Kevin Manning

Kevin Manning

Kevin has deep roots in the Chicagoland area, growing up in Plainfield and now residing in Naperville. He holds a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Illinois and serves on the board for the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA). Since KD's inception in 1998, Kevin has loved creating outdoor environments to match the lifestyles of thousands of customers. In his spare time, you can find him spending time on the water with his wife, daughter, son, and labradoodle.

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Recent Posts

Case Study: Commercial Landscape Services for McCollum Park

Case Study: Commercial Landscape Services for McCollum Park

When you manage large municipal landscaping, you face many challenges, including keeping the property safe for the many people who visit your site regularly.

When creating beautiful landscaping for parks doesn’t just happen, especially the impressive manicured planting areas, walkways, and colorful, cooling retreats that grace Chicagoland’s best public parks. The playgrounds at these sites encourage artistry and originality in efforts to promote physical activity and exercise in natural surroundings.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Commercial Landscape Design/Build Services in Chicagoland

The Comprehensive Guide to Commercial Landscape Design/Build Services in Chicagoland

As a property manager, developer, or business owner of a Greater Chicago commercial facility, you’re always looking to improve the appearance of your site and better serve your visitors.

Whether customers come to a retail facility, tenants live and use the amenities at an HOA, students attend an educational institution, workers and businesses report to an office park or industrial facility, or patients visit a healthcare site, you can’t sacrifice aesthetics, safety, and function when refining your commercial grounds.

While you may have a grasp on the commercial landscape maintenance services you need regularly, you might feel a bit lost when it comes to commercial landscape design/build, what these services entail, what they can do for your property, and how to get started with any landscape installation or landscape construction projects.

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How Commercial Property Managers Can Prepare for Landscaping Consultations

How Commercial Property Managers Can Prepare for Landscaping Consultations

As a Greater Chicago property manager, you’re probably pretty busy.

And each time you add a new meeting to your calendar, you probably take a deep breath and wonder how you will fit everything in. You certainly don’t have time to waste.

This is why when scheduling a commercial landscape consultation, you likely have no time to prepare for this meeting and make every moment of it count.

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5 Tips for Improving Neglected Commercial Landscapes

5 Tips for Improving Neglected Commercial Landscapes

As a Greater Chicago property manager in charge of commercial properties in the area, you know the daily struggle.

If you’re in charge of a particularly competitive space, such as an office park, retail center, warehouse, or HOA, you know that remaining relevant and attractive to new customers and tenants is crucial to retaining business and getting noticed in your community.

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Case Study: Creating Commercial Landscapes to Match Modern Parks & Playgrounds

Case Study: Creating Commercial Landscapes to Match Modern Parks & Playgrounds

As a property manager of a park or municipal landscaping, you have a large site to manage and a lot of safety concerns to worry about.

For large parks districts, your municipal team may need to modernize and create functional and inviting spaces for community residents. The number of factors you must consider to create the right low-maintenance play structures for your space is vast.

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How to Improve Partially-Installed or Unfinished Commercial Landscapes

How to Improve Partially-Installed or Unfinished Commercial Landscapes

As a Greater Chicago area property manager, you want your commercial property to always look its best.

Sometimes, especially when a property is newly built, some basics are installed that may not be fully envisioned or poorly installed. Once you set your budget for the year, these can be the top things on your list for renovation or completion.

But how can you adapt a bare-bones concept to fit your property and business image? Completing partially installed landscaping on a commercial site can be daunting.

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How to Incorporate Landscape Architecture in Playgrounds & Public Spaces

How to Incorporate Landscape Architecture in Playgrounds & Public Spaces

Playgrounds and public spaces are the backbones of urban hubs like Greater Chicago.

These places shape neighborhood ties, facilitate interaction with nature and with others, and improve the local environment.

Well-designed and well-maintained parks foster a sense of belonging. Public park landscaping that is accessible, comfortable, useful, and attractive can do wonders for a community. Kid-friendly landscape design is an important part of this process.

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How Fall Decor & Winter Interest Add Curb Appeal to Commercial Landscapes

How Fall Decor & Winter Interest Add Curb Appeal to Commercial Landscapes

Curb appeal is hugely important for Greater Chicago commercial facilities.

It can attract customers, increase value, improve tenant satisfaction, boost visibility, and make a good first impression. An overall commercial landscape polish and attractiveness can carry much weight for your business.

Everything from colorful decor to lighting can greatly improve your curb appeal.

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Why You Can Still Install New Plants at Your Commercial Property in Cold Weather

Why You Can Still Install New Plants at Your Commercial Property in Cold Weather

Your commercial property in Greater Chicago needs to look good all year long.

Why? Because business never stops.

As the growing season winds down in this area, you might think you have nothing left to do on your commercial property to improve its appearance besides hunker down for winter and making sure you have a snow and ice removal plan.

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How to Design Long-Lived Landscapes for Parks & Municipal Facilities

How to Design Long-Lived Landscapes for Parks & Municipal Facilities

Every urban community needs green spaces its people can escape to and municipal facilities they can use.

Of course, large green spaces can be difficult to maintain. That's why low-maintenance, long-lived plants are key to keeping things looking their best, even when they don't get the attention of a favored backyard garden.

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