There is a misconception on the Island that landscape industry is just about cutting hedges. But Sousa’s Landscape Management’s president and founder Jeff Sousa has been determined to change the community’s perception and show that the profession is much more than that.

“‘We are the professionals’ was our old motto but it still stands,” says Mr. Sousa. “We’ve always been determined to build up the professionalism of the trade.”

With Sousa’s three divisions- Landscape Design-Build, horticultural maintenance and their retail shop- the company has changed the face of the landscaping business for over 20 years.

Landscape Design-Build<$>

“Landscape is anywhere outside of a person’s residence,” explains Mr. Sousa. The company deals in both hardscape- including flagstone pathways- and softscape such as shrubbery.

The company presents clients with design concepts and a budget and takes the plans all the way through completion with their in-house team, which includes masons, carpenters, and of course, landscapers.

The company designed the landscape features at Delaey Robinson’s St. George’s home for the PBS television show This Old House and has also been featured in landscape magazines.

Horticultural Maintenance

Sousa’s maintains several of Bermuda’s largest resorts including the Fairmont Southampton Princess, says Mr. Sousa.

It also holds contracts with some of Bermuda’s wealthiest properties.

Mr. Sousa adds that it has become increasingly difficult to compete with others in the landscape field for a variety of reasons, but he notes that many other Island companies have adopted Sousa’s techniques or what he calls “Sousa’s Magic”.

“We train our employees with proper mowing heights and pruning techniques,” says Mr. Sousa.

“I see a lot of people doing it the way we do it now. It’s really a compliment when I see that.”

Retail Division

“First class customer service is emphasised in our retail division,” says Mr. Sousa.

A concept that also runs throughout the company, he adds.

Along with a myriad of plants, gardeners will find all their basic needs from seeds to decorative garden items that reflect the season such as pumpkins for Halloween and a great stock of trees for Christmas.

Sousa’s Gardens is the largest, single Christmas tree dealer on the Island, says Mr. Sousa. The trees come from a retailer in Quebec known for its quality trees.

The retail division also comprises the company’s concept gardens where clients can wander over tree lined pathways and across wooden bridges or relax on one of Sousa’s wooden benches.

Mr. Sousa concludes: “We plan on expanding our nursery in the future and we’d love to expand to the east end of the Island. We feel it’s important to give our customers what they want but we know we can’t be everything to everybody because we only have limited resources but we do offer the best, first class customer service.”