New Jersey’s Winning Landscapes

At the New Jersey Landscape 2002 Show Feb. 27, recognition plaques were given to the following landscape firms for their outstanding projects:

• First place, residential design/build projects more than $100,000 – Santoliquido residence, Jacobsen Landscape. The goal  was to create a landscaped recreation area that would allow family and friends to engage in a variety of activities while remaining together in one space. The main challenges were fitting everything in the available space and a sloping backyard with a 15-foot grade change.
• Second place, residential design/build projects more than $100,000 – Marconi residence, Tewksbury Regency Landscape. The goal was to turn an overgrown wooded hillside into a backyard retreat with plenty of room for entertaining. Included in the design were a hot tub, pond, stream, waterfalls and gazebo. Challenges included grading and drainage issues.
• First place, residential design/build projects between $25,000 and $100,000 – Kaufhold residence, Glen Gardner Regency Landscape. The project was to create a raised patio deck with natural fieldstone and tumbled pavers with a view of a small pond in the woodland setting.
• First place, commercial design/build projects between $25,000 and $75,000 – Our Lady of the Mount Memorial Garden, Warren Morrison Landscape & Design. The project was to design and install a memorial garden. Challenges included multiple microclimates, areas of poor drainage and no provisions for irrigation.
• First place, residential landscape maintenance projects between $5,000 and $10,000 – Hascup residence, Ringwood Kodiak Landscape Design. The project includes maintenance of 6 acres of lawn and gardens on a 60-acre farm estate, including weekly lawn cutting and edging, bed weeding and tree and shrub pruning. Primary challenges are the absence of irrigation and deer intrusion.
• First place, commercial landscape maintenance project under $25,000 – Prevost Car in Lyndhurst, Keep It Green Landscaping. The project includes weekly mowing, spring and fall cleanups and the lots must be weed and litter free. The site is in the Meadowlands and the natural look is maintained with pruning.
• First place, hotel, motel, resort landscape maintenance projects between $25,000 and $100,000 – Sheraton Tara Hotel – Parsippany Duke’s Landscape Management. The 12-acre site included a mix of perennials and annuals to ensure a mix of all-season color. The property’s biggest maintenance challenge is working around hotel guests who expect courtesy, professionalism and top-notch service.

The author is Managing Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at nwisniewski@gie.net.