Landscaping Services – Outdoor Contracting
Landscaping is a trade that is often dismissed by the general public as one that can be completed by someone with little skill-set by simply digging holes and slamming plants into the ground. We can’t exactly condemn the vast majority for feeling that way, since we used to believe it to be the case as well. Since we evolved from commercial field engineering and heavy site construction and then migrated into landscaping, we initially didn’t know any better either. At least that was our initial thought when we entered into the industry in the late 90’s. Once we learned more about the implications that the soil conditions in our region had with landscape plantings, as well as how many different plant species and varieties there are, and how different they are from one another, it became clear to us that there was a lot more to this industry than meets the eye.
What amazed us even more was to learn that a lot of landscape company owners in our area have little technical knowledge about the different plants and how to properly amend the soil prior to installing them. We recall one time, many years ago, being called in by an HOA to investigate some issues with most of their new plantings installed around their houses in a newly built town home complex. We discovered that all of the plants had been installed in heavy clay soil that was not amended to support good plant development. Some of the plants that were installed do not tolerate saturated soils and because the heavy clay soils didn’t drain well, it caused the plants to reside in saturated soil during times of frequent rainfall. We also realized that most of the plants that were installed against the house foundations were species and varieties that were fast growing and would reach sizes up to 15′ tall and wide. Those plants were installed right against the houses and in front of windows that were only 2′ above the ground and installed only 3′ apart from one another. We also found that none of the trees had the wire and burlap removed after installation which caused them to become constricted and hindered their growth and eventually led to their premature death. Ironically, we eventually learned that the company that installed the landscaping was owned by an individual that also owned a landscape plant retail store and their father was a landscape plant farmer! How could someone with so much plant exposure that grew up in the industry know so little about landscaping?
Since we evolved from an Engineering background, we could not rely on what we may have been taught from a father or uncle, or from what we learned from mowing grass and pruning bushes. We were fortunate to reside in a state with one of the most respected horticulture schools in the country. We took classes from many of the professors that taught seminars for the landscape associations in the area. We applied our natural tendency to learn and apply technical data from them and utilize it for our migration and development into the landscaping arena. We eventually learned enough to acquire our Landscape License and Certified Plant Professional accreditation. Surprisingly enough, they were one of the hardest licenses we have acquired out of all the ones we have. It requires a complete and thorough understanding of plants and landscaping to obtain them. Those credentials require four separate 90 minute exams; one of which requires the ability to identify 125 plants by their Latin botanical name. Anyone with those credentials is a plant expert.
Our goal as Landscape Contractors and Outdoor Contractors is to design and install landscaping for our customers that will not live, but thrive and perform for them. We seek to install plants that will provide year-around interest by providing an array of colors, textures, fragrances to enhance your senses; all while making it easy to maintain.
A great landscape plan should enhance your senses, uplift your spirits, and draw you closer to nature.
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