Manzanita Landscape Construction, Inc. (MLCI) is a Design-Build company that takes its clients’ projects from start to finish and beyond. Proudly serving Sonoma County since 1991, the company’s goal is to provide its clients with turnkey projects, embracing both beauty and function.
As a dually licensed general and landscape contractor, MLCI handles everything from installing pavers, decks, accent lighting and water features to building custom structures and retaining walls. The company is also proud to offer several financing options.
Owners Tim and Heather Little take great pride in tackling the structural challenges that landscape construction presents. “Landscaping is an art—the beauty of creation,” they say. “Knowledgeable design and innovative construction can transform a residence into an artistic masterpiece. We’ve built an outstanding reputation for our originality and unlimited imagination, and we aim to uphold that on every project.”
MLCI’s experienced crew members contribute their unique talents to the landscaping process, applying use of color, contrast and texture to create one-of-a-kind outdoor environments. When the structures and hardscapes are completed, the company adds creative flair by carefully selecting the best varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers for each individual project.
“We do whatever it takes to make our clients happy. It comes through naturally in our work and our relationships with people, as we have a real love for our trade. There’s nothing we enjoy more than putting a smile on the face of every customer.”
Choose the right plants to enhance your landscaping project.
Gardening may seem like a simple task, but getting your garden to thrive takes more than simply picking out some flowers and putting them in the ground. Careful research and maintenance is required to achieve the appearance you want for your landscape. Consider the following tips:
Decide which elements you want your landscape to provide.
This can include privacy screening, shade, erosion control, division of space, focal points, noise control, colorful flower displays, wildlife habitats, food growing and play areas. The plants you choose will help reinforce (or detract from) the purpose of your landscape, so make sure you have a specific goal in mind.
Learn about your garden space.
Each yard and garden can have several microclimates within a small area. By researching your yard, you’ll know the specific types of plants that will thrive there. Know your type of soil, how much sunlight and shade each area of your yard receives, and how wet or dry the area gets. Pay attention to areas that are windy or exposed, poorly drained, and hard to access (maintenance will be troublesome in these areas).
Research plants ahead of time.
Look up plants in online encyclopedias to determine how well they grow in your zone and soil type, whether or not they need shade, if their watering requirements are similar to other plants in the same space, and how large they’ll grow. This can help you avoid making costly mistakes or buying plants that won’t grow well in your garden.
Front yard or backyard?
Front yard plants should draw the eye to your home instead of overpowering it. Complementary colors and lower-growing plants are often good choices. Backyard gardens can be more personal and allow for a greater variety of plant choices. You don’t need to be as conscious of color choice, height and other factors in reference to stealing attention from your home.
Know how much time you’ll be spending in the garden.
Some plants require a lot of care, while others grow well even when neglected. If you like to weed, dead-head and trim, you may be well-suited for flowers and plants that need constant maintenance. If you’re the hands-off type, consider plants that need little trimming or attention.
Be open to outside help. Planting may seem easy, but consider hiring a professional if you’re planting expensive trees, shrubs or complex gardens. Planting technique dictates how well a plant grows in a certain space, and soil must be prepared with the proper mulch, compost and fertilizer. Also, each plant’s hole must be correctly sized—planting holes that are too shallow or too deep can kill trees and shrubs in mere weeks by not providing the right amount of air, water and growing room. A professional landscape contractor will have the tools and knowledge to make sure your plants are installed correctly.
Few landscape contractors earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise®. Even fewer can also claim more than 40 years of industry experience and a hands-on owner who personally supervises every landscaping project, but that’s exactly the case for Manzanita Landscape Construction, Inc. “I take pride in working alongside our crew members and customizing each project,” says owner James Guay. “I’m onsite all the time to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, and our customers really appreciate that.”
Manzanita Landscape Construction designs, installs and maintains landscapes for residential clients throughout Sonoma County. In addition to installing pavers, decks, fences, and concrete and water features, the company utilizes its general building contractor’s license to offer a variety of related construction services, including custom framing, finish carpentry, and kitchen and bathroom renovations. “Instead of just installing plants in a garden, we can use our combined skills to truly enhance our customers’ landscapes,” says Mr. Guay.
Unlike less experienced landscape contractors that overlook the importance of client communication and personalized service, Manzanita Landscape Construction utilizes its small size and family-oriented business practices to develop lasting relationships with its customers. “We’re a family-run business—I’m the builder and my daughter, Heather, is president/CEO,” explains Mr. Guay. “Together, we’re able to pay close attention to every job and make our customers feel like part of our family.”
To further differentiate itself from its competition, Manzanita Landscape Construction hand-selects its technicians and provides them with extensive training to ensure their expertise. “Our crew members have been with us for years,” says Mr. Guay. “They’re hard workers who can handle every step of the landscaping process, which ultimately results in well-designed, well-planned gardens that our customers can enjoy for years.”
