UPCLOSE

Up Close with Michael Jones

KC LANDSCAPES & POOLS 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.

Established 1989

Products/Services offered: A full residential landscape offering including pools, water features, outdoor kitchens, hardscape, plantings, outdoor sculptures and any other conceivable exterior feature.

Uniquely KC Landscapes: KC Landscapes is a sister company to True North Outdoor, a full commercial landscape maintenance, landscape construction and snow removal company that features clients such as The Plaza, Nelson Atkins Museum, Oak Park Mall and many others. We handle landscape construction projects in the millions. We decided to start KC Landscapes & Pools with this vision of doing incredible outdoor projects for residential clients that mirrors the type of high-end clients we have in our commercial business.

Developing relationships: We work closely with clients to make their vision a reality. We realize that this process does not end with the initial install. Outdoor living spaces evolve with changing needs or as the client’s vision for this space demands. This includes circling back every few years to assess their outdoor landscape as they get a chance to “live in it”, knowing that needs, usage and goals change for how a space is used. Finally, we will go the extra mile to work with clients by connecting them to interior designers who can assist with furnishings, exterior art and even custom sculptures that personalize their space to their family and home. Whenever they have outdoor events, such as a patio party, our team is ready to help refresh the landscape and assist in whatever way they need to help make that event a success.

The Team: We employ a full-time staff, but focus on assembling the right team that often involves other partners who focus on the unique aspects of the landscape design, so that each customer has a customized team to make their project spring to life.

Inspiration: I have been in the green industry since the late ’80s. My mentor is Paul Constant, founder of a local landscaping company. From his original company has sprung a dozen different companies in Kansas City, including mine. He approached everything with out-of-the-box thinking and would work extremely hard to please each and every customer. That approach is where I “cut my teeth.” He and I are close friends to this day.

A Showpiece: We have installed one of the larger perennial gardens in Kansas City at the GM Fairfax plant. It’s a symphony of flowers, as various beds pop into bloom over the course of the growing season. Incorporating perennials and annuals into a hybrid design giving a season-long display of color. Where possible, perennials native to our zone are utilized for a more sustainable arrangement. This same strategy is used in residential designs as well.

Working in my yard: I love planting my own impatiens every year. I am especially pleased to see them mound mid-summer and have guests to my home to enjoy the vibrant colors of summer. A lot of my inspiration for KC Landscapes & Pools came as I completed my own patio and realized how necessary the model needed to change in the residential landscape industry.

What every gardener/homeowner should know: Every homeowner should view their outdoor space as a work in progress. Don’t feel pressured to get everything done at once. This is not a oneand-done process. Landscapes evolve as clients occupy and use their space. Maybe they realize a year or two down the road that they need a shade structure, or to develop another seating area. You can do all you can to have a master plan, but you can relax, get the initial install done and then develop the landscape over time and usage.

Little-known secret: A personalized sculpture or outdoor art changes EVERYTHING in an outdoor landscape, as it does in an interior design. Put your own or your family’s own stamp on your project that captures the theme or some personal aspect of your family. We focus on hanging unique paintings, pictures and other personal items on the interior. Take this approach on the exterior and you will be set apart. These elements are more affordable than you think, using local artisans that often collaborate using wood, metals and other materials to create unique pieces.

When the work is done: Biking in the park, especially Shawnee Mission Park, is a favorite local outdoor activity for me. As I’m pedaling, it feels like I am in another world. I love to read and travel, as well. There is not a single time that I leave the ocean that does not make my heart sink! That said, business is my life’s love and hobby.

Contact information: Offices located at 2405 Merriam Lane (Lamar and I-35); see our website www.KCLandscapes.com, highlighting our work; phone 913-681-LAND (5263).