Heaviland Landscape Management

In Vista, California, Heaviland Landscape Management has been serving commercial customers throughout San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties for more than 30 years. The company offers full-service landscape management, landscape installation, enhancements and resource management.

Heaviland provides site-specific analysis and land planning, delivering landscape design-build projects from concept to completion. The company’s focus on the full understanding of its client’s aesthetic, economic and environmental needs makes for a more complete, customized solution, no matter the size or shape of the property.

Heaviland was founded in the spring of 1985 by father and son duo, Ron and Tom Heaviland. The pair started with a single pickup truck, five employees and 15 commercial contracts. Over the years, the business has grown to more than 300 commercial accounts, a fleet of about 60 vehicles and more than 125 employees.

A foundation in strong customer relations

Amid expansion, one thing has remained unchanged over the last 30 years: the company’s commitment to delivering the highest level in landscape management services to customers. “In celebrating 30 years this summer, we’ve reflected on our strengths as a company and one of the biggest is having a team that can connect with customers on a deeper level,” explains Tom Heaviland, president of Heaviland. “We really focus on relationship building. Our customers are more than contracts for us and we really care about serving them to the best of our abilities.”

“As a result, we build customer advocates that really go out and sell for us,” he continues. “We’ve found that in recent years, most of our sales are generated from referrals from our current customer base.”

With three branch locations in Vista, Miramar and South Bay San Diego Heaviland is an industry leader, known for its proactive approach as a client partner with tailored services and support. “We always deliver on time and on-budget, while tailoring our products and services to suit individual needs,” says Tom. “We extend personal involvement long after the job is completed, working hand in hand with our client partners to strive for higher standards, superior communication and transparency in business practices.”

Heaviland’s core competency is commercial landscape management. “We offer all services and support for commercial clients, top to bottom,” says Tom. Heaviland has delivered expertly executed landscapes and landscape design for many large commercial customers, including the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the Carlsbad Research Center, the Salk Institute and Jazzercise International’s corporate headquarters. “We also have a good amount of golf customers,” adds Tom. “We work with Callaway Golf and Cobra Golf just to name a few.”

Full-service solutions

Heaviland’s landscape management division cares for and services projects of virtually any size and scope, offering: landscape management reports specific to the property, site-specific evaluations, landscape design, budget forecasting, plant health care and integrated pest management – all implemented with a sustainable focus.

As far as landscape installation services, Heaviland is well-versed in landscape design and renovations, ecological restoration design and installation, repairs, water-use efficiency retrofits, irrigation controller installation and  programming, and flow monitoring and management to minimize water loss and usage – a particular concern as of late with California’s ongoing drought.

Tom says Heaviland is fortunate to have the right team members in place to combat the effects of the drought. “One of the reasons we brought on Rajan L. Brown, our director of resource management, is because he has great skill in water management and conservation systems,” explains Tom. “As the water issue has become more and more important, he works to put together efficiency programs and water budgets to manage the increasingly scarce resource. He has his masters in landscape architecture and he is a vital part of our resource management team.”

“The drought has been a double-edged sword for us,” continues Tom. “It’s created many opportunities for us on the design-build side of the business developing drought tolerant landscape renovations with water efficient irrigation systems for our customers, but the drought has also brought on increased regulations restricting irrigation days and watering times making for challenges in the hot summer months.”

The company’s efforts in water conservation and resource management have paid off. One of Heaviland’s recent projects, the Plaza Rancho Penasquitos, recently won the Water Smart Landscape Construction Award.

Tom emphasizes that success is all about having the right team in place. “Landscaping is a great industry because the things we do really can improve the quality of life and the value of property for our clients,” he says. “But for me as a business owner, it’s about building an organization that’s thriving and creating opportunities for our team.  We want our employees to grow and to be challenged.”

“Developing a team of talented individuals that are excited about their personal vision and the vision of the company is what makes coming to work fun for me,” he continues. “Surrounding myself with quality people forces me to elevate my own game every day.”

With a driven group, including the third generation of family, Tom’s son, Christian Heaviland, the company continues to build on its 30-year reputation. “We’re going to have a celebration in the fall, where we gather customers past and present and vendors,” says Tom. “We’re also rebranding this year, so we will tie all of this into the event.”

After 30 years, Heaviland Landscape Management has formed deep customer relationships and one of the best teams in the business.