President Stephanie Gray, LIC, OCNT
Executive Director
Sandy Munley
Associate Director
Rick Doll
For advertising information, please call 216-377-3693.
On the cover: H&M Landscaping
Because your biggest investment is your home, the Ohio Landscape Association has created Landscape Ohio! Magazine to help you make smart choices for your property. Did you know that a well-designed and professionally installed landscape can actually grow in value over time, while increasing the value of your home by as much as 15%?
More and more people are investing in their landscape so that they can enjoy family time outdoors or to entertain on a beautifully appointed backyard patio. A new landscape in the front yard increases curb appeal and welcomes visitors to your home.
Whether you are looking for something simple or elaborate, our members can help! We would love to align you with a member from the Ohio Landscape Association. Go to ohiolandscapers.org and click on “Find A Professional” to find an OLA member in your area to help you make your landscape dreams come true!
Respectfully,
Stephanie Gray, LIC, OCNT 2023 OLA President
Look out into the backyard — step outside and imagine a fully equipped grilling area, maybe a pizza oven, along with a covered space where you can dine or even work. Imagine gathering around a fire pit, listening to the peaceful sound of water bubbling from a grotto, or using your smartphone to click on landscape lights. From elaborate outdoor living spaces to modest yet accommodating patios, what’s in is out.
“Once you have that outdoor living space, it’s a game-changer for your lifestyle,” says Jeff Rak, president of Land Creations Landscaping in Columbia Station and past president of the Ohio Landscape Association.
In many ways, the pandemic ignited a growing interest in spending time outdoors
and extending living spaces into the backyard. “People want everything they have inside to be outside now, they want those features,” Rak points out.
And as home automation advances, bluetooth enabled features for the landscape are also catching on, namely lighting and smart irrigation that can be controlled with an app. “It’s an exciting time in the industry and for customers because of these outdoor living areas where they can spend their time,” Rak says. In fact, he built a pavilion on his own property and sometimes sleeps outdoors on summer nights.
Outdoor living projects can be as simple as a deck and barbecue area or as complex as a multi-tiered patio with retaining walls,
a pavilion and fireplace along with a pool. “We tell clients all the time, ‘If you can dream it, we can build it,’ so if you think of ideas, throw them out there and we’ll add our thoughts as professionals,” says Kerry Cline, president, C&S Lawn Service and Landscape, Wadsworth.
What exactly is involved in bringing an idea to life in the landscape?
Regardless of the project size, the steps are essentially the same, just on a different scale. First comes a budget and inspiration, then meeting with contractors for a design and estimate. A professional design/build firm will guide you through materials selections and the installation process.
Here’s what to expect.
What is the most you want to spend on your outdoor living project? Budget discussions are key and ultimately guide decisions beginning with what you can afford to include in the space to which materials suit your price point.
When Rak initially meets with clients initially, he usually sits down for an hour to discuss what clients’ have in mind and their budget limits. Then, he can show portfolio pictures of features and share the estimated costs. “I ask, ‘Is this the kind of patio you are looking for? Is this the type of fireplace you are after?’ Then I can share what those projects cost so they can get a feel for where their budget fits in.”
Don’t veer away from talking about the budget upfront, Cline encourages. “We ask for a budget on that initial phone call so we have an idea going into the first meeting,” he says. “We don’t want to design a $100,000 project if the budget is $20,000.”
Designs are based on your appetite to spend. “If they have a budget of $25,000 and want a patio and fireplace, we know that can’t happen right away,” Cline adds, relating that multi-phase projects with a master design allow clients to accomplish what they can afford in stages.
“I have a client now where we are doing landscape beds and the lawn now, and in the fall we will do plantings, and a patio next year,” Cline relates.
While you determine that magic number, also prioritize what landscape features are most important to you and the ultimate goal of the project. (Check out On Trend Outside on page 6.) Pin photos, create an inspo file and search on sites like Houzz, Instagram and Pinterest.
A design/build contractor will ask for your ideas during an initial site visit while walking the property and sometimes taking some preliminary measurements. Anthony Angelotta likes to collect a site plan right away. “If clients have a PDF of the site plan, we can import that into our design program,” says the design/build manager of Angelotta Landscape Associates LLC in Chesterland.
The site plan shows the plot, property lines, structural elements, driveways, landscaping, fencing, power lines, utility poles and setbacks. Your mortgage broker or title company provides this when you purchase a home, and you can request a
Outdoor living projects require collaboration — it’s an all-in process, and you want to select a contractor you trust. Here are some pointers for finding a reputable design/ build partner.
Are there properties you pass by with beautiful landscaping, or do you admire a friend’s patio? Find out the name of the contractor who completed the work. Check out the Ohio Landscape Association website for a listing of member contractors.
“You might see all of these great project photos and it’s stock photography,” warns Jeff Rak, president, Land Creations Landscaping, Columbia Station. “Go on Facebook and you can see the projects they are working on and get a clearer picture of what they do.”
Kerry Cline suggests meeting with two or three companies to discuss your project after an initial phone call. “Explain your vision and ensure that the contractor is engaged and understands what you want, answers your questions, and gives you ideas to better your project,” says the president of C&S Lawn Care Lawn Service and Landscape in Wadsworth.
Be sure the contractor is licensed and bonded, and depending on where you live, the company might need licensing with your city’s building department. “This is important because your job could get shut down,” Rak points. “If they are not licensed in your community, ask if they are willing to do so.”
FIRE FEATURES.
From wood-burning fire pits to fire tables that turn on with an app, working warmth into the landscape creates an appealing conversation space and takes the chill out of cool nights. You can go practical – or pow! “We do projects where we create pillars with fire coming out of the top for wow factor,” says Kerry Cline, president, C&S Lawn Care, Wadsworth.
UNDER COVER.
Pavilions are a popular request at Land Creations Landscaping in Columbia Station. “More people want that full, overhead structure,” says Jeff Rak, president. Most are open air, some include a back wall fireplace, all feel like a family room.
Landscape lighting extends the time you can enjoy the outdoors, and rather than an afterthought, Anthony Angelotta emphasizes to clients how this feature adds a whole other dimension to an outdoor living space. The design/build manager at Angelotta Service and Landscaping in Chesterland notes how smart technology allows you to control LED lighting – including changing colors – from an app. “Accent lights and wall wash lights, pathlights and uplighting all at various brightness illuminates the outdoors and looks natural,” he says.
JUST ADD WATER. Pondless water features that recirculate water are low-maintenance and can be highly customized. Cline says customers request barnstone or natural rock with bubblers so water pours over the textured surface. “We also install larger water features with multiple stream beds and multiple drops,” he says.
copy of it from the county. These are often available online.
Mainly, that initial meeting is to discuss budget, share ideas and understand what existing features will stay, if any — and how you imagine using the space when your dream project is complete. Lifestyle is a big part of the conversation. Who will use the space and how will you spend time there? Do you entertain large groups? Do you have young children?
Make sure everyone in the household is on the same page about what features are important. “So many times, we’ll go out to a property and a husband and wife are thinking two different things,” Cline relates. “Come together as a family, do some research on websites, and that’s also a great time to come up with a budget.”
After an initial meeting with one or more contractors — and it’s a good idea to interview a few companies — you can partner with the best fit for your project and the design process begins. (See Find the Right Contractor on page 5.) Some firms charge a design fee, and you might be asked to provide a deposit before the company measures your property.
“We also photograph everything and we ask clients for specifics, talking about colors and materials they might want to have included in the landscape,” Rak says.
Landscape design software brings plans to life in rendering form so you can see how your ideas will play out in the backyard.
Many municipalities require permits, and depending on the design and community, engineered drawings could also be necessary. As soon as the contract is signed and design completed, contractors should pursue this process. “We might have to change the scope of work to comply with a permit,” Cline says, relating that not until a permit is issued can work begin. That said, most of the townships his company serves do not ask for a permit and the construction process can begin once materials for the project arrive.
“The supply chain has gotten better,” Cline adds.
Angelotta says, “We lead customers toward materials that are readily available and go with their project.”
Locally sourced and Ohio-made products are usually available in a week or two, Rak says. “Our goal is, as soon as a project is sold,
we meet with the client at our suppliers’ locations, look at materials and make selections. We purchase them as quickly as we can so they are in the queue and we can begin construction.”
While the supply chain has loosened up, project lead times are still backed up because of the demand for outdoor living projects. Rak says Land Creations Landscaping can usually schedule a simple planting or patio within a month, but the wait for large projects like outdoor kitchens and multi-level patios are scheduled ahead for several months.
“A good question to ask a contractor is, ‘How many jobs will you be working on while mine is in progress?’” Rak says. “We like to set up and stay on a project, and we are in constant communication daily–texting, emailing or face to face. We like to really stay focused, and that builds confidence with the customer.”
Communication, patience and expectations are a few reasons why design/build projects go awry. You want a contractor who is transparent and responsive, and who lets you know who the point person is for your project if not the owner. Often, an account manager or crew leader is the one who will keep in touch with you with project updates.
Patience is essential because hiccups happen. Materials come in late. A plant you specified might not be in stock, but there
are alternatives. “We try to show pictures of plants, but until you get it in the yard, it can be hard to visualize,” Rak says. “It’s a living plant and each one grows differently and flowers differently.”
There are variables like weather that can delay projects.
And anytime there’s a change, that adds more time to the process.“Relay your expectations to your contractor, and if you see something wrong while the work is in
progress, let the contractor know as soon as possible,” Cline advises.
Expect fees if the scope or a material changes after the contract is signed and design completed. Ideally, review the contract thoroughly, line by line, and ask questions if you are not sure about a specification or material. “Make sure you understand what the proposal says so there is no gray area, it’s all black and white so your expectations will be met when the time comes to do the work,” Cline says.
Ultimately, the process of designing and installing an outdoor living space — especially one with multiple features — is a lot like building a house. It takes time and there are many details and decisions involved. Some families take a year or longer to nail down the design, Rak says, adding that projects have expanded in scope during the past few years. While his company does smaller-scale patio projects, most are in the $100,000 range.
Here again is where phase work and a long-term mindset can help you achieve the outdoor living space you imagine.
“People are investing in their landscapes,” Rak confirms, relating that less travel and dining out has pushed people’s priorities to home and making the most of it. “Clients keep telling us they want to spend more time in their yards.”
Outdoor living has taken on a whole new meaning as more people are embracing their backyards as an extension of the home, and the landscape industry is thriving across the board, with demands for enhancements, large-scale projects and maintenance.
Across the country, the green industry is 130 billion strong, says Laura Deeter, full professor, program coordinator, Horticultural Science + Landscape Horticulture at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) in Wooster.
The average growth rate for the landscaping industry is 5% to 9%
“With Covid, I think the whole industry was surprised to find out how important we
really were, and with all the calls we were getting, a typical four- to six-week backlog became in excess of a year,” says Brian Maurer, president, Brian-Kyles in Lorain.
Now the backlog has loosened up and the supply chain lag that limited materials options is not so much an issue. Maurer’s business is now working three to four months out for design/build projects, and acquiring supplies like pavers, plants, lumber and stone is back to a reasonable timeline.
But there’s more work than workers. And there’s more demand for landscape projects than time to complete them, in some instances. Those two variables create an attractive job market and career pathways for a diverse range of talent, from those who
prefer fresh air and hands-on work to business positions like marketing, accounting and operations. There’s a lot involved in running a landscape firm — and there is a lot of opportunity.
Deeter fields 20 to 30 calls weekly from landscape companies looking for talent. The green industry is “very healthy, and if you can’t find a career in this industry, you aren’t looking,” she says.
At Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), two career boards cover a wall with landscape internships and full-time job opportunities with attractive pay and benefits. “The thing is jam-packed with flyers stacked on top of each other,” says Jim Funai, professor of plant science and landscape technology. “There
are literally five job opportunities a piece for every student in the program.”
He adds, “We are seeing a recent trend where people realize they are happier outside and they want to be physical in their job, and to be healthy and moving.”
In this hands-on industry, technology is evolving the way professionals maintain landscapes, complete projects and run their businesses.
“One thing a labor shortage does is drive innovation,” Deeter points out. In the maintenance sector, robotics are entering the picture with some companies testing commercial-grade models on clients’ properties. It’s not common, but it’s out there. “If you teach the mower a pattern, it can cut the large lawn while the crewperson does things like pruning or edging — and making sure the mower does what it is supposed to do.”
GPS-guided construction equipment is also on the scene. “There are skid-steer loaders and other equipment that operate on GPS and can do tasks like leveling,” Deeter says. “And plant identification apps are getting better, as is design software.”
Deeter knows of a program with virtual reality (VR) headsets so designers can build a project in the software, take the VR headset to a client’s property and show them how their space can be transformed. “We are seeing technology all over the place,” she says. That includes customer service apps and business technologies for scheduling, routing and accepting payments.
Just as our homes are more automated, so are outdoor features like landscape lighting and irrigation systems. “There are smart irrigation systems that detect soil moisture,
and you can control irrigation from your phone,” Deeter says. And by “you,” she is also speaking to landscape contractors who can address irrigation system issues remotely in some cases.
Smart systems help promote conservation — and, after all, landscaping is the original green industry. “There is a lot today going on designed around sustainability,” Maurer says, pointing to water-saving technologies for irrigation and energywise LED landscape lighting. “The same goes for landscaping. We are getting into more native plants that are sustainable for the area.” These require fewer “inputs” like water, fertilizer and diseasecontrol to thrive because they are suited for the region’s climate.
Landscape careers are so much more than mowing lawns, Maurer emphasizes. “It’s a skilled occupation,” and beyond the green industry trades, businesses hire carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers and those with expertise in sales, marketing and accounting.
Also, the industry needs many types of minds. “If you are creative and on the artistic side, there is landscape design and seasonal plantings, or interior landscape design,” Funai points out.
“For more techy people, there is a lot of computer estimating that is going in the direction of AI,” he continues. “And on the construction side, we need people who want to build and create — and in the nursery you are growing and propagating plants. For those of us who love to climb trees, taking care of trees is about preservation.”
Property management, extension services, research and advocacy are also aspects of the
landscape industry that offer opportunity, Deeter says. And there are many ways to enter the industry, with formal training like an associates degree, through an internship or by sheer interest and leveraging a landscaping company’s in-house training.
“There are wonderful companies out there that offer benefits, retirement plans and they pay well,” Deeter says.
Looking ahead, she says she is most excited about the students and talent entering the industry. “They want to learn, and they are very concerned about the environment,” she relates. “It’s cool to see how they think about their future in this industry, and they are excited about where they can go with it.”
