MONROE - After seven years building his reputation as a landscaper with DP Concrete and Landscaping, Joshua Daughenbaugh decided it was time to branch out on his own.
Josh D. Landscaping and Design begins its first season in a challenging economy of slow housing starts. But Daughenbaugh said he has carry-over work from last year, and he is working with a few local contractors. Most of his work, about 80-85 percent, will be in the Monroe area.
"Dave Pluss (of DP Concrete) gave me an opportunity to start my own business," Daughenbaugh said. DP Concrete downsized last December to a smaller, family-operated business.
Part of his interest in starting his own business was to be on the job sites.
"I like to personally oversee all jobs to ensure the highest quality workmanship is provided," Daughenbaugh said. "My motto is to treat all projects as if they were my own home."
His wife, Angie, can attest to his outstanding attention to detail.
"I remember watching him as he built the boulder walls at our house. He would use the skid loader to place a boulder, then back up and look at it, go forward and nudge it, then back up again to look at it, then go forward and nudge it again," she said. "My patience would have ended after the first three minutes."
Daughenbaugh discovered his enjoyment for landscaping when he was 16 years old. He worked three summers for Swiss Colony, mulching, mowing and tending the lawn and flowers.
"That's when I found out I liked doing it," he said. "I like every aspect. I just enjoy doing it - the transformation of nothing into something."
Daughenbaugh got an associates degree in horticulture at Illinois Central in Peoria, and since then has worked on hundreds of new and existing landscapes in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Today Josh D. Landscaping and Design creates unique landscape designs that incorporate ornamental plants from Anne's Landscape Supply in Freeport, Ill. Services range from building retaining walls and brick walkways and patios to seeding lawns, plantings and general maintenance. In the winter season, he plans to do snow removal.
Designing outdoor living spaces, emphasizing fire pits and seat walls, are specialties.
"Brick fire pits, where people can go out and light a fire and relax, have been the newest thing over the past couple of years," Daughenbaugh said.
Home buying in parts of the nation has slowed to a crawl, and many people are rethinking how they might expand their living spaces. Josh D. Landscaping and Design is keeping that in mind.
Josh D. Landscaping and Design begins its first season in a challenging economy of slow housing starts. But Daughenbaugh said he has carry-over work from last year, and he is working with a few local contractors. Most of his work, about 80-85 percent, will be in the Monroe area.
"Dave Pluss (of DP Concrete) gave me an opportunity to start my own business," Daughenbaugh said. DP Concrete downsized last December to a smaller, family-operated business.
Part of his interest in starting his own business was to be on the job sites.
"I like to personally oversee all jobs to ensure the highest quality workmanship is provided," Daughenbaugh said. "My motto is to treat all projects as if they were my own home."
His wife, Angie, can attest to his outstanding attention to detail.
"I remember watching him as he built the boulder walls at our house. He would use the skid loader to place a boulder, then back up and look at it, go forward and nudge it, then back up again to look at it, then go forward and nudge it again," she said. "My patience would have ended after the first three minutes."
Daughenbaugh discovered his enjoyment for landscaping when he was 16 years old. He worked three summers for Swiss Colony, mulching, mowing and tending the lawn and flowers.
"That's when I found out I liked doing it," he said. "I like every aspect. I just enjoy doing it - the transformation of nothing into something."
Daughenbaugh got an associates degree in horticulture at Illinois Central in Peoria, and since then has worked on hundreds of new and existing landscapes in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Today Josh D. Landscaping and Design creates unique landscape designs that incorporate ornamental plants from Anne's Landscape Supply in Freeport, Ill. Services range from building retaining walls and brick walkways and patios to seeding lawns, plantings and general maintenance. In the winter season, he plans to do snow removal.
Designing outdoor living spaces, emphasizing fire pits and seat walls, are specialties.
"Brick fire pits, where people can go out and light a fire and relax, have been the newest thing over the past couple of years," Daughenbaugh said.
Home buying in parts of the nation has slowed to a crawl, and many people are rethinking how they might expand their living spaces. Josh D. Landscaping and Design is keeping that in mind.