November, already!? It's a cliché, yes, but how fast has this year flown by? Luckily with the slowing of the busy warm season, our leadership team members were able to benefit from some fun trips to industry events this past month. Designers, Tracy Cox and Chris Sander headed to Cali with owners Josh Springer and Jeff Mull to attend a leadership event and had a blast exploring and learning with peers.
Next Josh attended the Hardscape North America industry event with Account Manager Jason Fiddler, Operations Manager Daniel Bongard, and Construction Superintendent RV Peter to scope out new trends and practices. They even took home 2nd place for Segmental Retaining Wall in a Residential project designed by Tracy. The team brought home more than just an honorable mention from their trip to Louisville, but a new puppy too! Thanks to a pet adoption that was a part of the event, Daniel welcomed Ziggy to his family!
In a month or so, everyone will be well on their way to thinking about resolutions and ways to improve for the New Year, but who says you have to wait until then? Take a page from our team's book and take a moment to learn something new, engage with your peers, and have a little fun before the busyness of the holiday season comes upon us!
Though it may seem counterintuitive as we approach winter, if you've been considering an outdoor renovation and are ready to take the next steps, now is a great time to get things started. Depending on the scope of your project, our team will have a lot of work to do before you'll get your perfectly finished space so the sooner you plan, the better.
How long will a project take?
It varies one what you are looking to get done, but projects from start to finish can take anywhere from 3 months to a year. An example of what a realistic project timeline can look like is a large paver patio we completed in June of this year. This project first began back in August of 2020 with an initial meeting with one of our designers. Factoring in what the typical project timeline includes, it took just under a year from start to finish. This project was one of the larger patios we've done. Smaller projects can have a much shorter timeline, but it all depends on proper planning. Even with a wait, the planning pays off when you have an outdoor renovation that you'll enjoy for years to come.
What does a typical project timeline include?
  • Client introduction and design meeting
  • Initial property assessment
  • Design and planning time
  • Scheduling contractors (pools, concrete)
  • Build time and manual labor
  • Weather delays from cold winter months due to snow and frozen ground
  • Supply-chain delays

Why start planning now?
Even though many people don't think about starting a landscape project until Spring is in sight, the end of the year is a great time to get ahead of the curve. Designers may be a bit more flexible with their availability, and coordinating projects early often means beating the rush of people thinking about renovations in the New Year.
Call us today to get your plan started and have plenty of time to get your project done in time for the warm season next year.
The year is drawing to a close, and that means making sure your landscape is prepped to survive the upcoming winter season. Here are a few maintenance items to keep in mind:
Irrigation Shutdown
It's important to properly shut down your lawn's irrigation and watering system before temperatures begin dipping below freezing at night. Not all irrigation systems are the same, but generally, this requires shutting off water flow, draining the pipes, and sometimes insulating equipment. Improperly winterizing your system can cause costly damage.
The Last Mow
Your last mow of the season should leave your grass at about 3-3.5" tall. Cleaning up leaves is a necessity so your turf can access fresh air and sunlight over the winter season. Fallen leaves will retain moisture, causing potential mold and root rot that can spread throughout your entire yard.
Cut Back Tall Grasses
As soon as your ornamental grasses go brown, they need a Fall trim. This usually requires bundling, tying, and cutting down 2/3 or more of the height. As the cold season ends, the old-growth can prevent needed access to sunlight, delaying new growth. 
Drainage Reminder
The Indy area has been hit with HEAVY rains lately. If you have lots of excess sitting water on your property, implementing functional drainage solutions like burying downspouts and redirecting gutter lines can help leave soggy, squelching feet as you use your back yard a thing of the past.
This shady patio in Fishers perfectly fits into the backyard of this home. The designer used a unique paver patio layout to tuck under and around the existing canopy of trees making the perfect, cozy, outdoor entertaining spot. Click below to check out our project video for this patio or explore details on our blog.
Project features include:
  • Paver patio
  • Gas fire pit
  • Traditional style pergola 
  • Outdoor kitchen 
  • Outdoor lighting 
  • Full landscaping
Congratulations to our Employee of the Month, Adam King!
Adam has only been with us for a few months, having started in June, but has proved himself to be a fantastic addition to our team! He's been working on hardscaping projects on Christian's crew and is already showing his dedication to a job well done. He demonstrates a willingness to learn and continues to educate himself outside of work, earning the respect of other crew members. Adam is team Property Pros all the way - he takes an immense amount of pride in what he does, has a great attitude, and engages in team meetings. Congratulations on your hard work Adam, and we look forward to seeing you continue to succeed with us! 
One (Crock) Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This hearty, well-known favorite made into a no-boil, easy clean-up meal for the family is perfect for chilly November nights!
Optional Supplies Needed:
  • Crockpot Liner (Need an extra hand-off and easy clean-up meal? Handy crockpot liners are here to help make a crockpot dinner even easier!)

Ingredients
FOR THE MEATBALLS
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1/4 c. bread crumbs
  • 1/4 c. freshly grated parmesan
  • 1/4 c. freshly chopped parsley
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

FOR THE SAUCE
  • 2 (28-oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3/4 lb. spaghetti
  • Grated parmesan, for garnish
  • Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Make meatballs: In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, egg, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Form into 16 meatballs. Line your crock pot with a liner if desired, and place meatballs in the bottom of a Crock Pot.
  2. In another large bowl, mix together crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, oregano, and garlic. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Pour sauce over meatballs. Cover Crock Pot with lid and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5 hours.
  3. Add broth and spaghetti to Crock Pot, breaking noodles in half to fit and stirring to coat noodles. Replace lid and continue cooking on low for 1 1/2 hour more hours, stirring about every 30 minutes and breaking up any clumps of noodles and adding more broth as needed. 
  4. Garnish with Parmesan and parsley before serving.
Do you know somebody looking to upgrade their outdoor lifestyle? Maybe your friends saw your backyard renovation and are looking to revamp their outdoor oasis? Refer them to us, and we'll reward you for your efforts!

Refer a project of $10,000 - $24,999
to receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

 Refer a project of $25,000 - $34,999
to receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

Refer a project of $35,000 - $49,999
to receive a $200 Amazon gift card.

Refer a project of $50,000 - $99,999
to receive a $300 Amazon gift card.

Refer a project of $100,000 or more
to receive a $500 Amazon gift card.

Once the referral project is complete, we will send your reward!
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