Siebenthaler Company
3001 Catalpa Dr. - Dayton, OH 45405 - Tel: 937-274-1154

Comprehensive Landscape Design-Build firm and nursery stock production company.

See the impressions of 4 students about this company as presented below.

Fig. 1. Robert Siebenthaler presenting an overview of the well-established company in the Dayton, OH area.

1. Impressions of The Siebenthaler Company. By Erin Welsh

During the fine, hot, but sunny, month of September our teachers decided to take us on a little trip. I don't think they expected us to be quite as rowdy as we were, but nonetheless the trip was a success. Our two-day vacation spot was Dayton, Ohio, where we spent the greater part of our time visiting various horticulture operations. I can't say I had a favorite, because each impressed me, and left me with some inspiration, but I had to choose one to write on, so I decided on the Siebenthaler's Company.

We visited the Siebenthaler's on the second day of our excursion. Siebenthalers is a company that not only serves the public and commercial community with unique landscape design possibilities, but also an installation team that has knowledge which surpasses most landscapers.

Such superiority in the landscaping industry doesn't happen overnight. The company, which began in food crop production, was founded in 1870 by John and Georg Siebenthaler, and has been in the family ever since. Over the past 100 years the Siebenthalers have expanded to operating two retail garden centers, two propagation and container nursery's, and have even developed their own trademark plants, such as Moraine Sweet Gum and the Moraine Locust tree.

Siebenthalers has a full staff of seven landscape designers. Some are landscape architects, others have formal schooling in horticulture. We talked to a couple of the designers who explained to us their jobs. They work on a commission- based pay, and basically make their own schedule. They decide how many clients they want to take on, and when they will meet with them. The atmosphere at the Siebenthalers seemed very relaxed and family oriented. One designer said he even takes his son to work with him on occasion, and people have even been known to take their dogs in.

When the designers go to do an initial consultation with the client they have a list of questions for the client to consider. The designers want them to have a style in mind, along with colors and plants that they like and dislike. The designers also need to know about soil conditions and watering practices. All of this information helps the Siebenthaler's designer create a landscape that fits the client's lifestyle, décor, and hopefully budget!

After the initial meeting, the designer draws up a layout with an estimate of the project. If the client decides to follow through with the design, they now must decide whether they want to do the installation, or have the Siebenthalers do the dirty work.

From what I've heard and read about the company their landscapers are very knowledgeable and follow a very strict code of quality.

The Siebenthaler's are so sure of their planting techniques, and quality of plants, that they offer a two- year guarantee on the planting of woody plants.

I was especially impressed with the sense of pride that the employees and owners of the Siebenthalers seemed to take in what they do. I've worked in retail garden centers for two years, and I have a hard time selling something that I don't believe in. The presenter, Mr. Siebenthaler, has been around the company all his life, and you can see the pride that he has for it. If the owner is not only proud of his company, but also his employees, that says a lot. I was also impressed with the organization and trust. At the home base they organized jobs, but than put faith into their crews to complete them, without breathing down their backs. From what we could see, this method works well for them.

As a newcomer into the industry I was very impressed with the Siebenthalers Company, and would love to gain experience there, or even a possible career. I believe firmly in not only treating customers well, but also giving employees the same respect. This seems to hold true at the Siebenthalers. Who knows? Maybe someday when I FINALLY earn my degree from Ohio State, I may be able to pursue a career there?

2. James Bateman - The Siebenthaler Company

The Siebenthaler Company is a comprehensive landscape design-build firm just South of downtown Dayton, Ohio. The Siebenthaler family founded the design-build firm four generations ago, in 1870. They recently celebrated their 125th Anniversary in 1995. The Siebenthaler family came to the United States from Europe hoping for a more promising future and excellent opportunities. Siebenthaler's started their company by producing plant material for food crops such as fruits, nuts, and berries. The company quickly grew and then began growing more ornamental trees, evergreens, and shrubs. The main challenge that the Siebenthaler's faced, like many other landscape companies, was a problem getting their product out to the customers. This problem was solved through the development of the installation department, which I visited on Tuesday September the 22nd.

The Siebenthaler Company currently has seven designers on staff. Three to four of the designer's primary job is new customers. Not all of the designers are registered Landscape Architects. This is predominately due to the fact that a landscape design-build firm does not need to have registered Landscape Architects on staff to due residential work. Registered Landscape Architects are only needed when working on city and state jobs that demand their knowledge and accredibility. Many times when they are doing work for the city or state they are also working in conglomeration with many other professionals such as environmentalist, civil engineers, and city planners. Therefor, there are a few Landscape Horticulture majors working in the design offices.

The focus of the Siebenthaler Company is mainly on residential design and installation. However, only recently have they moved more toward commercial business and sales. This move was triggered when studies showed that commercial landscaping improves morale and working conditions of the employees. Two commercial accounts that Siebenthaler's presently have are at N.C.R in Dayton and Armco Steel, now known as A.K Steel, in Middletown. These two accounts serve as great references for present and future customers.

Siebenthaler's is mainly an installation company; they place little to no emphasis on hardscapes or mowing. Their range of projects is anywhere from $3000-$5000 to around a million and a half-dollars. Recently they finished a job at the New Miami Valley Hospital, which was headed by Ed, a Landscape Architect on staff from Holland. Siebenthaler's was in charge of this particular project from site analysis and planning to final installation and now year round maintenance. Most of their work is in the 20 to 30 mile Dayton area. One problem that the designers are having with many new accounts is that much of their work is on the other side of town. This makes it difficult for the designers to be at the job site in the morning, office late morning, and back meeting with new clients in the afternoon.

A typical -designers day begins with a meeting with crew foremen in the morning. This link with the installer and site supervision is critical that the job gets done correctly and to the specifications of the designer. They then will go back to the office and draw up proposals and quotes. The designer will then meet with one or two clients in the afternoon. Meetings are typically in the client's home. At this time the client must pay a $50 consultation fee. Also at this time the designer presents a design sketch and estimate of completion of the project. If the client gives the designer the go ahead the designer must then come up with a final drawing for the installation crew. There is not one particular style that identifies a landscape as a Siebenthaler's, each designer brings his own style for a particular client. All designers carry pagers and cell-phones that make them available at all times.

The Siebenthaler Company added two retail departments in the 1950s. One store was opened up at the location on Catalpa Drive and another store was soon opened up in Centerville. The location on Catalpa Drive presently makes no money but is kept in business because it has been a tradition. These garden retail centers offer an excellent outlet for what is produced at the 600 acre Siebenthaler Nursery in Beavercreek. The Siebenthaler Company has found that the stock produced at the nursery is their niche in the business and what separates them from the rest because it is of such an excellent quality and wide variety. I can personally attest to this statement because the company that I worked for this summer in Cincinnati, Urban Thickets, bought all of their plants from Siebenthaler's. We never once received bad stock. Urban Thickets received many compliments from customers about the quality of plants from Siebenthaler's.

As a Landscape Architect major at Ohio State I could one-day see myself working for a company such as Siebenthaler's. I have always been impressed with their nursery stock. It was not until I visited the design build department that I realized what a successful and exciting atmosphere the designers work in. After working for many design build firms over the past few summers I now realize the importance of a positive relationship between the designer and the builder. Without this relationship many jobs would not be done to the specifications of the designer. I was impressed that a company of Siebenthaler's size would take the time for such detail in their work. Because of these qualities I look forward to submitting my resume to the Siebenthaler Company when I graduate from Ohio State.

3. Lori R. Conaway - Siebenthaler's

The Siebenthaler's Nursery in Dayton, Ohio was founded in 1870. John Siebenthaler and his father Georg started the company cultivating food crops of nuts and berries for the new homesteads. The company evolved into producing ornamental crops, and just three generations ago they introduced trees, shrubs, and perennials. Today the Beaver Creek Nursery consists of 600 acres! In the 1920's the Siebenthaler's felt comfortable enough to produce vertically integrated landscapes. Jeff Siebenthaler's grandfather was a Landscape Architect and he specialized in residential design and installation. Later it developed into commercial landscaping. Now they do a lot less hard scapes. The landscaping projects range from the mid six figures up to one million dollars!

Siebenthaler's is staffed with seven full time design sales people. The staff

consists of Landscape Architects and Landscape Horticulturist. Jeff Siebenthaler mentioned that either profession is equally talented. This comment is what most impressed me about Siebenthaler's. The two professions are working side by side. The Landscape Hort majors are considered just as valuable!

The design sales person works on commission and will explain the two-year guarantee to the customer. They find out what the customer likes and what is best suited for the property, then they go back to the office and draw up the plan. Siebenthaler's charges a consultation fee of $50.00 but offers to apply this amount towards any order of $500.00 or more.

A good deal of their business comes from referrals. That is why it is very important for Siebenthaler's to follow through and make sure their customer is satisfied. Ron Cramer is their Site Supervisor and he majored in Horticulture. He is their public relations contact and he answers questions from the homeowner.

Pro Landscapes does all of the landscape installations. It rotates the crews on a first in - first out basis. A sales person can not chose which crew will do an install. The sales staff can over see the install, but at this point the sales person and customer do not have any more contact. This is primarily where the site supervisor, Ron Cramer, comes in.

Siebenthaler's also specializes in maintenance service, except for mowing and tree cutting. The Siebenthaler's offer a Customized Landscape Maintenance Package that no other company can. They offer a wide range of services as well as The Siebenthaler name, which stands for stability, support, loyalty, and peace of mind.

In the 1950's they made their first attempt to get their product into retail. Today, they have two professionally staffed, full service garden centers. Unfortunately, our visit was not long enough for me to see the garden center.

I am also impressed with the selection of over 3000 varieties and sizes of plants to chose from. Siebenthaler's has developed many cultivated varieties. The Moraine Locust tree is their most popular cultivar. In the past, they were known to place a Moraine Locust in every landscape as their signature!

4. Kaye Burns - Siebenthaler

Siebenthaler is a landscape/design build firm located in Dayton Oh. The company was started by the Siebenthaler family in 1870, they started their business by selling food crops such as nut and berry trees. Over time they evolved to include ornamental plants in their sales, and opened up their first retail store in 1950. Following this they successfully began to propagate their own cultivars, which further down the line led to their own production company. Following the development into selling ornamental plants, the family decided to branch out into landscaping services. At first their sole concentration was on residential landscaping, but it did not take long for them to realize the monetary benefits of branching out further to landscaping commercial properties.
They continued to sell their plants in a retail setting, expanding to three locations, one in Dayton, one in Centerville and one in Beavercreek.
Their successful landscaping service is based in Dayton and is a full service operation including a design division a maintenance division and a installation division. Rates run between $3000 and $5000 for residential areas and can run anywhere from $10,000 all the way up to 6 million for commercial jobs. Siebenthaler prides itself in that they offer a selection of large plant material grown themselves at a 600 acre nursery and an expert staff to carryout the needs for their clientele. Siebenthalerís main landscaping business is on a repeat and referral system. Everyone in Dayton has heard of them and because of their outstanding work they have had no problems maintaining a successful clientele.
The Design staff includes seven people with many tasks including going after leads, setting up appointments, working on projects, interviewing clients, designing landscapes and presenting landscape designs to the clients. Most of the design staff have a degree in landscape architecture with an artistic knowledge of plant material. Their is one horticulturist on staff with the design section at Siebenthalers, his name is Ron Cramer and he helps with sales, he also consults the clients if they are having a pathological problem with their already existing plant material.
Some of the technology that the design staff utilizes in their work include Dirrsí Library on CD Rom, which aides them in picking the right plant for the right spot. For Design they rely on digital imaging which allows them to play around with the landscape design options and gives the client a visual detailed picture during a design presentation.
I was impressed with Siebenthalers because they had so many different aspects to their company. They had design and build, they had a propagation facility and they had a commercial retail business. It is definitely a business to check out if you are looking for a job in horticulture or landscape design, because you can always expand or move to another area in the company rather than being pigeonholed into one specific job.