In today’s Kansas City Star, Highland Outdoor was named the 9th Largest Landscape Company in Kansas City.

See the entire list here.

An accompanying article on the changing business of landscapers to design-build was featured as well. Check it out online here, or read it in its entirety below:

Landscapers not just about the green: Demand grows for hardscapes

By ROBERT COLE
The Kansas City StarAt several of the area’s largest landscaping companies, the annual rites of spring have included offering basic lawn, tree and irrigation services for 20 years or more.

But these professionals say that the traditional definition of landscaping is changing from what it was less than two decades ago.

Instead of focusing on green goods like lawns, trees and flowers, more clients are requesting exterior design-build projects that include everything outside the home’s four walls, said Jason Cupp, president and CEO of Highland Outdoor in Olathe.

Rather than hiring contractors, homeowners now want landscaping professionals who can design and create an entire project, which can mean a backyard pool, a gazebo or spacious patio areas built with custom pavers.

The requests for hardscape services have increased competition within the industry, Cupp said.

“Our clients want things faster and more nimble now than ever before,” Cupp said. “It’s hard because this is an industry that can’t make a lot of shortcuts.”

The expense of creating a custom-designed outdoor living area can run to $100,000 or more, but there can be a significant return on the investment.

“The single most important factor in marketing a property is curb appeal and landscaping is 90 percent of that,” said Robert Schock, director of property management for the Yarco Co. Inc. in Kansas City.

Yarco’s landscaping needs range from its niche of affordable housing in urban areas to upscale senior properties like Truman Farm Villas in Grandview.

Though it’s important to keep costs low in the current economy, it’s difficult to cut back on landscaping budgets because of the value it brings to marketing a property, Schock said.

Some local professionals recently have noticed a change in the landscaping process.

Instead of simply planting a few shrubs and annuals every year, clients want to go ahead with their patios and outdoor spaces and put the green in second, said Gary Weidenbach, president and CEO of Rosehill Gardens Inc. in south Kansas City.

“People are very involved in their landscaping now,” Weidenbach said. “It’s part of their personality.”

The demand for more complex services is creating an increased need for employees with degrees and certifications in a variety of specialties.

More than 20 of Rosehill’s employees have landscape-related degrees or have earned lawn and landscape certifications. About 50 other employees have earned professional designations as lawn technicians and chemical applicators.

Cupp was one of the first area landscapers to receive designation as a certified landscape professional from the Professional Landcare Network, a trade association that represents more than 4,200 landscaping companies in North America.

Cupp recently was named president of the association, which also is the national certifying organization for certified landscape technicians and several other industry designations.

The industry will continue to grow if landscaping companies recognize that each customer has their own ideas and needs for their particular project, Cupp said.

But landscapers will need to hire more specialized help as their business grows.

“We encourage our members to pursue different levels of education,” Cupp said, “but we also advise them to hire people that can help them be good at something else.”

Congratulations to EACH incredible business on this years list… We’re proud to be on the list with such an awesome group of quality contractors!