Harris & Company Landscape Design and Construction

Products And Services

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  Landscape Construction

  With combined experience of over 45 years, our Landscape Construction division does it all! Our specialty is outdoor living: patios, pergolas, walkways, pondless waterfalls, and outdoor kitchens. We can handle all phases of Landscape Construction, and work very closely with subcontractors to get the job done on time and on budget. Here is a list of other services. If you don’t see what you are looking for, just ask. We can probably do it, or refer you to someone who can. Patios and Walkways: Patios are a great way to get people out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. Get the most out of your backyard! Entertain 5 people, or 50. Patios are an Affordable and Low maintenance way to improve the look of your backyard Firepits and Fireplaces: Custom-built, or in easy to install kits, Fire is another element of nature that’s a must-have in all outdoor spaces. Gather your friends and family around to toast marshmallows or grill burgers. Outdoor Kitchens: The epitome of Outdoor Entertainment-and surprisingly a big bang for the buck! Stainless Steel Appliances, direct gas hookups, and plumbing for that sink.Usable April-November, outdoor kitchens keep the party outside, and require little to no maintenance at all. Pondless Waterfalls: Water-another essential element in outdoor living. The sound of water rippling down a stone waterfall can invigorate the soul. Just the sound of water is relaxing. Add plants in and around them, and you’ve got yourself one special focal point in your property. Because they are pondless, they are Super Low Maintenance – no need to take care of fish, or worry about the health of the water anymore. Just run it and forget it! Low Voltage Landscape Lighting: We design the lighting to your specific needs and requirements. Lighting in an outdoor environment should not be glaring or ominous. It should be carefully planned to accent architectural features, illuminate stairways, and cast fun shadows on trees. These systems can be run all year long, and the bulbs last a LONG time, and use very little electricity! Stone Walls: Our skilled mason can Veneer existing Concrete Walls and foundations, build Sitting Walls and Retaining Walls, and repair existing Stonework. Built to look as natural as possible, Stone Walls, when built properly can last hundreds of years and be appreciated for generations. Plantings: We can install anything from small plants to 20′+ trees all personally selected by Joshua Harris. The use and proper planning of trees, shrubs and perennials can give you a landscape that can last you a lifetime. Most plantings are purchased from local New England farms for the quickest establishment and healthiest landscape. Paver Driveways: These driveways are built with toughness in mind. With a 1-2′ compacted gravel base and pavers that can withstand over 12,000 lbs. of pressure, our driveways are not going anywhere. The average asphalt driveway has less than 6” of compacted gravel. No wonder you have bumps and cracks! We believe that overkill in this type of project is necessary-and affordable too. Gravel is cheap, so why not go the extra mile to have a driveway that won’t sink, heave, or puddle? Our driveways are expected to last 75yrs+. Drainage Systems and Drywells: Keeping water away from your investment is a must.That might mean creating a simple drain hookup from your gutter, or tying in all gutters to a drywell-out of sight-out of mind. French drains around foundations and perimeter drains along the edge of your property to catch water and send it away from your home and landscape can be installed with careful planning. New Lawns Installed: We can custom blend compost and loam to get the best soil in the neighborhood. Top it off with a high quality sod, or hydroseed and you’ve got yourself one sweet lawn! We have bobcats and trucks to do the hauling. Great lawns start at the soil, and we prepare it the right way every time. Sprinkler Systems: Offered by a friend of Harris and Company: Doug, from Blackstone Valley Irrigation (click on his company name for Superpages listing) We work closely with Blackstone Valley to design and install the most efficient and cost-effective sprinkler system. We are responsible with water use and use the most up-to-date sprinkler clock technology and drip irrigation practices to save resources and your wallet.

  Link: Landscape Construction

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  Landscape Architecture

  Design Process We begin each project by meeting you at home to walk through the property. We want to find out how you’ll use your yard – whether you need play space for children, room for pets to run around, a patio for entertaining, a quiet spot to read, or privacy screening from your neighbors. We take the time to notice design issues you may not be aware of and offer innovative solutions as part of your plan. We also want to know if you have a preference for certain design styles. Do you like curved lines and a natural look or something more formal and orderly? Most people like a combination of styles which is why it is helpful to show us photos of landscapes and gardens that appeal to you. After we have met, we conduct a thorough site analysis and create a scaled drawing. The site analysis includes looking at potential drainage issues, measuring changes in elevation, and taking an inventory of existing plants and other features so we may consider how they might fit into your landscape project. Your homes architecture and views from inside your house will also be important parts of our evaluation. Creating Your Plan We then take all the information from the site analysis and client interview and combine it with our extensive knowledge of plants and landscaping materials to develop your design. As horticulturists, we select plants that thrive in this climate and provide you with year-round color, texture, and fragrance. We’ll help you choose hardscaping materials that form the backbone of your design and compliment your home. We work hard to ensure that the design is practical as well as beautiful, that artistic principles of line, space, texture, balance and proportion work together to create a graceful garden setting. We offer 3D visuals of your project if you have trouble imagining the standard plan we give you. Furthermore, we can offer you an actual fly-through of the project complete with crickets chirping, fire pit crackling, and birds singing. Its a great chance for you to understand the finished size of the project before we put a shovel in the ground. Upon completing the design, the designer will meet with you again to present the plan and walk through your property, so you can visualize how our design ideas will fit together. At that time we will also provide a cost estimate for your project. We can work the project into phases to help keep your dreams a reality, and stay in budget. Once you have accepted the proposal we will schedule the installation. Installing the Design As designers, we also act as project managers and work closely with our installation crews to ensure the project is installed as planned and on schedule. Harris and Company’s crews take great pride in their work and are meticulous in all aspects of the job. Their dedication to craftsmanship is reflected in the beauty and quality of your finished landscape. Maintenance of Your New Space Harris and Company is your one-stop-shop for landscape design, installation, and maintenance. We have full time maintenance crews working 5-6 days a week to maintain our past installations. From simple lawn mowing and fertilizer programs, to hand pruning of your trees and shrubs, and spring/fall cleanups we can keep that landscape investment looking fresh every year. Where we Work While we have concentrated in the Metrowest and Central Massachusetts, some of our more comprehensive projects have taken us into Boston, Northern Rhode Island and even Cape Cod. Design Fee For properties 35 miles away and closer, we give a free one-hour consultation where we discuss your landscape wants and needs. During this time we can walk your property and talk about how you plan to use your outdoor spaces. We will identify focal points and specific areas for enhancement or safety issues. Properties over 35 miles away are charged $50/hr including travel time, but 100% of that is refunded to you should you hire us to install your new space. If you decide that you would like us to move forward into the design phase, there is a charge for that. Just like a home builder cannot tell you how much it will cost to build your home without a plan, neither can we tell you how much a well-designed landscape will cost without a design. A thoughtful design takes some time to create. Because we are a landscape design company, we do have a minimal charge to help cover the expense of the time and labor needed in the design creation. 50% of our design fee is credited back to you should hire us to install your new space. All of that said, if it is a small project that does not require design time, we can provide a quote without charge. Sometimes it’s as simple as spraying turf paint on the lawn and coming up with a great design that you love, and that of course is free.

  Link: Landscape Architecture

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  Landscape Lighting

  DO you have a great outdoor space that you want to illuminate? Perhaps you have a home with elegant architectural features that you want to highlight? Or maybe your walkway or driveway area is dark and a bit dangerous at night? Our clients have appreciated our personal contact and attention to detail because our trained lighting specialists work directly with clients customizing each and every project for individual tastes, lifestyles, and budgets. Our clients have appreciated our personal contact and attention to detail because our trained lighting specialists work directly with clients customizing each and every project for individual tastes, lifestyles, and budgets. Our goal in design is to hide your fixture behind plant material and hardscapes so that the light-not the fixture is exposed. Some folks want decorative lighting fixtures, and that’s ok too, but our ultimate goal is to highlight the architecture of your home, and create a safe, warm, and inviting setting for you and your guests. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to renovate your existing lighting system Harris & Company will cater to your needs and dreams to ensure you are completely satisfied with the results of your lighting design. It begins with your vision and ends with breathtaking illuminations that will last a lifetime. MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE Harris and Company proudly offer the most comprehensive, worry-free maintenance program to every customer, ensuring that your lighting system operates at peak efficiency and looks as good as the day it was installed. During the first year of enjoying your new lighting system, we offer free service and maintenance, if needed, to replace bulbs, adjust timers, and perform minor service. ILLUMINATIONS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Annually we complete a full fixture cleaning, replace expired bulbs, burial of any exposed cable, reset timers, adjust and / or relocate fixtures due to plant growth and inspect the transformer. During the service, we will make recommendations based on changes to the landscape. Perhaps the ornamental tree with two up lights has grown sufficiently to require three? Or the addition of a patio, wall or fire pit requires path lighting or added down lighting? We can also swap out your old lamps for lower wattage, energy efficient LED lamps. Contact us for program details and to get a quote to enroll in the Premiere Maintenance Program. LIFETIME WARRANTY By enrolling in the ILLUMINATIONS Maintenance Program annually, we will warranty your system for life, which is a great way to protect your investment, giving you peace of mind. A Lifetime Warranty* that covers all fixtures, transformers, and wire. Other benefits to the ILLUMINATIONS Maintenance Program include priority service and product discounts to expand your current lighting system. *Contact us for specific warranty details

  Link: Landscape Lighting

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  Landscape Maintenance

  WE have crews dedicated to just Landscape Maintenance services – All of them trained, with plenty of experience. From small postage stamp-sized lawns to multi-acre condominium complexes, they can handle the work with ease. All our Landscape Maintenance vehicles and tools are maintained weekly for maximum reliability on the job. Weekly Mowing Service: includes disposal of clippings, string trimming of all edges, and a blow-down of driveway, walkways, and patio. Fertilizer Programs: Custom-tailored to the individual property. Soil tests are recommended for SUPER accurate applications. Organic Lawn Care is also available on request. Seasonal Cleanups: Spring and fall cleanups, lawn dethatching, and mulch installations done efficiently and professionally to ensure complete satisfaction every time. Tree and Shrub Pruning: Most work done by hand, trees and shrubs are reduced and thinned to look as natural as possible. We can keep your plants the same size forever if you prefer, or train them to grow in certain directions and size s- all by selective pruning.

  Link: Landscape Maintenance

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  Pool Decking

  All in-ground pools should have a well built pool decking surrounding it. The best products to do this work are natural stone, and concrete pavers. Pool decking can take a beating; from high sun exposure, to lots of foot and furniture traffic, to brutal freeze/thaw cycles winter and spring. There are many products out there for pool decking, but pavers and stone are the most versatile, and long lasting products out there for pool decking.Pool Decking The process starts with assessing your space and figuring out what type of structures you may want in your pool decking, like a sitting wall, firepit, arbor or pergola, or water feature. Then, we find out your entertainment needs; are you hosting a few friends, or 20+ people? From there, we discuss the materials you prefer, and if you are not sure, don’t worry! We bring our portfolio with us to the meeting, along with catalogs of materials to help you narrow down your ideas. After that, we measure the site, take elevations for slope to make sure your pool decking can drain properly, we take photos, and other notes relevant for our quoting purposes. About 1 week later, we return with a quote and move forward from there! The reason our pool decking lasts so long is because of 3 main reasons: We wait till your pool area has settled for at least 6 months. Pool decking should never be installed over soft settling ground as it creates air voids which can cause sinking and warping of your space. We install a minimum of 10” of compacted gravel so your pool decking is strong enough to hold a small truck. Gravel is inexpensive and readily available, so why not go a little heavy and offer a thick base? Your pool decking will be pitched away from the pool, with no puddles so standing water is never an issue, thus prolonging the life of your space. We work closely with pool installation contractors, electricians, and anyone else who might need to be a part of your pool area. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality pool decking, and a reasonable price, that adds value to your home and quality of life. We have several examples of recent pool decking jobs below. Let us know if we can give you a quote!

  Link: Pool Decking

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  Walkways

  Walkways are one of the first things you see before entering a home. A proper walkway and entryway welcome visitors in, and compliment the design and architecture of your home and landscape. We build our walkways to withstand the harsh freeze/thaw cycle our region brings every year. Our walkways are built of the highest quality products, made of natural stone or pavers, and bring increased value to your home.Walkway Joshua Harris will come out personally to meet with you to discuss your walkway needs and ideas. With a landscape design degree from the University of Massachusetts, Joshua is well versed in walkway design and can help you through the design process with ease. The process starts with assessing your space and figuring out what type of structures you may want in your walkway, like a sitting wall, arbor or stairs. From there, we discuss the materials you prefer, and if you are not sure, don’t worry! We bring our portfolio with us to the meeting, along with catalogs of materials to help you narrow down your ideas. After that, we measure the site, take elevations for slope to make sure your walkway can drain properly, and to figure out if you need any steps. We take photos, and other notes relevant for our quoting purposes. About 1 week later, we return with a quote and move forward from there! Get inspired! check out our walkway photos below to get some great ideas and see the beauty we can bring to your home.

  Link: Walkways

• Snow and Ice Management

  Who says a landscapers work stops in November? Snow and ice control is our only source of income in the winter and we take it seriously. Snow removal is like our obsession. Whether you need it or not, we work 24hrs/day. We service daycares, shopping plazas, gas stations, condos, and private residences. With a fleet of 5 trucks, 2 bobcats, 3 loaders, and 2 sanders, we are ready for anything mother nature can throw at us. We have backup vendors too, just in case something breaks down. We can plow you out at 3am, or 3pm. We stockpile up to 60 tons of salt at a time, so salt shortages are rarely an issue for us. We are proud to offer our commercial snow removal services in the following towns: Bellingham Franklin Medway Milford Hopedale Blackstone Mendon Woonsocket, RI Give us a call today to discuss your needs for the upcoming winter season.

  Link: Snow and Ice Management

• Harris & Company Landscape Warranty

  Walks and Patios Harris and Company will warranty all labor and materials of stone and paver walkways and patios for life-unheard of in the hardscape industry! Conditions: A representative from Harris and Company must inspect the project yearly to ensure the space has been properly maintained by the client. All pavers must be professionally sealed every 3-5 years to protect finish of pavers, and stability of polymeric sand Walls-Block and Stone Lifetime warranty on stone and block 10 year warranty on labor Plantings: 1 year warranty on all plant material and labor as long as customer has professionally installed automated sprinkler system with zones specifically for those plantings. Lawns: 1 year warranty on sod lawns as long as sod is watered by a professionally installed automated sprinkler system and Harris & Company maintains lawn for that 1 year (mowing and all fertilizer treatments)

  Link: Harris & Company Landscape Warranty