LANDSCAPE LONGEVITY: “I enjoy meeting the clients. I’m a people person, and we meet all kinds of people. We have had many regular customers over the years. I’m working with people now who had worked with my dad years ago. They may be down-sizing now, and need a new landscape plan.” Steven J. Doerler, owner and president of Doerler Landscapes, is proud of his company’s reputation and longevity.

Building a reputation for high quality work and service over five decades is an outstanding achievement. So many businesses come and go so quickly these days that Doerler Landscapes’ 50 years in business is the exception not the rule today.

“People know they can count on us,” says owner and president Steven J. Doerler, a certified landscape architect. “For 50 years, they have seen our orange trucks in their neighborhood, and for that same 50 years, we have worked hard to be a leader in our industry and in our community.”

Doerler Landscapes has been recognized with numerous design and business awards, including “Landscape Award of Superior Excellence” from the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association; “Landscape Design Excellence” from the New Jersey Builders Association; “Conservator of the Year” from the Mercer County Soil Conservation Service; and “Community Excellence Award” from the Hamilton Area YMCA, to name just a few. The company was started in 1962 by Mr. Doerler’s father, William K. Doerler.

“My dad studied landscape architecture at Cornell, and then after working in a landscape company, he decided to set up his own business in Yardville. I started working in the nursery when I was 12. My dad put me to work!” says Mr. Doerler, with a smile. “I began working full-time in 1984, after I graduated from college.”

Landscape Projects

In 1986, the company moved to its current location at 5570 South Broad Street in Yardville. The property is a 175-acre farm, and serves as the base of operations for the landscaping and is also the home of Crosswicks Tree Farm, another part of the Doerler family business. The tree farm grows a variety of nursery stock for use in Doerler’s residential and commercial landscape projects.

Steven Doerler became owner and president in 2000, and he has reinforced and enhanced the company’s prominent place in the landscape business. Doerler Landscapes covers a complete range: landscape architecture, construction, maintenance, lighting, and irrigation services.

“We can design and install everything except swimming pools and tennis courts,” he explains. “Although we also do help with designs to locate pools. If someone is planning to build a pool, it’s a good idea to call a landscape architect and have them locate the pool in the proper setting.”

Plantings including trees, shrubs, and flowers; and hardscapes, such as patios, terraces, decks, etc., are a big part of Doerler’s business. “We advise clients on plantings and the best placement regarding sun or shade, those that are low-maintenance, and also specimens that deer don’t like. More people want low maintenance now. Fewer people seem to want to do hands-on gardening.”

Outdoor Entertaining

What is big, however, is outdoor entertaining — and with all the bells and whistles!

“Current trends are outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, and water gardens.” he reports. “Absolutely one of the biggest trends in the last 10 years has been the increase in outdoor kitchens.”

Some clients want a landscape geared for entertaining, and others are interested in a tranquil, serene garden setting. “Lots of people have bird feeders and bird baths, and I have put in butterfly gardens, perennial gardens, cutting gardens, vegetable gardens, grasses, and bat houses!

“Also popular today is the pondless waterfall. With this format, the water flows onto river stone, with just a few inches of water over the stones. This is nice because it is versatile, and can be placed in a small area, such as on a terrace or patio. People like to have water gardens, fountains, etc. because it is very relaxing.”

Mr. Doerler handles projects of all sizes, both residential and commercial, with many in Princeton. In addition, Doerler landscapes are seen all over the area and beyond, in Northern New Jersey, Bucks County, and at the shore.

“Our real specialty is residential work, although we do a lot of commercial projects, too, including landscape management and irrigation for corporations, such as Church & Dwight in Princeton.

Design Center

“We are a design center,” he continues. “First, we go to the site and get the homeowner’s or company’s ‘wish list’. Then I’ll put together a conceptual idea and plan. The client comes in to look at the design, and we can make immediate changes on the computer.”

Budget is a key factor, of course. “Budget drives the materials,” he notes. Projects can last for a couple of days to a couple of years. Very large jobs are often completed in phases because of budgeting requirements.

“Sometimes, clients may start with plantings for the front of the house; other times, if they want a pool, they’ll do that first, along with the patio. With our plantings, we strive to have something in bloom and colorful from early spring to late fall. In design, it’s a textured look, and can include varying shades of green.

“Flowering trees are always popular, and right now, everything is ready sooner this year because of the mild winter. We are very busy in March, April, and May, and we can be busy in the fall too. We work year-round.

“We have all kinds of projects, and I especially like working on older houses with quaint gardens. Of course, every project is unique. Our goal is always to enhance the home environment and to complement the architecture of the house. The landscape needs to match the architecture.”

The company also does repair and remodeling work for hardscapes as well as installing new ones. “We can also transplant or ‘repurpose’ plantings and even move plants from a current house to a new one. We often work on a client’s second home, such as a beach house.”

Finished Product

“This is very gratifying and fulfilling work, says Mr. Doerler, “and I like seeing the finished product, seeing the plan come to life.”

Doerler Landscapes’ concept of a family business extends to the employees, he adds. “They regularly attend professional development and continuing education courses, and we have in-house training. We have a strong internal culture based on team work and family. Many employees have been with us for a long time, 20 years and more.”

Mr. Doerler also believes strongly in giving back to the community, and he serves on several boards. Doerler Landscapes supports various charities and organizations. “I do in-kind service work, and we also established the Miracle League, and built a barrier-free baseball field in Yardville for disabled kids. We now have six teams in the league.”

Doerler Landscapes can be reached at (609) 585-7500. Website: www.doerler.com.