Landscape Design
The most important phase of any landscape project is the design phase. You can have great plants, terrific soil preparation, and all the details just right, but if the design isn’t sound, the landscape won’t have lasting qualities. It is important that a design incorporates the Basic Design Principles of Order, Unity, Dominance, Major Contrast, Rhythm, Similarity, interconnection, Balance and Repetition.
Low Maintenance Landscape
Today, everyone wants a “low maintenance landscape”. The key to low maintenance is proper plant selection. Picking the right plant for the right place. A Sea Green Juniper grows to 5’ x 5’. A Hetz Juniper grows to be 15’ x 15’. Both have their use in the landscaping, but the Hetz Juniper in front of a 4’ window increases your maintenance dramatically. Proper plant selection reduces maintenance – this means less time and effort for you.
Color in in the Landscape
Another aspect of a WDS Landscape design is the use of perennials and flowering shrubs for seasonal color changes. Color is what catches the eye. Perennials come back year after year and provide you with changing seasonal interest. As a designer, I am familiar with a wide variety of perennials to bring your landscape to life.
Design Experience
All landscapes at WDS are designed by myself, William Schrauf (Bill). I am a graduate of The Ohio State University and have been designing landscapes in North East Ohio for thirty years. I will custom design a landscape to fit your individual wants and needs. I will use my extensive plant knowledge to give you seasonal color, four season interest and low maintenance.
Soil Preparation or Bed Prep
At WDS, we are big believers in amending the existing soil with organic matter increase soil fertility. We want our plants to thrive and not just survive. First, we will form the bed by removing any grass or vegetation. Next, we will till the bed to break up the existing soil. We than add organic compost and soil and till it into the existing soil to make a good planting medium. We feel that this method creates a better planting medium than just add dirt on top of the existing soil.
Planting
The planting phase of your project starts with plant selection. We work with growers all over NE Ohio to bring you the best value. Once your plants arrive at your home, they will be carefully installed in the amended soil. Once the plants are installed, we will apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed germination and to reduce your maintenance. A deep V-edge 3-4” deep will be cut between the grass and the planting bed to separate the two. Finally, a layer of shredded hardwood bark will be applied to help reduce water loss and to keep weeds down.
Clean-up
When the job is complete, the crew will thoroughly clean-up your property, making sure it’s ready for you to start enjoying your landscape.
The Landscape Crew
The landscape crew installing your landscape project will be headed by myself, Bill Schrauf. I am on every job installed by WDS to make sure my vision in the landscape design is implemented to the highest standards. Also present on most jobs is my son, Dave Schrauf, who has been working in the landscape industry for 10 years.
On Time Performance
At WDS, we pride our selves with on time performance. Because of having to deal with the weather, it is difficult to give you an exact starting date. We will call ahead and let you know when we are starting and keep you informed of any changes in our schedule. Our schedule may change by a couple of days, but never weeks from your scheduled start date. Once we start your job, we will work on it consistently until it is complete. We will not start your job and than disappear for a while. We will be there to get it done for you!
Guarantee
Our guarantee is the best in the industry. We guarantee our plants two years instead of the standard one year. We believe that with the proper plant selection, planted into a good planting medium, and proper care from you, and your plants are going to thrive. Therefore, we simply guarantee our plants longer.