Small's Landscaping Inc

Sep 2013

The homeowners wanted the complete package including a hot tub, water feature, fire pit and a new deck. We began by addressing the undersized deck. We designed a new deck with glass and steel rails to set off the new view of the landscaping. A new staircase takes you from the deck down to the gardens. Large pieces of flagstone were used under portions of the deck to hide ugly, HVAC, utility, and generator equipment. A network of flagstone paths bring the homeowners around the home and to the back yard. Natural stone steps lead up and down various elevation changes. Over 1500 yards of pulverized topsoil peat were used to create the grade changes and undulating planting beds. The hot tub was put in a raised bed and surrounded by flagstone. Another path leads to the lowest portion of the property where the fire pit and dining/entertaining area are now located. The paths and patios required over 50 tons of flagstone. 68 tons of limestone boulders were used to hold back the soil where needed and to provide texture contrast with the landscaping. Natural stone steps were used where grade changes occur in the paths. The joints in the patio and fire pit use permeable sand for drainage. The hot tub is a stainless steel unit which is seated on a poured concrete pad and surrounded by drain stone base material and covered with flagstone. A beautiful pond was designed for the front of the home to welcome visitors and transform the front porch into an intimate, relaxing space. We used a bead filtration system to keep the water clean. The system also features an automated back flush system for less maintenance. The water feature is composed of large limestone boulders with holes drilled in key locations. A manifold was made to distribute the water from the pump through the various drilled holes. As far as infrastructure goes, all the gutters from the home were buried using 500 of PVC. Over 400 of conduit was buried to carry electricity where needed. Additional parking was added to the driveway and the driveway itself, all 800, was re-graded and topped with 240 tons of limestone. Many of the larger existing trees remained while we cleaned out all the brush. Of course, we completed the project with landscaping including Japanese Maples, Dogwood, yellow Magnolias, and other trees and evergreens. Groups of flowering shrubs, thousands of perennials, grasses, and ground covers finished the beautification.

Michigan City, IN

Aug 2013

Where do we begin with this one, From the day ground was broken for the house over Twelve years ago this property was designed to be a landscaping marvel. The house is situated among hundred year old oak trees. During construction the homeowner was adamant about large equipment encroaching upon the roots of the trees. The construction site was cordoned off to within 15 of the house. This insured that there would be no construction equipment/traffic over the roots of the existing old growing trees. All but one survives to this day. In the shade of the large old growth trees live dozens of Hosta varieties. There are multiple flagstone paths leading from garden to garden as well as strips of green grass that form their own pathways around the gardens. The homeowners are both very passionate about plants and either one of them could discuss for hours the various intricacies from species to species and subspecies to subspecies. The front yard of this property has hundreds of rare, varietal, one of a kind conifers and deciduous trees and shrubs planted throughout. Many were planted as test subjects. The theme is to have an arboretum at home. Mission accomplished. One has to be a horticulturalist or avid plant lover to truly appreciate the variety found on the front 40. There is a pond near the road with a large berm for privacy. Further, there are hornbeam hedges planted on the berm to block the, across the street, neighbors haunted house. The front side of the home features a retaining wall made from massive Granite boulders. The home is bordered to the west by a forest. Much of the property was farm land so we added and additional forest consisting of 20 thousand trees to continue and enlarge the existing forest. The idea behind this, other than having wooded areas, is that a microclimate will develop. This will allow us to plant even more interesting plants that may not have otherwise survived our growing zone. This property is a zone 5A so a little protection goes a long way here. We also planted an orchard (still maturing, so no apples, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, plums, or pecans yet) and installed a fenced 60x40 gourmet vegetable garden. There are two separate living quarters on the property. The first is the house, of course, but the homeowners also have the Garage Mahal. Around the garage we transported approximately 10,000 yards of soil in order to elevate the original building site location. Then another 10,000 yards was transported to the site to create the undulating grades & new lawn areas. We partially covered this structure in stone veneer to accentuate the boulders mixed into the landsape. The garage is surrounded by breathtaking landscaping and since it is not under the cover of the large trees there is an entirely different range of plant materials used. It seems as though every single plant is unique and interesting. A walk around the garage can take over an hour as you discover something new with every turn of the head. There are two simulated streams that allows water to flow away from the oversized circular drive. Natural stone steps were used to bridge the grade changes and take the casual observer to a flagstone patio on the south side of the garage. More hornbeam hedges reside here as well as shade trees. Ground covers are used extensively throughout the entire property in an attempt to cut down on maintenance. The patios by the home were installed on top of poured concrete. The stone is called grand canyon and is a beautiful red that plays off the brick home. Everything structural was overbuilt and no shortcuts have been taken anywhere along the way. Our designer on this project has been hard at work figuring out phase after phase with no sign of slowing down. Our crews perform the maintenance so it looks as good as possible all the time. The property has been featured on several garden walks and it is always an over-the-top fascination to panoramic jaw dropping beauty around every corner. Anyone interested in landscaping or horticulture. Words cannot do it justice.

Valparaiso, IN

Sep 2012

This client had an existing wooden deck that they never used. It was tired looking and required shoes to walk on because it had so much sap oozing from the planks. Further, there was a large step directly off of the patio door that made bringing food inside from the grill a challenge. The clients needed something they would want to use regularly and also had a wish list including a firepit, grilling area, seating areas, and a path from the patio to the golf cart path along the edge of the lawn. The front porch of the home was also subpar as it was ordinary concrete with no identity whatsoever. The entire interior of the home had been renovated and looks amazing throughout, but the exterior just didnt have the same panache and needed professional help. After meeting with the clients to discover their tastes and desires we went to work designing. With clean lines in mind we decided on a travertine patio in the place of the old deck. We also put in a seat wall around the firepit. The clients wanted to eliminate the need for firewood so we went with fireglass in the fire pit with a key start. The steps from the sliding door were made deeper and reduced to 6 for easy egress/ingress. Lastly, a grilling area was created for a new Weber grill including veneer to match the firepit and seat wall, with a granite countertop for easy maintenance. We received the OK from the client immediately started working. We began by removing the old, dirty deck. We had to raise the height of an existing granite boulder wall to accommodate the higher grade of the new patio. The granite boulders hold the base stone and soil from falling into an existing lower level. The EW Gold seat wall was also installed and retains the base on the other side of the patio. The concrete base for the fire pit was also poured at this time while we ran gas lines for the grill and fire pit. A base of #73 road base (aka CA6) was meticulously installed and compacted in three inch lifts. Once the base was in we poured the new steps off of the sliding door. The seat wall was completed and custom made radius step was installed from the patio area to where the path across the yard would later be. Once the base was in we started putting down the cut dimensional travertine stone. The travertine is also on the steps leading to the door and has a bullnose front and edges for a clean, finished look. After all the cuts were made the stone was sealed using nanosealer and polymeric sand was installed. After we finished the patio the homeowners just couldnt stand to look at their boring front porch anymore so we installed natural cut dimensional stone there as well. We also poured a new step and installed the stone, again with a nice bullnose front and sides, on the porch. We ran irrigation lines under both the patio and the porch for containers which we change out seasonally. The clients absolutely love the work that Smalls Landscaping performed. We went on to do the landscaping around the entire home. The patio is the new living room and when the kids and grandkids come over there is always some sort of excitement going on outdoors. The old deck was virtually useless but now the entire family can enjoy their time outside. By using travertine no shoes are required so the little ones can run around without burning their little feet on hot, sunny days.

Chesterton, IN

Jul 2012

Evergreen Wonderland The homeowner gave the designer free reign for this project. Having worked with the client for several years, trust has been established. It turned out to be enjoyable experience for everyone. On a buying trip to Oregon many of the plants were chosen specifically for this client. Knowing that we would have complete control of all aspects of the maintenance gave complete confidence to create an over the top, one-of-a-kind design. The property provides many challenges in maintenance. With so many rare and unusual plants each one has its own growing schedule. A cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all, approach will not do. Each plant was specifically selected for its location. The design requires that many plants remain close to their existing proportions. This is accomplished through painstaking hand pruning of each individual plant as well as in-depth knowledge of the growing habits of each plant. As the landscape has matured we have kept it looking absolutely fantastic through meticulous, detail-oriented work. The project was designed to limit the required maintenance in some areas. For example, we planted thousands of ground cover plants that have grown together into beautiful carpets of color. This limits the amount of mulch needed seasonally. As far as mulch goes we always remove old mulch before reapplying. We go to homes all the time where this step is not done and the plants really suffer and get choked out by the excessive mulch. That does not happen here. Our crew visits the home monthly for routine weed pulling and trimming when appropriate and necessary. We also change out all of the container plantings seasonally. This allows us to keep an eye on everything and the landscape shows. The best way to keep up on the maintenance here is to just stay ahead of any problems. We have experienced weed outbreaks from time to time and by being at the property regularly those never get the better of us. It also helps that we are in this particular neighborhood weekly so we can catch anything uncoifed immediately. The most important thing is that the client is happy. He doesn't need to call us or remind us about anything. We just get the job done. Hundreds of Tulips are planted yearly to ensure blooms each spring. When they are finished blooming, annuals are planted for the summer growing season. Mums, Cabbage, and Kale replace the annuals for fall. This rotation guarantees splashes of color through every season. Containers are filled in March or early April with early blooming plants and interesting berries, twigs, and greenery. These are switched out in May with annuals. In October we go with Mums, Cabbages, Kale, dried flowers and grasses for fall beauty. After Thanksgiving we decorate their winter containers. Southern Magnolia leaves, Pepper Berries, Berried Eucalyptus, Holly, mixed greens and painted twigs are used. Swags of mixed garland are installed along railings and Christmas lights woven in. Irrigation times are adjusted on an as-needed basis. All containers have their own zone using drip irrigation to ensure proper watering. Our maintenance staff also sprays for mosquitos and other pests on an as-needed basis. Beds are edged in when spring cleanup is done and when needed throughout the year to keep a very neat and tidy lawn border.

Chesterton, IN

Mar 2012

The clients have an absolutely gorgeous home and had horrible landscaping. There was a very large yellow/brown deck hanging off the back of the home. We met with the homeowners to discover their vision for the project.. By asking questions, sharing pictures, and listening to their wants and needs we were able to design the entire property and create a back yard masterpiece. It was very important to have symmetry to achieve this design. Hicks Yew, Boxwood, and Hornbeam hedges were installed throughout the property. Pairs of Riversii Beech, Purple Robe Locust, Emperor 1 Japanese Maples, and Amelanchiers were strategically planted. All plantings were used to accentuate the walking patios and fireplace to subtly lead you from one beautiful area to the next. By eliminating some steps to and from the house we brought the grade up created an inviting environment. Thirty-three tons of flagstones were used to build two separate seating areas and several walkways that wind through the landscape. The patio will remain problem-free for many years to come. This was achieved by installing drain stone under the entire patio and walk areas. The base is a natural drain that allows water to pass through it. This is important because of the high clay content of the soil on site. We then installed a 300' French drain and buried all the downspouts to ensure no future water problems. The flagstone itself has many larger than pallet size pieces. These were sorted and carefully puzzled together by our experienced, dedicated, hardscaping teams. Smaller pieces were meticulously cut to fill in any open spots. By cutting the stone and using cut off saws, very small joints of less than were achieved. These joints were then filled with polymeric sand. Following completion of the actual stone work we finished the project by installing 320 yards of Pulverized soil to raise the grades for planting beds and lawn areas throughout the three acre property. 107 yards of mulch were applied to all planting beds and sod layed in lawn areas. The homeowners love the finished result. Previously they wouldn?t even venture out into the backyard because it was so amazingly uninviting. Now they are out there whenever the weather allows the fireplace extends the time spent outdoors through the fall and spring. It has been a complete transformation. We received an email once or twice a month from the owners saying how much they "love their new landscaping." Containers were placed and are changed throughout the seasons. Plantings of Hydrangeas, Roses, Dwarf Butterfly Bushes, perennials, & ground covers added the necessary color to the landscaping. The completion of the project was concluded with the installation of irrigation.

Valparaiso, IN

Jan 2011

Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know thousands of wonderful people. While we are on the cutting edge of design, plant materials, and technique there eventually becomes a time when things need to be freshened up. A client that I have worked with since 1987 called for just such an update. They removed the deck in their yard and were looking to re-landscape the area. I went out to visit them the next day. As we caught up on the times and chatted about life we discussed what they wanted to do with their yard. We took a look around and discussed several ideas. Since I have known this couple for so it was easy to know what they were looking for. I drew up a rough sketch featuring a small waterfall and pond along with undulating planting beds with specimen trees, evergreens, and ground covers. They loved it. The only stipulation on getting the job was that it needed to be finished by Memorial Day weekend for a large, family get-together. Of course, we finished the project on time and the weekend festivities went off without a hitch. A few weeks into summer the couple gave me a call just to chat. They were absolutely thrilled with their back yard. All the years they had been in their home they had never used their back yard other than sitting on the deck. It was a wasted space for them. They now spend as much time out there as meteorologically possible. The clients said if they could sleep out there they would. We installed a 7x10 pond with a 25' long waterfall to create a peaceful outdoor dining area. We used an 8000 GPH pond pump and auto filler. There is about a 3 foot drop from the top of the waterfall to the pond. All the soil was hauled in to achieve the grade we envisioned for the waterfall. Moss rocks, cobblestone, and underwater LED lights completed the look for day or night. I know this couple very well so figuring out their style was easy. When I meet with new clients the "homework session" is very important. I use the first couple meeting to get to know you and figure out what direction would be best for you. My goal is to create a design that not only looks beautiful, but also fits your personality. A successful project fits the property, the client, and represents Smalls Landscaping and our quest for quality and ingenuity. When these factors align we have a client for life. With that in mind I send a hearty 'Thank You' to all of our clients through the years.

New Buffalo, MI

Sep 2010

The owner's desire was to create a cozy outdoor living space with a water feature, fire pit, herb and vegetable garden, and grilling area. The challenges were many; water drainage, access to the desired project area, and weather. Without a doubt, water was the biggest challenge. The location for the pond, waterfall, patio, and fire pit were in a bowl area of the backyard. All the water from the left side and the back of the property drained into this area with absolutely no other direction to send it. To overcome this we installed two catch basins to collect all of the surface water. The area was then raised over 2 using drain stone underneath, not only for the patio, walks and water feature, but under all the planting beds as well. Marifi fabric was installed before hardscaping and custom blended soils were brought into the yard. A large French drain was also put into place to carry the collected water off of the property. The homeowner?s gutters were directed to either the catch basin or the French drain using PVC. A trough drain was installed at the base of the French doors as well, using a decorative iron grate. The natural, Scavis stone from Turkey was chosen for the patio and walks. The stone was a cut full dimensional pattern and tumbled. Due to the colder climate, the stone needed to be grouted to fill in small holes and to ensure a very neat and clean finished look. All grouting of the stones was done individually at our indoor shop. Stones were then palletized and taken to the job site for installation. The patio and walk were installed on a stone base using polymeric sand in the joints. Access to the property was limited to a steep, sloped area on one side of the property. Permission was obtained from the owner of the adjacent lot for access. A temporary limestone drive was installed. After the job was completed, the access drive was removed and the area was graded and seeded for the owner. For the water feature we designed a multi-faceted system to carry the water to different areas. By using a 1" hammer drill, holes were drilled through weathered limestone boulders. Water could then tumble down the boulders from three sides in multiple locations creating a soothing atmosphere as you relax on the patio. An Aqua Ultraviolet Ultima II Bio-Tube filter system was installed. This superior filter allows easy maintenance and high water flow distribution. A large piece of weathered outcropping cantilevered over the pond from the patio to better observe the Koi as they swim about. The fire pit was installed with a gas log starter. Conduit was buried and outlets installed throughout the landscape. Phase I of the landscaping was installed in the undulating planting beds with irrigation for the beds, lawn and drip irrigation for the containers. The owner's two daughters and their classmates enjoyed a photo shoot before a school dance in the backyard. The clients also hosted a large family reunion. The backyards comfortable atmosphere, space and relaxing beauty brought the family together for the long anticipated event, and of course, photos were a must!

Chesterton, IN

Sep 2009

The owners wanted to create a backyard entertainment area for family and friends. Privacy, pool, outdoor kitchen, water features, fire pit, fishing, multiple seating areas and lush, colorful landscape areas were all very important. Crafting this design combined the needs and personal style of the client along with functionality in an atheistically pleasing space. Challenges were many. The house is situated on a 1300 ' deep lot that is only 110" wide, with one narrow access to the rear yard. The septic system could not be relocated forcing crews to work around it as well. An existing five acre pond was too shallow to support fish, which the owners wanted to add. The front yard had a considerably low grade. As project manager, we coordinated the installation of the pool, adding a new 400 amp electrical service, subpanels, and larger gas service. We buried thousands of feet of conduit, water lines, gas lines and drainage throughout the property. A gourmet, covered kitchen with built in heaters was built as a focal point to the backyard linking with the architecture of the home. Providing entertainment opportunities, a stereo system and lighting were also included. We began by clearing the front of the property, which was completely covered in brush. Using an excavator and off road truck, the existing edge of the pond was dug out as far as could be reached. This provided a place for fish to be added. The clay removed from the pond was reused by hauling it to the front to raise the grade by three feet. This eliminated the drainage problem. In addition, 3000 yards of clay were hauled from the site. The next challenge was to create a waterfall with views from three sides. The design was to have a 60,000 gallon waterfall flow towards the house and another 30,000 gallon waterfall flow to the pond in back. Smaller streams alongside were incorporated to flow as offshoots to the main falls. This created a beautiful multi-sided view from the property, providing unity and balance converging as one. Landscaping started with the installation of privacy hedges, creating an outdoor room atmosphere. Again, faced with the placement of the current septic system, design was restricted. Landscaping plantings were strategically placed to cover pool equipment and pumps used in the running of the waterfalls. Over 300 tons of moss covered boulders were utilized in this project. We also designed and built our own intake stand for the pump screen to keep them off the pond bottom. This prevented debris from entering the falls and streams. Large evergreens and trees were then planted to create a mature landscape. Unusual specimens such as Sweet Sarah Fir, Glen Walter Spruce and a variety of Parviflora Pines were used. Hundreds of Sedums filled the nooks and crannies of the boulders and along the stream. The owners enjoyed each and every project as it was completed, swimming in the pool, climbing the waterfall, fishing, volleyball, fires and more...

Dyer, IN