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About

Creating Functional Outdoor Spaces Since 2015

Meet Our Team

Our Johnson County landscaping company makes you, the customer, our top priority—every time!

Ryan Ross

Owner

In 2017, Ryan quit his long-time banking career to focus on his love for landscape with only a single trailer and mower. He still believes that this is the best decision ever, as he loves interacting with all the clients he’s gained over the years. Ryan values treating his clients like family, and he feels blessed by all the amazing people at Ascend.

Susan McCormick

Operations

Susan graduated at the Indiana University School of Business and spent 17 years working in the corporate world in various roles. Today, she has been with Ascend for more than 8 years and enjoys taking care of all the invoicing, communications, and customer service requests for clients.

Chaz DeRocher

Head of Landscape Design

Chaz grew up in northwest Iowa, where he grew to love the lawn industry after mowing yards for his landlord when he was 12 years old. He has worked professionally in the lawn and landscaping industry since 18. He loves creating colorful plants incorporated into his landscape designs.

Quen Barkyoumb

Head of Hardscape Design

Quen graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute, but discovered his passion for landscaping and working with his hands. He’s been in the industry for 12 years and loves what he does. He enjoys spending time with his family and dogs.

Why Choose Ascend?

Local Expertise

We are proud members of our community, so we understand the area’s unique climate and challenges.

Personalized

We always take the time to understand your needs and vision. We will craft custom solutions that bring your vision to life.

Sustainable

In addition to creating stunning landscapes, we strive for environmentally - friendly practices to protect our local ecosystem.

CLIENT REVIEWS

FAQ

We proudly serve residential and commercial clients throughout Johnson County, including Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village, Mission Hills, Fairway, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Spring Hill, and Stilwell. Our team is familiar with the specific landscape challenges and municipal regulations across all Johnson County communities.

For most residential lawns, the ideal fertilization schedule is 4-6 applications per year, spaced throughout the growing season. Here’s a typical breakdown:

Early Spring (February-April): Apply a fertilizer with pre-emergent to prevent crabgrass and provide nutrients as your lawn awakens from dormancy.

Late Spring (April-June): Use a fertilizer with post-emergent weed control to target broadleaf weeds while continuing to feed your lawn.

Summer (June-August): Apply a slow-release fertilizer that can withstand heat and provide steady nutrition during stress periods.

Early Fall (September-October): This is the most critical application – use a fertilizer higher in nitrogen to promote root development before winter.

Late Fall (November-December): Apply a winterizing fertilizer to strengthen roots during dormancy and prepare for spring.

Our landscape design process begins with a comprehensive site analysis and consultation to understand your goals, preferences, and budget. We then develop a concept design with scaled plans, material selections, and plant recommendations specifically adapted to Johnson County’s climate. Our designers create detailed implementation documents and can oversee installation to ensure your vision is perfectly executed. We specialize in creating sustainable, beautiful landscapes that thrive in Kansas City’s challenging conditions.

In Johnson County, September is the ideal time for core aeration and overseeding. This timing takes advantage of warm soil temperatures, cooler air temperatures, reduced weed competition, and typically more consistent rainfall patterns. Fall renovation allows new grass to establish before winter and develops strong root systems that help lawns withstand summer stress the following year. We recommend booking these services by mid-August to ensure availability during this prime window.

The best grass for your property depends on several factors including sun exposure, irrigation capabilities, soil conditions, and usage patterns. For most Johnson County properties, turf-type tall fescue offers excellent adaptability to our transition zone climate with good drought tolerance and partial shade performance. Kentucky bluegrass works well for sunny, irrigated lawns, while fine fescues perform better in shaded areas. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate your specific site conditions and recommend the optimal grass varieties for your property.

Our winter services include professional snow removal for both residential and commercial properties, winter landscape protection (including mulching, burlap wrapping, and anti-desiccant applications), holiday lighting installation and removal, and winter pruning of dormant trees and shrubs. We provide 24/7 response for snow events with customized service plans based on your property’s specific needs and priority areas.

Drainage problems are common in Johnson County due to our clay-heavy soils and periods of intense rainfall. We approach drainage issues with a comprehensive assessment of your property’s topography, soil conditions, and water flow patterns. Depending on your specific situation, solutions might include:

  • French drains to collect and redirect surface water away from problem areas
  • Dry creek beds that combine functionality with aesthetic appeal
  • Rain gardens that capture runoff while creating habitat for native plants
  • Regrading to create positive drainage away from structures and activity areas
  • Permeable paving that allows water infiltration while maintaining usable surfaces
  • Catch basins and underground piping for severe drainage problems

We design drainage solutions that integrate seamlessly with your existing landscape while effectively managing water flow. Unlike companies that only offer “band-aid” fixes, we address the root causes of drainage problems to provide long-term solutions specific to Johnson County’s soil and climate conditions.

Our company distinguishes itself through deep client relations. Must of our customer are on a first name basis with us and have active SMS and phone conversations for their project. We create custom plans for each property instead of using one-size-fits-all solutions. This way, your landscape gets exactly what it needs to thrive all year round.