When homeowners seek outside assistance with their landscapes, the typical services available fall under lawn maintenance or landscape contractors.

Lawn maintenance services offer "mow, blow, and go," quick manicures at minimal cost. Landscape contractors offer total makeovers including design and installation of plants, irrigation, and hardscape items such as lighting, fountains, and ponds.

The majority of home gardens need more than lawn maintenance and less than a total makeover.

Many gardens, which were once at their peak, have been neglected over time. Layers of unbridled growth from runaway vines, undivided perennials and bulbs, unpruned shrubs, and accumulated debris clutter and mask the beauty of the original garden. The garden needs to be restored. Garden restoration has been the missing link in services for home landscapes.

Enter Jungle Taming. Bill and Jonathan Kunze, a father and son team who specialize in restoring landscapes to their original beauty.

They work with the landscape to thoughtfully and meticulously peel off layers of debris and tangle from canopy to understory. However, slash and burn is not their style. They work one on one with shrubs, trees, and beds.

Andrew Geils, a crew member, gets close and personal with the shrubs he prunes. Kunze describes the work as "cleaning a canvas on which the picture will be painted." In preparing the surface, they use tools of an artist. Small paint brushes and rollers allow them to apply herbicide only where needed. Hand pruning shrubs like azaleas rather than shearing off the tops is more effective.

Individual elements of the landscape are cared for as if they posses human qualities.

"A tree is Cinderella, and we clean around the base of the tree to give her new slippers," said Bill Kunze.

If clients need additional services, Kunze has an arsenal of referrals for design, tree removal, and brickwork for clients to consider.

Jungle Taming is currently working at Walter and Sophie Sagrera's home. The Sagrera's have lived on the property since 1959 and Walter, an avid gardener, installed and tended many of the plants and beds.

Jonthan Kunze (l) and Bill Kunze (r) meet with Walter Sagrera (center) in his garden. They hired Jungle Taming to restore the gar- den for their son's garden wedding in May. Sagrera considers the restoration an investment they will live in daily.

After Jungle Taming completes the restoration, a landscape designer will supervise new plantings to portray a garden in Provence, a favorite family vacation destination.

For more information, visit www.jungletaming. com.