Serge van der Voo Landscapes LLC

I purchased a home built in 1962. My intent was to renovate the house and the yard and create a space where I could age in place. I originally contacted Serge to create an outside space that would be safe for aging (minimal steps, decks and patios with easy access, handrails as need etc.), easy to maintain, and a tranquil space to enjoy, relax and entertain. I knew it would be a big job. The fence, deck, patios and plantings were old and needed to be removed and replaced with new. There were also drainage issues in the backyard that would require attention. The house has a walkout basement, so there are different elevations in the back. And, I wanted a bocce court! Serge designed a plan for the entire yard in 2020, and after I signed off on the plans, phase 1 of the project was completed in the summer of 2021. The focus for this phase was the front and side yards. It included the removal and redesign of the shrubs and beds, installation of a beautiful blue stone front patio and walkway, installation of a new irrigation system and new outdoor lighting. Serge and his crew did the installation of the porch, walkways and plantings. He arranged for the installation of the irrigation system and landscape lighting with local businesses. The results were outstanding and I have received numerous compliments from neighbors. Phase 2 started in October of 2022 when the backyard deck was demolished and rebuilt. In the spring of 2023, the remainder of the backyard was completed. As the old plantings and patios were removed, it became clear that the drainage issues would be complicated. Serge coordinated with the neighbors, because the drainage problems affected their yards as well. Soon, the city got involved. Serge worked closely with all the parties involved and managed to get them all onboard. The backyard work included the new deck, a new blue stone patio, a beautiful bocce court, new retaining walls, a new fence, new blue stone walkways and steps down to the bocce court and all new plantings. It was complex because the yard is sloped and has different levels. His team is meticulous about getting the hardscapes level, which made the project demanding and complicated. To help address the drainage issues, they installed new drain lines and designed the bocce court to absorb water. He also put in a rain garden using plants with root systems that absorb water and assist with drainage. I now have all new landscaping, front and back. This was a huge project that spanned several years. Throughout the process, Serge maintained excellent communication with me. He accepted my input, and made changes when I asked. I get so many compliments from people who walk or drive by the house. Some have actually stopped, rung my doorbell, and asked who did the work. I've made several referrals in this way. I would not hesitate to recommend Serge for your landscape needs!

We have just completed a big project with Serge Van Der Voo to redesign our backyard, and side yard areas, after a whole house renovation. The project was extensive - including a fence, multiple gates, a bluestone patio, steps down to a driveway, as well as multiple trees and garden plants. In a nutshell, I would say we are now big fans of Serge and his team! Serge brought a lot to this project - from the initial design ideas to the final finish. He was thoughtful and creative, offering his extensive knowledge and ideas while still being responsive and respectful to want we wanted. For example, when we expressed a desire to have some striking rocks in the gardens, perhaps some on the perimeter of the patio we could sit on, he invited me to visit the place where I could help choose the rocks that I had in mind. When we stressed we wanted an extremely low maintenance space, and when we wanted a design that was untraditional, and full of joy - Serge let our preferences guide all his work. I appreciated the easygoing way he faced new challenges and his desire to insure that the project was progressing apace. He was always professional and brought with him a super talented, hard working team of people - both hard landscapers and garden folks - who have high standards in the quality of the work they expect and were pleasant to work with. They were amazing. Serge was also clear about the budget throughout - always a good thing. Basically, we couldn't have been happier with the final results. We would recommend Serge and his team to anyone who is thinking of embarking on a landscaping project, no matter what the size. And, we are already looking forward to asking Serge and his team to return next year to tweak the small yard in the front of our house.

The quick review: We're very happy with the design. There was quite a bit of hardscaping and the design and execution are excellent. The team that worked on our project was exceptional; hardworking, detail oriented and a definitely well into the perfectionist zone. We're not green thumbs, nor would we consider ourselves gardeners but we trust that Serge has selected plants appropriate to our skill set. The project was undertaken in the fall of the year, so it is not completely planted. I'll add pictures in the spring. Now some additional detail that speaks to the quality of their work and commitment to doing the best job. As mentioned it was the fall of the year. The weather was atrocious. A lot of the work they did got rained out (surprise and exceptionally heavy rain lasting multiple days) so the foundation they spent days creating became unworkable. They never rushed the job nor skimped on attention to detail. Everything was done correctly and beautifully. Did I mention the wildly territorial bully that lives next door and feels free to harass any and everyone on the block? He has anger management issues as well. His anger was met with calm professionalism by Serge and team and that was no small feat. We'd recommend them to anyone and everyone.

Serge and his crew took a blank slate and created a peaceful and beautiful landscape. We met numerous times to discuss my ideas and then to review and revise the plan. We had a new brick walkway and a bluestone patio installed which were painstakingly leveled and beautifully done. The boulders included were artfully used to enhance the space. When we got to final plant selection, Serge took me to established landscapes to look at trees and plants.the plants, shrubs, and trees used were large and healthy. Serge also helped us with a drainage issue and graded under our new deck and put in gravel. I would highly recommend Serge!

Professional. Attentive. Beautiful design approach. Highly recommend Serge. I chaired our Homeowner's Associations' effort to create a vision and specific design plans to improve our 9 in-neighborhood courts/islands. Serge delivered on all aspects of the project - surveying our space, thoughtfully considering our objectives (given limitations like no irrigation) and delivering beautiful design approaches. He also did a great job presenting his designs to residents at our Spring meeting. We are voting for the funds to complete the work, and I'm hopeful we'll see these designs come to life in our neighborhood.

We met with four landscapers before we found Serge and, wow, are we glad we found him! From our first meeting with Serge, we felt that he completely understood what we were looking for. The design he showed us only a few days later blew us away. Serge has an incredible eye. He was extremely creative in his use of scale, color, and texture. We very much felt that Serge was approaching our project not just as a plot of land but as a work of art. The thoughtful details he added—like blending solid boulders with soft, swaying grasses—make our space feel incredibly well-designed and special. In addition to his obvious talent, Serge was wonderful to work with. He paid very careful attention to details we hadn’t ever thought of—seasonality, aroma, deer/bunny-resistance, etc.—and he was very mindful about balancing impact and budget. We also couldn’t have asked for better communication. Serge was always very prompt in responding, and kept us up-to-date throughout the entire process. Even though he couldn’t start the install for a few weeks after the design was completed, Serge tagged specific plants for us at the nursery so we wouldn’t be stuck with the leftovers. He even texted us photos of the specific boulders he planned to use to be sure we were on board with the shapes and textures. We can’t recommend Serge highly enough and wouldn’t hesitate to work with him in the future. In fact, our project only wrapped up yesterday, and we are already excited about working with Serge next spring on a different area of the property.

We really enjoyed working with Serge and his team. They were extremely professional and flexible and had a great eye for how best to design our space. We have very much enjoyed the urban oasis that Serge gave us, both the hardscape and landscape elements ended up being far better than we could have expected. We love our new outdoor space!

Serge van der Voo and his team transformed my yard from a disaster to an urban oasis. My house was built in about 1900 and its landscaping – if there ever had been any – was long gone. I realized that I couldn’t handle such a big job and that I needed a professional. I met with Serge in early 2017 and explained what I was looking for. Very soon afterwards Serge showed me his proposed design. As I reviewed it, I realized that he is more than a landscape architect, that Serge is an artist. He drew a total transformation of my yard that met my aesthetic dreams as well as the more mundane needs for soil rejuvenation, proper drainage, porch step repairs, and driveway renovation. Once I approved the design, Serge and his team rapidly made the drawings come to life and I was amazed at just how true to his concept the yard became. During the 4 weeks of work I requested only a few minor changes, and he quickly incorporated them. In addition, he suggested several changes that enhanced the beauty and serenity of the finished area. Serge and his team always came the days they were scheduled, were always on time, worked professionally, and cleaned up every evening. If I ever move house, Serge will be the first contractor I’d call for yard redesign!

Mr. van der Voo did a good job of listening to our goals for relandscaping our back yard. He came up with an imaginative plan that not only added the new elements we wanted, but tied the new and existing features together in a beautiful and cohesive way. We love our "new" yard and spend many happy hours there. Serge selected a good contractor and the project was completed within our budget and on schedule with a minimum of inconvenience.

It was a delight to work with someone who listened to my ideas. I hoped for a plan that was simple, inviting, and above all was compatible with the woods that surround my home. Serge's design and installation were excellent. I would highly reccomend him.

Serge designed and landscaped my backyard in 2014. He did a outstanding job both the quality was great but more importantly he stayed within budget. I would definitely use his company again.

Serge is knowledgeable and experienced. He was helpful in selecting plants that will thrive in Michigan and be less attractive to deer browse. And his design sense helped us accomplish the objectives of our berm garden and foundation plantings. His crew was fast and professional, and the pricing competitive. I would recommend him highly.