Earth Effects Landscaping, LLC is owned and operated by Dave Thorpe with over 30 years of experience in the landscape industry. We want to put that experience to work for you!
Background
In the summer of 1982, at 18 years of age, Dave Thorpe took a job on a maintenance crew working for a large commercial landscape company in the D.C. metro area (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Tysons, Falls Church, Maryland and D.C.). Commercial landscape maintenance crews mow grass, apply mulch, trim trees and shrubs, and perform leaf removal. This is where he learned proper techniques of maintenance, the many different names of shrubs and trees and how to identify them.
In 1984, he was promoted to a supervisor position and given his own maintenance crew. At 20 years of age, he learned the basics of how to efficiently operate a crew of men for maximum productivity.
In 1986, he was promoted again. This time to landscape installation and he began learning the design and construction part of the landscape industry. He became familiar with all aspects of landscape plants. Their growth habits, their tolerances for sun or shade, their water requirements, their proper placement in the design. He learned the basics of construction and how to operate machinery like skid steers and backhoes used for building retaining walls.
In 1990, he was promoted to the top of the landscape division. He learned how to calculate and bid jobs to win contracts. But also, just as importantly, he learned the logistics of getting those jobs done on time.
In 1994, after growing tired of the long commute to the metro area and wishing to have his own landscape operation, Dave Thorpe left the commercial landscape company where he had worked for 12 years to start his own business.
