Creating Curb Appeal
Having a home that looks appealing to passersby provides pride of ownership. Several local businesses work to assist homeowners in making their residences more attractive.
The Growing Place Garden Center
The Growing Place Garden Center at 25w471 Plank Rd. (and also at 2000 Montgomery Rd., Aurora) has deep roots in Naperville. Emma and Fritz Glatzhofer began growing and selling perennials from that site in 1936. In 1973, Rich & Carol Massat stepped into the business and expanded it to what it is today. Now their children, Michael & Becca, the third generation, are helping run the business.
“Today we sell trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs and houseplants as well as offer landscaping design and installation services,” Becca Massat said. “What makes us a unique destination is that we have over an acre of display gardens at both locations so customers can see how plants will mature in a garden setting.”
“Our goal is to help people plant the right plants in the right places so they will have success in their garden. I do have to give a big shout out to our staff. They are amazingly knowledgeable and always happy to answer questions,” she added.
The Growing Place offers a wide range of classes, workshops and festivals throughout the seasons and sells pumpkins and mums in the fall and holiday trees and decor in their gift shop through Dec. 23. Then they close for the winter, opening again around April 1.
“Something people might not know about us is that we grow all the herbs and vegetables as well as around 60% of the annuals and perennials we sell in our greenhouses at the Aurora location. Our trees and shrubs are sourced from northern growers so that they are hardier for our crazy Chicagoland winters,” Becca said.
Horticultural Consultants
Carl Schultz, owner of Horticultural Consultants, has his roots in Naperville. His grandfather was a farm advisor when the area was blanketed in farms and Schultz learned his love of nature at his grandfather’s knee. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana to study horticulture and worked for a tree care company after graduation. In 1986 he began his own company, based in Aurora, and ever since has been advising homeowners on their trees and shrubs, designing landscapes and creating care plans for “do-it-yourselfers.”
“My goals are to give homeowners curb appeal by having healthy plants, providing color and interest throughout all four seasons and keeping the maintenance needs low. I believe in the Chinese proverb that “A garden is loved into being,” he added.
“I design landscape plans for homeowners and then once the plants are in place, I help maintain them by fertilizing trees and shrubs, treating for diseases and insects and refer them to irrigation companies if they need additional water,” he said. “I also do microbial inoculations of the soil to help the roots of my customers’ trees and shrubs be more efficient and effective. These act as probiotics for plants.”
“But I am very careful to treat individual plants for individual needs. I do not go into the yard and spray everything like many companies do, because I don’t want to kill the good insects with the bad,” he added.
Schultz primarily works for clients in the School District 203 and 204 areas, but will also travel to other nearby communities. He served as a Forest Preserve of DuPage County commissioner from 2002 to 2012 and continues to serve on the Board of the Forest Preserve’s charitable foundation.
Design Brick Paving
Naperville-based Design Brick Paving was opened in 1990 and has grown to be one of DuPage County’s most reputable installers of Unilock pavers for patios, driveways, walkways, retaining walls, steps, grills, fire pits, water features, mailboxes and pergolas. They also install any necessary gas lines, as well as outdoor lighting in and around their paver creations and even create outdoor kitchens, complete with granite countertops.
Brand and his crew regularly work in Naperville, Plainfield, Oswego, Lisle, North Aurora and Wheaton. In fact, they did the paver work surrounding the Naperville City Hall.
“People are investing money in their patios, front entrances and other outdoor spaces because most have grown tired of their aging decks and want something more elaborate. Unilock pavers come in a wide variety of colors and styles, so there are lots of choices when deciding the look they want. And Unilock pavers come with a lifetime guarantee that can be transferred to a new owner,” said David Brand, owner.
“We have been successful over the years because we have dedicated ourselves to the personal attention of each and every client, ensuring complete satisfaction,” he added. “In all of our installations, whether big or small, we are true craftsmen with commitment to each and every detail of each job.”