​Welcome to Growing Effects

We specialize in landscape design, garden installation, and maintenance in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas. Our eco-friendly approach creates thriving, sustainable gardens tailored to your vision.  

WHY CHOOSE US

PERSONALIZED

As a small, woman-owned business, we provide a level of dedication and attention to detail that larger businesses can't match.

EXPERIENCED

With over 10 years of experience, we specialize in creating stunning, customized garden designs that bring your vision to life.

FLEXIBILE

We offer competitive pricing tailored to your budget, ensuring you get the best value for your investment without compromising on quality.

SPECIALIZED

We focus exclusively on gardenscaping, offering design, installation, and ongoing maintenance to keep your outdoor space thriving year-round.

ECO-FRIENDLY

We prioritize eco-friendly practices by using native plants, organic methods, and sustainable designs to boost biodiversity and reduce maintenance.

COMPANY & SERVICES

DESIGNING, BUILDING, MAINTAINING ECO-FRIENDLY GARDENSCAPES

GROWING EFFECTS

Discover how Growing Effects can bring your vision to life with unique, eco-friendly designs that blend your style with nature’s beauty.

Learn More

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

We create custom landscape garden designs that reflect your unique style, focusing on seasonal interest, native plants, and biodiversity.

Learn More

LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION

We offer flexible installation services, specializing in custom designs, natural lip edging, and mulch to enhance and sustain your garden’s beauty and health.

Learn More

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

We specialize in eco-friendly landscape maintenance, serving as your trusted partner to keep your garden thriving year-round.

Learn More

PORTFOLIO

See My Work in Action: Explore Designs, Installations, and Maintenance!

Transform Your Outdoors
Eco-Friendly Solutions for Vibrant Gardens
ABOUT
Hi, I’m Grace Karns, the owner and lead designer of Growing Effects. I earned my bachelor’s degree in horticulture with an emphasis in landscape design from Iowa State University, along with a minor in entomology. This education, combined with over a decade of experience in the landscaping industry, has given me a deep understanding of plant selection, ecosystem balance, and sustainable design practices. I’m passionate about creating personalized garden designs that reflect each client’s unique style while fostering a healthy, thriving environment. I have a deep appreciation for the vital role insects play in our landscapes and strive to create spaces that support pollinators like honeybees, butterflies, and even fascinating creatures like praying mantises. By incorporating native plants and thoughtful design, I transform outdoor spaces into vibrant, biodiverse habitats for both people and wildlife. Whether I’m designing a custom garden bed, installing a new landscape, or maintaining an existing one, my mission is to enhance the beauty, health, and ecological value of your outdoor space!

TESTIMONIALS

Maintenance

Jennifer B.

Grace has been absolutely wonderful to work with. She is not only knowledgeable about plants and everything midwest-outdoor-related, but she is also timely, meticulous, polite, flexible, and easy to work with. Grace takes the time to teach you how to manage the work she starts on your own after she is done. After each time she came to my property, she sent me instructions with clear guidelines on how to move forward into the coming year. She goes above and beyond "yardwork" and really focuses on teaching and empowering you to manage things on your own if needed or desired. I have worked with other people and services before and had consistent difficulties - people not showing up, not clearing things the way they needed to be cleared, only doing "surface level" work to get in and out as quickly as possible. None of these things define Grace. I highly recommend her to everyone I know who is looking for help with flower garden and yard maintenance, without hesitation. 

Maintenance

Melanie CG.

I feel incredibly grateful to have crossed paths with Grace. She has improved our garden beds tremendously. Her knowledge is unmatched. I trust her completely and appreciate her very clear communications with what she thinks should be done and the expected expense. You will not find anyone better!

Garden Coach & Design Tips

Laura T.

Grace is wonderful to work with!  Her knowledge of plants and landscaping was very helpful.  She is willing to do as much (or as little) of the work as you want her to do.   In my case I wanted to do the work myself.  Grace gave me the suggestions, confidence and tips to do it on my own and I'm thrilled with the results!

Maintenance and Landscape Installation

Lori B.

Grace has been a GOD SEND to my home and business. She listened and we worked together to come up with a plan for my perennials on where best they should be placed. I WAS WRONG WHERE I PLANTED THEM. She is knowledgeable of when and where to plant flowers, shrubs and trees. She is so willing to work with existing and new plantings. She also laid sod around a new cement sidewalk with instructions on watering for my home. I am sooo glad for Grace to make sense of my yard. I have also recommended her to friends who are equally pleased. I can safely say. I have turned my yard over to this pro now and in the future.

Maintenace

Becky B.

Grace completed a very difficult job of removing plant runners in a large landscape bed that were interfering with the growth of other plants. She did a great job! I was impressed by her meticulous attention to detail and how she protected other plants in this outdoor space as she worked. Grace’s way of working showed how much she cared about our plantings. She also shared helpful design ideas for new plantings that will flourish in this space and support the environment. We will definitely be having Grace support our landscape needs in the future.

 
 

CONTACT US

  • Cedar Rapids, IA & Surrounding Areas

Eco-friendly landscape design, installation, and maintenance tailored to your needs. Fill out the form below to contact us and get a personalized consultation. Let’s bring your outdoor space to life!

*
*