Who I Am: A Plant Specialist Built From the Ground Up

I’m Carmine — A Plant Specialist and Landscape Designer

A plant specialist, landscape designer, and horticulture professional with over 10+ years of real-world experience working directly with plants, landscapes, and living systems.

My expertise wasn’t built in a classroom alone — it was built in the field, across farms, nurseries, landscapes, and real properties where decisions have real consequences.

I specialize in plant diagnostics, horticultural consulting, and realistic landscape design, helping homeowners and businesses understand what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Rooted in Agriculture From the Start

My foundation is agriculture.

I’ve been working on a family farm since the age of 14, learning plants the way they’re meant to be learned — through observation, repetition, failure, and correction. That early exposure shaped how I understand plant behavior, soil conditions, competition, stress, and long-term growth.

Plants respond to conditions, not intentions.

Learning that early makes all the difference.

From Farming to Professional Horticulture

That agricultural background evolved into a career across multiple sides of the green industry.

I’ve been creating landscape designs since 2015, working on projects ranging from small residential properties to large, complex sites.

My design approach has always focused on realism — proper spacing, mature plant size, and layouts that still work years after installation.

In parallel, I’ve worked extensively in nursery and garden center environments, gaining hands-on experience with:

• Plant cultivation and sourcing

• Long-term plant care and maintenance strategies

• Diagnosing stressed, declining, or failing plants

• Understanding how plants perform before and after installation

• Educating homeowners and professionals on plant selection

I’ve also held retail and operational leadership roles, where plant performance mattered more than presentation. That perspective separates theory from reality very quickly.

Plant Diagnostics, Design, and Problem-Solving

Since 2016, I’ve worked hands-on diagnosing plant health issues, correcting failing landscapes, and advising better long-term decisions.

This work includes:

• Identifying causes of plant decline

• Evaluating soil conditions, drainage, and competition

• Correcting spacing and layout failures

• Advising on what to keep, replace, or redesign

• Creating planting strategies that don’t rely on constant fixes

Alongside this, I’ve helped run and support a family business within the horticulture and landscape industry, gaining insight into operations, logistics, and real-world constraints.

That combination of fieldwork, diagnostics, design, and business experience is what led to the creation of Horticulture Specialists, LLC.

Why Horticulture Specialists, LLC Exists

Horticulture Specialists, LLC exists because I kept seeing the same problems repeat:

Landscapes installed without understanding plant behavior.

Money spent before diagnosing the real issue.

Failures blamed on bad luck instead of predictable outcomes.

This business was built to provide plant-first, independent expertise.

I focus on consulting, diagnostics, and design, so people can make informed decisions before committing time or money.

What I Do as a Horticulture Specialist

Through Horticulture Specialists, LLC, I provide:

• Plant diagnostics and health evaluations

• Horticultural consulting and landscape guidance

• Realistic 2D landscape design using real plants

• Proper spacing, grouping, and long-term growth planning

• Support for homeowners, businesses, and industry professionals

Every recommendation is based on real properties and real conditions, not generic templates.

New Jersey-Based, Nationwide Reach

I’m based in New Jersey, serving clients throughout Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean, and Mercer counties.

I also work nationwide, providing landscape design, plant diagnostics, and horticultural consulting for clients across the U.S., including California and Florida.

Plant species change by climate — plant principles do not. Knowing how to adapt those principles is part of professional expertise.

No Degree — Just Experience

I don’t hold a four-year degree, and I don’t hide that.

What I do have is:

• Vocational education through FFA programs

• Nursery and landscape-focused training

• Over a decade of hands-on industry experience

• Thousands of plants observed, diagnosed, corrected, and thriving

In horticulture, competence is earned through seasons, not titles.

Degrees signal potential.

Experience proves ability.

How I Work

I don’t guess .

I don’t chase trends.

I don’t design for photos alone.

I work from:

• Observation

• Pattern recognition

• Plant behavior

• Long-term thinking

My goal is simple: designs and decisions that hold up.

Who I Work With

I work with:

• Homeowners who want landscapes that last

• Businesses seeking clarity and consistency

• Property managers and real estate professionals

• Garden centers and industry peers

• Anyone tired of repeating the same mistakes

If you value experience and honesty, we’ll work well together.

Final Word

I’m not self-proclaimed.

I’m field-trained, vocationally educated, and industry-built.

I am a plant specialist, landscape designer, and horticulture professional, and I help people make decisions that actually work.

🌱 Horticulture Specialists, LLC

📍 New Jersey-based | Serving clients nationwide

Common Questions

Are you a professional without a degree?

Yes. Professional status comes from experience, results, and sustained work in the industry.

What makes your approach different?

Independent, plant-first consulting grounded in real-world experience.

Do you work outside New Jersey?

Yes. I provide landscape design and plant consulting nationwide.

What services do you offer?

Plant diagnostics, horticultural consulting, and realistic 2D landscape design.