TOP LANDSCAPING TRENDS FOR 2019
cdavis • January 8, 2019
Thinking about making some updates to your outdoor space? We’ve compiled the top 5 trends in landscaping for 2019. These are all elements you may want to consider. Contact EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn) to speak with a designer if any of these ideas are interesting to you!
- Converting a wood deck into an elevated patio. Oftentimes people assume that they need to be ground-level to build a paver or natural stone patio. But with the right design, you can elevate a patio, in some cases eliminating a wooden deck. For example, if you have a wooden deck off your back door, the team at EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn) may be able to design a patio that utilizes steps as well as retaining walls to take the place of that deck. Many of our customers prefer a paver or natural stone patio to a wooden deck not only due to the look, but also due to the reduced maintenance.
- Creating conversation areas within your outdoor living space. It’s not enough to move a picnic tables and chairs into your backyard nowadays. For the best use of your outdoor living space, you may want to consider creating conversation areas. For example, one conversation area may be around the outdoor kitchen. Another may be around the fire pit and still another may be around a water feature. To make sure you get the most out of your outdoor space, ask EAQ (formerly E.A. Quinn) to incorporate conversation areas.
- Creating tranquil areas within your outdoor living space. While conversation areas are great, life isn’t a constant party! You will often want to turn to your outdoor space to rest, relax and rejuvenate. One of the hottest trends in landscaping right now is to include tranquil areas. This areas typically include comfortable, relaxed seating (maybe even a hammock!) as well as calming elements, like waterfalls.
- Porcelain pavers. You may have heard of porcelain when it comes to plates and dishes, but it is increasingly used in outdoor applications. Porcelain pavers are frost-resistant, stain-resistant and easy to clean. And because porcelain tiles also look great indoors, you can use them both inside and outside your home to create a seamless design.
- Permeable pavers. Permeable pavers not only look great, but they also filter and director stormwater to underground aquifers, making them a great environmentally conscious choice for an outdoor living space.
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.