I was doing some online research the other day and came across an article highlighting the expected landscape design trends for 2013.

Not that I’m not already somewhat tuned in as to what people are looking for in their yards, but I figured it was a good opportunity to see what’s being pushed for the coming year.  So I clicked over to see what is being pushed.

The article highlighted a couple popular themes and design concepts – romanticism, interplanting, low maintenance designs, and sustainability to name a few.

I greeted this news with a yawn.

Not because I’m against some of these ideas.  Au contraire.  Actually I’m quite on board with pushing sustainability.  Interplanting adds constant interest in nearly every corner of a garden.  And who doesn’t want that elusive “low maintenance” design.

No, my ambivalence towards embracing these “trends” has more to do with defining these principles as trends vs. basic keystone principles of good design.

Trends come and go.  Think back to what some of the popular trends of the past have left us.  Remember the octagonal paver stone design from just a few years back?  10 or 15 years ago it seemed nearly every paver stone job I installed was this popular trendy design.  In fact the term “paver stone” was nearly synonymous with this pattern.  As manufacturers began offering more and more options from which to choose, this shape slowly fell out of favor.  In the last few years I’ve met with quite a few clients who now want to remove this “dated” design.

Exposed aggregate finishes in concrete.  This was a popular trend a few years earlier.  And one quite honestly that is still used on occasion today.  But its also one that has led many homeowners to want to “update” their “70’s” feeling yards.

Wood inlays in concrete.  Another popular “trend” that I’m sure many people felt looked sleek back in the day. But today the wood has rotted out, the slabs have heaved, and what’s left is the remnants of a once-popular trend.

Junipers as a front lawn.  Hey I’m all for reducing lawn areas if possible, but if I had a nickel for every client who wanted to me to rip out those trash-collecting catch-alls … (Actually I probably do have at least a nickel for every juniper we’ve ripped out based on some of the buried treasure we’ve found tangled amongst the branches…)

Think back to some other popular trends.  If I name the trend I’ll bet you can ID the era.  Excessive railroad tie walls.  Topiary shrubs.  Plastic flamingoes.  Stone mulch (Your choice of colors!).  Fiberglass “rocks” (Think Anaheim Angels outfield walls -- Hello Disney!).  Solar landscape lights.  Gazing balls. “Astroturf” carpeting.

Even design principles have changed over time.  Think back to your grandmother’s house with the white picket fence around the yard, the rose beds up against the fence, and the uniform linear beds surrounding the perimeter of the house.

And my personal favorite is when a home is built on a relatively square, level lot, yet the “trendy” features are forced into the yard by building up mounds of imported soil.

That’s not to say that some of these “trends” don’t have their place.

I’ve actually seen some absolutely awesome yards that are going for a theme and make good use of lawn gnomes and plastic flamingoes.

Everyone has different taste.  And everyone has different uses for their yards.  And I’m a firm believer that every design should be custom tailored for the taste and lifestyle of the client.

But good design principles are timeless.  Attempting to incorporate today’s trends into a design simply to be on board with what’s hot today is asking for a dated look in the not-so-distant future.

And certainly some of today’s “trends” aren’t necessarily bad ideas. Built-in outdoor kitchens, for example, probably aren’t going away any time soon.

But when planning an outdoor design, it’s important to focus on what’s really important, namely how YOU want to utilize your yard and what will work for your lifestyle.  Don’t get hung up on what the current trends are, but rather what you want to live with for the foreseeable future.

Because today’s octagonal pavers and juniper yards are most likely tomorrow’s vinyl fencing and tumbled concrete block walls – relics from another era destined to be replaced.

Can you think of any other trends from bygone eras that effectively timestamp a yard?

For a few timeless design ideas, give us a call.

A little bit of self-promotion this week …

As I’ve stated in the past, winter is the slow time for us landscape contractor types.  Well at least slow in terms of completing projects in the field.

However its anything but slow when it comes to office work.  Not counting the 2 weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s (total shut-down on all things work-related), I figure I have about 5 or 6 weeks to complete what seems like a year’s worth of pent-up office work.

There’s always planning and cleaning and organizing and securing and educating and researching and … you get the idea.  

And it seems every year there is one overriding project that I look to get completed. Last year that project was getting my blog off the ground.  The fact that you’re reading this (hopefully) tells me I was at least moderately successful in my endeavor.

This year my overriding project is introducing myself to social media.

Admittedly, I’m kind of a dinosaur when it comes to this stuff.  Being of the age that falls right into the heart of the “Gen X” generation, I’m just old enough that I missed the boat on a lot of this e-media stuff. Heck, we didn’t even have email when I was in college.  The kids just 3 or 4 years behind me couldn’t imagine going through college without email. And it seems like today’s kids have Facebook pages while they’re still in the womb.  (Seriously.  I’ve seen sonogram profile pics!)

Anyway, I’m jumping in. The Clark Kent Creations Facebook page is up and running!

Clark Kent Creations on Facebook

A quick disclaimer. The point of my foray into social media is most definitely not to replace my real time experiences with colleagues, friends, and clients.  As a colleague of mine put it, I still favor face time over facebook.

I plan on using my facebook page as a way of sharing project updates, posting progress photos, sharing company news, and sharing a few fun links to other pages which you might find of interest.

And as more and more people utilize facebook as their primary way of communicating, it’s yet another way that I can be more accessible to my clients and prospects.

I’ll still see everyone around town at the co-op, Henderson Field, the Crum Creek woods, the pool, the ballfields, and all the other places that make our town special.  And I’ll still be out there as we complete all of our hardscaping and landscaping projects.

And as I familiarize myself with Facebook etiquette, I’m slowly getting the hang of all this.  One thing I’ve learned so far, is that unlike real life where it would be rather presumptuous to show up at an event and tell people to start liking you, apparently it’s OK in the Facebook world.  So, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but … Like us on Facebook!

My affinity for big stones is no secret. 

Whether it’s a large boulder as part of a landscape feature, stones for a water feature, or large solid stone steppers, large stones can be an impressive part of any landscape.

And anybody who has ever watched our crew in action also knows that we are somewhat of minimalists when it comes to heavy equipment.  As far as I’m concerned if the ancient cultures were able to build Machu Pichu and Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids and the amazing cathedrals of Europe with little or no heavy machinery, then certainly we can move around a couple of 800 lb stones without leaving too much of a carbon footprint.

Over the years I’ve had a few clients who have looked at me somewhat in amazement when I tell them we’ll be moving the stones around by manpower with no large excavators or heavy equipment.  These same clients also watch us in awe as we wrestle the big stones around on planks and rollers and get them into place, and when the job is done they tell us how much they enjoyed watching us use old tried and true techniques.

My reasons for opting for these methods include a few things.  A New England colleague of mine who also favors the manpower method refers to it as “New England frugal” to put it politely. 

And true, that is part of it.  But there’s more, much more in my opinion. Anytime I can skip the smoke-inducing diesel-hogging gas fueled machines is a good thing in my book.  I think too many people are too quick to jump to heavy machinery just because it’s there.  And any opportunity to help with the environment should be jumped upon in my eyes.  Others may disagree with me somewhat -- fair enough.  But that's my opinion.

Additionally though, heavy equipment can tear things up.  Whether it’s scuffing the very stones we’re putting into place, or tearing up the driveway with heavy treads, heavy machinery can do some damage to the site.

I’m also a firm believer of really immersing myself in a project while its being completed. At the risk of sounding too zen-like and new-age, I think there is a value in the opportunity to get my hands on every stone as its being installed.  It helps get a true feel for the project and, in my opinion, helps to create a more successful outcome.

And there’s also the “wow” factor.  Whenever we start moving big stones around by hand, there always seems to
be a small crowd to gather to watch us, and the comments are always positive as people marvel over our techniques.

And there is no greater sense of satisfaction than at the end of a hard day wrestling large stones around, seeing those things in place knowing we put them there.  By hand.  After personally having completed a number of these projects I have little to no patience for people who say it can’t be done.

About a year or so ago, a colleague of mine on an online forum referred me to this video, and I since have referred to it a number of times when speaking with clients or prospects.

One Man Moves Huge Stones with No Equipment

It’s pretty amazing to watch.  Basically this guy in Michigan has set out to demonstrate how they built Stonehenge with no heavy equipment.  And he’s building a Stonehenge replica in his backyard by himself with pieces weighing as much as 25 tons and no heavy equipment.  And little to no help.  Shows you the power of the body’s strongest muscle – the brain – when used properly.

This is one of those videos that I’ve watched a few dozen times, and it constantly serves as inspiration to me that anything can be done given the time and ingenuity.  I hope you find it as interesting and entertaining as I do!

The arrival of the new year signals a time to look forward.  It’s a time for planning, and a time to get things lined up for the coming year.  And if you’re like most homeowners, those plans will likely include hiring a contractor to complete a few projects around the house.

The projects may be varied.  Some may be simple like interior painting or fixture replacement.  Some may be involved like a new patio or addition.  And some may even be somewhat unexpected, like plumbing repairs or a new hot water heater.  But regardless of the project, you’ll still most likely find yourself needing the services of somebody skilled and qualified to help.

In my 12 years of running a landscape construction business, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a great client roster with very few missteps along the way.  But it takes work from both sides of the table to ensure a successful project, and it certainly takes an understanding of where both sides are coming from.

There are, fortunately, a few simple things that clients can do to help eliminate misunderstandings and help ensure a successful project and a pleasant home improvement experience. Here are the eight deadly sins to avoid when hiring a contractor.

1.  Give Yourself Enough Time: 
A successful project takes time.  Time to plan, time to design, time to install.  And most successful contractors will be booked out somewhat in advance, especially during the warmer busy season.  Start the process early, and eliminate the schedule crunch.  You don’t want to sacrifice quality or your desired design strictly because you’re up against the calendar.  Don’t wait until Memorial Day to start planning that new patio you wanted for your son’s graduation party in June.  And remember, a lot of work is weather-sensitive, so be sure to allow a slight cushion for everybody’s schedules.

2.  Licensing and Insurance: 
Before you even pick up the phone to schedule that initial consultation, make sure the contractor is licensed and insured.  In most states, including Pennsylvania, contractors are required by law to be licensed and to post their licensing info on any and all advertising.  That means yard signage, truck signage, business cards, etc.  The licensing system is in place to protect you, the homeowner.  If you don’t see any licensing info, be sure to ask if they are licensed and where you can find their license number.  PA licensing requires active insurance policies, which most reputable contractors will be happy to provide separately upon request.  PA licensing info can be verified via the PA Attorney General Hotline at 1-888-520-6680.  If the contractor isn’t licensed or insured, proceed at your own risk.

3.  Collect Multiple Bids: 
I’m always somewhat surprised when I quote a large project and find out the homeowner isn’t collecting at least one or two other quotes.  Personally I like to think that is because the client has the utmost confidence in my abilities and practices.  To which I say thank you.  But even still, even if you’re nearly 100 percent certain you’re going to go with a particular contractor, it can never hurt to get an extra opinion or idea. Maybe another contractor might have an idea or two which you haven’t even considered, an idea that could possibly be incorporated into the final project.  Maybe that new idea isn’t such a hot one after all, but it can’t hurt to talk about it, right?  The more discussions, the more ideas, -- good or bad – the more confident you will be in your project and the more successful the project will be..

4.  Don’t Shop on Cost Alone: 
There’s almost always somebody out there who will do a project for less.  Just like there’s always a used car out there that will cost less than that new BMW you’ve been eyeing.  Maybe the lowball contractor isn’t as experienced as other quotes out there.  Maybe he’s unlicensed or uninsured.  Are his workers legal and on the payroll?  And don’t try to hold that lowball quote out there as pricing leverage.  Experienced contractors know their costs and know what they need to recoup those costs. “You get what you pay for” almost always holds true.


5.  Know your Contractor’s Skillsets: 
Just because a contractor does amazing finish carpentry doesn’t mean he knows squat about plumbing.  Carpentry, masonry, electrical work, plumbing, tree work – nearly all the trades have unique skillsets.  And true, many contractors may be well versed in more than just one area, but it’s worth asking and following up if need be.  Most experienced contractors will tell you they sub out specialty work to their stable of subs, or will at least tell you that’s not what they do.  But don’t just assume we all do everything.

6.  Is the Contractor A Good Match: 
Contractors come in all shapes and sizes.  Some may have multiple crews with a number of laborers and subcontractors coming in and out.  Others may be smaller artisanal outfits who do great work but may take a longer time. And others may have specific salespeople who work with you during the sales cycle but aren't involved in the field work.  Be sure to ask yourself what you’re looking for and what you’re comfortable with.  Just because somebody does great work doesn’t always mean they’ll be a great match with you. 

7.  Ask for References: 
Once you’ve met with a few contractors, collected the bids, and evaluated the estimates you’ll most likely be favoring one over the others. Now’s the time to get a few phone numbers of past clients and make a call or two.  If you have the time, see if you can set up a time to swing by and take a look at past projects.  True, some past clients may value their privacy, but they almost always will at least take a minute or two to tell you what they liked (or didn’t like) about working with a particular contractor.  Maybe the work was great, but the crew played the radio too loudly or they kept the jobsite untidy while the project was underway.  And most contractors will have a few local front yard projects available to look at without encroaching on people’s private yards.  Normally everything will check out just fine, but it never hurts to spend a few minutes knowing what you’re getting into.

8.  Stay Involved: 
It can be a fine line between hovering and micromanaging vs. being available to discuss changes as they arise.  Allow the contractors to have their space while they are working, but don’t just ignore the project as it unfolds.  Once the site is cleaned up at the end of the day take a few minutes to evaluate progress.  The project may have a slightly different look than you first anticipated based on the drawings.  If you see something you’re not sure about, feel free to ask or address it before it goes any further.  Most successful contractors make a point to involve their clients in every design choice and material selection before and during the project.  It’s usually pretty easy to make a minor change or two as it is occurring, but if you wait until the project is nearly complete, it may be too late, or may incur significant costs to re-do.  And nobody wants to hear “I wish we had done things differently” as the projects draws to a close.

So there you have it. Eight relatively simple steps you can take to ensure your projects will be a success.  No matter what projects you may have lined up for the coming year, I wish everybody a happy and successful 2013!