Today we’d like to introduce you to Reese Baloutine
Hi Reese, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always knew I wanted to start my own company; I just needed to figure out what kind of company it would be. Being a creative person who enjoys working with people and hates sitting at a desk all day, I wanted to build something that allowed me to do all of that while making a meaningful difference—whether in the environment or in people’s lives.
I explored several different professions, from architecture to working in restaurants. I even worked as an electrician for a while because I thought I might want to pursue design-build remodeling. During that time, I met some landscapers who were designing and building outdoor spaces, and their work really inspired me. It looked so fulfilling, and I knew I wanted to try something similar. I started reading everything I could about landscaping, plants, and outdoor design.
My first step was taking a job in garden maintenance, where I gained hands-on experience and learned how plants and landscapes work. Eventually, I began helping people with planting and maintaining their gardens on weekends. The demand grew quickly, and before long, I was able to focus on my own business, Seedlings Gardening, full-time.
Over time, the design side of my work really began to grow, and I officially rebranded as Seedlings Landscape Design Build. My passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces kept developing, and I worked hard to keep learning and improving. Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to have developed a strong team and built a company that combines creativity, connection, and the ability to transform outdoor spaces into something truly special.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I built the business very slowly, with each step requiring a lot of hard work. At one point, I decided to expand the range of services we offered and increased my staff to handle the demand. While we were incredibly busy, the workload became overwhelming, and it ultimately backfired. The expansion led to financial losses and taught me an important lesson: I needed to narrow my focus. Instead of trying to cover everything related to landscaping, I realized the value of excelling at one thing.
Over the past five years, Seedlings has transitioned from handling maintenance and small projects to focusing exclusively on larger landscape design-build projects. This shift allows us to give each project the attention it deserves, ensuring we create unique, high-quality landscapes that our clients love.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Seedlings is an award winning, women owned and operated landscape design build company in Austin. Our primary goal is to create outdoor living spaces that are mindful of protecting our local environment and leave our clients feeling proud and inspired in their new space. With over 16 years of experience, we bring creative solutions and a wealth of knowledge to every project, fostering strong relationships to ensure our clients feel confident and satisfied with their investment. Throughout our process we strive to meet our clients needs and educate along the way, whether it be on best use of materials, building practices, native plants, and beyond.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is the people we touch. From our employees to our vendors, partners, and clients, the relationships we build at Seedlings Landscape Design Build are the foundation of our business.
For our employees, we focus on creating a supportive and respectful work environment where everyone feels valued and has the space for a balanced life. With our vendors and partners, we prioritize clear communication, mutual respect, and building long-lasting relationships that make working together enjoyable.
When it comes to our clients, we aim to be a trusted resource throughout the design-build process and beyond. A landscape is a living, growing entity, and there’s always something evolving. We strive to stay connected with our clients after the project is complete, helping them get the most out of their landscapes and ensuring their outdoor spaces continue to thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.seedlingslandscapingaustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedlings_atx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeedlingsATX/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seedlingsatx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seedlingsatx
