Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Husband and wife Steve and Robin Atherton of Saratoga-based Atherton Landscaping Inc., join their crew in putting the last-minute finishes on a landcaping project in Los Gatos. The couple designed and landcaped the hilltop property.
Professional landscapes may take time to complete
By Rebecca Ray
The landscaping business has boomed in Saratoga within the last few years, but property owners don't always know the basics of landscaping, or what they need to look for when choosing a landscaping company.
New landscape designs can range anywhere from a simple lawn to a complete overhaul, and adding features such as gardens, ponds, waterfalls, rock work, lighting, brick work, sidewalks and other touches often illustrated in popular landscaping magazines.
Both Robert Pearman, owner of R.N. Pearman Landscape Management in San Jose, who serves clients in Saratoga and other cities in the county, and Robin Atherton, co-owner of the Saratoga company, Atherton Landscaping, recommend that property owners use only licensed contractors.
In order to be licensed by the state, a contractor must pass a test, register a bond and get liability and workers' compensation insurance. Nonlicensed contractors may charge less, but if an uninsured worker gets hurt on the job, the owner could be liable.
Property owners can also check a contractor's license for pending lawsuits, Pearman said. In addition, the company should have a business license to practice in the city it serves, Atherton added.
Pearman said that the best thing for property owners to do is to meet contractors in person, rather than just talking to them on the phone. Owners should speak to different contractors and discern whether they feel comfortable around them, instead of hiring the first one that comes along.
In addition to asking a contractor for references and to see the contractor's previous work, the owner and contractor should always walk through the property during the initial meeting. That way, the owner can explain what he or she wants done, and get ideas and suggestions from the contractor.
Customers can help out the contractor by collecting pictures of properties they like and having plans of what they want their properties to look like, before asking the contractor to design them, Atherton said. She added that pictures help her put together a better picture of what the whole property will look like.
Because of the enormous demand for landscaping, property owners should be prepared to wait 30 to 60 days before the contractor can start, Pearman said. Depending on the scope of a project, an owner may have to wait up to six months or longer before the work commences. When the actual work begins, it can take from one week to one year from design to completion. The timeline depends on the scope of the project, Atherton said.
Atherton, who has degrees in design and horticulture, and her husband, Steve, who supervises the crews, have run Atherton Landscaping from Saratoga for the past 15 years. The company specializes in high-end houses and employs four crews, who work on four projects at a time. Before the company moved to Saratoga, Steve Atherton had run the business from Los Gatos since 1978.
Pearman's company has about 22 full-time employees--four maintenance crews and three installation crews--who work on both commercial and residential properties. The company has installed golf putting greens, rock walls and fountains, and maintains almost 300 properties in the county.
According to Pearman, one common misconception is that maintaining the landscape after it's installed isn't as important as the installation itself. Landscapes are always beautiful for the first six months, but if they're not properly maintained, there's a chance they'll go downhill, Pearman said.
If a property has a lush, green, weed-free lawn, neatly trimmed trees and shrubs, working sprinkler pipes, and punctual workers who maintain the property according to an agreed-upon schedule, these are signs of a competent and efficient maintenance crew.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
