Niche Landscaper Mixes Style with Needs

There’s nothing green about the yard of an expensive new house. It’s usually a lot of lumpy, red dirt. One thing a dusty yard has going for it — it’s a clean slate.
Brad Griggs, owner of EdgeScapes Inc. of Farmington, said bare new home construction sites are actually the easiest to dress up.
Griggs has cut his way into the landscaping industry. He has grown the business from two to eight employees and from $250,000 per year to a projected sales volume of $1 million this year.
During peak times in the summer and spring, Griggs said he may work up to 20 jobs per week.
Much of his success comes from the ability to be a one-stop shop for busy homeowners.
“Most people don’t want to call one person for this and one person for that,” Griggs said. “They want one person to do it all.”
EdgeScapes got its name because of Griggs’ decorative concrete edging, which is often used to frame plant beds. Available in different forms, the edgings can match a homeowner’s desired look while addressing needs for low maintenance landscaping. The service sets him apart from other landscapers, he said.
The edgings are available in three different styles and range from $5 to $6.50 per linear foot. Griggs said the average house uses about 100 feet, so the average job is $500 to $650.
As demand increased, the company added more services.
Natural stone can parlay into a variety of landscaping features. Griggs said Arkansas native stone and flagstone are the most popular, but even slate or stone specific to Colorado or New Mexico also can be used.
Homeowners wanting to create a particular outdoor environment have chosen to add stone patios to their backyards as opposed to wooden decks.
“A stone patio will be there long after you and I leave,” Griggs said. “It’s got a lot more character to it, too.”
EdgeScapes started using a polymer grout that acts as glue. It allows the stones to move while still keeping them bound together so they don’t crack or pop up.
Griggs builds anywhere from 20 to 50 stone patios a year. Some are as large as 50 feet by 50 feet and cost about $12,000.
Water features also are becoming more popular. They require extra upkeep, but can be therapeutic and relaxing. EdgeScapes builds 20 to 30 each year. Griggs said water features take many forms and run from $1,600 to $15,000. Griggs said the Arkansas native stone is most often used on water features because it “probably looks the most natural” when compared to Northwest Arkansas creeks and rivers.