UP CLOSE

Up Close with Barclay Berberian LAWNS BY BARCLAY owner and operator

THERE ARE GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO THEIR CRAFT, MADE OBVIOUS BY THEIR CAREER CHOICE. WE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE INFLUENCES TOWARD THEIR CAREER, AS WELL AS OTHER INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE.

Faith and family first: There are times in life when a course correction is needed. After a 35year career in the restaurant industry, and an ever-growing family, I realized this was the time. Although I truly enjoyed my job, evidenced by a commitment to working long hours seven days a week, another baby was on the way. I wanted more hours at home, sharing more hours together as a family. After the birth of our sixth child, I went to work on a business plan, and within two months I launched the company.

Service, the common thread. You’ve gone from serving food to servicing landscapes, was the transition inspired? My father was a farmer before he moved to the Midwest. Even after he stopped farming he still gardened and spent a lot of time outdoors when not working. He taught me how to garden, how to mow, how to maintain a property and so forth. I always enjoyed mowing and maintaining my property, but I didn’t realize how much those lessons shaped me until I changed course and started my own lawn care/landscape business.

Tell us about the type of services your company offers. We serve mostly residential clients, in and around Prairie Village, Kansas. However, there are a few small commercial clients that we work for, like churches and HOA properties. We employ two full-time crew members. We are licensed and insured. As it relates to lawns and landscape enhancements, our services include mowing and regular maintenance, mulch, seasonal clean-up and debris removal, seeding, fertilizing, aeration, planting, pruning, and bed maintenance.

Are you a landscape designer? Our business focuses on the maintenance side of landscaping. So if you have the landscape plans and the plants, and you need installation help, give us call.

Do you garden at home? Absolutely, yes! I start about 96 tomato and pepper seedlings inside over winter. Some of those I give to friends then I plant the rest. We typically grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, herbs and anything else that sounds good that year. There is nothing better than a warm tomato right out of the garden. Put generous slices on a sandwich, add it to a salad, or simply eat it with a little salt and pepper.

How has COVID-19 affected your company and operations? Luckily, as an essential business that operates outdoors, our company has not been affected by the pandemic. However, it certainly has changed the way we interact with people. From the pandemic onset as people were ordered to stay home, we have had the opportunity to meet our customers face to face—from a safe six feet away. We have enjoyed getting to know them. Conversely, it is strange not being able to shake hands.

As an industry professional, what do you see trending on the home gardening scene? I see a lot of things that are becoming more mainstream. Probably one of the most popular is how gardeners are understanding the benefits of pollinators in the garden and catering to them. I also hear people that are harvesting leaf mold, planting clover in their lawns, and trying to be as environmentally conscience as possible. Another (positive) trend amid the coronavirus is how more people are spending time outdoors, which includes spending more time and energy on their landscaping and outdoor living areas.

When the work is done, how do you spend your free time? At Church, with my family, cooking, cycling, and with my friends.

Little known secret: I relish the days my kids want to come work with me. Fighting over who will control the blower is beautiful noise.

Contact information: Feel free to contact us via email at Barclay@lawnsbybarclay.com, or by phone at 913-208-5941.