Peters Professional Landscaping can make your outdoor spaces more livable and loveable

By Patricia Nugent

Home values locally are continuing to rise, as are the dollars homeowners are willing to part with to make their homes more livable and lovable.

“We’re already seeing an uptick in clients who want to build new, add to, or renovate their patios and outdoor kitchens,” says Chris Peters, founder of Peters Professional Landscaping. “People seem to be foregoing their vacations and pumping those funds back into their outdoor living. They want to celebrate and recreate on their own terms in their own personally designed spaces.”

Over the past 30 years, Chris and his trusty team have evolved to offer all the hardscapes and softscapes a homeowner would need to put their outdoor haven in place, from patios, pergolas and pavilions to outdoor kitchens, grills and bars; fire features and water features; outdoor lighting and heating; landscaping design and maintenance.

As You Like It
Chris says last year they decided to stop offering Amish-made pavilions and start constructing them on their own to meet and exceed client demand for more customization.

“Although the products were durable, they were limited in size and style,” he says. “If our clients are thinking outside the box, we wanted to be able to as well.”

Materials they tap into include redwoods to cedar with steel or shingle roofs in any size or configuration the homeowner can dream up.

In case you’re keeping up with your next-door neighbor, he adds that most folks are adding a large screen television to their designs.

“They are ideal for having movie nights with all the neighborhood kids over and giving yourself front-row seats for sporting events,” he says.

Extending the Season
“We’ve been adding electric radiant heating units to most new pavilion projects, located within the ceiling and pointed downward,” says Chris. “It can add months to your season and keep things comfy and inviting. One of our clients loved her spacious new pavilion so much she actually held her Thanksgiving dinner there with one long table that sat everyone in her family, so she didn’t have to serve from several tables in different rooms indoors.”

Your Privacy Green Screen
It’s a natural to crave privacy in your outdoor oasis, and the Peters team is adept at building a natural “green screen” with the right sizes and shapes of trees.

“While we are seeing a slight shortage of plant materials, that has pushed us to come up with clever workarounds and alternative selections, such as substituting spruce or pine trees with green giant arborvitae,” he says.

Chris is proud that 95% of the plant materials they offer are locally grown in Ohio.

The Best Time to Mulch
Mulch application is an easy way to be a good servant to your landscaping, according to Chris.

“Even though it’s never too late to do it, most people have us drop their mulch in April and May to slow-release nutrients, beneficial bacteria and microorganisms that enrich the soil and retain moisture for the optimal growing conditions for plants, flowers, shrubs and trees,” he says. “Mulch also acts as a deterrent to weeds and provides a pristine backdrop to your yard for a well-manicured look.”

In addition to many mulch colors and styles to complement any home, Chris says homeowners are opting for decorative rocks, too.

“While rocks look nice and may last longer, they don’t have any nutrients, so we recommend homeowners who want them follow an appropriate fertilization schedule,” he says.

The Time to Hesitate is Through
Many of Chris’ vendors have alerted him that they can only guarantee their prices for 30 days. And with the supply chain challenges and labor crunch, they may have delays in obtaining materials.

“I don’t want to sound negative, but with the current state of affairs, the sooner you decide to pull the trigger on starting an outdoor project, the better,” he says. “Costs will not be going down, so it’s a smart idea to lock into current prices. We are treating clients on a first-come, first-serve basis.”

Chris explains that when they sit down with folks, they ask a lot of questions to help put together a design that is truly reflective of the homeowner’s tastes, lifestyle and budget.

“For many clients, we break a job into several steps and complete one each season, which spreads out the cost,” he says. “Meeting new people and showing them all that is possible is our favorite part of the job.”

Based in Medina, Peters Professional Landscaping is located at 7080 Wooster Pike. Peters also offers spring yard clean-up, weekly maintenance work and mowing. They serve homes, businesses and HOAs throughout Northeast Ohio and enjoy 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.