FARGO-Brennan Laudal enjoys driving around town looking at lawns. He said he can often tell which landscaping company was used because the assortment of plants and overall look tend to be similar.
Laudal does not want the same to be said about Beyond Outdoors, a new landscaping company and garden center he manages in south Fargo.
Laudal and his team of recent horticulture and landscape architecture grads, mainly from North Dakota State University, try to push the elements of design and gardening.
"We have fresh graduates and people coming in with fresh ideas," Laudal said. "You have to push the elements of design to try and come up with different ideas, whether we're building a bridge out of concrete or we're building a custom outdoor kitchen. Everything is tailored to the customer."
Manager Sheri Steckler hopes to do the same with the garden center.
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"With our vast space, we want to be able to offer a bigger variety, more unique plants people can't find anywhere else," Steckler said. "I always say we're going to be the biggest and best garden center from Missoula to Minneapolis."
The business is located on 8 acres near 52nd Avenue South that was formerly home to Kroshus Nursery and Landscape Center. Laudal said the property has more than 12,000 square feet of greenhouse space and 4 to 5 acres of trees.
"There is no one else in the F-M area that has the space we do here," he said.
Beyond Outdoors is owned by Joe Henrich and Mike Henrich. The cousins grew up working for their family's ready-mix business in South Dakota, and went into business for themselves as Beyond Concrete in 2004. The company specializes in decorative concrete, so they decided to purchase Kroshus Landscaping in January to provide their customers with additional services.
Laudal said the popularity of decorative concrete has grown substantially in recent years, and that business is good here where commercial and residential construction is strong. Beyond Concrete specializes in stamping and staining concrete, epoxy flooring and masonry for jobs such as an outdoor fireplace or kitchen.
Beyond Outdoors focuses on commercial and residential landscaping and garden center sales.
Laudal said they try to provide full-customer service, whether it is helping someone pick out plants or trees to plant themselves, or by providing full landscape services.
Steckler added that providing customers tips for successful gardening is also a priority.
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"We want to teach our customers and give them the knowledge and confidence to become successful gardeners," she said.
BUSINESS PROFILE
What: Beyond Outdoors
Where: 5518 51st Ave. S., Fargo.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Website: www.beyondcond.com
