| 81 T T Rosa Watson Landscape specialists make every metre count One Square Rate Landscaping’s services include landscape design, construction, hydro seeding, plant sourcing and supply, and maintenance. One Square Rate Landscaping CONTRACTING Christchurch-based landscaping firm One Square Rate Landscaping is celebrating 15 years in business and reflecting on its growth from a one-man-band to a leading firm in the region. The company was founded in 2010 by Gareth Scarlett, who had already built a strong background in landscape construction. He had been involved in several high-end projects with his previous employer, and was keen to take on the challenge of building his own company. Karl Odell, a qualified landscape architect, joined 12 months later as co-owner, bringing with him a strong background in landscape design. The pair felt they had a complementary set of skills to get a business off the ground, Karl says. “From the start, we felt the combination of construction and design skill sets would put us in good stead. Our passion for landscaping as a career came from a strong belief that quality landscaping adds real value to property, and provides the finishing touch to any project.” He says that idea still drives One Square Rate Landscaping’s purpose today – adding value for people and property. In the early years, they took on a wide variety of jobs from full property landscapes to mowing lawns, which was “simply to keep the business moving”, he says. Within a couple of years they had employed the first staff members, one of whom is still with the company today, having started as a labourer and is now the company’s construction operations manager. “Seeing that growth and being part of people’s career development is something we are very proud of,” Karl says. Today, One Square Rate Landscaping has grown to more than 30 full-time staff and has developed into a complete end-to-end landscaping company. Its services include landscape design, construction, hydro seeding, plant sourcing and supply, and maintenance. It has become the trusted landscaping partner for a number of Canterbury’s leading building companies, and has been involved in significant projects, including numerous Kāinga Ora developments and large subdivision landscapes in the Selwyn District. Its specialty lies in balancing creativity with functionality, producing gardens, courtyards, and large-scale landscapes that suit both modern living and Canterbury’s unique environment. Karl says one of the biggest challenges in the early years was convincing people to give them a chance. “From day one, we set out to make the landscaping process easy for clients, and to deliver the best possible result.” That approach has paid off, and today a large portion of its work comes through word of mouth and repeat customers. Karl says landscaping themes have also evolved over the years, and while styles change, the majority of clients now seek easy-care landscapes that are functional, low-maintenance, and make the most of increasingly smaller sections. “Maximising every square metre has become critical, which aligns with our guiding philosophy of making every metre count.” Looking forward, Karl says the firm’s goal is to continue drawing on the experience it has built over the past 15 years, grow its core services, and keep raising the bar in quality and innovation. “By focusing on our people, our processes, and our purpose, we’re excited to keep delivering landscapes that truly add value to both people and property.”
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