners who rely on trendy gadgets, chemicals, and loud power tools, Sara believes in a simple, consistent, hands-on approach. Each day, she and her team of expert staff step into gardens with the quiet determination of those who know the land intimately.
"When meeting with clients for the first time, I always tell them that their garden has to reflect them, but that I treat their garden as if it were my own. I won’t plant something that isn’t going to work for their location and according to their desires," said Sara on a blustery early spring morning at one of the many beautiful gardens she has tended to for years.
In addition to tending beautiful yards, Sara's particular passion and talent lie in creating spectacular container gardens—something she's become well known for. "My seasonal pots by Sara were absolutely gorgeous. All my friends were taking pictures of them and wanted to know who created them. Sara is the best—so professional and very creative in all her designs," said one of her long-time clients, Rhea Hicks.
Sara's professional team is made up of a unique assortment of gardeners and plantspeople whose eclectic personalities and interests are as far-reaching as their wingspans as they trim boxwoods by hand and gently clear out winter debris from flower beds. Their hands, weathered by years of digging, planting, and nurturing, are the true instruments of their craft.
One team member often works with headphones on, listening to classic literature. He was in the middle of Brave New World the day we met. "I've already finished one hundred books this past year," he shared. Some of his favorites so far are A Movable Feast, Robinson Crusoe, and The Sun Also Rises.
Another team member is a former software developer and avid rock climber, traveler, and hiker, who was drawn to gardening out of a concern for climate change. "We need a shift in our approach to flower gardens and landscaping," he shared. "We're seeing more stress on plants and trees than ever before. We all need to be mindful of what's happening to the planet with the reduction in pollinators and overuse of chemicals and emphasize selecting the right plants for the right places."
Unlike the myriad of garden services whose "Mow, Blow, and Go" approach relies on a cacophony of loud power tools, Sara and her team mostly cultivate clients' gardens by hand, clearing leaves gently, pruning boxwoods and shrubs with secateurs, and applying organic mulch and compost by the shovel full, then spreading it by hand.
"I have worked with Sara for over twenty years," says Ben Page of Page Landscape. "We recommend her and her team to Nashville clients who are looking for someone who cares as deeply for their gardens as they do. Her team did the most incredible job with the boxwoods at our own garden last year, and I always find myself in the most thoughtful and enjoyable conversations with her team when they're here."
Whether it’s the sound of a running creek, the first sprout emerging in spring, or the perfectly trained espalier, Sara Smith finds joy in the slow and steady pace of nature’s unfolding. Her method isn’t quick, nor is it always easy, but it’s a practice her hundreds of clients, past and present, believe is worth the effort. The result for them is a garden that’s not only thriving but beautiful, sustainable, and healthy. For Sara, gardening isn’t just about growing plants; it’s about cultivating a deep, lasting relationship with her clients and the earth—one that will endure for generations to come.