After Losing Job, Local Entrepreneur Gets Passionate About Landscaping

A few years ago, Marty Levin lost his job in corporate America and was debating retirement when a friend said to him, “Marty, you are so passionate about landscaping, why don’t you start a company?”

And so he did.

Seven years later, Levin now finds himself at the helm of Passionate About Landscaping LLC, of Maple Glen, a family owned landscaping company serving residential and commercial customers in Montgomery and Bucks Counties. The company provides year-round landscaping for home and business owners and specializes in landscape construction, garden designs, water features, irrigation systems and lighting installation. Levin has been practicing landscape design for approximately 30 years and prides himself on what he calls “a great eye for new design and for updating and modernizing existing gardens.”

Levin says his experience in landscaping and construction dates back to his teenage years. Once he decided to open his company, he went back to Temple University and took courses in horticulture, historic landscape design, landscape planning, arboriculture and water retention.

Levin has also taken specialized courses in building ponds, water features and the understanding of fungicides and pesticides, and he is licensed to fertilize in the state of Pennsylvania.

Levin says that his extensive knowledge enables him to get the most bang for his customer’s buck.

“One of the things I most enjoy in my business is when I am able to reuse a clients landscaping. A lot of times if it is an older home, the landscaping was done a long time ago and it is often overgrown or not laid out properly for the house,” said Levin.

“I move plants and shrubs, and for a little green, I give the client a lot of green,” he quipped.

Levin says landscaping can often improve home values.

“I work with many realtors, and both buyers and sellers. Often a house will not sell because it does not have curb appeal. I can come in and either move things or add a handful of plantings and the curb appeal changes drastically,” he explained. “In this market, curb appeal is everything and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.”

Although the summer season has passed, Levin said things still get busy in the fall as clients prep for spring.

“One of the largest services we provide in the fall is what we call fall clean-up. This includes cleaning leaves out of gutters so they don’t back up and cleaning leaves from the lawn so that it has a chance to be a lush green in the spring. If you leave the leaves on the lawn it will die,” Levin said. “And, fall is a great time to plant. Many of the nurseries have wonderful plants on sale.”

Levin says he also provides holiday green décor and lighting for clients in November, before shutting down for the winter.

“We are then closed until March 15 when we resume our season,” Levin said.

When his company is in full drive, Levin says he employs 25 people and provides an array of services; from hardscapes, including patios, walkways, and stone water features; to landscaping, including irrigation, grading, planting and lawn care services.

“Any of these can drastically enhance the look of your garden and make it a much enjoyed outdoor relaxation space,” he said. “Beautiful lawns help beautify your neighborhood. The lush lawns can have a significant cooling effect on your property. Moreover, healthy and beautiful lawns also have a great positive and uplifting emotional effect and reduce stress levels.”

For more information about Passionate for Landscaping call 215.805.1057 or log onto www.passionateaboutlandscaping.com

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