Welcome to Habit An ecologically minded space shaping collective.
Designing for life. Stewarding for the future.
Services
Space shaping & design
Rethinking a space—whether it’s a sprawling, overgrown backyard or a compact urban balcony—can feel overwhelming. At Habit, we thrive on the opportunity to concept and shape these environments alongside you. We bridge the gap between imagination and installation, offering comprehensive design-to-build solutions for spaces of every scale. Let’s redefine what’s possible right outside your door.
Stewarding
Gardening is more than a chore; it’s an act of stewardship. We are passionate about educating and empowering our clients to care for their own pockets of nature. However, we recognize that true stewardship looks different for everyone. Whether you want to learn the "why" behind the bloom or prefer to leave the heavy lifting to us, we offer tailored plans that honor both your lifestyle and the land.
Plant care & maintenance
We are, first and foremost, plant people. We take the health of your garden personally—from precision cut-backs and seasonal clean-ups to complex plant diagnostics.
Comprehensive maintenance plans for those who prefer a hands-off approach.
Minimal maintenance and on-call support for the gardener who loves to get their hands dirty but wants professional guidance.
No question is too small, and no botanical challenge is too complex. We never tire of solving the puzzles nature presents.
“We strive to create positive habits (and habitats) through gardening, stewardship and empowerment.”
-Ryan
Why Native plants
We believe strongly in the use of majority native species in our landscapes. We consider each ecologically beneficial garden an island of biodiversity and habitat. While giving us endless joy and beauty we also help support our insect and feathered friends by providing sustenance and shelter through the seasons.
Testimonials
“One of my greatest joys this summer is seeing my garden become a beautiful living growing thing! My backyard was an absolute mess - an eyesore and a space I never used. Thanks to Ryan Smith of Habit we created a gorgeous space full of native plants and a planter with vegetables and herbs. 🌿 It’s so nice to step outside and see what’s blossomed.”
— Concetta
Ryan’s deep knowledge and passion for plants and pollinators is present in every part of his design and installation work. He’s not just a great horticulturalist, he’s a thoughtful, artistic, receptive person who understands that outdoor spaces often have to serve more than one purpose. When consulting with him on our yard, he considered both the way we wanted the space to look and the many ways it would be used as a respite from the city—to host adult gatherings, for our kids to play, and a place to grow fresh herbs and vegetables for our kitchen. We knew from the first day of working with him that the final product would be awesome, but still every part of the process has exceeded our expectations. From clear and thorough communication, to fair pricing and a strong and accurate timeline of installation, to a truly stunning and amazing outdoor space that has made our home complete, Ryan has been incredible to work with and we have him to thank for the many joyous moments we spend together outside.
— Lauren
“When we moved into our Brooklyn home, the backyard space was beyond a concrete jungle. It was a toxic wasteland in an industrial zone. Shards of broken glass, hunks of abandoned asphalt, weeds growing through garbage. In our minds it would take years before we would be able to transform it. When we approached Ryan, he instantly saw the potential and began explaining his vision. Rather than be bogged down by budget constraints, Ryan thought outside of the box, ways to use natural materials, local native species, and brought forth a plan that not only would transform the space into something aesthetically pleasing to be in, but also practical and useful in that our children could play in certain zones, we could grow edible vegetables in spaces, and we could entertain and barbecue in others. Ryan drew out a plan and executed it so well, that what we thought would take 5 years, he and his team accomplished in one season. Ryan took the time to think about what plant species would work in the right spaces, and planed out a Brooklyn back yard that would change with the season and blossom at different points of the year. With sustainable practices grounded in indigenous practices, we now have a backyard that is admired by anyone who’s been in it. We went from junkyard to literally hosting our friend’s wedding rehearsal dinner in the space into a matter of months. We can’t recommend Ryan an enough for any sort of horticulture or landscaping job, from big to small. Ryan is passionate about his work, follows through on his plan, works with the budget you have in mind, and treats each project like a sacred living organism. He is an artist working with the pallet of nature.”
-Brian
We love the native garden that Ryan and Isaac planted for us. Their knowledge of native plants and their refined aesthetic sensibilities are a stellar combination. Not only are they deeply well-informed about how to best steward the land but they are fun and effective teachers! We learned so much. Our garden is beautiful and sustainable.
-Tessa & John
Our backyard in Sunset Park was in desperate need of a refresh, and Ryan came in and swapped out plants that weren't working and kept plants that were thriving. His knowledge native plants and eye for landscape design gave us exactly what we were hoping for—a yard that feels natural and inviting while being low-maintenance.
Beyond the landscaping, Ryan built us a gorgeous cedar planter and filled it with tomatoes, herbs, eggplants, and cucumbers. He even designed and installed a custom irrigation system that waters automatically at the same time each day, which has been a game-changer for our busy schedule.
Whenever we had a question about a plant that might not be thriving, we could snap a pic and send it to him, and he would diagnose the issue immadiately—from ph issues in the soil, to watering schedules, to sun and shade needs, Ryan is a true plant whisperer.
Ryan is professional, creative, and clearly passionate about his work. He listened to what we wanted, offered thoughtful suggestions, and delivered results that exceeded our expectations. We couldn't be happier and highly recommend him to anyone looking for quality landscaping and gardening work!
Michelle & John