About Bee Green Outdoor Living and Landscaping
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How It Started
Who We Are
Jesse Russell | Owner
Jesse Russell is an outdoor living consultant and has been in the landscaping and outdoor construction industry for over 20 years. He started working on crews as a teenager, learned the trade from the ground up, and founded Bee Green in 2013 with the straightforward philosophy that has driven the company since: show up when you say you will, do what you say you’ll do, and build it right the first time.
Jesse is involved in every project — from the initial site walk to the final punch list. If you call the office and ask for him, he’ll pick up.
“Every property we transform starts with a conversation and ends with a space our clients never want to leave. At Bee Green Outdoor Living, we bring your vision to life. A place where your best memories happen. That’s not just our job. That’s our promise.” – Jesse Russell
The Bee Green Crew
Bee Green isn’t a one-man operation and it isn’t a franchise. Our crews are experienced, trained in-house, and accountable to the same standards on every job site. We don’t hire day laborers or cycle through seasonal help. The same people who start your project finish your project.
Our work ethic mirrors the honey bees we’re named after — always busy, always working together, always focused on the task. That’s not just branding. It’s how we operate.
Careers at Bee Green
Join the Bee Green Outdoor Living team. We are hiring skilled landscapers, hardscape installers, and outdoor living professionals. Build your career with a growing company specializing in patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and landscape construction. We serve Cuyahoga, Medina, Lorain and surrounding areas. If you enjoy creating the visions of our clients and love being outdoors – we want you to join our team. Call Jesse at (216) 857-8404.
What We Believe
Yes means yes. No means no.
When we tell you we can build something, we can build it. When we quote a price, that's the price. When we set a timeline, we hit it. And when something isn't feasible — wrong material for the application, budget doesn't support the design, timeline is unrealistic — we tell you directly instead of saying yes and figuring it out later.
Build right or don't build.
We don't cut corners on materials, base preparation, or construction methods to win a bid. Our bases are engineered for Northeast Ohio's freeze-thaw conditions. Our drainage is designed for clay soil. Our paver installations meet ICPI standards. The work costs what it costs because it's built to last.
One company, one result.
We handle design, engineering, excavation, masonry, carpentry, landscaping, lighting, and irrigation under one roof. You don't manage multiple contractors. You don't mediate disputes between a hardscaper and a landscaper. One team, one contract, one person to call.
What We Don't Do
We’re transparent about our scope:
We don't just cut grass one time.
We design and build landscapes while offering on-going maintenance. Your property deserves to be proactively preserved.
We don't do the cheapest job.
If price is the only criteria, we're probably not the right fit. We compete on quality, communication, and craftsmanship.
We don't subcontract the important work.
Our crews handle excavation, masonry, stone work, carpentry, and planting. Licensed gas, electrical, and plumbing trades are the exception — those are coordinated under our supervision.
From First Call to Finished Project
Building an outdoor living space is a significant investment. You should know exactly what happens, when it happens, and why — before you sign anything. Here’s how we work, step by step.
Phase 1
What Happens
You call or fill out our contact form.
We schedule an on-site visit — usually within a week during the season.
The Site Visit
Jesse or a project manager walks your property with you. We're looking at:
- Grade and drainage patterns:
Where does water go when it rains? In Northeast Ohio's clay soil, this dictates half the project design. - Existing conditions:
Utilities, setbacks, easements, septic systems, trees to protect, and structures to work around. - Soil conditions:
Clay composition, compaction, and any areas with fill or disturbed soil. - Sun and shade exposure:
Affects material selection, plant choices, and where you'll actually want to sit at different times of day. - Access:
Can equipment reach the work area? Where do we stage materials? This affects scheduling and cost.
Your Part
Tell us what you want, how you plan to use the space, and what your budget range looks like.
The more honest you are about budget, the more useful the design will be.
We'd rather design something you can actually build than something that looks great on paper but costs twice what you expected.
Timeline
Site visit takes 45–90 minutes. No charge, no obligation.
Phase 2
What Happens
After the site visit, we develop a design concept and detailed proposal. This includes:
- Scaled site plan:
Shows the layout of all hardscape elements, structures, planting areas, drainage, lighting, and irrigation in relation to your house and property boundaries. - Material specifications:
Exact paver models, stone types, plant species, lighting fixtures, appliance brands. Not vague descriptions — specific products you can look up. - Construction details:
Base depths, aggregate specifications, geogrid placement for walls, footing dimensions for structures. The engineering behind the aesthetics. - Line-item pricing:
Broken down by project phase and material category. You'll know exactly what you're paying for.
What This Is Not
A rough sketch on a napkin with a ballpark number. If you're comparing proposals from multiple contractors, compare the level of detail. The contractor who can't tell you specifically what they're building and exactly what it costs probably hasn't figured it out yet.
Timeline
Design proposals take 2–4 weeks depending on project complexity. Larger estate projects with multiple elements may take longer.
Cost
Design fees range from $500–$2,500 depending on scope. This fee is applied toward the construction contract if you move forward with us.
Phase 3
What Happens
You review the proposal, ask questions, and request any revisions. Once you're satisfied with the design and pricing, we execute a written contract that specifies:
- Exact scope of work
- Material specifications
- Total project cost
- Payment schedule (typically a deposit, progress payments tied to milestones, and a final payment at completion)
- Estimated start date and duration
- Warranty terms
Scheduling Reality
Our build calendar fills up. Spring and early summer slots are often booked by February or March.
If you want your project completed by a specific date, start the conversation early.
The design phase can happen over winter while scheduling a spring start.
Timeline
Contract execution to construction start is typically 2–8 weeks depending on the season and our current workload.
Phase 4
What Happens Before We Break Ground
- Utility locate:
We call Ohio 811 to mark all underground utilities. This is legally required and we do it on every project, no exceptions. - Material ordering:
Pavers, stone, aggregate, lumber, appliances, fixtures, plants. Many materials have lead times. We order early to avoid delays. - Permit acquisition:
If your project requires building permits (structures, electrical, gas), we pull them. Not every project needs permits, but if yours does, we handle it. - Neighbor notification:
We'll be running equipment, receiving material deliveries, and making noise. A heads-up to your neighbors is professional courtesy and we recommend it.
Timeline
1–3 weeks depending on material lead times and permit processing.
Phase 5
What Happens
Our crew shows up and builds. The general sequence for a comprehensive outdoor living project:
Phase 1 — Site Preparation
- Layout and staking per the design plan
- Demolition of existing surfaces (if applicable)
- Excavation to subgrade
- Rough grading for drainage
Phase 2 — Underground Work
- Drainage systems (French drains, catch basins, pipe runs)
- Irrigation main lines and zone piping
- Electrical conduit for lighting, outlets, appliances
- Gas lines (by licensed plumber)
- Compacted aggregate base installation (ODOT 304, 6–8 inches, compacted in lifts)
Phase 3 — Hardscape Construction
- Retaining walls built from the lowest point up
- Patio and walkway installation — bedding sand, paver placement, edge restraint, polymeric sand
- Steps, seat walls, raised elements
- Outdoor kitchen structure — block construction, countertop, appliance installation
Phase 4 — Structures
- Pergola or pavilion construction
- Fireplace or fire pit masonry
- Electrical and gas connection (by licensed trades)
Phase 5 — Landscape & Finish
- Grading and soil preparation for planting beds
- Tree, shrub, and perennial installation per the planting plan
- Sod installation for lawn areas
- Mulch application
- Landscape lighting fixture placement and aiming
- Irrigation system commissioning
Phase 6 — Walkthrough & Punch List
- Final walkthrough with you
- Note and address punch list items
- Final cleanup
What You’ll See During Construction
Equipment on your property, material stockpiles, and our crew working steadily through the phases.
We clean up at the end of each work day. We protect existing landscaping, structures, and surfaces.
If something gets damaged during construction, we fix it — that’s our responsibility.
Timeline
- Small projects (patio only): 1–2 weeks
- Mid-range projects (patio + walls + landscaping): 3–6 weeks
- Full outdoor living builds: 6–12 weeks
- Estate-level projects: 8–16+ weeks
Phase 6
What’s Covered
- Hardscape workmanship:
We warranty our paver and stone installations against settling, heaving, and failure caused by improper base construction. - Plant material:
One-year warranty on all plants installed by our crews, contingent on following our watering and care instructions. - Structures:
Warranty on pergola, pavilion, and kitchen structures against defects in materials and workmanship. - Lighting and irrigation:
Component manufacturer warranties plus our workmanship warranty on installation.
What’s Not Covered
Damage from improper use, neglect (not watering new plantings), unauthorized modifications,
or acts of nature (falling trees, extreme weather events).
We’re clear about warranty terms in the contract so there are no surprises.
Post-Project Support
If something comes up after we leave — a sprinkler head needs adjusting, a plant didn’t make it,
a question about paver maintenance — call us. We stand behind our work.
What Our Clients Say
Jesse, Matt, Morgan and his crew helped put together a landscaping project for our home, which included drainage, irrigation, patio and walkway, sod, seed and landscaping beds. Not only did they finish the project early but it came out great. My wife and I were very pleased with how things turned out and we have received a number of compliments from our neighbors. Thank you!!
To quote my wife I absolutely love it! They did a new retaining wall, cleaned beds, removed a tree, mulched and more. Outstanding job and could not be happier with the result. Jesse is great to work with, upfront and honest. He delivered on everything he promised. The neighbors are stopping by to say how awesome our front yard looks now and to get his number.
I highly recommend Bee Green for any and all of your landscaping needs. Jesse and his crew were absolutely incredible. He was able to diagnose and ultimately repair my basement leak in about 24 hours. Always professional, Jesse took the time to explain in great detail what he and his crew were doing every step of the way. I will be bringing them back soon to begin work on a new patio.
Nothing but positive things to say about Bee Green!! Jesse and workers did a phenomenal job. Had beds pulled out and re-done, and back patio area leveled. Great communication skills! Rare to find workers showing up and following through. Highly recommend.
Jesse and his crew did an amazing job on our patio. The crew was very professional and clearly took a lot of pride in their work, and we couldn't be more pleased with the final product. I wholeheartedly recommend them.
Jesse and team were fantastic when they came out to do our patio! Work with confidence that the job will be well done!
Jesse and his crew installed a new yard at our home, complete with mulch beds, plants, and catch basins on four of our down spouts to route to the retention pond. From the initial planning phase, all the way through completion of the project, Jesse was always accessible, responsive and professional.
We were referred to Bee Green Landscaping through a friend and were so impressed by their professional and courteous demeanor as well as their can do attitude. We had a new construction home with a challenging terrain that they were able to not only meet but exceed our expectations. They laid sod, created raised bedding, planted landscaping and placed pavers along our drive which they did with incredible attention to detail. We would highly recommend them to anyone wishing to use their services.
Jesse did a great job on extending the flower bed and laying a sandstone walkway along the side of the house. It looks great. Because it's late in the season, planting will wait until spring.
I called Jessie for a last minute project for my grandmas birthday. They got it done in a day and left the yard looking clean and professional. Worth every penny.
Bee Green tamed our wild backyard area that had essentially been left to nature. I wish I had some before pictures, but this area went from being the ugliest part of our backyard to prettiest. Bravo!
The Bee Green team worked magic on my sad little back yard & turned it into my favorite spot to hang. They came recommended to me from a co-worker, and I'd recommend them to anyone else in a heartbeat. Feels great to know who I'll be going with for my maintenance & more projects in the future.
Jesse and his crew were great! We couldn't be happier and our backyard looks amazing. They took the extra time to help us design our final layout and to make it look even better than we could have imagined. Great job! True professionals.
This year we purchased a house and wanted to get our back yard redone. I gave Bee Green a call. Jesse and his team were more than knowledgeable and had reasonable prices. They went above and beyond what I expected. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a landscaper.
I called around to a lot of landscaping companies and Bee Green was the only one that seemed to take me serious and send an estimate out. My wife and I met with Jesse in person a couple of times to go over ideas, he and his crew did an excellent job and gave our house the curb appeal it needed for an affordable price.
The men showed up on time, did a great job and what i really like is that when they left, my yard was cleaned up and perfect. Will definitely recommend this company if you want it done right!
Jesse and the crew at Bee Green Landscaping did a great job on our backyard project. Yard was a mess. They installed drainage, sod and river rock. It looks like a whole new yard. They were responsive and finished the job in two days. I would recommend their services for any landscape needs.
Fantastic service by Jesse and his crew. Had a very large 3 day project with lots of grading, seeding, and correction of a problem from a previous contractor that Jesse caught. Jesse and his crew worked relentlessly to keep the job on time and actually came in UNDER budget. From the estimate to job completion Jesse and his team were polite, responsive to questions, and eager to make sure we were satisfied with the work. Neighbors were very impressed with the end results of a beautiful swale/dry creek that Jesse worked on for us. It was such a relief to find a contractor that takes such pride in his work and is a true PROFESSIONAL! Go with Bee Green landscaping and you will not be sorry. Thanks Jesse and Team for all your hard work, looking forward to working with the team again in the future.
BeeGreen Landscaping and Excavating Experts did an exceptional job excavating my front yard for main drain line repairs. They were professional, efficient, and took great care to minimize disruption. Their attention to detail really showed when they beautifully restored my front yard afterward. They also redid my basement floor after it was damaged by a flood, and the results were fantastic. The team was thorough, respectful of my home, and completed the project on time. I couldn't be happier with the quality of their work.
We just had a new driveway poured and needed the surrounding area where the footers were removed filled with dirt, seeded and covered with straw. I called them on Monday and they fit us in on Friday same week. Owner was incredibly nice and he and his workers did an awesome job! While he was here we also had a dip in our front yard filled to level it out. We would recommend them highly for their impeccable work. Thank you so much!!!!! Mark and Kim. North Olmsted OH
Jesse recently put drainage into my driveway and lawn. We were on a budget and he worked with us on a price that we were happy with. He got the job done before the heavy rains and has checked back twice to make sure everything was working properly.
I hired Bee Green to replace my crumbling driveway apron and they did an amazing job! Jesse and crew were prompt and professional, and great to work with. They did a beautiful job cleaning up and landscaping the sides
We had an all-around great experience with Bee Green. The owner was quick to call us back and come to our property to discuss options for our drainage issue. When crews arrived to start work they were professional, worked efficiently, and cleaned up any/all mess at the completion. The owner has stayed in contact with us to check effectiveness and has correct a minor problem that developed the next day. All of this at a low cost! We will use them again for our landscaping needs.
Jesse and Bee Green landscaping was everything and more I or anyone else could expect from a company. They did a complete yard overhaul from killing weeds, removing tons of bad soil and rocks, defining my plant beds, removing a dead tree then planting a new one, installing an irrigation system, and finally installing seed in my back yard and fresh new sod in my front and side. I went from a neighborhood embarrassment to being envied by my neighbors 3 days! Thank you Jesse and Bee Green landscaping!
This year Jesse and Bee Green Landscaping completed our front yard. As with the back yard the previous year, they did an excellent job. If you have any landscaping projects in mind, I would highly recommend them! Cannot truly express in words what a great job Jesse and the whole crew from Bee Green Landscaping did in transforming our post-construction backyard into a newly sodded masterpiece. They were quick to quote the job and knocked it out in 2 days shortly after signing the contract. They know what they are doing and pay great attention to detail. Our rolling sloping backyard is not your typical rectangular plot, but they managed to lay the sod with no problems - looks great!!! We will be contacting Bee Green again next year when it is time to do the front yard.
Jesse was so great to work with! He was super nice and patient with me and all of my questions and concerns. He and his team brought in 20 yards of dirt to fill in ruts, low spots, and large holes in my backyard so we would have a nice, level yard to enjoy. He also helped with setting up our sprinklers so the grass seed got the proper water it needs. Thank you so much Jesse!! It was great working with you and I look forward to working with you in the future on other landscape projects!!
Jesse was great to work with kept me in the loop with everything that was being done. I couldn't be any happier with my lawn. Thank you Bee Green!
We used Bee Green Landscaping and we were very happy with the results! Our beds were redefined, mulched and trimmed. They are professional, return your calls (a rare thing) and were prompt. We highly recommend them!
I recently had my front landscaping redone by Bee Green Landscaping. Jesse innovative design and advice for shrubs and plants was appreciated. Jesse is extremely knowledgeable in this area. My home looks beautiful and I can thank Jesse and his team for their great work. I would highly recommend Bee Green Landscaping.
We hired Bee Green Landscaping to overhaul our overgrown flower bed. They did a fantastic job scraping the bed and taking out two trees along with other bushes. It was a big job that they completed in two days. Thank you, Jesse, Morgan and Matthew for making our flower bed beautiful again. We would highly recommend Bee Green Landscaping.
Jesse came out and helped us with envisioning a new layout for our front flower beds, and Nate came out and made it happen! It is obvious they know what they're talking about, and we are so pleased with the results!
I have dealt with Jesse on different levels. He has removed and installed my father in laws lawn, which the end result was simply beautiful. Jesse, his wife, and crew are always professionally dressed when on properties. What I believe separates BeeGreen Landscaping from other companies is a working owner that is always willing to engage with not just his customer but other people around him and leaving them with a positive experience. BeeGreen Landscaping thank you For taking quality care of my in laws property and thank you for making such a lasting impression on my entire family.
New lawn installation with topsoil brought in. Did the job as expected without problem. Honest veteran owned company.
Great service. Nice crew. We have very large yard that needed to be seeded. They knocked it out in 2.5 days. Amazing.
They did an amazing job with the flower bed in front of my house. The house definitely has curb appeal.
Service Areas
This map represents our primary service areas and is not an exhaustive list of all communities we serve. Contact us to confirm service availability in your area.
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