On Solid Ground

With its exclusive concrete-based brick patio system and use of time-tested, name brand building materials, Greentree Landscaping’s gorgeous outdoor living spaces—stay that way.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 04/23/2009
Cracks are to brick as taxes are to governments. When you have the latter, the former is inevitable. Well, not quite, according to Maury Hernandez, owner of Greentree Landscaping & Design, of Grafton.

Maury says his exclusive process for supporting brick patios and walkways alleviates the cracking that sometimes begins as quickly as one year after traditional installation.

“Every patio we install is set on a four-inch concrete base supported by concrete pylon footers,” he explains.
“That’s why we can offer a 12-year warranty on all brick patios, walkways and driveways. Nobody else I know of can make that guarantee.”

For many installers, the cracking that results from the settling of the ground beneath traditional gravel and screen foundations is “just the way it is.”

Maury, who started Greentree 27 years ago, didn’t accept that inevitability.

“We did it with the normal gravel and screen for five or six years,” he recalls. “It didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now. A patio is an investment that should appreciate the value of your home, not cause a problem. That’s why we came up with something better.”

Smart Innovation
Coming up with something better has become a theme at Greentree.
For example, the exclusive “tabletop” landscape mound design has been a Greentree trademark since 1982, Maury says. The tabletop features a flat bed with a tapered edge that competitors can’t seem to imitate.

“A lot of people have tried to copy it, but it doesn’t look the same as ours,” Maury laughs. “When people see ours, they know it is a Greentree job.”
The design, he says, not only looks great, but also disburses water. That keeps the soil moist, but not wet, which is not only healthy for the plants, but it also slows the erosion of the mound.

Retailer and Installer
Since 1982, Greentree has grown from a landscaping service to a full-service design and installation company that specializes in unique brick patios with amenities like fireplaces, water features and outdoor cooking systems. Greentree is a dealer and installer of Oaks Concrete Products, Unilock pavers, Solaire infrared grilling systems, Infinity Outdoor grills, Stoneage fireplace kits, Hadco low-voltage lighting systems, Tepraco gazebos and Telescope patio furniture.

“We are retailers as well as installers, and we’re happy to sell our products to do-it-yourselfers,” Maury says.
“But it’s not as easy as it looks. We get calls all the time from people who ask what it would cost for us to finish the work they started.”

The Greentree patio display features many patios in a variety of colors, retaining walls, and steps.

The Proper Design
“We specialize in designing your project,” Maury says. “A well thought out design should be pleasing to the eye, creating outdoor living spaces for relaxing and entertaining.”

The first step is an on-site consultation so Maury can have a look at your home and yard conditions and to discuss the possibilities with you. After consultation, a basic plan is drawn and a complete cost estimate of all materials, plants and labor is prepared.

“We do projects for all budgets,” Maury says.

There are plenty of options to consider.

“Outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and water features are very popular today,” he says.

He says the all-stainless Solaire grills not only withstand the weather, but also offer great taste due to their infrared burner system—a system used by many of the finest steakhouses. Using infrared radiant energy, a Solaire grill cooks 50 percent faster than a traditional grill.

Lighting enhances the beauty and function of your patio and landscape. Greentree offers Hadco low voltage lighting systems that reduce the 120-volt current of a normal electrical line to a harmless and more economical 12-volt current.

“People are spending a lot more time today entertaining and relaxing outdoors at their own homes,” Maury says. “With the amenities available you can do almost anything on an outdoor patio if it is designed right.”
He says a common mistake people make is undersizing their patio.

“In the old days, a 400 square foot patio was the norm,” he says. “Today, with amenities like outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, you want to be sure that you leave yourself enough room to move around comfortably.”

Doing It Right
Once your work starts, Project Manager Dave Yatson will personally oversee the project through completion, ending with a walk-through to be sure you’re completely satisfied with the job.

Greentree takes equal care with its landscaping applications.

“We only use Ohio-grown plants,” Maury says. “If a plant isn’t naturally acclimated to our weather, it probably isn’t going to grow properly. Our planting beds are prepared using only premium soil and materials for proper drainage and development of a strong root system for the plants and trees. We plan your landscape projects sequentially so that there is something blooming from spring through fall.”

Greentree will design your new landscape to your taste, while using their experience to avoid problems that could arise a few years down the road.

A key to a Greentree landscape, he says, is the attention to detail his crews provide.”

“I am conscientious about doing exactly what we tell the customer we are going to do,” he says. “It sounds simple, but there are so many people who don’t do what they promise to do. We want to keep your business and we want to earn your recommendation. The best way to do that is to be honest and do a great job.”
Greentree doesn’t do routine yard maintenance, but you can call them for annual cleanups and plantings.

Greentree Landscaping & Design is located at 12850 Avon Belden Road, in Grafton. You can call them at
440-748-4025 or visit them online at www.greentreedesignlp.com.

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