BACKYARD STAYCATIONS DESIGNED BY EAQ (FORMERLY E.A. QUINN)
cdavis • June 27, 2019
Staycations are all the rage these days. Why travel when you still have so much to discover right here in Connecticut? But at EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn) Landscape Contracting, we think you might want to take that a step farther. Staycation in your own backyard!
But for the perfect Backyard Staycation, you’ll need the perfect Outdoor Living plan, and that’s where the experts at EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn) Landscaping can help.
We work with homeowners throughout Connecticut on Outdoor Living plans to incorporate a myriad of features that will make you, your friends, your family and your neighbors want to hang out in your backyard. Below is a list of the most popular Outdoor Living elements that any backyard staycation needs:
- Outdoor Kitchen – If you want to really enjoy your time grilling, you’ll want an outdoor kitchen. Our outdoor kitchen designs not only include gas grills, but also kitchen sinks, refrigerators, kegerators, wine storage and pizza ovens. Basically anything you have inside your kitchen at home can be installed outside.
- Poolscape – What’s the number one thing people look forward to when they go on a vacation? Swimming! Well, with a pool and custom poolscape, you won’t be nearly as interested in traveling during the summer.
- Fire Pit or Fire Place – Nothing says cozy like a fire pit or fire place. They’re great in the evening and can keep you outside longer into the fall and winter seasons.
- Seating Options – A proper Outdoor Living Design will not only include traditional patio furniture, but also built in options, like natural stone sitting walls around a fire pit.
- Retaining Walls – Have a slanted yard? No problem? Our expertise is getting the yard to work for you. With the right design of a retaining wall, we can help you create flat areas for patios as well as pools.
- Media Options – No staycation is complete without the proper soundtrack. We can work with you to install speakers throughout your outdoor living area so the tunes keep everyone feeling groovy!
Next time you are dreaming about traveling for a summer vacation, why not start to think about what a Backyard Vacation would look like? When you’re ready, give us a call!
Commercial property irrigation services manage how water reaches turf, trees, shrubs, and planting beds across business and institutional landscapes. Proper coverage supports plant health, creates a more consistent appearance, controls unnecessary water use, and protects the property’s long-term landscape investment. Property managers, facility teams, commercial owners, schools, municipalities and multi-site operators depend on irrigation systems to perform under changing weather and property conditions. A system must do more than turn on at a scheduled time. It must deliver the right amount of water to each part of the landscape without creating dry areas, flooding, runoff, or repeated overspray.
Commercial property management is a balancing act between curb appeal, safety, and long-term value. Buildings usually get the most attention, but the landscape, especially the trees and shrubs, function as the property's living infrastructure. A well-maintained tree canopy or shrub line does more than look good. It protects the investment, reduces liability, and shapes the first impression tenants, customers, and visitors get before they ever step through the door.
Commercial hardscape restoration is a specialized service dedicated to repairing, cleaning, resetting, and renewing exterior built surfaces.
Walk a campus or commercial property after a wet spring week and the turf usually tells the story fast. Bare areas near entrances, muddy tracks across open lawns, weed pressure along drives, and thin grass in high-traffic zones all point to bigger maintenance issues. Commercial turf services cover far more than mowing. A strong program protects appearance, supports grass health, improves safety, and helps turf recover from traffic, heat, storms, and winter stress. At EAQ Landscaping, we build turf programs around the full picture, not just the cut. This guide explains what commercial turf services should include, how service needs change by property type, and what to look for in a provider that can deliver reliable results season after season.
Landscape compliance defines how commercial sites are planned and built under local and regional rules. It sets limits on grading, drainage, hardscape, structures, planting, and safety. Local oversight often involves multiple agencies, each reviewing a different part of the site and final plans. When these reviews are handled out of order, projects can slow, costs can rise, and approvals can stall. Proper landscape compliance management keeps plans aligned, reviews moving, and work cleared to proceed without interruption.
Computer based design turns site concepts into exact build plans before work starts. Every path, slope, pipe, and plant location is defined in one shared file, giving crews, inspectors, owners, plus towns the same view. On large commercial properties, this clarity cuts errors, limits rework, and keeps costs steady by aligning planning, field execution, and approvals from day one. At EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn), designs become live job files. Crews load drawings on tablets, follow grades and layouts, and record any changes on site. Project leads send the same file to towns and owners, so approvals, installs, plus updates stay in sync.
For property managers and business owners, the grounds are now a strategic asset impacting tenant retention, brand perception, and operational efficiency. Hiring separate contractors for mowing, irrigation, and enhancements no longer meets current demands. This outdated model creates communication gaps, conflicting priorities, and missed opportunities. The solution lies in replacing transactional services with a comprehensive partnership model. This piece explores how working with an integrated landscaping partner aligns outdoor management with business objectives and moves beyond basic upkeep to create measurable value.
We’re proud to share that EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn) Landscape Contracting has been honored with a 2025 HOBI Award. This recognition celebrates our dedication to design excellence, craftsmanship, and creating outdoor spaces that truly elevate the way our clients live. Thank you to our partners and our client who make these achievements possible Provision Media, Oxford Builders, Jack Kemper Architect, Richter & Cegan, Romex, SKM Designs
EAQ (formerly E.A.Quinn) is proud to be recognized with a Silver Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals for our work at the University of Connecticut. This honor highlights our ongoing partnership with UConn and the dedication of our team in maintaining over 400 acres of campus grounds with care and precision. From supporting campus events to preserving natural spaces, we're proud to help keep UConn looking its best year-round.
Choose the right landscaping vendor to boost curb appeal, accountability, and long-term property value.