Top landscaper turns heads with beauty sculpted from nature
Art comes in many forms. Some artists paint on canvas. Others chisel statues out of stone. Still others plant lovely flowers, shrubs and trees for amazing outdoor designs.
That work with growing things is the art for which Poul's Landscaping and Nursery of Long Grove and Wadsworth has become known.
Paul Kjeldbjerg, a Danish immigrant, started the business in 1966 after several years of working for another, larger landscape company. Co-founding the business with his wife, Margit, Poul's Landscaping started with just two employees, a truck and a tractor. Paul named his new venture after himself, using the Danish spelling of his name, according to Dan Kjeldbjerg, his oldest son.
The business grew gradually over the years by word-of-mouth. Poul's even installed much of the landscaping at the old Arlington Park Racetrack before it suffered a devastating fire (and was also hired to landscape the Trackside Restaurant at the newer track).
Poul's Landscaping, which this year won the Best of the Best honor in the Daily Herald Readers' Choice contest, has become a true family business success story. In 1986, Dan joined the business full time after earning a marketing degree from Northern Illinois University. In 1991, his wife, Wendy, added her skills to the team with a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Central Michigan University. In 1993, Paul's youngest son, Alan, joined as a co-owner to manage the nursery division and field operations after graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in agriculture. Alan's wife, Melissa, manages purchasing with her degree in agriculture from Ohio State University. Eight of Paul's grandchildren have even joined in on the family business, working as part-time employees on their holiday breaks from school.
Today the company has 60 employees (including two landscape designers), which they run in 13 two-person crews. They own 150 acres in Wadsworth where they grow trees and ornamental shrubs and 47 acres in Long Grove where they also grow planting stock - and even recently started a vineyard.
"We planted the vineyard in 2016 and began making our Modern Viking wine four years ago. We don't have a liquor license yet, so we can't sell our wine, but we do give it away," Dan explained.
Poul's Landscaping handles weekly and seasonal landscaping maintenance and shrub pruning, treating for insects and disease, drainage work, outdoor lighting and also the construction of outdoor living areas throughout the Northwest suburbs, the North Shore communities and even in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
"Alan and I watched our father work very hard on this business and we also observed how he always treated both his clients and employees with the utmost integrity," Dan said. "He also always did his best and achieved a high level of craftsmanship."
"We work every day to carry on that tradition by offering our clients impeccable workmanship and top-of-the-line warranties. We also stay on a job until it is complete," he added.
"We are not the least expensive landscaper in the business, but we stand by our estimates and don't blindside customers with upcharges at the end."
The Kjeldbjergs are also proud at the longevity of their employees, with many of them staying with the firm for more than 25 years. Dan said that they pay them well, provide benefits, sponsor employee parties and recognize those who work hard.
In addition to this year's Daily Herald Readers' Choice nod, Poul's Landscaping & Nursery Inc. has earned the Angie's List Super Service Award for over nine years. After over 50 years, this family business - like the plants in its nursery and vineyard - continues to grow.