Landscaping

Just moved to South Orange looking for a landscaper any recommendations?

Do you mean lawn maintenance (mowing, etc) or help with shrubs and garden beds?

Lots of people here mow and rake their own lawns. For many folks, a landscaper is a waste of money (not to mention an annoyance to the neighbors). I suggest trying it for a while and seeing how you like it.

Why is a landscaper an annoyance to neighbors? They're doing the same work as the resident would. Is it the truck parking on the street?

@annemarie 's husband did landscaping for me he was wonderful !

TrolleyDodger said:

Why is a landscaper an annoyance to neighbors? They're doing the same work as the resident would. Is it the truck parking on the street?

Almost all of the lanscapers in our area use gas powered leaf blowers which belch pollution, make a horrible racket and are a hazard to anyone with asthma. A growing number of communities across the country have already banned them.

Me and some of my neighbors use Joe Zuzuro for our landscaping,we have used other landscapers and are very satisfied with Joe.Here is his number 732-735-2001.

TrolleyDodger said:

Why is a landscaper an annoyance to neighbors? They're doing the same work as the resident would. Is it the truck parking on the street?

The parked truck on the street, the crew of people with larger noisier equipment. It is very different from one or two members of a family mowing their lawn or pruning their shrubs.

Some elderly families have major disabilities and are unable to do the landscaping. Therefore the only choice is landsappers, if they want their yards to look decent. Agree that the leaf blowers are ridiculously noisy.

I don't really have a problem with lanscapers as long as they don't use gas blowers. Unfortunately they all use gas blowers. We need a paradigm shift.

It is fine to use a landscaper if that is more convenient for you. If you work full time or have other significant commitments, it may not work well for you to have to do the yard work as well. Yes, the noise is an issue, and that is the case whether it is a neighbor with a gas blower or an employee of a contractor. Some are less considerate than others; their loyalty is with whoever is paying the bills, not the person next door.

Some suggestions: Anthony’s used to work at several of my neighbors’ home and their trucks and men were a nuisance, but they did decent work. They are still in business, and I’d probably consider them if I still lived in town. There are other landscapers that are also well established. Look around the neighborhood as the season progresses and see who is out there. Perhaps the previous owners left you a list of various service firms they had used? Do you have established shrubs such as rhododendrons that haven’t been pruned in a while? Raking and lawn mowing are a different skill set from good pruning. Don’t necessarily go for the cheapest landscaper. Mowing and raking and even basic spring/fall cleanup are quite different from properly maintaining the landscape plantings that give Maplewood/South Orange so much of their appeal. Also, if you are new to your home, don’t make major decisions regarding removal or design until you have been through the cycle of growing seasons. There is a difference between maintenance and actually doing new landscaping.

We've been working with Matt at Carmine's Landscaping for years and highly recommend him.
http://www.carmineslandscaping.com/
973-763-6626

The worst was when our son was a baby and these ack jasses would start up with the gas blowers at 7:55 twice a week. We had double pane windows but it woke the baby every time. I can't recall the name of the company but they had red trucks.

Thankfully, we now have better neighbors.

I completely understand why someone would hire a landscaper. I just don't agree that a landscaper working on someone's lawn is the same as the homeowner in regards to disturbing those around them.

I think it is most efficient for the landscaper AND the neighbors if you find out from the neighbors on your street who they use (assuming they are happy with the service of course!). This way they come on a particular day, park their truck and do everyone's lawn in that area and then don't come back until the following week.

Is the truck parking on the street? You haven't driven around MAPSO much, I'm guessing.

@annemarie 's husband does a great job on our lawn as well.

BaseballMom said:

Is the truck parking on the street? You haven't driven around MAPSO much, I'm guessing.

On our street the trucks always park on the street. We have one bunch that insist on parking in front of my house to do the house across the street.

They park in front of your house! And make the neighbouring houses look nice. Those basterds!

ace11 said:

They park in front of your house! And make the neighbouring houses look nice. Those basterds!

I guess some people like exhaust, dust and deafening noise. Me, not so much.

Thous shalt use thy neigbor-approved landscapetg.

--MOL Lawgiver

As someone who's home during the day, I don't particularly take issue with the equipment used because it's based on efficiency and makes sense for
the workers (although stinky and loud). But in my case, the majority of my neighbors seem to use the same crew. So one whole day a week is very, very noisy during the warm season as each property is maintained consecutively. My toddler is rather upset by it and will ask to go back inside. It's a bummer for sure.
But I really like my neighbors, so it's a small inconvenience in the grand scheme of things. Plus, we do our own maintenance and am willing to bet the noise created by our lawnmower over the weekend is an inconvenience to them as well.

^ Lawnmowers don't really compare with gas-powered leaf blowers.

I find them just as loud and disruptive during the summer. Those giant ones crews use are pretty loud. But regardless, a little tolerance goes a long way.

I have been reading all of your comments and I don't think its fair to be complaining about landscapers,they are out there making a living and raising their families on it,just like all the rest of us.That is their livelihood,and MsApril asked for recommendations not complaints.So please take a moment and think before you comment.

tigger83 said:

I have been reading all of your comments and I don't think its fair to be complaining about landscapers,they are out there making a living and raising their families on it,just like all the rest of us.That is their livelihood,and MsApril asked for recommendations not complaints.So please take a moment and think before you comment.

+1

tigger83 said:

I have been reading all of your comments and I don't think its fair to be complaining about landscapers,they are out there making a living and raising their families on it,just like all the rest of us.That is their livelihood,and MsApril asked for recommendations not complaints.So please take a moment and think before you comment.

I think the complaints are about noise, not really about the men and the work they do. It's the companies and whether or not their machines and hours comply with town noise ordinances that are the issue.

And, truthfully, wishing the town ordinances were tighter on noise limits. The guys doing the work are just doing their job, and I think most or all of us understand this very well.

I wish there were better safety regulations and equipment. It cannot be healthy to inhale those fumes and the dust for hours every day. Many workers wear ear protection and face masks, but I'm not sure that is enough.

EBennett said:

I wish there were better safety regulations and equipment. It cannot be healthy to inhale those fumes and the dust for hours every day. Many workers wear ear protection and face masks, but I'm not sure that is enough.

Excellent point. The dust is incredible.

If people really cared they would petition the town to limit the use of gas-powered leafblowers to certain hours or require the use of quieter electric blowers. Of course, that will likely drive up the cost of maintaining lawns in our towns, but everything is a tradeoff.

tigger83 said:

I have been reading all of your comments and I don't think its fair to be complaining about landscapers,they are out there making a living and raising their families on it,just like all the rest of us.That is their livelihood,and MsApril asked for recommendations not complaints.So please take a moment and think before you comment.

I have no problem with the workers, I just wish they would use better tools.