This year, turn your outdoor space into works of art with the professionals at Peters Professional Landscaping

By Patricia Nugent

March may come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, but the hard-working crews at Peters Professional Landscaping have already been working full steam ahead on lawn, yard and patio transformations, mulch, mow and cleanup services throughout the Akron area.

Perfecting the Design Phase

“We’re pretty exacting when it comes to design,” says Chris Peters, who founded his company in 1992. “We want each one to have its own personality that meshes with the homeowner. I’d say over the years we’ve done more than 20,000 landscape jobs and no two have been the same.”

Here are a few things he suggests homeowners can do to begin the process after calling for a consultation:

• Take a drive along streets where your favorite houses are. Ask yourself what you like best about them.

• Go to Pinterest or Houzz and collect photos of yards you love.

• “Functionality is as important as esthetics,” he says. “During a consultation, we determine how people use their back yard now versus how they’d like to make the most of it going forward. Do you throw a lot of parties? Or would you prefer a quiet sitting area with a bubbling fountain?”

Chris and his crews put together a pleasing blend of hardscapes and softscapes: patios, pergolas, pavilions, outdoor kitchens, grills and bars; fire features and water features; outdoor lighting and heating; as well as landscape plant materials, to complement the look and functionality.

A Thing of Beauty

When it comes to the beds, he notes that as professionals, they design for all four seasons, with grown-in-Ohio stock blooming spring, summer and fall, and even looking beautiful in the winter with the strategic placement of boxwoods or birch trees so it doesn’t look blah.

“The past few years, we’ve noticed homeowners are requesting low-maintenance and even zero-maintenance plants and shrubs,” says Chris. “There are a number of tried-and-true combinations to minimize maintenance.”

During a consultation, Chris explains they also get a clear picture of the budget, and have often worked in phases on projects to make them ultimately more affordable.

“For instance, we can plan phases over several months or summers, the first year laying a Unilock paver patio, then the next year topping it with a firepit or water feature, and the following year adding a pavilion or gazebo,” he explains.

Hiding a Secret Garden

Balancing the trend toward no-maintenance, Chris also reports that many of his customers have taken up gardening as a hobby and look to his experts for guidance when planting.

“We design a little area within a landscape plan for a garden that isn’t noticeable from afar,” he says. “People enjoy the tranquility of growing their own veggies and herbs in a space that’s around 5-by-5 feet or 5-by-10 feet. The most common plants, which we offer at the nursery are tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic and zucchini. We also sell a lot of large decorative planter pots in clay or plastic that gardeners grow things in throughout the summer, then replace with mums in the fall after the growing season.”

Early spring is the busiest time of year for landscape design. Homeowners want to get on Chris’ schedule to take their yards from before to after by summertime.

No More Mowing!

A CBS News Poll found that for one in five Americans, mowing the lawn is the least-liked chore. So, it’s not a surprise that as soon as a homeowner signs up for a weekly lawn maintenance program with Peters Professional Landscaping, they remain a customer for years.

“Our maintenance division has grown dramatically,” says Chris Peters. “People sign up for seasonal packages that are customized to their needs, whether they want just the weekly mow, or fertilization and maintaining the beds. Not only does it save the homeowner from hours of back-breaking work, but as professionals, we know how to vary the height of the cut, when and how to prune shrubs, and which formula of fertilizer is best for a lush green lawn that’ll be the envy of the neighbors.”

Mulching, edging and spring clean-ups are also elemental to making your exterior look pristine and finished.

Based in Medina, Peters Professional Landscaping is located at 7080 Wooster Pike. It serves homes, businesses and HOAs throughout Medina and Akron and enjoys an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 330-722-8884 or visit PetersLandscapingOhio.com.