employees: “The economy was slow, and my
dad wasn’t interested in growing the business,
so he told me to go bang on doors. I took
business cards around and put them into the
hands of the decision makers.” They branded
the company and started growing. In 2016,
Ryan purchased Alpine from his dad. Today,
Alpine has 60 employees.
The term “landscape” comes from the
Germanic “land,” meaning region, and the
Old English “scape,” meaning to shape: to
shape the land. When we choose specific
plants or trees, fence them in, add structures
to support them, remove or add rocks, and
divert water for nourishment, we have shaped
the land to suit a purpose.
Landscaping and gardens are all around us
in parks, kitchen gardens, botanical gardens,
home gardens, roadside parkways, shopping
centers, businesses, and commercial proper-
ties. We seem to have a fundamental need for
greenery. And, in fact, we do. Urban greenery
promotes mental health, encourages relax-
ation, and relieves stress. Practically speak-
ing, it provides shade, conserves water, and
increases property values.
Ryan speaks with enthusiasm and a well-
earned pride in his company. “There are
a whole lot of really good local gardeners
out there,” he says. “But Alpine is differ-
ent because we manage your landscape,
year-round, from mowing lawns, trimming
plants, shrubs, and trees, to fertilizing, weed
control, and maintain structures and irriga-
tion systems.” Alpine's account managers are
horticulturists (with degrees), supervisors and
irrigation technicians are certified through
NALP (National Association of Landscape
Professionals), and gardeners are all trained
onsite to specific plant material by the supervi-
sor.” Alpine’s account managers have direct
contact with clients, working closely with
property or facilities managers and HOA
boards, to keep them updated on maintenance
and help create their annual budgets.
Alpine offers three primary services:
Landscape Management, Water Management,
and Landscape Enhancement and Renovations.
Landscape and Water Management usually go
hand-in-hand; however, they can be separate.
Landscape Enhancement and Renovations
includes new landscapes, landscape demoli-
tion, turf renovation, hardscapes, outdoor
lighting, special effects, irrigation system
installations, and more. Enhancements help to
improve appearance and lower costs. Alpine
also handles new landscape constructions
from start to finish.
“All properties are serviced weekly, some
twice weekly,” says Ryan. “We take an aerial
view of every property and plot a year-round
service schedule on a spreadsheet.” Alpine is
making a strong push towards sustainability,
and, on request, they have a crew that’s all
organic and all-electric, using battery-powered
mowers, blowers, hedgers, and trimmers.
“The all-electric costs a bit more, but for
some people it’s worth it.”
Alpine has maintained the front yards,
walkways, and common areas of Oak
Commons, a housing community of 137
homes, just off of Wren Avenue in western
area of Gilroy, since 2011. Ryan gives me a
short tour; he notices the fallen leaves and
points out the organic fertilizer holding tank
that delivers micro-doses of fertilizer at every
watering. He introduces me to Daniel, one
of the gardeners, and phones Nancy Asay, an
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
WINTER 2020
original owner and the HOA President for the
past five years, and asks her to come down
for an interview.
“This is my wonderful landscaper,” Nancy
says when she arrives. “I don’t have to say
anything. You can see the landscaping is just
absolutely gorgeous. The residents are always
telling me ‘this is so beautiful.’ It’s like a little
Charles Dickens Village.”
Glyneth Perez, an Oak Commons home-
owner of three years, is pushing a stroller
and walking her chocolate Lab. “The land-
scaping is pretty amazing actually. I’m very
impressed. Even our friends who come over
have noticed,” she says.
In November, Alpine Landscapes won
the Sweepstakes Award from the California
Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA)
for best main-tenance out of all categories
(residential or commercial) in California
for their client, Sakata Seed. “This award is
great because it’s a direct representation of
the client’s product. Sakata Seed is an orna-
mental and vegetable seed company. We grow
the seasonal color for them from their own
seeds, and then we plant and maintain it. This
is even more special because my father won
this exact same award in the early 1990s for
Sakata Seed,” Ryan says.
“Owning a business has allowed me to get
back into the community, which I like. I’m
part of Gilroy Rotary, on the board of direc-
tors. I’m able to give back to the community
doing service projects,” he adds.
Ryan Dinsmore doesn’t just manage
landscapes; he also develops close relation-
ships with his employees, clients, and the
community. Alpine Landscapes is flourishing
as a result.
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