Steven C. LeBeau

Born and raised in Chicago, I am the third oldest of seven LeBeau's. Growing up in LaGrange, Illinois under the loving eyes of George and Corinne, the LeBeau clan could always be found across the street in Gilbert Park, where they were participating in some athletic event, sun up to sun down, seven days a week. After my graduation from one of Illinois' top high schools, Lyons Township, I decided to head for the "valley of the sun," where I spent two years studying criminal law in Arizona. Unsure of the direction I was taking, I decided to return home. Looking for a job, I was hired by a small chemical lawn/tree care company. Who knew then I was only beginning my lifelong career in the great outdoors? With a desire to learn more about landscaping, I enrolled in many classes at the Morton Arboretum and the Botanical Gardens. I started my own lawn and tree care company with dry applications of fertilizer and less use of pesticides for lawns. Using the latest technology for tree care, such as injections over spraying, and naturally feeding shrubs, I moved upward through the industry quickly. In pursuit of building a customer base, it wasn't long before I turned my attention to landscape design, installations and construction, which coincided with a housing boom. Work was plentiful. Taking on a variety of landscaping opportunities, I can truthfully claim there is not one job I didn't take the time to design in detail, and perform with pride and integrity. Unfortunately, not every company held itself to the same standard. By the end of the 1990's, the oversaturation of landscaping companies became very evident. Laborers began to break off, starting companies that undercut costs and significantly reduced the quality of the product. This was about the time I decided to strictly work only by referral. Thus, I put pen to paper to make sure the public is aware of the truth and fallacies within the landscape industry. Landscape Beware will help everyone understand how the correct job performance with integrity will result in saving the green.