Service areas · Venice
Venice yards, from established neighborhoods to a few blocks off the Gulf.
Older lots with mature trees and tired concrete, and coastal yards that take salt and wind. Craig starts from what the property already has and designs the pavers, walls, and planting to work with it.
- Sarasota & Manatee County
- Free on-site estimate
- You deal with the owner
One city, three kinds of yard
Venice has a historic downtown laid out in the 1920s, an island between the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway, and newer communities farther inland. They ask different things of a landscape.
- 01
Established neighborhoods
Mature trees and their roots, concrete drives and walks that have cracked or lifted, and planting that has grown past its space. Work often starts with an old drive or walk and the beds beside it.
- 02
Close to the Gulf
Salt spray, wind, and sandy soil narrow the plant list, and light-colored pavers tend to stay more comfortable underfoot around pools and outdoor showers.
- 03
Newer communities inland
HOA guidelines, yards that never got past the builder's basics, and a back patio that ends at the lanai screen. A wider drive, a patio, and screening are the usual starting points.
Working with what is already there
Trees you want to keep
Roots are a common reason old concrete drives and walks crack and lift. Paving tight against a large tree, or cutting big roots to make room, can harm the tree and still leave the new surface to heave. Where a tree is staying, the layout can curve around it or step back from the trunk, and pavers can be lifted and reset later if roots move. For a significant tree, an arborist's opinion is worth getting first. Some trees cannot be removed or heavily pruned without approval from the city or county, so check before you plan around taking one out.
Pavers and block that have to match
On older properties, a paver drive or wall is often extended rather than replaced. Original colors may be faded or no longer made, so the plan allows for that from the start, sometimes with a border where old meets new. See paver driveways and retaining walls.
Where the water goes
On older lots, low spots and water sitting near the house after a heavy rain are common. Drainage is planned in the same job as the pavers and beds, not patched in afterward.
Worth thinking about before the visit
- The trees. Which ones you want to keep, and any that are already causing trouble.
- What has to match. The brand and color of existing pavers or wall block, if you know them.
- How close the water is. Salt exposure affects plant choices and how quickly metal fixtures, such as landscape lights, weather.
- Storms and heavy rain. Where water stands, and anything that washed out or died after past storms.
- Neighborhood rules. If the home is in a community with an HOA or deed restrictions, its guidelines on colors, materials, and plants.
Venice questions
General answers. The specifics for your property come from the on-site look.
01Roots have cracked my concrete drive. Can pavers go in without taking out the tree?
Often the layout can be adjusted around a tree you want to keep, but it depends on the tree, how close it is, and the size of the roots. Cutting large roots can damage or destabilize a tree, so for a significant tree it is worth getting an arborist's opinion. We will look at it on site and talk through the options.
02My pavers were installed years ago. Can new work match them?
Extending and matching existing pavers and wall block is part of what we do. On older installations the original color may be faded or discontinued, so we will talk through how close the match can get and whether a border or band would make the transition look intentional.
03What plants hold up near the Gulf?
Plants with good salt tolerance belong on the side of the yard that takes the spray, with less tolerant plants behind them or in sheltered spots. Our article on privacy plants for Sarasota yards covers how to choose, and the UF/IFAS Extension office in Sarasota County is a good source for plant lists.
04Do you work in all of Venice?
Venice is one of our service areas. Call with the neighborhood and the job and we will confirm the property is in range.
Nearby areas
Other places we work along this stretch of the coast.
Free on-site estimate in Venice.
Tell us the neighborhood and the job: a driveway, patio, pool deck, wall, or planting.