The Pros at Home ILCA visits Renee Garrett

ILCA Visits Industry Members at Home

Nina A. Koziol

Editor’s Note: This is another in a series of articles that feature the home landscapes of green industry professionals—ILCA members, plant breeders, nursery owners, public garden staff and educators. After all, who wouldn’t like a little peak at what peers are doing around their own homes?

Like many of her clients, 2020 was a

Fresh Start

She started her landscape business in 2011 and her family moved into a 1927 four-square in Oak Park 14 years ago. The lot is 50 feet by 175 feet. It wasn’t a pretty sight but she saw all the possibilities. “The landscape was overgrown with weedy trees and the patio and walkways were in terrible disrepair.” Each year she has focused on improving one section of the property.

“I started with the front of the house because everyone could see that. Another year we needed more space so people could spread out.” Last year she added a fire pit, which created an outdoor zone for her kids where they could safely interact with a few friends during the pandemic.

Her clients had similar ideas. “They needed outdoor space for their families and they’re very willing to invest in their house.” One of the projects she did last summer was the result of a client cancelling a big vacation because of the pandemic. “They put the money into their back yard—a 10-by15-foot main patio next to the garage. We put in artificial turf with a putting green for their kids.”

After working all day, Garrett has little time (or energy) for gardening at Group home. “Like most of (continued on page 44)

creative year for spending time at home—outdoors. “I feel like I used every square inch of my garden to add space for my children to study and relax while remote learning,” says Renee Garrett of Garrett Design—Residential Landscapes in Oak Park.

“I encouraged everyone to tinker in the garden to get the edge off the hard days. The best part of the stay-at-home order for my family was having extra hands available to weed—usually a low priority after working long hours.” She was the only one leaving the house, so those tasks were left to her teenagers, Reid and Nora. “I was not alone trying to balance the high demand for landscaping and keeping the family happy. It was a great year for business, but tough in so many other ways.”

Renee Garrett’s back garden is a low-maintenance place for entertaining and relaxing.

(continued from page 42) my clients, I only commit to a spring and fall cleanup. My children took it upon themselves to do all the weeding and outdoor chores last year. It was a welcome task after being cooped up all day in remote learning environments. My yard has never looked so good.”

The Garden as Laboratory

Her home landscape is part testing ground. “I always have an area where I try out different plants.” One small section of the garden is devoted to plant rehab. It’s the perfect spot because it’s somewhat hidden. “It’s my hobby— rehabilitating castoffs from clients’ gardens or plants I want to trial to see how they perform.”

Creative Resources

Her design inspiration comes from several sources. “I love walking around historic neighborhoods and looking at other contractors’ work. I look at Houzz, go to trade shows, and I’m not shy about reaching out to other companies and suppliers— people are pretty generous with their knowledge and I’m not ashamed to ask.” The Chicago Botanic Garden is another idea generator. “Strolling through the Garden is relaxing and also offers great inspiration for grouping plants and trying new species. I often refer to Richard Hawke's trial garden data when designing, since it is important to specify plants that will thrive.” (You can find his plant evaluations here: www.chicagobotanic.org/collections/ornamental_plant_ research/plant_evaluation)

“I love Craig Bergmann’s work, too. It’s a real joy. The details in his projects are beautiful.” She maintains one of his projects in Oak Park and admires the use of antique statuary and ironwork in the garden.

Networking is important, too. “I love seeing more women in the industry. I’ve gotten a lot of help from women and I definitely try to reach out to younger women coming into the business.” She’s looking forward to attending the next ILCA Women’s Networking Group Event. “Of particular note is Colleen Mulhern at Fiore Nursery. She is such a great resource when I want to add new plants to my landscape palette as well as a go-to for all things landscaping.” (continued on page 46)

(continued from page 44)

As a native Chicagoan, she also credits landscape architect Jens Jensen as an influence. “I love the naturalistic public landscapes of Chicago. Biking around the city is one of my favorite pastimes.” She has a long list of local designers and companies that she admires. “Anne Roberts has been a great mentor to me. She taught me the fundamentals of running a landscape business when such classes were hard to come by.” When she needs assistance engineering a project she looks to Ed Joyce from Cityscape. “His landscape construction experience runs deep and he’s a great partner on many of my projects."

Client Relations

The best part of her job is interacting with clients. “I try to put myself in the position of the homeowners. Nobody wants to feel rushed or talked

She’s also an advocate for her clients. “I design to their taste and budget, inspect my construction team’s work with a discerning homeowner’s eye, and stand by the work once we leave the job site.” She recognizes that clients intuitively know that problems may arise during construction. “It’s how my team solves the problems that people remember and why they call back for their next project. They want a responsive relationship and I am committed to delivering that to them. They want to know that I treat them and their home with respect, with professionalism and courtesy, just like I want to be treated.”

One of her biggest challenges is getting clients to water their plants. “I can’t tell you how much I talk to people in the industry about this issue. I feel like I go to great lengths to give clients written instructions, show them how to water, and give them guidelines for when to (continued on page 49)

down to. It’s about listening to what they want as opposed to doing what I want. I love collaborating with people on their homes. We don’t rush through the process.”

As a working mom, Garrett understands her clients’ needs. “Most are families where both parents work, have busy kids’ schedules, and don’t have a lot of time for maintenance.” Her landscapes tend to include mass plantings, flowering trees, layers of perennials and ground cover to suppress weeds. “I always like to include a unique specimen. Clients love weeping trees or unusual conifers.”

And sometimes she has to gently move a client away from something they think they want. For example, a client may want a “prairie style garden,” but as Garrett talks through it and explains what’s involved, it’s sometimes a no-go. “That’s not going to create the tidy look that some want.”

(continued from page 46) water.” written instructions, show them how to water, and give them guidelines or when to water.”

It’s frustrating when they call back to say the plants aren’t thriving or perhaps died because of lack of water. Last summer her daughter checked on projects and watered plants as a summer job.

Favorite Plants

For Garrett, nothing beats the classic look of boxwood and Annabelle hydrangeas. “I love Cercis candensis 'Forest Pansy,' and Heptacodium miconioides, (Seven Sons tree) or anything with exfoliating bark. I also love any weeping conifer for their shape. Clients really love to have a unique plant in their garden, and by their very nature, weeping conifers are one of a kind in size and pendulous form—always show-stoppers.”

What does she enjoy most about her garden? “I absolutely love pruning—it’s so therapeutic—it’s winter gardening. And, I’m always changing my containers.”

This year she plans to renovate the front garden—again. “I’ve already removed all the plant material and trees over the winter. Now I just need to put pencil to paper. After all, tastes change and it’s been over a decade since the last renovation.” Stay tuned. See her work at: http://garrettdesigninc.com

711 S Material Road Romeoville, IL 800-762-5738 • 815-836-0086 rocksetc@att.net

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Seating areas allow for plenty of outdoor entertaining. Weeping conifers are one of Garrett’s favorite woodies. 18715 Route 84 N Cordova, IL 800-736-1356 • 309-654-2261 sales@xylemltd.com