The Big One: A tale of 2 yards

Company: Hoffman Landscaping
Location: Greenwich, Conn.

Hoffman Landscaping oversees a full maintenance plan for this 3.3-acre private residence. The client is heavily involved with input regarding the mowing, bed care, fine gardening, irrigation, fertilization, shrub and ornamental tree pruning, seasonal cleanups and plant health care programs.

Michael Walker, horticulturist and landscape sales for Hoffman Landscaping, says his company secured the contract to maintain this private residence through a referral from an existing client.

The property is perched on a hill quite close to Long Island Sound, and its unique microclimates are a challenge, according to Walker. The front half of the property is exposed to high winds and saltwater, and the backyard is walled off by large trees that serve as windbreaks.

“There’s very little wind, and it gets hot and humid, which can radically increase insect and disease populations,” he says. “It’s almost like two separate properties.”

Walker says his team is in charge of managing a large amount of hand pruning and deadheading perennials and roses and stalking peonies every week. The team also trims the boxwoods by hand because they feel it gives a better shape.

This project earned Hoffman Landscaping a Gold and a Judges Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Award of Excellence program.

Photo: Hoffman Landscapin

This estate sits on a 3.3-acre lot and features meticulous landscaping. The client has a comprehensive maintenance plan which includes weekly mowing, bed care, fine gardening, seasonal cleanups and a complete plant health care program.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

The home’s architecture is framed by carefully pruned Green Vases, Bloodgood Japanese maples, Blue Girl hollies and Korean and American boxwoods, as well as perennial color from smooth hydrangeas, Delaware Valley White’ azaleas, white Knock Out roses, daylilies, viburnum, periwinkle and inkberry.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

Meticulously shaped Hawthorn trees line either side of the driveway.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

Keeping with the modern feel and sleek, crisp lines of the landscape, the maintenance team carefully edges the base of each Hawthorn tree weekly.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

Boxwood care last year was a challenge due to a very high prevalence of boxwood blight. Hand pruning has been combined with shearing. Irrigation has been converted from spray to drip. The team disinfects tools before arriving on-site and again in between planting areas.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

This client subscribes to a complete plant health care program, including preventive applications specifically for pachysandra, boxwood and roses.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

Perennial and rose care is part of the client’s fine gardening program. In the fall, the crew removes annual flowers after the first frost and prunes back perennials.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

Green giant arborvitae frame the entire rear landscape and require special care. Hoffman Landscaping deploys a management strategy of natural pruning, deep root feeding and deer control work to keep the natural screen looking its best.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

The Zen garden features a dozen Shademaster honeylocust trees over a gravel terrace. The crew cleans, weeds and rakes the gravel every week throughout the season.

Photo: Hoffman Landscaping

The team at Hoffman Landscaping prefers to trim the boxwood plantings by hand to give it a clean look.