After a long, cold winter, the first warm days draw us back outside—soaking up the sunshine and looking for signs that spring has finally arrived. It’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you can develop your outdoor spaces to enjoy them even more.
Leveling is an important step for you patio build.
A thoughtfully designed patio can transform your backyard into an extension of your home, creating room for everything from quiet morning coffee to summer grilling with friends. Starting the process early helps ensure your space is ready to enjoy right when the season hits its stride.
Every project begins with a site assessment and consultation to determine the best location and layout for your patio.
From there, we move into the design phase, giving you time to refine the details so the finished result truly fits your needs and style.
Once the design is finalized and materials are selected, we schedule construction and place orders to keep everything moving smoothly.
Depending on the scope and complexity, construction can take anywhere from a few days for a simple patio to several weeks for more intricate projects.
In general, we recommend planning for about 60 days from the initial meeting to project completion, allowing time for design, materials, and construction.
If a new patio is on your wish list this year, now is the ideal time to begin. Reach out to start the conversation—we’d love to help you create an outdoor space you can enjoy all season long.
Whether you’re dreaming of a healthier lawn, a more welcoming landscape, or a garden that’s easier to care for, it all starts with understanding what you have—and what you want. Our free expert assessments are designed to give you clear guidance, practical options, and a plan that fits your property, your goals, and your lifestyle.
When we visit your property, we look at the whole picture: how you use your outdoor spaces, what’s working well, and what may be holding your landscape back. From there, we help you prioritize improvements and show you how our team can support you—whether you’d like us to handle just a few tasks or take care of everything so you can simply enjoy your yard.
A better lawn begins with a better plan
Our turf technicians meet with you on site to evaluate the conditions affecting your lawn and talk through how you want to use it. We identify problem areas, explain what’s happening beneath the surface, and recommend smart, realistic steps for healthier, more attractive turf.
A landscape designed around how you live
Your yard should feel natural, comfortable, and inviting. Our design representatives help you imagine how your space could better serve you—whether that means improving accessibility, creating a place to gather with friends, or adding privacy and beauty. We look at slopes, drainage, existing plants, sun and shade, and how everything works together so your landscape supports the way you actually use it.
The right care, at the right time
A beautiful landscape also needs ongoing attention. Our maintenance technicians evaluate your plantings to see what they need to stay healthy, grow well, and look their best. We focus on both immediate concerns and long-term improvement, offering thoughtful recommendations and a plan that can include as much—or as little—help as you’d like.
What your free assessment includes
A conversation about how you use your yard and what you’d like to change or improve
Identification of problem areas affecting your lawn, plants, or outdoor spaces
Practical recommendations for improving health, function, and appearance
Evaluation of existing plantings, sun and shade, and overall layout
Ideas for making your landscape more comfortable, accessible, and attractive
A customized proposal with a menu of services you can choose from
A great outdoor space doesn’t happen by accident—it’s created with intention. Our free assessments give you the clarity and confidence to move forward, with expert guidance every step of the way.
As winter loosens its grip, your lawn is already starting to wake up—even if you don’t see much green yet. In our mountain region, most lawns are made up of cool-season grasses like tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. These grasses begin growing from the roots up as soil temperatures rise, which makes late winter and early spring an important time to support long-term lawn health.
What you do now doesn’t just affect how your lawn looks in April—it influences how well it handles summer heat, drought, and wear.
Feed the Lawn Gently
A light feeding in late winter or early spring helps support early root activity and gives lawns a healthier, more even green-up. The goal is to encourage strong roots, not push rapid leaf growth that can weaken the turf later. We base our feeding program on soil tests from a lab to ensure just the right treatment of your turf. If you are fertilizing your own lawn, contact your local extension agent to learn how to conduct a soil test.
Key takeaways:
Apply a light dose of nitrogen in late winter or early spring, based on laboratory soil tests
Avoid heavy fertilization that causes fast, tender growth
Strong early roots lead to better summer performance
Repair Thin or Damaged Areas
If winter left your lawn thin or patchy, spring overseeding can help fill in bare spots. While fall is always best for seeding, spring planting can be successful with the right care.
Key takeaways:
Seed cool-season lawns as soil warms (mid-March to April)
Keep newly seeded areas consistently moist, but not wet
Stop Weeds Before They Start
Many troublesome weeds, including crabgrass, begin to germinate in early spring. A pre-emergent treatment applied at the right time prevents these weeds before they ever appear.
Key takeaways:
Pre-emergents block weed seeds from sprouting
Timing is critical—apply before soils warm
Fewer weeds now means a cleaner lawn all season
A Strong Start Makes the Difference
Late winter and early spring is all about setting the foundation. Light feeding, soil care, smart seeding, and early weed prevention give your lawn everything it needs to grow thicker, greener, and more resilient through the rest of the year.
If your lawn struggled last season or needs a boost after winter, our team can help design the right program to get it off to a healthy start this spring.
We recently attended the Eggs & Issues – Economic Development breakfast hosted by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. This well-established business forum brings community leaders, entrepreneurs, and local professionals together to discuss key issues shaping our region’s future.
A Panel of Local Economic Leaders
The conversation centered on economic development and what it means for businesses, residents, and the broader community. The panel featured distinguished experts from multiple sectors who shared their perspectives on growth, collaboration, and innovation:
Brian Hamilton, Economic Development Director, Montgomery County Economic Development
Katie Boswell, Executive Director, Onward New River Valley
Leo Priddy, Representative, New River Valley Regional Commission
John Provo (Moderator), Executive Director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic & Community Engagement
These leaders offered practical insights and real-world examples of what’s working in our region — and where challenges still need thoughtful solutions. The panel discussion examined strategies for attracting new businesses, supporting existing enterprises, and enhancing the quality of life that makes our area an appealing place to live and work.
Why This Matters to the New River Valley
Economic development affects everyone from long-time residents to new entrepreneurs. By uniting voices from county, regional, and innovation sectors, attendees gained a deeper understanding of:
How local organizations are collaborating to strengthen economic opportunities
The tools and resources available for business growth
Ways the community can stay competitive in a shifting economic landscape
Events like Eggs & Issues are more than breakfast and conversation — they’re a chance for business leaders to connect, learn, and influence the future of our economy. Back to Nature was proud to participate in these important discussions and walk away inspired by the collective commitment to progress in Montgomery County and the New River Valley.
We are incredibly honored to share that Back to Nature Landscaping and Construction has been voted a 2025 Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave.
This recognition means the world to our team because it comes directly from our neighbors. Being named a Neighborhood Fave tells us that the people we serve every day trust our work, value our professionalism, and feel confident recommending us to others in the community.
Nextdoor’s Neighborhood Faves awards highlight the most loved local businesses, based entirely on community votes. According to Nextdoor, neighbors are far more likely to support a business that has earned this designation, making it one of the most meaningful forms of recognition a local company can receive.
For us, this award reflects what we strive for every day at Back to Nature. We believe great landscaping is about more than curb appeal. It is about showing up when we say we will, doing the job right, caring deeply about proper horticultural practices, and building long-term relationships rooted in trust and reliability.
From landscape design and installation to maintenance, turf care, and outdoor construction, our goal has always been to create outdoor spaces that feel like home while being good stewards of our local environment.
To our clients, neighbors, and community members who took the time to vote, recommend us, and support our work, thank you. Your trust fuels our team and pushes us to keep raising the bar.
We are proud to serve the New River Valley and grateful to be part of a community that values local businesses and the people behind them.
If you would like to learn more about our services or start a conversation about your outdoor space, contact us.
Here’s to growing, building, and giving back together.
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and the New River Valley.
