from Summer 2025 Issue - Outdoor Living

by SYNKD—Landscape design, build and maintain all on the same page

— PHOTO synthesis — Palms in Paradise event with Coastal Source

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