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Jessica Schwartz
Lakeside Living Space
Landmark Landscapes is a family owned and operated, full-service landscaping company based in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Founded 32 years ago around a passion to meld the beauty of nature with the science of horticulture, our company’s mission is to make communities more beautiful by creating “Art through Ecology.” In October 2021, the team at Landmark Landscapes was recognized with an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This annual awards program recognizes outstanding projects in commercial and residential lawn care and landscape installation, maintenance, and design. Projects range in size and scope from less than $25,000 to more than $1 million. Landmark Landscapes was awarded the NALP Gold Award of Excellence in the Residential Design/Build category. This project is titled “Lake Country Garden.” At Landmark Landscapes, we believe our role is to be problem solvers in helping clients achieve maximum visual impact with environmentally sound and practical landscape solutions that embody the spirit of the cultural, geological, and ecological surroundings. Our goal is to provide an incredible landscape design and contracting experience. We leverage classical design and cutting-edge concepts in sustainability to create landscapes that foster connection between the outside environment and the people who engage with it. Planning The Project Our clients purchased a dilapidated cottage and rundown property on the majestic and historic Elkhart Lake in the Village of Elkhart Lake, WI. They made this purchase with the intent of converting the cottage into a summer home where their large family—seven children, with ...
Hardscape Trends For Outdoor Living
As homeowners embraced outdoor living during the COVID-19 pandemic, they prioritized functional outdoor spaces to relax, work, and spend time with family. And, according to a recent study, 85% of experts1 believe that homeowners are more willing to invest in outdoor living spaces this year. Spaces that were normally neglected or barely used for months at a time have become essential to at-home life, giving contractors the opportunity to work with on a variety of projects. One of the top trends this year is the shift from designing spaces for entertainment purposes to functional, everyday areas. Prior to quarantine and social distancing, most outdoor living areas were used for entertaining. Now, four in five homeowners in the aforementioned study reported wanting to make changes to help them enjoy and use their space more often, with 35% saying outdoor is at the top of their wish list. With the shifting mindset of how homeowners utilize their outdoor living spaces, projects that support remote work, exercise, cooking, and dining are popular. The integration of technology should be a significant consideration for contractors when planning with their clients. For example, when creating an additional work-from-home space, homeowners need a stable Wi-Fi connection and accessible electrical outlets for laptops and other devices. Heating and cooling elements as well as lighting are also crucial to ensure usability year-round. In fact, experts predict 48% of outdoor spaces2 will be adapted to allow for use during any season. Bigger Spaces, More Patterns As more homeowners seek ...
Outsourcing The Design of Design-Build
For lawn care and landscape professionals, making the transition to offer design-build services can be intimidating — especially so if no one on your crew is a landscape architect. While employees may have hands-on knowledge of say, pool or hardscape installation, the ability required to sit with a client, address their wish list, and come up with a cohesive design is not in everyone’s wheelhouse. And depending on the client, the time spent on design can drain the project budget. Recently a new online service, Tilly—launched two years ago as a consumer solution to easy, affordable landscape architecture-—is realizing its potential as an outsourced design service for growing landscaping firms. The company was the brainchild of four friends: one a landscape architect; the others business savvy homeowners who saw a need in the marketplace. But what the founders didn’t initially realize was the service’s appeal to busy contractors, landscapers, and nurseries. After receiving frequent requests by green industry experts to partner, Tilly launched Tilly for Pros at the end of 2020. With designs completed in 44 states thus far, the inexpensive option is now becoming popular with companies that either do not have a design team in-house or are simply too busy to handle all incoming projects. “For me, it makes more sense that I’m out in the field, boots on the ground—acquiring clients and installing rather than designing,” says Alejandro Frezza, President of TGW Landscaping and Contracting Inc. in Rockland County, NY. “Having Tilly handle my design project ...
Design-Build Thrived In 2020. Will It Continue?
It’s not news that COVID-19 has people spending more time outdoors, and it put a renewed emphasis on outdoor projects in 2020. Not only was landscaping deemed an essential service, but after a shaky few weeks at the start of the pandemic, landscape design-build firms found their businesses were booming. But with vaccines currently being distributed and an anticipated return to some form of normalcy, will the trend continue? Whether residential or commercial, the emphasis in 2020 wasn’t on big, splashy projects, but rather on simply providing comfortable, usable spaces that allowed families to get out of their houses and into the fresh air. Even better, designer-contractors see at least a few of these trends continuing in 2021. The Big Surprise Call it unexpected. Call it a shock. Call it quirky. Whichever word you choose to describe last year’s business climate in the design-build market, it’s safe to say it was a surprise. That’s the word Terry Morrill, owner of Sun Valley, CA-based Pacific Outdoor Living, uses. “There was a very short time lag when COVID first came out, but then it just kind of exploded,” Morrill says. “We ended up with record sales after a pretty slow start. The leads started picking up and we did just great.” Across the country in South Windsor, CT, Ryan King, an award-winning designer with Bahler Brothers, Inc., uses the word “awesome” to describe that company’s level of business. “February and March sales were almost half of what we normally see, so we ...
Turf DesignBuild: From Concept To Completion
Turf DesignBuild: From Concept To Completion Spring 2021 • Volume 14 • Number 1 FEATURES COVID’s Effect On Design-Build | Outdoor projects thrived in 2020. Will the trend continue? Prevent Permeable Pavement Clogging | Clean and maintain permeable interlocking concrete pavement for clog-free performance. Outsourcing Design Services | Not enough time for the design aspect of design-build? A new service aims to make outsourcing landscape designs easy and affordable. Download your PDF copy of Turf DesignBuild EDITOR’S LETTER Will 2021 be a good year for design-build projects? I can’t help but think so. When pandemic reality set in last March, it wasn’t until later that many clients realized they wanted to “up” their outdoor-living game. But by that time, it was often too late, as contractors and supplies were backlogged by demand. Above ground pools in my area were sold out; an arborist I contracted with in June didn’t arrive until October! This year, while demand remains, clients have had a year to plan, plot, and save for projects. When Turf writer K. Schipper talked to landscape contractors, they confirmed that design-build projects thrived in 2020, and they expect a prosperous 2021. One contractor reported bookings for this summer are running at least two months ahead of 2019 figures. For more, see page D-3. No matter the project, hardscape is nearly always an element. But how many landscapers take advantage of hardscape maintenance work? According to ICPI, permeable pavers present a real opportunity. Find out why on page D-5. And ...
Construction Equipment That Maxes User-Friendliness
If an industry-wide landscaping labor shortage wasn’t enough of a problem, add the cost and difficulty of recruiting seasonal employees. These are primary reasons why many landscapers are turning to equipment solutions to get the job done. As you prepare for the projects the new year will bring, following are some important considerations when purchasing or renting equipment for your business. As you probably already know, recruiting landscape laborers who are not only dependable, but also able to operate your equipment, is quite the challenge. Therefore, it is especially important to consider the user-friendliness of the machines you plan to rent or purchase. So, what constitutes “user-friendly” landscaping machines? Machine safety. Above everything, the safety of you and your crew is critical. Some of today’s machines, such as advanced compact track loaders, are factory-built with back-up cameras, so the operator can remain aware of his/her 360 degree surroundings without having to turn around in the cab. User interface. Machine operation should be intuitive, with easy-to-use displays, so even the most novice operators are able to quickly learn the controls within the cab. Look for landscaping machines with graphic display systems that allow operators to customize operation and language settings. Ease of maintenance. Daily maintenance checks are essential to the health and performance of your machines. Therefore, the easier it is for equipment operators to complete these checks, the better. Look for a machine that allows operators ground-level access to daily service points (e.g., fluid levels, filters, gauges). Operator comfort. ...
Elevating Stormwater Management
There has been a generational shift in the way our communities perceive, understand, and value the benefits of stormwater management. Gone are the days when the only mention of stormwater were decals on curb storm inlets. Gone too is the idea that low impact development measures are merely an option. As major storm events occur with greater frequency, often with infrastructure damage, people can see for themselves the ripple effects created by inadequate environmental measures and thoughtless development. “Optional” to “Required” During my two decades as a landscape architect, I have seen growth in the public’s understanding and appreciation of sustainable development practices. As jurisdictions increase requirements, developers continue to evaluate the cost-benefit of stormwater management measures such as bio-retention facilities, rain gardens, green roofs, and retention/detention ponds, to name a few. These measures: reduce runoff, slow rainwater to mitigate erosion, and filter contaminants. And, while a civil engineer typically designs stormwater systems, the job of those in landscape is becoming more robust than ever before. The basic idea of balancing hardscape with the right amount of landscape maximizes usage, value, flexibility, and performance. Not only are these projects some of the most cost effective, they can bring additional value. The recognition that landscape design can change the positioning of otherwise utilitarian stormwater functions opens up possibilities. Stormwater management becomes an opportunity for enhancement, rather than a byproduct of construction. With appealing plant palettes and layouts that enhance the pedestrian experience, stormwater elements can often do double or triple ...
Landscape Lighting Design: Bright Ideas
Today, landscape lighting is no longer optional in most yards. With the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic cancelling travel plans this year, many have invested those unused vacation dollars into creating private backyard resorts. Entertaining is now being done outside more than ever—and new exterior kitchens and fireplaces are used all day and well into the evening. But there’s one necessity to keep the party going well after dark: well-designed landscape lighting. When designing the outdoor built environment, whether it be private living spaces or more formal front yard landscapes viewed by the public, there are many facets to consider—and we all know the best results come with proper planning and attention to detail. The same applies to lighting. Formally trained in landscape design, and now an award-winning lighting designer, I use my knowledge of horticulture to inform and elevate my lighting projects. Knowing how plants change, not only with the seasons, but over time; how they react to light; and their various textures (such as exfoliating bark) adds greatly to the outcome of lighting designs. The question is whether you have the time, knowledge, and commitment to provide the same quality and artistry to lighting as you do the landscape design. Tackle Yourself Or Outsource? If you’d rather not tackle the lighting design, consider working with someone who specializes in it. A Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer (COLD) in your area will often be willing to collaborate as a member of your design team, regardless of who may be installing ...
Software For Design Services
Every design/build project is unique, but there are always common denominators. These are the elements that landscape contractors providing this service should have precise workflows set up for. There are software tools designed for the landscape industry to help deliver a great project. These focus on the particular capabilities needed for creating outdoor spaces for clients without compromising collaboration with architects and planners, sub-contractors, and suppliers. Ideally, a software for design should follow the project all the way from the drawing board, through the tendering process and, most important, through the whole build. Specifically designed for the landscape industry is Vectorworks Landmark’s design and BIM software. With this dedicated CAD and BIM software, landscape contractors have access to all the tools from the Vectorworks suite; from management of GIS files and imagery, to full 2D and 3D modeling capabilities, as well as a plant tool, landscape areas, and hardscapes. And, users can make sun illustrations for the whole year to see where a property has deep shade and baking sun. This software can create 3D terrain models to develop and analyze designs, such as water run-off, slope percentage, and cut and fill. And, contractors can calculate irrigation systems for the most demanding site. A major benefit of the Landmark tool is that you can manage all steps of the design process within the same environment. You don’t need to export the 2D plan to a separate program to build a 3D model, and you don’t need to export the ...
Inspire Customers With Hardscape
Fresh air and natural, healthy surroundings can be a powerful motivator. Months of pandemic-related self-quarantining and work-from-home routine have ushered in tremendous interest in improving home environments—particularly those that let homeowners enjoy their outdoor spaces. At the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), what we see now is a sharp increase in demand for outdoor living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and more. It is all about converting unused outdoor spaces into comfortable living and entertainment spaces. The goals for most of these projects, both small and large, are familiar. Enjoy The Environment An easy and elegant way to bring a home up to date and expand the outdoor living area is with the many options that colorful, durable concrete pavers provide. Professionally designed and installed hardscapes can improve quality of life now and curb appeal later when the time comes to sell a home. Wherever pavers are installed, real estate experts say, it can be easy to recoup the cost when a home is being sold. Many homeowners and prospective homeowners consider pavers a much more attractive option than other pavement systems. Pavers are also easier to maintain and last longer without needing to be repaired. There are many ways outdoor living spaces can be created using hardscape elements. These include concrete pavers, segmental retaining walls, kitchen and fireplace components, built-in seating, and water features. Pavers also provide a safe, slip-resistant surface in various colors, shapes, and textures, as well as blends with flashed tones to harmonize with a home’s exterior ...
