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FROM THE EDITOR —
—
CHANGE IS UNSETTLING... OUTDOOR LIVING IS INSPIRING
Angelique Robb
This year has already proven to be one of transformation. Across climate, government, and economic landscapes, we’re seeing dramatic shifts—and our industry is feeling the effects.
Conversations with professionals across the country—whether in casual DMs or in-depth interviews—reveal a wide spectrum of outcomes. Some companies are flourishing, others are recalibrating. But one consistent theme stands out: Now more than ever, it’s vital to tune out the noise and focus on what makes your own company stand apart. What values guide your work? What projects fill you with pride? What can you point to at the end of the day and say, ‘we did that?’
At SYNKD, our goal is to support you through that journey. With each issue, we aim to offer inspiration and insights—whether small nudges or big ideas—that help you stay ahead of the curve. In this Summer edition, we’re excited to spotlight some extraordinary examples of innovation and excellence:
• Jonny at Smart Aquatics crafts luxurious, one-of-a-kind poolscapes that redefine backyard living.
• Rob Hoffman challenges the ordinary with his approach to hardscape design, turning materials into narrative.
• Young’s Landscape transforms environments not just with visuals, but with soundscapes—creating immersive, multi-sensory outdoor experiences.
• Jerry Schill at Schill Grounds Management makes several new acquisitions, and we discuss how they have evolved over the years.
We hope this issue fuels your creativity, sparks new ideas, and reminds you of the limitless potential within this field.
And as always, we want to hear from you. Share your projects, your feedback, your bold critiques. We’re here to build this conversation with you—because getting SYNKD means we all rise together.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the issue!
-Angelique
NEWS CLIPPINGS
Trees Tell of Warming Climate
What can trees tell us about climate change? Last September, Professor Hugh Safford, a forest ecologist in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy, was hiking for pleasure in California’s High Sierra when he stumbled upon a Jeffrey pine at an altitude it shouldn’t exist.
“I walk over, and it’s a Jeffrey pine! It made no sense. What is a Jeffrey pine doing above 11,500'?” During his hike-turnedscience-expedition, Safford found and examined 14 Jeffrey pines above 11,800,' some of which were at least 20 years old. At least a dozen others were visible.
The discovery signifies a changing climate amid California’s highest peaks. As snow melts earlier and air temperatures rise, Jeffrey pine seeds are germinating on land they previously found frozen and inhospitable. Preliminary evidence suggests a bird, the Clark’s nutcracker, carries fleshy Jeffrey pine seeds up the mountain, storing them in the High Sierra’s “refrigerator” for an early summer snack, thus enabling some seeds to not only germinate, but establish themselves as a new population.
Jeffrey pines are not considered a traditional subalpine tree species, which inhabit the most extreme high elevations. Yet none of the six traditional subalpine forest species have been collected above 12,034.' Safford recorded Jeffrey pines as high as 12,657' (1,860' higher than the previous record for the species). This suggests the Jeffrey pine is California’s highest tree—at least for the moment.
Safford’s work indicates that other species are growing higher than commonly used databases suggest. Species attempting to stay ahead of climate changes by moving uphill are doing so far too slowly to keep pace, climate modeling literature suggests. Yet the models don’t account for the role of seed dispersals by birds and other species amid shifting windows of ecological opportunity.
“I’m looking at trees surviving in habitats where they couldn’t before, but they’re also dying in places they used to live before,” Safford says. “This crazy leapfrogging of species challenges what we think we know about these systems reacting as the climate warms.”
The discovery underscores a need for scientists to couple powerful technologies with direct observation. The trees Safford encountered were not detected by any available database, artificial intelligence platform, satellite or remote sensing technology.
“People aren’t marching to the tops of the mountains to see where the trees really are,” Safford says. “Instead, they are relying on satellite imagery, which can’t see most small trees. What science does is help us understand how the world functions. In this case, where you see the impacts of climate change most dramatically are at high elevations and high latitudes. If we want our finger on the pulse of how the climate is warming and what the impacts are, that’s where it will be happening first. We just need to get people out there.”
This summer, Safford and students from his lab will return to the southern Sierra Nevada to further research. n
on a hike along Mount Kaweah in the High Sierra. (Photos: Hugh Safford, UC Davis)
AHS Introduces Youth Sensory Gardening Manual
The American Horticultural Society recently introduced the “AHS Youth Sensory Gardening Manual,” a free, new digital resource detailing how to create gardens to support children’s health. The manual was created by AHS and written by Dr. Amy Wagenfeld, professor at University of Washington and past presenter at the AHS National Children & Youth Garden Symposium. Through an additional collaboration with Kids Cancer Connection, AHS will provide over 200 hospitals throughout the country with the digital manual to support their children’s healthcare initiatives.
Using neuroscience, developmental theory, horticultural therapy, and garden design, this interdisciplinary manual establishes the specific health benefits derived from connecting with nature, followed by details of how the sensory systems enable those benefits. Readers explore each of the eight external and internal sensory systems to learn how people process each sense, sensory processing challenges, and how to support a range of sensory experiences and behaviors. The manual also addresses techniques for universal design and supporting all kinds of inclusion. The appendix includes tools for charting sensory gardening goals and building corresponding plants and materials palettes. Find it here: https://ahsgardening.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AHS-Youth-Sensory-Gardening-Manual.pdf. n
Top: This tree set records for both the highest Jeffrey pine and the highest elevation tree recorded in California. UC Davis Professor Hugh Safford observed and recorded the tree at 12,657' elevation. The seedling was 6 years old and 10" tall. Bottom: Sandwiched between a lodgepole pine on the left and a foxtail pine on the right is the first Jeffrey pine tree Safford observed last September
LEARN MORE
FLOWERFULL
SMOOTH HYDRANGEA ®
Hydrangea arborescens ‘BAIful’ PP35,613 CPBRAF
STRONG STEMS THAT DON’T FLOP, EVEN WITH WIND OR RAIN
LUSH GREEN FOLIAGE THAT PROVIDES WONDERFUL CONTRAST TO THE BLOOMS
Reduce Bird Collisions With Visible Glass
Glass fences and panels are wonderful for creating sleek, modern landscape designs that allow full appreciation of a view or line of vision. But unfortunately, this design choice can come with its downside: bird collisions.
A recent article by Rachel Fritts of Wildhope.tv detailed the efforts of a newly formed bird collision prevention team at the National Zoo. The goal? Make all the zoo’s glass bird-safe. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C., sees hundreds of birds stop each year as they make their way up and down the Atlantic Flyway. When designing a safe, new birdhouse in 2018, it occurred to staff to monitor bird-glass collisions on the property and found hundreds of birds were falling victim.
As a result, last spring, staff started covering the zoo’s 10,000 square feet of glass in square decals spaced in a 2" × 2" grid.
The zoo received funds to buy the decals from Feather Friendly, a company specializing in technologies that make glass visible to birds with modern, clean designs. Past projects have included the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado and Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio. According to the Bird Collision Prevention Alliance, other companies offering film solutions include CollidEscape and SOLYX. There are also facade cladding systems, motorized shade systems, and etched or digital printed glass such as SkySafe™Glass with Surface one Ecoetch® from Skyline Design. For more information, visit www.stopbirdcollisions.org. n
New Concrete & Moss Facades Create True Green Buildings
ADutch firm is hoping to take the concept of green buildings to a literal level. Though Respyre was founded in 2021, social media has been buzzing recently with the story of young inventor and CEO Auke Bleij and his upcycled bio-receptive concrete, which is able to retain water and promote moss growth— filtering air pollution and creating a breathing ecosystem—without damaging the underlying concrete. The firm has won numerous innovation awards and now has eight active projects and a product dubbed VertiScape™ available for new construction or renovation. At the heart of VertiScape is the bioreceptive cladding that is applied to an underlying structure. A bio-gel is then applied to the cladding, allowing moss spores to attach to the surface, creating an eco-facade.
According to Respyre’s site: “Bioreceptive wall facades are a sustainable form of wall decoration. The product is 85% circular, created out of granulate ruble and reactivated cement, providing old landfills with new purposes. Moreover, over the lifetime of the facades, CO₂ will react with the calcium that is inside the granulate matter and be captured as calcium-carbonate, significantly reducing the CO₂ emission. Together with the moss growth, the product will be carbon-negative within a year, continuing to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.”
Currently VertiScape™ is only available in The Netherlands and Belgium, but the potential applications for structures in a landscape design is intriguing. To learn more, visit www.gorespyre.com. n
Golf Course Pesticides & Parkinson’s Disease
Could pesticides used on golf courses be affecting the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD)? According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and reported by Newsweek and many other news outlets in May, researchers found that those living within a mile of golf courses have a 126% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than those who live more than six miles away. Areas that shared drinking water supplies with water used near golf courses were the most greatly impacted.
National medical adviser for the Parkinson’s Foundation Dr. Michael Okun posted to X: “This new JAMA Network Open study offers a warning we can’t ignore: living within 1-3 miles of a golf course more than doubles your odds of developing Parkinson’s. Drinking water from municipal wells near golf courses in vulnerable groundwater areas may be a risk. This isn’t about golf—it’s about pesticides, environmental exposures, and preventable risks hiding in plain sight.” n
Photo: Feather Friendly
Photo: Respyre
Making Waves How Smart Aquatics Is Rewriting the Rules of Outdoor Living
By Angelique Robb, SYNKD Founder & CEO
What do a floating acrylic pool, a luxury Lamborghini, and a vision for design-driven living have in common? They’re all part of the boundary-breaking world of Smart Aquatics, the Miami-based studio that’s turning outdoor spaces into bold architectural statements—and turning the pool industry on its head. At the center of it all is Jonny Nalepa, founder, designer, dreamer, and winner of the Wildly SYNKD Award at SYNKD Live 2025. His work doesn’t just challenge the idea of what a pool can be—it challenges what outdoor living should be. “Pools used
to be afterthoughts. Now they’re part of the architecture,” Nalepa says. “And honestly, they should be.”
From Grit to Gloss
Nalepa’s story starts far from the glittering acrylic edges of luxury water design. Raised in Miami, FL, he grew up elbow-deep in chlorine, repair work, and the raw hustle of Pool Rangers Inc., the company his father started more than 40 years ago with just $20 and a dream. “My real education began before I could drive,” he says with a laugh.
Still, he formalized his path with an associate’s degree, a CAD drafting certificate, and a second degree in aquatic engineering. By 2019, he was already gaining attention for his conceptual designs, quoted in Pool Pro as wanting to make pools feel like “art and architecture.” Less than a year later, he took the plunge.
Enter Smart Aquatics—Just in Time
In March 2020, Nalepa launched Smart Aquatics, starting with $2,500 borrowed from his mom—and a portfolio full of big ideas. Then came the pandemic. But instead of slowing down, the shutdown became a tailwind. Homeowners turned inward, investing in their properties, and suddenly, pools were back in focus.
For the first two years, it was a solo act: design, sales, operations, client service, even billing. “It was brutal. I wasn’t eating. I wasn’t sleeping,” he says. And yet, the company grew fast—over 120% year-over-year. But success raised a bigger question: Did he want to remain self-employed, or build something bigger?
These are not backyard pools. They’re immersive, sculptural experiences .
Nalepa chose the latter—and paid for it. “I was burning $50,000 a month at one point. Hired the wrong people, got burned, but I learned,” he says. Today, Smart Aquatics has a powerhouse team of 10, including globally based designers and engineers. “The limits disappear when you have a real team,” he says with pride.
Design That Defies Gravity (Literally)
While Smart Aquatics handles several of the largest residential pool projects in the Southeast, Nalepa lights up talking about one of their most daring designs yet: a $3 million acrylic sky pool suspended between two buildings. Inspired by London’s famed Embassy Gardens pool, this version is smaller— just 15' × 30'—but wildly more complex.
“It’s a floating pool, acrylic, suspended in air with custom fittings, skimmers, R&D—it’s a whole new level,” he says. “We’re doing things for the first time, and that’s what makes it exciting.”
These are not backyard pools. They’re immersive, sculptural experiences. Think: moveable floors, fire-meets-water features, and yes, even supercars showcased in aquatic mirrors. One Smart Aquatics project involved placing a Lamborghini in the middle of a reflecting pool—complete with cascading fountains and fire elements. But form follows function. “Cool ideas only work if you can protect the car, meet code, and build it to last,” says Nalepa.
Smart ConstruXion: Bridging the Gap
Seeing the tension between vision and execution, Nalepa launched a second company this year: Smart ConstruXion. “I used to say I’d never touch construction, but there’s too much disconnect between design and build. It slows down innovation,” he says. The solution? A standalone construction arm, separate from design but tightly aligned.
“We didn’t want to become a giant onestop-shop. This is a different approach,” he says. With Smart Aquatics designing and Smart ConstruXion executing, the companies collaborate without compromising creativity or construction integrity.
Water Is Wellness
What’s driving this evolution? Wellness—and not just in the spa sense. Nalepa points to Blue Mind theory, the science-backed idea that proximity to water induces calm, clarity, and connection. “Water isn’t just beautiful. It’s human, it’s emotional,” he says.
Outdoor space is finally being valued like interior square footage .
From ice fountains and vitality pools to experience showers and infrared saunas, Smart Aquatics is tapping into this demand for therapeutic, immersive environments. “It’s not just luxury anymore, it’s lifestyle. People want spaces that restore them.”
... imagination doesn’t have to clash with engineering—it can elevate it.
Outdoor Living Gets a Promotion
The biggest shift Nalepa sees? Outdoor space is finally being valued like interior square footage. “There’s a paradigm shift happening,” he explains. “People used to spend 90% of the budget indoors. Now it’s 50/50. The lines are blurring.”
He’s seen homes with 30-foot water walls inside and landscapes where 50% of the space is dedicated to water features. Materials like stainless steel, acrylic, and permeable stone aren’t just modern—they’re part of a larger architectural conversation.
“There’s a reason architecture exists,” Nalepa says. “It’s supposed to evoke something. A thought, an emotion. Otherwise, it’s just walls. A pool should do the same.”
Lessons from the Deep End
Nalepa doesn’t sugarcoat the learning curve. “There’s a myth that entrepreneurs start companies. But really, it’s technicians— people like me—who just go for it,” he says. His early hires didn’t work out. His first few years were unsustainable. But every misstep taught him something: how to build better systems, hire smarter, and scale with purpose.
Now he’s guiding others in the industry to think bigger—and bolder. “It’s easy to say yes to every project. But when you start saying no to the wrong ones, you get to say hell yes to the right ones,” he says.
Making the Impossible... Practical
Smart Aquatics isn’t just designing water features. It’s redesigning how the industry thinks about outdoor space. By blending bold
creativity with technical precision, Nalepa and his team are proving that imagination doesn’t have to clash with engineering— it can elevate it.
The result? Projects that look like art, feel like wellness, and perform like architecture.
“We’re not just building pools,” Nalepa says. “We’re building something you live in, dream in, and remember.”
And that’s why Smart Aquatics is more than just smart—it’s visionary. n
FOR MORE INFO
Jonny Nalepa
Founder of Smart Aquatics Miami, FL jonny@smart-aquatics.com www.smart-aquatics.com
All photos courtesy of Jimi Smith Photography
A Boulder Design
By Erin Z. Bass, SYNKD
Subeditor
for the Northeast
How trust, vision, and 2.5-ton rocks created a spectacular multi-acre retreat.
When a long-time client asked Young’s Landscape in Lumberton, NJ, to design his latest home—his fifth with the firm— he had a simple ask: “Make it spectacular, and nothing like my neighbor’s.” What followed was a multi-acre transformation featuring custom stonework, dramatic elevation changes, immersive lighting, and audio that surprised even the client.
The relationship dates back to 2014, when Mark Del Prato, landscape designer at Young’s, nearly drove past the client’s overgrown front yard. “Since then, he’s done millions of dollars in projects with us,” says Del Prato. This latest property, nestled in South Jersey’s wooded terrain, was the most ambitious yet.
A Rocky Start—Literally
The newly purchased site was beautiful but neglected—overgrown with poison ivy and
poor drainage. “It was a full teardown,” says Del Prato. “Just getting to zero was half the battle.” But with years of trust built, Young’s had a clear understanding of the client’s taste and expectations.
Breaking from the typical Northeast aesthetic, Del Prato sourced dramatic 1.5- to 2.5-ton boulders from Ohio. “We brought in six tractor-trailer loads,” he explains. The boulders not only added visual impact, but played a structural role—helping raise the elevation behind the pool to align with the home’s floor-to-ceiling windows. “It gives the illusion that you’re looking right into the backyard oasis,” he adds.
Creating that elevation in flat South Jersey was no small feat—requiring 350 yards of soil and a 16’-high wall. With no crane access to the backyard, construction got creative. A drywall telehandler lifted boulders across the pool. A tight threeperson crew worked for two months, cutting stones to sit over the coping, giving the appearance that the boulders rise naturally from the water’s edge.
The hardscape includes 2,500 square feet of silver travertine, later softened with lush plantings: conifers, perennials, and seasonal rotations of 1,500 summer annuals, 1,500 fall pansies, and 700 mums. The surrounding forest completes the backdrop.
Built for Generations
The client’s family, spanning toddlers to teens, inspired a layout with distinct zones. The pool area features a custom pavilion, three fire features (totaling over 1 million BTUs), and plenty of space to explore—including a separate fish pond and plunge pool. “It’s not just one big space,” says Del Prato. “It invites discovery.”
A showstopper? The custom slide, pushing 200 gallons per minute, with its own pump system. “Their toddler flew right down it,” he says with a laugh.
Let There Be (Smart) Light
From the start, lighting was key. “We started with 300 fixtures—now we’re at 450,” Del Prato says. Strategically placed up and down lights illuminate stonework, plantings, and trees, transforming the property after dark. “At night, it’s even more spectacular than during the day.”
Young’s averages 75 lighting projects a year. “Lighting is one of my passions,” says Del Prato. “It adds emotion and depth.”
Turning Up the Volume
Audio, on the other hand, was unfamiliar territory. “I’ve always struggled to sell audio because I didn’t fully understand it,” he admits. “You can’t just talk specs to an audiophile if you’re not confident.”
Coastal Source helped bridge the gap. Their mobile demo van—fully equipped with speakers and subwoofers—allowed the client to experience the sound firsthand. The result? A full install and a glowing review: “Best money ever spent,” the client said. “It added a whole dimension to the space.”
Built on Trust
This wasn’t the first time the client had considered audio—or gone well beyond the original budget. “We started with $120,000. A year and a half later, we were over $500,000,” Del Prato recalls. “That only happens with trust.”
Young’s 70-person team takes pride in that reputation. “Whether you’re a threeman band or a 300-person company, it’s the integrity of the work that matters,” he says.
Words of Advice
For Del Prato, passion, communication, and a willingness to push boundaries are what elevate the industry. “It’s frustrating when someone with a truck and no insurance calls themselves a landscaper and undercuts the craft,” he says. “But when you care about the client and project, it shows—and it brings everyone up.”
His advice: include the extras. “If you don’t present audio, lighting, or seasonal color, clients don’t know what they’re missing. Plant the seed and let them experience it.”
Because sometimes, the best part of a multi-acre, boulder-clad, fire-lit wonderland… is the music. n
Article adapted from a Synkd On Air podcast Interview with Angelique Robb and Mike Watts.
All photos courtesy of VK Visuals
For Del Prato, passion, communication, and a willingness to push boundaries are what elevate the industry.
FOR MORE INFO
Mark Del Prato
Landscape Designer at Young’s Landscape Lumberton, NJ mark@youngslandscape.com www.youngslandscape.com
Kevin Minton
National Sales Manager at Coastal Source Beaufort, SC kminton@coastalsource.com www.coastalsource.com
CrewPlanner is job planning software for landscaping crews.
Whiteboards work—until you grow. Some crews finish early. Others fall behind. Time gets lost. So does margin.
CrewPlanner turns property data into smart, crew-specific plans.
So every team knows:
What to do
Where to go
How long it takes
WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO STRATEGIES —IN TERMS OF PLANTS, IRRIGATION, OR DESIGN ELEMENTS— FOR CREATING MORE DROUGHT-RESILIENT LANDSCAPES ?
Owner & Lead Ecological Designer at Goldfinch Garden Design Berkeley, CA Molly Finch
Rainwater capturing, bioswales, permeable pavers, water-wise native plant selection, and using a dense matrix-style planting with a “living mulch” layer to improve soil moisture retention. So far this spring we’ve used only rainwater to irrigate client sites!
Jessi Milch
Account Manager at Sunrise Landscape Tampa, FL
When using exotics and nonnatives, it’s important to emulate their climate of origin as much as possible. Look into the plant’s native range and when deciding to plant it, you need to work with the land, not against it.
At the same time, it’s worth keeping in mind that using plants that are native does not guarantee drought-tolerance. There are plenty of bog-marginal or riparian plants that need constant moisture!
Edil Cunampio
Founder & Principal Orchard Designer at Backyard Orchard Phoenixville, PA
Scott Craig
Horticulture Director at Natural Design Landscaping Tampa Bay, FL
In Florida, nature coast Tampa and surrounding region, it has to be plant selection. Drought tolerant as well as lowered horticulture management requirements. We are booming in construction here. New housing communities and MPD projects all over. Green space is being depleted. Besides our water woes with harsh restrictions, [there are] fertilizer restrictions on top of that. Plant smart!
Here’s the nutshell version of my droughtresilient landscape strategy: Designing for drought isn’t just about picking tough plants. It’s about building a living system that holds moisture, supports itself, and adapts over time.
Here’s how I do it:
1. Layered Density – I design with trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs, and ground covers—stacked in layers. This creates natural shade, living mulch, and cooler, more hydrated soil.
2. Site-Adaptive Planting – No two properties are alike. I assess microclimates, sun exposure, slopes, and soil to place each plant where it will thrive with minimal input.
3. Selective Irrigation – I water just once a week during the initial weeks, adjusting based on weather. After establishment, the landscape is built to thrive mostly on rainfall.
4. Soil Health as a Foundation – Compost, mulch, and living soil biology turn the ground into a sponge—boosting water retention and building resilience from the roots up. The result? A lush, edible, low-maintenance landscape that stays beautiful and productive—even in dry conditions.
Redefining Water Management
It’s Not Just Irrigation, It’s How You
By Daniel Smith
It’s time we stop thinking of water management as a single system tweak and start treating it as a design philosophy .
For years, water management in landscaping has been equated with irrigation—choosing the right controller, setting the right schedule, and hoping for savings. But after 15 years in the field and leading water management at Park West, I can confidently say, “It’s time we stop thinking of water management as a single system tweak and start treating it as a design philosophy.”
From Isolated Fixes to Integrated Thinking
Many clients—from HOAs to commercial institutions—think in lifespans. My roof lasts 30 years, so my irrigation controller must
Build Better
too. But that’s not how today’s technology— or today’s climate—works. Smart controllers and irrigation systems have lifespans closer to 10-15 years. Waiting for them to fail before replacing them isn’t just inefficient— it’s expensive in the long run.
We’ve learned that upgrading water systems can’t be isolated. It’s about how we design and build landscapes from the ground up—literally.
The Economics of a Smarter Landscape
Water prices are rising fast. That’s reality. But this challenge has opened the door to smarter budgeting through holistic
planning. By tying water upgrades to broader maintenance goals, we’ve saved clients tens of thousands.
Take our Preventive Maintenance Inspections (PMIs). What started as simple irrigation audits turned into a lens for spotting larger issues: stucco erosion, damaged hardscape, even safety hazards. Upgrading to drip irrigation? It’s not just a water-saver—it’s a hardscape preserver. Less runoff means fewer premature slurry seals. That’s thousands saved on pavement alone.
We’ve all seen those outdated 12" spray risers flanking sidewalks—overwatering, flooding, and vanishing into hedges. One redesign, one shift to drip, and those hidden hazards disappear, along with waste, property damage, and frustration.
Educating the Industry— And Ourselves
We need to get smarter with plant material, especially natives. Customers often push
We help clients think long-term ... how to transform the entire slope into a droughtresilient asset.
back with statements like “too wild” or “not colorful enough,” but the real issue is mismatched systems. You can’t plop natives into a turf-heavy site and expect success. They need the right context, the right soil, spacing, and irrigation design. Education and phased implementation are key.
We’ve seen what happens when developers overplant fast-growing species without a plan—blocked views, rodent issues, and expensive overhauls. So we’re hiring native plant consultants, retraining our teams, and building smarter regional palettes. Holistic water management starts with knowing what to plant and why.
From One-Year Fixes to 15-Year Plans
We realized most reserve studies—the budget roadmaps HOAs use—don’t go deep enough. They ask for irrigation upgrades but leave out slope renovations or long-term turf removal. So we built our own.
Now, we create comprehensive documents that outline upgrades over five, 10, even 15 years—with projected ROI based on water rates. We help clients think long-term, not just how to fix a leaky zone, but how to transform the entire slope into a droughtresilient asset.
Incorporating installation of low-water shrubs and kurapia groundcover that provides a pollinator habitat and property beautification.
Incorporating a typical fixed spray head riser that is causing calcium stains on the glass and early deterioration of the glass framing.
Water Management = Landscape Design = Bigger Questions
At Park West, our philosophy shifted. Instead of treating irrigation as a retrofit, we began asking bigger questions:
• Why are we using high-maintenance plant species here?
• Is this plant performing a purpose (shade, privacy, traffic control) or just filling space?
• Are we designing to the sun exposure and soil health—or just to what’s on sale at the nursery?
This mindset shift—from irrigation-focused to landscape-integrated—means we consider water from the very start. It's not about controlling inputs after a landscape is built. It's about building a landscape that needs less input to thrive.
The benefit? Real partnerships. Instead of chasing short-term fixes, we’re planning for sustainable success—together.
Reorganizing Around Resilience
At Park West, we restructured to meet the moment. My team now oversees Water Management, Plant Health, Field Performance, and Graphics. Why graphics? Because visual communication is powerful— when you show a board what their landscape could look like, you help them see the ROI of doing things differently.
Our Enhancements team bridges maintenance and design-build. We don’t just install; we refine. When we replace outdated systems or redesign failed plantings, we take those lessons forward. Every project informs the next.
Looking Forward
The future of water management isn’t a sensor or a controller. It’s a system-wide mindset that connects soil health, plant choice, irrigation design, and maintenance strategy. It’s thinking about how a slope
renovation today sets the stage for lower water bills in 2035.
True water management isn’t just about saving water—it’s about building landscapes that work better, last longer, and cost less to maintain. That’s sustainability. That’s resilience. And that’s what happens when we stop treating water management like a plumbing problem and start treating it like what it really is: a design decision. n
All photos courtesy of Park West
Page 19 photo: Incorporating low water-use groundcover with well-established medium water-use shrubs that will require minimal to no irrigation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel Smith
Director of Technical Operations
Park West
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA dsmith@parkwestinc.com www.parkwestinc.com
Looking for a genius way to boost employee morale and your social media content? At Dowco Enterprises in Chesterfield, MO, we stumbled into a photo contest idea that does exactly that— and trust us, it’s way more fun than chasing down that perfect Instagram shot.
It All Started With a Group Text
Like most landscape companies, we have a text thread for crew updates—think, “Hey, we’re starting late today.” But one day, someone dropped a photo into the chat. Then another. Soon, a casual thumbs-up turned into a weekly vote and a $20 Amazon gift card prize.
Then We Got Smarter About It
The problem? Not everyone was in on the fun—only the iPhone crowd (mostly crew leaders and drivers). So we brought the contest to the warehouse. Now, we toss the weekly photo submissions up on the big screen, hand out ballots, and let the whole team vote. The winning crew (not just one person) walks away with gift cards. Our biggest crew is three people, so it’s budget-friendly and super engaging.
Snap, Vote, Repeat
The Photo Contest That’s Boosting Morale & Your Content Library
By Donna Delaney
The Unexpected Perks
The admin team, who usually live behind computers, now gets a glimpse into the gorgeous work our crews do. It’s become a weekly moment of pride and celebration. Plus, there’s always a wildcard photo—like a snake surprise or bat cameo—that sparks laughs and builds camaraderie.
Content Without the Hassle
Let’s face it: Authentic field photos > stock photography. And this contest? It serves up fresh, real content every single week. Our team naturally improved their photo and video skills—without me ever having to say a word. Some added borders, others experimented with angles, even mounted phones on mowers for action shots. The creativity is infectious.
Keep It Fresh With Themes
Yes, even a great idea needs a refresh now and then. We’ve started tossing in themes: “Shoot content for a Reel,” or “Give me longform YouTube footage this week.” It keeps submissions from getting stale and ensures we’re gathering content in different formats for different platforms.
You’ll Need a System (Trust Me)
Once this contest takes off, you’ll have more content than you know what to do with. I use Google Drive, organize everything by folders, and delegate editing and newsletter duties to others. Think of yourself as a general contractor of marketing.
Don’t
Obsess Over Going Viral
We’re not trying to become TikTok stars. This is about connection. Some of our most-loved Reels are just raw field sounds—mowers, shovels, blowing leaves—with a simple caption. Yes, we still hire pro photographers for polished pieces, but for consistent content, your team’s phone photos are gold.
Make
Content Part of the Culture
When content creation is part of the daily workflow—and there’s a gift card up for grabs—it doesn’t feel like a chore. It builds pride, sparks creativity, and makes your team feel seen and valued.
Running the Show (Without Running Yourself Ragged)
Here’s the best part: I don’t run the contest. Someone on my team owns it. Delegating is
key. If you’re a small team, this might feel like “one more thing,” but it doesn’t have to be. Find that one person who loves using their phone and give them ownership. It builds leadership and spreads the workload.
What It Costs
You’re looking at $20 to $60 per week. Voting takes about 10 minutes. And the ROI? Huge. A closer team, more pride in your work, and an endless stream of share-worthy content that’s actually real.
Why It Works
The photo contest isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about celebrating what you do every day, creating shared moments, and showing the world (and potential hires) who you are—authentically.
So yes, steal this idea. Make it your own. And watch how something as simple as a weekly vote can transform your company culture—and your content game. n
All photos courtesy of Dowco
Pool Trends From the Top
Easton Select Group is acquiring and expanding. Here’s what they’re seeing in the pool space.
By Molly Snyder
The landscape of the landscape industry has changed dramatically over the last several years as mergers and acquisitions have become increasingly popular business strategies. And it’s no wonder why. The transition from scattered independent operators to large national powerhouses has allowed growth, market expansion, best practices, and cost reductions for those who go this route.
Medley Relay: Strength in Numbers
Easton Select Group, headquartered in Massachusetts, is no exception. The company’s journey began with Easton Pool & Spa, a family owned, Massachusetts-based business founded in 1972 by Henry Hobaica. Today, with Henry’s son, Dave Hobaica, serving as executive chairman since 1996, Easton Select
is an example of how a second-generation business can scale with integrity and vision.
“Easton Pool & Spa thrived as a result of the core values set in place by Henry,” comments Dave Habaica. “Now, with the support of Brenton Point Capital Partners,
Today’s homeowners expect more than just a place to swim.
we’re expanding nationally and are strategically aligned to provide unmatched support, resources, and innovative solutions to a wide range of pool professionals.”
The pool and spa industry has long been fragmented, with thousands of small-to-midsized service providers operating independently. Easton Select Group recognized this as both a challenge and an opportunity. Rather than simply acquiring companies to grow revenue, Easton Select focused—and continues to focus—on strategic partnerships that align with its mission to elevate industry standards. For instance, the past five years has seen a significant rise in U.S. pool installations, leading to increased demand for maintenance and services. To meet this demand, Easton Select is acquiring companies specializing in maintenance, parts, service, and cleaning.
Through these acquisitions, the company gains not just market share, but also access to a wider talent pool, nationwide expertise, and a deeper understanding of customer needs. Each acquisition is carefully integrated, allowing for economies of scale while preserving the unique character and strengths of the original brand. The result: a nationwide organization with a local touch.
“Our goal is to achieve the size and scale to become the industry’s leading provider of aftermarket pool and maintenance services, and the market leader in plunge pools. Our proven regional expertise, innovative solutions, and resources makes us an ideal partner to help local companies meet evolving homeowner needs in their communities across the U.S.,” says Tim Dooling, CEO of Easton Select Group.
Today, the Easton Select Group umbrella includes a growing roster of pool builders and service providers. Each of these brands brings decades of experience, an expansive customer base, and a track record of excellence. By unifying them under a single operation, Easton Select has created a powerful engine of quality, consistency, and scale.
2025 Pool Design Trends
As a leader in the industry, Easton Select Group is not just responding to trends—it’s shaping them. Here are five major pool design trends the company says are defining outdoor living in 2025.
1 THE PLUNGE POOL REVOLUTION
Homeowners are embracing plunge pools— highly efficient, compact, customizable, and luxurious. These pools offer all the benefits of full-size installations in a fraction of the space, making them ideal for smaller backyards or as complementary features in larger backyards. With customizable features such as water features, lighting, and hydrotherapy jets, plunge pools provide year-round enjoyment and require significantly less maintenance and energy.
2 SMART POOLS & AUTOMATION
Today’s homeowners expect pool systems that are efficient and connected so look to equip pools with state-of-the-art automation. Using apps and integrated smart systems, customers can control water temperature, filtration cycles, LED lighting, and chemical balance—all from their smartphones. These features not only add convenience but also improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
3 A WELLNESS FOCUS
Pools are more than recreational features in 2025, they are now the epicenter to a wellness-focused living. Cold plunge pools, hydrotherapy spas, and hot/cold plunge
Photo 1 –The 9' × 16' Vineyard by Plunge Pool Concepts
Photo 2 –Hayward Automation from Easton Pool & Spa
Photo 3 –The Wellness hot tub from Plunge Pool Concepts
pools are becoming staples for healthconscious homeowners. These pools are often paired with infrared saunas and outdoor meditation spaces, transforming backyards into wellness sanctuaries.
4 MULTI-FUNCTIONAL POOL SPACES
Today’s homeowners expect more than just a place to swim—they’re seeking multi-use environments that blend with their lifestyle, from early morning workouts to late-night gatherings. These spaces are thoughtfully engineered to offer:
• Seating and dining areas that blend seamlessly with the pool deck
• Lounges and fire features that enhance ambiance and encourage year-round use
• Elevated decking systems that support outdoor kitchens, cabanas, and entertainment setups
This approach transforms the traditional backyard into a multi-functional retreat—a true extension of the home that adapts to every season, occasion, and need.
• Fast, Easy Installation – Our bolt-together design cuts field time from two weeks to just two days.
• Built to Code, Built to Last –Each pergola is engineered to meet your local building specifications.
• No Middlemen – We partner with you from design to installation—and long after.
• Finished for the Long Haul –Powder coating with a zinc primer delivers lasting durability and minimal maintenance.
5 TANNING LEDGES & WATERFALLS
Many homeowners are seeking resortinspired elements for their backyard spaces. Features like tanning ledges and cascading
waterfalls transform pools into minigetaways and offer both visual elegance and practical functionality. Tanning ledges provide shallow lounging areas perfect for
sunbathing or letting young children play, while natural stone waterfalls add a calming, zen-like ambiance.
What’s next for the pool industry? New service offerings, enhanced digital customer tools, and expanded training programs for technicians, builders, and designers are all part of the roadmap as the line between indoor and outdoor living continues to blur. n
All photos courtesy of Easton Select Group
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Molly Snyder
Marketing Manager Easton Select Group Easton, MA mrsnyder@eastonselect.com www.eastonselect.com
Photo 4 –A multi-functional pool space from Environmental Pools
Photo 5 –Natural stone waterfalls from Easton Pool & Spa
Innovations for Pool, Patio & Play
INFINITY DRAIN®
Linear Drainage Solutions
Proudly made in the USA, Infinity Drain’s linear drainage solutions have endless outdoor applications. They can be seamlessly integrated into walkways, pool surrounds, driveways, outdoor showers, and balconies to become a sleek addition to any outdoor environment. Infinity Drains provide a practical solution to standing water while simultaneously elevating the surrounding space with luxury-oriented design. The Infinity Drain team provides solutions for any unique project needs or challenges with exceptional technical support, engineering, and customization. With the award-winning Site Sizable® option, linear drains can be cut onsite to any length or joined together to create installations as long as necessary. www.infinitydrain.com/outdoor-drains
MAGLIN
ALUM Collection
ALUM is an outdoor furniture collection that’s easy to handle and maintain, 100% recyclable, and easy on the eyes. The collection consists of a rolled-edge table, lounge chairs, and dining chairs that bring together good looks and no-fail function to provide a line that’s flexible, movable, and durable enough to stand up to all the elements. Each ALUM piece starts with a single sheet of aluminum resulting in a super-slim profile and clean lines. ALUM lounge chairs have just the right amount of lean, while the café chairs (available with or without armrests) are conveniently stackable. ALUM tables may look edgy, but are never sharp thanks to a rolled edge. Laser-cut patterns create visual interest and drain away water, which, when paired with corrosive-fighting coatings, means ALUM can be trusted not to rust. Café tables are the perfect dining height and lounge tables can multitask as footrests. Available in 18 standard colors and a choice of four laser-cut patterns.
www.maglin.com
BELGARD®
November
November, Belgard’s newest performance line of porcelain pavers, is now available nationwide. With a refined, minimalist look inspired by nature, November offers a durable, low-maintenance option for elegant outdoor living spaces. The November paver line comes in an efficient 24" × 24" size for cost savings and faster installation time. It provides an easy entry point for contractors who haven’t yet explored porcelain products. November is stain- and scratch-resistant, non-slip, and designed to retain its visual appeal through Colorfast Technology. Available in four natural color options—Rain, Wind, Warm, and Land.
www.belgard.com
Sedersi Una Café Chair
Providing strength rarely found in lightweight seating, the Sedersi Una café chair is a new addition to the Milan collection from Victor Stanley. Crafted of tubular steel and available in 12 standard, seven optional colors, or over 200+ RAL colors, the collection is designed to suit changing needs with stackable chairs and freestanding or permanent mount tables. The Sedersi Una is available with or without arms and in perforated or slat seating. Other pieces in the collection include the Sedersi Café Chair, the Centra Café Table, and the Centra Una Café Table.
www.victorstanley.com
SOLAR FORMA DESIGN
E-Cacia
Inspired by the acacia trees of the eastern African savanna, the E-Cacia Solar Tree provides shade, generates clean energy, and provides light—all in an elegant form that mimics nature. Well-suited to grid-tied and standalone installations, the E-Cacia can generate 3.5 kW of capacity to charge user devices with ease—and may be scaled to charge electric vehicles and e-bikes. Each tree, available in a 17' or 22' solar canopy, contains four programmable LED lamps concealed within its branches, creating a place-making environment day and night. Solar Forma Design, based in Wisconsin, believes solar can go beyond just rooftops and infrastructure to support everyday activities and places.
www.solarformadesign.com
PlayHills™ is an innovative take on traditional hill play which includes five distinct hill components: Alpine Trail with ropes, handholds, and molded rubber tri-mounds; Agility Trail with a wide, grid-patterned net; Rail Trail with three steel rails of support; Ridge Trail with angular grips or colorful tri-mounds; and Tempo Trail with sensory drums and an auditory sphere. The synthetic turf on PlayHills is exclusively rated for playground surfaces. It is also antimicrobial and antistatic.
www.playworld.com
VICTOR STANLEY
State of Play
Did you ever play in the dirt? Build a sandcastle at the beach? Or try to balance yourself along a log? Then perhaps it’s no surprise that the newest trend among play spaces involves a return to traditional basics—tapping into Mother Nature’s abundant ability to inspire and engage children.
In addition to traditional plastic and metal structures, playgrounds are increasingly incorporating natural elements like logs, flower beds, boulders, trees, and more, with research suggesting these natural settings significantly enhance children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
“Connecting kids with nature is essential for their wellbeing, helping them feel better,
Natural Elements in Play Spaces Are Swinging Back into Popularity
By Michelle Keyser & Christine Menapace, SYNKD Writer
focus more, and grow into happier, healthier individuals,” comments Dr. Suzanne Quinn, KOMPAN Play Institute Manager, Americas.
“Despite challenges like space, cost, and maintenance in urban areas, it’s crucial to prioritize nature in play spaces to nurture our humanity.”
To the landscape community, this isn’t surprising news. Yet knowing how to integrate nature into traditional play spaces as well as the essential considerations for designing safe and inclusive natural playgrounds takes a bit more thought.
The Benefits of Balanced Play
As mentioned, incorporating natural elements into play spaces offers a range
of developmental benefits. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, natural play elements provide diverse sensory experiences and encourage active exploration, which fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and resilience. These spaces also help reduce stress and improve emotional wellbeing by connecting children with nature and offering unstructured play opportunities.
On the other hand, traditional playground equipment provides structured activities that develop motor skills, coordination, and social interactions through climbing, swinging, rocking, gliding, and spinning. Luckily, when designing play spaces, we don’t have to choose one or the other.
When combined, natural elements and traditional equipment create a balanced and well-rounded outdoor play experience and environment. Natural features like rocks, logs, and water elements can be integrated with durable manufactured equipment like slides, swings, and climbing structures to offer a comprehensive play experience that supports a wide range of developmental needs while stimulating a child’s imagination and sense of adventure.
“Along with a variety of non-toxic plants, shrubs, trees, and touchable natural materials in the play space, there should be a variety of structures to support movements, such as climbing, swinging, spinning, rocking, swaying, and balancing,” asserts Dr. Quinn, adding, “These activities should be accessible and usable for persons of all abilities.”
Playground
Design Trends
Combining the best of both worlds— traditional playground equipment and natural elements—creates a dynamic play space. Let’s explore practical ways to integrate nature into existing play spaces.
Incorporate Natural Materials
Logs. Create structures of various sizes for climbing, balancing, and imaginative play. Rocks. Introduce rock gardens or boulders for climbing and balancing.
Sand & Water. Sandboxes as we know them have been around since the mid1800s when Friedrich Froebel, who invented the concept of kindergarten, introduced “sand gardens” in Germany as the beginnings of what would become playgrounds. Today, they can incorporate fossil digging and more. Of course, water play is so popular the term “sprayground” is now quite common.
Wood. Wooden elements for benches and shade structures lends a naturalistic look to a play space and won’t retain heat like some other materials.
Utilize the Natural Topography
Hills and slopes create natural challenges for climbing and running and slides built into an embankment can be especially fun. However, for safety and accessibility, most slopes should be less than 5% and free of tripping
Hills and slopes create natural challenges for climbing and running.
hazards, such as exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, or rocks.
Playground sites should also be free of any larger structures such as walls, utility or maintenance sheds that are not related to play, so children are visible to parents and caregivers at all times.
Terrain variations provide texture, stimulation, and visual interest. This can be introduced through different ground surfaces
Incorporating
like sand, grass, mulch, and gravel. When using loose fill, it must be at least 8" to 12" deep to cushion falls, especially under swings and slides. Surfacing should also extend directly underneath and at least 6' in all directions from the play equipment. For swings, surfacing should extend back and front to twice the height of the suspending bar.
Embrace Vegetation
Plant life such as trees, shrubs, and flowers provide shade, visual interest, and learning opportunities. Carefully select plants with no toxicity and be aware of trees and shrubs that produce seed pods or other droppings that could be potentially harmful at worst or messy at best.
Sensory gardens are popular. Plant herbs and fragrant flowers to engage children’s senses. According to the American Horticultural Society’s (AHS) new Youth Sensory Gardening Manual (written up in News Clippings on page 8), herbs such as chives, basil, parsley, lemon verbena, and mint provide “alerting” experiences. Vegetables, including peas, beans (try varied
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colored varieties), sweet peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, and tomatoes can appeal to a range of tastes. And fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are a good choice in certain regions. Ornamental grasses and bamboo are also options to add sensory stimulation through sound as they make noise when the wind rustles through them.
The AHS manual also makes note of soil. Remember that when planting, soil should be free of lead and other chemicals. Even organic fertilizers, such as kelp or fish emul-
sion, are still not things children should have access to at any time, the manual cautions.
Create Distinct Natural Spaces
Design specific zones for exploration, such as a forest area or a meadow. Within this context, it’s recommended that playgrounds have separate areas with appropriately sized equipment and materials to serve ages 2-5 and ages 5-12. Signs posted in the area—or on the equipment—should provide guidance as to their age appropriateness.
Accessibility
needs to address more than just physical barriers like wheelchair access.
If a playground is designed to serve children of all ages, the layout of pathways and the landscaping should show the distinct areas for the different age groups, and these areas should be separated by a buffer zone, fencing, or shrubs.
Inclusive Play
Playground industry experts are recognizing that local municipalities increasingly want
designs that feature natural materials— whether they’re existing or added to well-established playground spaces. There are important considerations to make in the initial planning process to maximize a new and safe nature-infused playground.
Communities with modern playgrounds should consider how natural elements can be safely built into their design to encourage more cohesiveness with their surroundings. This includes site design, layout, gardens, other special areas, and overall safety surfacing.
Creating inclusive play spaces with natural elements goes beyond meeting basic accessibility requirements; it involves designing environments that cater to diverse abilities and needs. Dr. Quinn recommends that nature playscapes, even in smaller areas, should offer hands-on experiences with “loose parts,” such as sand and water tables, which are essential for fostering sensory exploration and imaginative play. Dr. Quinn also stressed that accessibility needs to address more than just physical barriers like wheelchair access—it should also consider communication and sensory
challenges, ensuring that all children feel welcomed and engaged.
“Some design tips I recommend for nature play and natural playgrounds is to create a playful and welcoming atmosphere for all people; activate the senses with nature that is touchable, smellable, seeable; activate the body with play events to choose from: climbing, swinging, spinning, balancing, rocking and sliding; and overall, respect nature and our common worlds,” says Dr. Quinn. n
All photos courtesy of KOMPAN Inc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Keyser Director of Communications International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) Harrisburg, PA communications@ipema.org www.ipema.org
Defeating Dallas-Sized Weather
Splendid Gardens Won’t Allow Climate Extremes to Mess With Texas Landscapes
By Elizabeth Hark
When the now historic Texas freeze of 2021 hit, it left a trail of destruction. The snow, sleet, freezing rain and extreme cold that took place from February 11–20 caused permanent damage to landscapes that is still being repaired even today. As owner of Dallas, TX-based Splendid Gardens, Landscape Architect Elizabeth Hark sees it firsthand every week. “We still get phone calls,” she comments. “People are still restoring their landscapes from the freeze. It’s amazing.”
Unfortunately, the residual freeze damage is only part of the challenge facing landscapes in the Dallas area today. Texas, like many locations, is experiencing an increasingly unpredictable climate—swinging from scorching summers to deep freezes, all while battling long stretches of drought with intermittent bouts of severe flooding.
Restoration After Deep Freeze
Recently, Splendid Gardens accepted a restoration project unlike any other—taking on the repair of the stunning Highland Park estate. The grounds had been thriving before the freeze but were nearly wiped out by the extreme temperature dip.
“They had lost everything,” even plants prized for their resilience, Hark recalls. “Gardenias, agave, azaleas, grasses, ligustrums— the list goes on.”
The goal wasn’t simply to bring the landscape back to life—but with the client’s large financial commitment and Splendid Gardens’ reputation on the line—the landscape team had to ensure the design could withstand future climate swings.
To accomplish this, Hark and her team had to rethink traditional Dallas-area plant choices. They would have to adopt a new approach to climate-resilient plant selection.
A Smarter Plant Selection
One of the biggest lessons from the freeze was the need to rethink what plants could truly survive the Texas climate—not just drought, but also floods and recordbreaking freezes.
“We went back in with northern-hardy plants—four different types of hydrangeas, including Limelight, Little Lime, native Oakleaf, and Invincibelle Ruby. Also more boxwoods, dwarf hollies, sunshine ligustrums,” Hark explains. “We switched to Zoysia grass instead of St. Augustine because it performs better in extreme weather.”
Hark also pointed out the surprising resilience of certain plants, like contorted filberts, commonly referred to as Harry Lauder’s walking stick. The deciduous shrub provides winter interest with twisty gray branches and hanging catkins, while its small stature, shade tolerance, and adaptability to less rich soils,
allows for placement where other trees and shrubs may not thrive. (Highly susceptible to a fungal canker dubbed eastern filbert blight, some varieties developed at Oregon State University, such as Red Dragon, are highly resistant.) Hark continues, “They did fine through the freeze! I don’t think designers use them enough.”
Testing new plants and understanding what works long-term has now become a key strategy in her firm’s work. As a result, Splendid Gardens has actually eliminated the use of certain plants since the freeze. These include: variegated pittosporum, gardenia, Indian hawthorne, Confederate jasmine, and Kaleidoscope abelia.
What are her new favorites? For Hark’s top 10 go-to plants for climate resilience, see below.
The Importance of Irrigation & Maintenance
Beyond rethinking plant selections, Splendid Gardens realized that storm water management was another key element of landscape longevity in an area of wild weather fluctuations.
Splendid Gardens’
TOP 10 Go-To Plants for Climate Resilience
Limelight Hydrangea
Distylium
Snowball Viburnum
Globe Boxwood
Sunshine Ligustrum
Weeping Redbud
Baby Gem Boxwood
Bridal Wreath Spirea
Sweetspire
Indigofera
Peony
Cherry Blast Loropetalum
The firm now incorporates innovative smart irrigation solutions to help manage water use efficiently. “We tell clients, if you’re going to invest in a highend landscape, you have to have an irrigation plan that can adjust to droughts and heavy rain,” Hark comments. She actually won’t complete a large landscape project like Highland Park unless the client agrees to this point. She sees it as that important.
She also emphasized the importance of proper irrigation when reintroducing plants to damaged properties. “It’s not just about replanting,” she says. “It’s about ensuring the plants will establish properly and not suffer through the next weather crisis.”
Hark acknowledges that restoring a property at this level is a major investment for the client. “We installed in phases—the summer of ‘22 for phase one, the summer of ‘23 for phase two, and some final touch-ups in 2024,” she says, adding, “But the key to its success? Maintenance.”
Splendid Gardens doesn’t just install and walk away. “We put an extra guy in a truck to hand-water if needed,” comments Hark. “We fertilize weekly. Our lead maintenance employee, Tomas, inspects every single plant. He makes sure nothing is drying out, nothing is failing. That’s why this property already looks like it’s been established for 15 years.”
Facing the Storms Ahead
For Hark, this project brings to light a critical conversation for the industry: “Our plant palette here in Texas is getting smaller and more restrictive because of climate challenges. We need more adaptable plants. We need to talk about how to prepare for extreme weather and educate clients on risks.”
And it’s not just Texas. “The issues we face with drought and deep freezes are similar to what the West deals with in fires and mudslides, “ asserts Hark. As a result, she feels communication and collaboration among those in landscape design, build, and maintenance are key.
Hark says the Highland Park project has been a lesson in resilience—not just for this landscape but for the green industry. “We can’t keep planting the same things and expecting different results,” Hark states. “If we don’t adapt, we’re going to keep losing landscapes.”
She adds, “As landscape stewards, we have to plan for these events better—or at the very least, prepare our clients for them.”
Clearly, plant nurseries are also part of this discussion. The Texas freeze wasn’t just hard on landscapes—it was hard on the nursery industry, too. Supply chain disruptions have made sourcing high-quality plants more challenging. “A 30-gallon holly isn’t what it used to be,” Hark says. “Everything is smaller. Growers can’t keep up and we’ve had to adjust our expectations.”
Hark remains loyal to her go-to supplier, Southwest Wholesale Nursery. “They’ve been so good to me. They gave me credit my first month in business, and I’ve stuck with them ever since,” she says. (For more on procurement, see “Beyond The Buy” in the Spring 2025 edition of SYNKD.)
Splendid Gardens is also doing their part by exploring plant trials. The company is working with breeders to test more resilient varieties. “If there’s a way to help develop better, hardier plants for the future, we want to be part of that,” says Hark.
For now, she and her team will continue their sustainable landscape design, forward-thinking strategies, and hands-on approach to ensure every project thrives despite the challenges. Hark concludes, “The right client will appreciate the work we do because they know it’s built to last. That’s the key—to educate, adapt, and always think ahead.” n
What I have learned in all these years is that the only way for us to grow as a business is as people working together, such as networking, and making connections. When I started my business, my mindset was that I had to be the cheapest guy to get work. Right? It doesn’t mean I was a bad businessman or anything like that. I just didn’t know any better. But there’s still a lot of people out there that don’t know any better. So that’s why I don’t like to say anything bad or negative about somebody, such as ‘They’re not charging enough’ or ‘They’re being cheap,’ and things like that. Because sometimes we don’t know any better. Because I was there. I was that guy.
Crux Lon
CruxLon Hardscape University www.cruxlon.com
I was working on a meadow in my own yard, which was very difficult. It was on a hillside and the mugwort and seeds were washing down the hill. I came across a product in the UK and they were calling it ‘wildflower turf.’ I searched some more and it looked like a readily-available product. So of course I searched here in the U.S. When I couldn’t find it, I reached out to the company and said, ‘Do you have any U.S. suppliers?’ And they said, ‘No, not yet.’ So that’s really where the idea was born. I realized this is a space that nobody has really innovated in yet. This UK company had spent 20 years growing wildflower turf and really had a very rigorous sort of science- backed approach that I really liked. And so I reached out to them and we began a conversation and here we are a few years later.
—Claire Chambers Meadow Lab www.meadowlab.com
The discipline and focus you put into something creates a compounding effect where everything starts to show. The more you can delay gratification, the more you can delay earnings, delay pulling from the business, stay focused on what you’re doing, and continue to build and build and build, it’ll just continue to compound. I think you can find opportunity anywhere and everywhere. It’s just about putting yourself in the right position. And by doing that, we need to be in the right mindset. If we’re focused on bettering ourselves, we’re in the gym, we’re eating healthy, we’re in the positive mind state, then we’re not going to miss opportunities. If you’re not eating healthy, not taking care of yourself, or just complaining like ‘I hate my job,’ you’re going to miss every opportunity there is. Now, life is for the taking. You can have whatever you want, but you’ve got to put yourself in the right position.
—Derek Clelan
Your Haven Design
www.yourhavendesign.com
*Edited for clarity
Hardscape as Art
By Christine Menapace, SYNKD Writer
Imagine a project the client dubs a “masterpiece” at completion. One that started with just a 30-second, single line drawing on a piece of paper and evolved into stone artistry. For Rob Hoffman, owner of Hoffman Stoneworks, LLC in Eugene, OR, this was a recent reality. Here, he talks us through the dry stone wall and patio he completed using locally sourced basalt.
Idid this project in several different phases. The first phase was a flagstone patio using large slabs. But then the client called me back and wanted to do another area with something new and different. So we ended up adding a second area. I had just started doing patios using basalt and really liked how they turned out. I ended up doing a few of these and realized it made a really beautiful patio surface. It’s lumpy, it’s not smooth, but it has so much character. And I just don’t think anything beats it.
The client had seen some of that work on my Instagram and said, “I want that.” I told him, “It’s gonna be very different from what you’ve got... but I think it’s going to look great.”
Breaking Basalt
The stone is all from my area in Western Oregon. The lighter grey stone is andesite. The darker pieces are basalt. It is all igneous rock and is generally referred to as basalt in this area. The pavers are all approximately
4" to 5" thick. So they are not wildly irregular, but they’re not exactly uniform either.
What’s interesting is this is a different style of paving. I came across it by accident because I was looking for something new— something besides buying big sheets of flagstone. It started with a project that was meant to have an Asian aesthetic. The patio had long planks—stone planks—and then this other kind of paving. I wanted to emulate Japanese fieldstone, but in my own way. So I started playing with basalt.
I get these big rocks, sometimes boulders, sometimes column chunks, slice them up, break them out. They come out of the saw looking weird, too clean. So I rough them up to bring back that natural feel. I chisel the whole top. The entire surface of the patio was hand-chiseled and all the edges. The only surface that stays flat is the bottom, which is the bed.
The andesite forms in vertical columns. You lop it across and get a disc, but then you’ve got to chisel off the sides to form something square for the wall.
The round river rocks have to be drilled, using feathers and wedges to split them. I leave the drill marks visible on the stones. There’s one that actually resembles a Chinese character, which I think is pretty cool.
It’s just an insane amount of work for each rock. I take my truck to the quarry, I have a crane, I pull them in, load them up, get them to my yard, dump them, cut them, get them all into blanks, and then get them over there to the job site, and then start plugging them in. No part of it is automated.
Every stone I laid was made from a template. I make a template for the specific spot, take it to the stone, shape it, and then bring it back to set.
I don’t use anything in the joints. Some joints are so tight you can’t even see the gravel. There’s no compounds, no cement. It drains beautifully. Water just goes straight through.
An Evolving Design
The client and I also brainstormed about adding an accent to the wall. At first, we were talking about adding steel or some kind of
Rob Hoffman approaches stonework as a master craftsman.
metal. And eventually, we landed on his idea of casting one of the actual stones in bronze. And I thought it was brilliant. That bronze piece—it’s going to age over time, develop a green patina. It’s already got great texture. It adds this subtle, but rich focal point.
It cost about $2,500. It’s hollow, but I really pushed for it to be solid. It was going to be six-sided either way. If it had been solid, it would’ve weighed 400 pounds—and cost an extra $2,500. I always push for solid, heavy, real. That’s just how I like to do things, but I didn’t win that one!
The wall itself is all dry stone. There are two through-stones that span the full depth of the wall. I left them projecting just a little on each side. And all the joints are tight. There’s no mortar at all.
The foundation is just compacted gravel, open-graded. I usually use ¾” to 1” gravel. No fines. It’s super solid and drains well. I didn’t use Cell-Tek, though I’ve looked into it. If I was doing a driveway, I’d definitely use Cell-Tek. But for this kind of wall, I just go deep with gravel. Especially since I’m excavating anyway. This part of the project took about three-and-a-half weeks. A lot of time goes into shaping. Even the backs of the stones—I don’t leave big voids. The faces touch, but I make sure the backs touch too. It makes a huge difference in the wall’s strength—even though no one sees it. The basalt is heavy and durable, and if you fit it right, you don’t
have to worry about settling. And the wall isn’t very tall, two to three feet. So it doesn’t exert much pressure.
The inside of the wall is two feet above the patio. On the outside—because of the grade—it’s almost three feet.
There really wasn’t a design. We figured it all out as we went. Originally, we were going to curve the step back toward the house. Kind of wrap it in. But we got to that point during the build and were like, “Okay, well... what do we do with that next level?” There wasn’t a clear transition.
So we decided, let’s just take it all the way over to the wall. Once we did that, everything clicked. It made the curve feel anchored. It tied the patio to the wall—visually and structurally. It was the right move.
I do like having a design. It helps with estimating costs, planning materials, setting expectations. I don’t get full designs very often. Most of my clients just say, “We trust you.” Especially the ones I’ve worked with before like on this job. I’ve learned to work fluidly. And I’ve gotten pretty good at adapting on the fly.
Originally it was going to be a fixed bid, but once things started changing, I shifted to hourly. There was just no way to predict the time involved. With a client like this, who’s open and collaborative, it works. We could talk through changes and make decisions together.
The Cost of Craftmanship
Overall, this project took about nine to 10 weeks. Hardly anybody would do this (handsplitting and chiseling). It’s hard to make money at. You spend so much time on every piece.
But I just love it. And I’ve gotten to where I can make a living doing it. Eugene’s not a high-end market, but I’ve found the right clients—people who appreciate the craft.
I’m committed to doing the best possible work.
Funny thing, I did the first basalt work a few years ago and thought: This is probably the last time I’ll ever do this. Just because it was so much money and work. But then I got three more of them that year.
I’ve done some travel jobs. I went to Maine and did a wall. I went to Wyoming for another one. But most of my work’s in Eugene. That said, I’m totally open to
traveling. If someone sees this and wants me to come build something—I’d do it.
I do a lot of things that don’t make sense if you’re just chasing profits, when you step back and say, “I could’ve done this job easier, quicker, made more money.” But I’m committed to doing the best possible work.
I’m not crafting something just for the sake of being different. I want to build something where, when I finish, the client looks at it and says, “Wow. That’s amazing.” Not just nice—amazing. You can tell when people feel that. Even random people who walk by go, “What is this?” That’s what I want. To do something undeniably cool.
That’s what I love about basalt. It’s structural and beautiful. In Eugene, everything’s wood. We’re a timber-dominant area. So this is different. And we’ve got amazing rock here. It’s unlike anything in the rest of the country. There’s just no real tradition of building with it. Maybe only in the Pacific Northwest. It’s expensive—way more than flagstone. But people really love it. It’s unique. They’ve never seen anything like it.
I feel like I’m inventing the visual language as I go. There are no expectations, no rules. n
Hoffman Stoneworks, LLC Eugene, OR hoffmanstoneworks@gmail.com www.hoffmanstoneworks.com
All photos courtesy of Rob Hoffman
THE SPACE BETWEEN VISION & REVISION
How To Balance Client Feedback With Design Intent
By Angelica & Matt Norton
Let’s consider this step of a project we all know too well: after working through the design goals, scope, constraints, and budget, you’ve developed a thoughtful concept and presented it to the client. Now comes the feedback!
At this point, the challenge lies in striking a balance between advocating for ideas supporting the project’s integrity and incorporating client suggestions that may lead to a piecemeal result.
As designers, many of us recall studio critiques where feedback—though meant to push our work forward—sometimes led to awkward design compromises. We tried to fit in every idea, fearing the loss of something “interesting,” only to end up with overly busy or unfocused solutions. Over time, we learn to listen more carefully, to ask why certain suggestions are being made, and to discern what’s truly important to the client.
It’s easy to take feedback personally, especially when a client doesn’t respond with the enthusiasm we hope for. But revision requests are not a rejection of your abilities—they’re an opportunity to refine and clarify.
By setting ego aside and engaging with curiosity, you can uncover the intent behind a suggestion.
For instance, a client proposing to swap a deck for pavers may be seeking cost savings without knowing if the change accomplishes that. They might dislike the material, be
referencing something they’ve seen, or be replicating a previous setup because it’s familiar. Their suggestion might also indicate a deeper issue with layout or function, or with scale, where they believe bigger is better. Understanding the “why” behind the feedback allows you to respond more effectively—sometimes by adjusting the design, and other times by educating the client.
There are moments when you must advocate for practical limits. If a client insists on placing a pergola within an easement or exceeding impervious coverage allowances, it’s your responsibility to explain the consequences. Risk-taking without understanding liability, cost implications, or the potential for mid-build delays can jeopardize the entire project. Clear communication about these boundaries protects both your firm and the client.
The biggest benefit of client feedback— even if it’s not what we’re expecting—is it
introduces a novel idea at moments when we might slip into design autopilot, reusing familiar solutions or plant selections. It challenges our comfort zone, encouraging us to pause, reconsider, and sometimes discover a new direction, thereby reinvigorating the design process.
With experience, we become better listeners and collaborators. And when clients meet us halfway—trusting our expertise while staying actively engaged—the process becomes truly generative. The most successful projects often emerge from this creative tension, leading to those “aha” moments that unlock unique, thoughtful design solutions. n
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angelica Norton, ASLA
Owner of Open Envelope Studio LLC angelica@openenvelopestudio.com www.oes.design
Designer Decking
Why Decks Are Hardscaping—And Why You’re Missing Out If You Ignore Them
By Angelique Robb, SYNKD Founder & CEO
Let’s settle this once and for all: decks are hardscaping. If your design/build projects overlook decking, you’re not just skipping an element—you’re doing your clients a disservice.
For too long, outdoor decking has been seen as the domain of carpenters and framers. But here’s the truth: Decking is a specialized part of outdoor living, rich with opportunity for creativity, functionality, and modern design. When thoughtfully incorporated, a deck can elevate an outdoor space—literally and figuratively.
From a practical standpoint, decks solve slope issues in a cost-effective way, often more economically than stone or masonry. But that doesn’t mean ditch the stone altogether. Retaining walls and stone features still play a vital role. Rather, think of decking as a complement, not a competitor. It offers a different texture, a new feeling, and a vertical plane you can play with.
And don’t worry—we’re not talking about the green-tinged pressure-treated pine of yesteryear. That ship has sailed. Today’s
decking options are durable, beautiful, and virtually maintenance-free. Yes, they cost more—but their longevity and aesthetic return speak for themselves.
Let’s Talk Foundations:
Time to Level Up
Are you still using pressure-treated posts and framing for your decks? Well, it’s time to offer a higher quality solution—one that prioritizes longevity, safety, and design freedom.
Still cementing posts in the ground? Time to level up. Cemented-in posts eventually rot at the critical junction between ground and air, no matter how meticulously they’re installed. A better solution? Screw or helical piles, like those from GoliathTech, which offer long-term durability and stability without rot. With less disturbance to the environment, no cement or excavation, these piles work for all soil conditions—especially soft soils. These piles can also help you design and construct around mature trees with less damage to the root system—working in tandem with
an arborist during installation will ensure a successful outcome.
Want to eliminate wood from the frame altogether? Steel offers better protection against moisture, insects, and fire—and provides a significantly higher safety rating than wood. New Castle Steel specializes in American-made steel frames, crafted from at
When thoughtfully incorporated, a deck can elevate an outdoor space—literally and figuratively.
least 25% recycled steel and 100% recyclable after use. With longer spans and stronger structural integrity, New Castle Steel makes it possible to design bold, multifunctional spaces without compromise.
Decking Boards: Smarter, Not Cheaper
Not all decking boards are created equal. Composite or man-made decking can be made from a variety of materials so dig deeper to understand the products that you are building with. The color, material makeup, and surface texture can all affect how much heat the boards will retain and how comfortable they will be for your clients to walk on. Thermally modified wood decking comes in a wide array of species and finishes, offering the warmth of wood with enhanced durability. Staying on top of the newest types of decking not only helps your clients, it also differentiates your business among your competitors. Some of the newer decking solutions include these brands: Millboard, Eva-Last, Robi Decking, Americana Decking, and Arbor Wood Co.
But don’t just trust the brochure—test it. Grab samples, put them out in the sun, test how hot they get, hose them down, and see how slippery they get. (Yes, we mean it. Dance on them.)
The Magic Is in the Accessories
A deck is more than just a platform—it’s a stage, and the accessories set the scene.
Railings That Disappear (or Steal the Show) Railings should connect, not isolate. Cable railings and glass panels keep the view open. For the high-tech crowd, check out IG railing systems (IG SWITCH) that can switch to opaque for privacy or light up in color for a nighttime wow factor.
Let There Be (Smart) Light
Decks are perfect canvases for integrated lighting—think LED-lit stairs, subtle glow paths, or even accent lighting under built-in benches.
Flexibility: Stone Inlays & Built-Ins
Want the elegance of stone but the elevation of decking? Use hybrid solutions like StoneDeks or MBrico to create stone inlays in deck surfaces.
Built-in seating is a no-brainer—but think beyond the bench. Use seating to navigate level changes, create amphitheater-style transitions, or define cozy corners.
Smart Pergolas: Comfort on Demand
Smart pergolas are a game-changer. With adjustable louvres, integrated lighting, audio, heating, and retractable screens (yes, mosquito-proof), you can create adaptable outdoor spaces for any weather.
Closed roof in the rain? Shade on a hot day? Privacy when you need it? Check, check, and check.
Secrets & Surprises
Decks can hide all sorts of treasures. Inspired by pros like Dr. Decks, hidden TVs, popup lounges, concealed BBQs, and even staircases that morph into ramps are no longer fantasy—they’re functional magic. Dr. Decks’ work showcases what’s possible when craftsmanship meets automation, and it’s nothing short of inspiring.
Final Thoughts: Deck Boldly
Decking is no longer an afterthought or “just a platform.” It’s a core component of modern outdoor living—and one that demands design intention and innovation.
At SYNKD, we believe in elevating the entire outdoor industry by encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration and pushing boundaries. So go ahead—design a better deck, try a new material, integrate smart tech, and explore the edges of what’s possible. And when you do? Let us know. We’d love to feature your work in a future issue. n
Opposite page, above and right: Outdoor living space created with second-story decking with IG railing with LED lighting above and heating and fans underneath; two smart pergolas with built-in lighting and a countersunk deck next to the pool. (Photos: Richard Huggins Real Estate Photography)
Below: An example of a steel frame decking project from New Castle Steel. (Photo: New Castle Steel)
Above: How IG SWITCH can make a glass railing opaque or clear. (Photo: IG Railing)
WHAT DOES HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE HAVE TO DO WITH TREES?
By Matthew Gauldin, Dr. Jason Gordon, and Dr. Beau Brodbeck
The Issue
Increasingly intense and severe weather worldwide has created challenges, not only for green industry professionals, but also the insurance industry. Insurance carriers are seeing record losses due to natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. To address growing risks, insurers have been creating more stringent underwriting requirements and pulling out of regions experiencing frequent disasters.
The changing underwriting requirements have brought yard trees under a microscope. Insurance companies have required policy holders to prune or, sometimes, completely remove trees. These companies increasingly use drone or aerial imagery to identify and determine mitigation measures for tree risk.
They typically do not apply protocols and standards of risk assessment accepted by the tree care industry. They often do not consider tree condition, species, or site characteristics that compose the foundation of a wellinformed tree risk assessment. Because of their widespread influence on homeowners’ decisions regarding trees, the insurance industry could negatively impact urban forest canopy, associated ecosystem services and the general livability of many communities.
To address this issue, our research aimed to explore if the insurance industry is affecting the urban canopy and how its approach to tree risk impacts homeowners and arborists. Our findings could lead to identifying strategies for the insurance and arboriculture industries to build bridges and improve relationships.
For our research we interviewed insurance agents and arborists in coastal communities from North Carolina to Louisiana. Thirty-seven insurance agents participated and were either independent agents, acting as brokers, or captive agents, who wrote policies for one carrier. We also spoke with 33 arborists, 31 of which were ISA Certified Arborists.
Tough Climate for Homeowners
Many agents described underwriting requirements becoming more stringent and harder to understand as weather-related risks have increased. One agent said, “[In the last] 10 to 15 years it’s got progressively harder… and it’s predominantly... in the coastal zones.” In the past, a carrier may not have addressed a branch touching the roof. Now many will not allow any visible limbs above the home. Independent agents and their clients have limited insurance options. An agent described the situation: “We have maybe four compa-
nies that are actually writing, and only one that’s extremely competitive.” Homeowners along the coast are left with little choice but to comply with insurance requests if they want coverage.
The Final Decision
Insurance agents often act as the public face of the carriers, but their decisions can be overruled by the underwriter: Even when agents have knowledge of localized and specific risks, the underwriting department makes the final decision on coverage. One agent described their lack of decisionmaking power: “…We’re not gonna change [the underwriter’s] mind if I say it’s a live oak and it’s in great condition and it’ll never touch that roof…” Several agents were frustrated by this dynamic but were unsure of how to change it.
The changing underwriting requirements have brought yard trees under a microscope .
Numbers Talk
Many of the agents we spoke with shared a desire to develop better relationships with the arboriculture industry but were unsure where to start as the final decision belongs
to underwriters. They believed underwriters need financial figures demonstrating net cost savings of employing arboricultural practices to reduce tree risk. One agent said, “If you approach it with their [insurance executives’] pocketbook, they start listening.”
The Takeaway
Most homeowners are unaware of the potential risks trees pose to their property and unfamiliar with arborists and the role they play in assessing tree risk. Educating homeowners on their options aside from whole tree removal or overpruning will be crucial to conserving the urban canopy. Fortunately, many arborists noted that their risk assessment letters were frequently accepted by insurance carriers, and that crown reduction pruning was often enough to satisfy the underwriters.
Beyond educating homeowners about their options, connecting with underwriting departments of major insurance carriers will be an important next step to bridging gaps and building relationships between the arboriculture and insurance industries. An important step is providing insurers with
data demonstrating the key financial benefits of trees, such as wind buffering, stormwater and erosion mitigation, and energy savings. But this must be followed up with profitdriven economic considerations that satisfy shareholders. While following arboricultural standard practices reduces the risk of damage trees pose to property, the qualitative nature of the tree risk assessment may be
difficult for underwriting departments to accept or quantify from a cost-benefit perspective.
Ultimately, there also needs to be greater public awareness of how insurance companies may be affecting the urban tree canopy, and therefore community wellbeing, using unqualified methods of tree risk assessment. Increased awareness and knowledge will lead to policy and management actions. The key to effectuating change related to trees and tree risk is getting the right people in these two seemingly diametrical industries to communicate. n
This research was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Gauldin
Master of Landscape Architecture & M.S. Forestry and Natural Resources Candidate University of Georgia gauldinmatthew@gmail.com
GROUNDBREAKER
Growing With Your Business
Jerry Schill is the president and CEO of Schill Grounds Management, based in North Ridgeville, OH. After graduating from Glenville State College in 1992, he founded the company the following year with his brother. What began as a small, local operation has grown into one of the nation’s largest commercial landscaping companies, with more than 1,600 employees across 31 locations. With 16 acquisitions completed since 2020, Schill’s focus on people, process, and purpose continues to guide the company’s evolution. SYNKD sat down with him to explore the journey.
n Interview by Angelique Robb, SYNKD Founder & CEO
Our industry is a challenging one. It’s not a quick fix or a quick win. Could you give us a glimpse of those 32 years and how you’ve found success?
Like I tell my kids, we’re a 32-year overnight success. But before I jump into the timeline, you made an interesting comment: It’s a difficult industry, but I think all businesses are challenging. They all have their own nuances and complexities. But I think it’s about resiliency and persistence.
Entrepreneurs are just wired differently. It’s not the widget or service they’re providing, which comes with its own set of challenges. The true entrepreneurial spirit is building a better mousetrap. That’s what makes it fun.
Jerry Schill
More importantly, as I get older, I’m finding it’s not just about rethinking and rejiggering the business. It’s also about self-awareness and changing who you are and your behaviors because those behaviors drive the business.
Entrepreneurship is a different beast, and learning about yourself is a big part of that. What’s so nice about our industry is the passion people have for it.
In 1993, shortly after graduating from college, my brother and I started the business. Like a lot of companies, we were your traditional local landscape contractor for the first 15 years. We continued to evolve over the years and earned a great reputation for providing high-end residential design, build, and maintenance services.
We were really proud of what we had built. But in 2008, like a lot of folks, we realized that with the financial crisis, we needed to reduce our dependency on construction and thought of ways to diversify. In 2010, I launched Schill Grounds Management. It was the first time we offered a comprehensive suite of landscape maintenance services to our customers.
We were excited because for the next two years we experienced significant growth. From 2010 to 2012, it was a rocket ship. We started with less than $1 million in maintenance revenue and in two years we were doing over $3 million. In 2012, I decided to pivot away from residential and offer maintenance services exclusively to commercial customers.
So you were heavily design-build and just a little bit of maintenance?
I had lost my passion for the design-build side and wanted to focus on developing a business focused on recurring revenue and customer relationships. At that time, in 2012, when we shifted and pivoted our strategy, we focused on three main areas: people, technology, and culture.
We knew if we focused on these things, we’d create an extraordinary experience for customers and expand through referrals. The business did really well. We standardized and systematized every process and simplified things to basic principles.
Getting the right people in the right seats was essential .
In 2020, after testing our concept with new locations in Cleveland, OH, we made our first acquisition in Columbus. Since then, we’ve completed 16 acquisitions, launched eight new regions in six states and Ontario, and built an amazing team and culture. It’s been a lot of fun.
On the technology side, did you create your own solution?
Like many others, we started with pen and paper, then moved to carbon copies, Excel, and Access. We used Boss for a few years before switching to Aspire, where we became one of the platform’s early adopters. I was fortunate to know Kevin Kehoe, one of Aspire’s founders, and worked closely with Mark Tipton during those early days. While we didn’t create the technology, we provided feedback that helped shape it—and we’ve never looked back.
We quickly realized how critical real-time transparency and data were for managing multiple locations. That mindset carried over into every area of the business—we’ve embraced technology wherever it helps us improve efficiency and service.
It sounds like when you split the company in 2012, you had a clear vision that helped you hire the right people to make the company sustainable.
We did. My brother and I have always been consultant junkies. We’re college-educated, but we really learned from associations and peer businesses. Jim Paluch and Aaron’s Gravely were instrumental. They put together the Working Smarter Training Challenge. We learned about lean practices, eliminating waste, standardization—Kaizen, Gemba—all of it. That was transformative. We realized we had overcomplicated our business and needed to simplify it.
We needed to take the guesswork out of everything—one truck, one trailer, one set of equipment. Train foremen one way, account managers another. Create a scalable, replicable, portable model. We wanted to create real opportunities for people.
Here in Cleveland, for example, there’s a guy named Jake. He started as a technician. Now, at 34, he runs one of our largest operating companies. That takes time, energy, grit, and intentional effort. But we love doing it, and we’re committed to continuing that work.
That’s such good advice. What would you say is the biggest challenge in your business today, aside from succession planning? Culture. We operate in 31 different locations. Even though we have different brands, we focus on consistent core values. The business is doing really well, but it’s tricky to maintain consistent culture, vision, and direction across all locations.
Once you build the right culture, it’s about finding people who align with it. Yet labor shortages are a hot topic in the industry. What’s your take?
Labor has been a challenge for 32 years. It’s not new. Working in the trades is gratifying but tough—hot, cold, and physically demanding. Our mindset is: don’t complain, do something about it. Companies will spend $200,000 on a truck but balk at $70,000 for a recruiter. We built our largest department around HR. That includes compliance, payroll, benefits, and multiple talent acquisition staff. We have a staffing matrix, we assess who’s doing well, who’s promotable, and where the gaps are. Our employees are still our biggest referral source, but our recruiters constantly seek quality talent that aligns with our values.
That level of intention is impressive. And it’s true—hiring the wrong person is costly, even if it’s not as obvious as buying the wrong equipment.
Exactly. One thing we’ve learned is that the difference between us and other companies often comes down to mindset. We see hiring and training as investments, not expenses. A new business developer might sell $750,000 in their first year and $2 million by year three. That’s a huge ROI.
We see hiring and training as investments , not expenses.
What advice would you give to newer owner-operators who are just a few years into the industry?
First, don’t try to figure it all out on your own. Lean on associations, peer groups, and others in the industry. One of the best things about our field is how willing people are to help. Just ask. Second, build your business like you’re going to sell it. That doesn’t mean you have to sell it—it might go to your kids or employees—but if you build it to sell, you’ll make better decisions. You’ll build a profitable, sustainable business that others want to be part of. n
Watch the full interview at https://youtu.be/oDQwmdEoeJg.
— PHOTO synthesis — Palms in Paradise event with Coastal Source
By Tom Schoen
One of the perks of a media biz gig is that you get invited to some pretty cool events. Well, this one topped them all. D’Asign Source, a full-service architecture, interior design, landscapes, furniture, and accessories experience based in Marathon, FL, outdid themselves as they invited over 150 customers, vendors, and friends alike down to the Keys. A two-day tour of amazing client homes, complete with new product innovation demos, inspiration galore, delicious meals, and socializing. All amid the backdrop of Islamorada. Not bad, eh?
The group received first-class views from luxury wheels as we were escorted from home to home, or should I say, resort to resort? Six in total, each exemplified the very best in luxury outdoor living. If the pics above aren’t enough, check out more at www.synkd.io/palmsinparadise
