My Biz: Couple grows landscaping business in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Dan Diehm's time spent in the Horticulture Program at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids turned out to have a big impact on his life.

Not only is that where he met his wife, Megan, but it also where he gained the skills necessary to follow his passion for landscape design.

Diehm grew up on a farm in Tama County and had always had an interest in gardening. When he met Megan and realized she had similar interests and skills, they wanted to try out a new venture. So the couple decided to start their own landscape construction business - then called Horticulture Specialties Inc. - in 1985.

'This is a homemade place,” Diehm said of their business, now Cedar River Garden Center. 'We started from nothing. And everything we have generated has gone back into building our business.”

What started as a landscape construction business soon grew into a garden center after the couple purchased some greenhouses and set up shop in Palo.

'We've been on a continuous growth cycle ever since, slow and steady” Diehm said.

He added that he has always enjoyed working on the landscape design and construction side of the business. 'I've always just enjoyed making yards look awesome.”

Today, Cedar River Garden Center focuses both on landscape design and construction as well as their retail base in the garden center. They have a tremendous selection of annuals, perennials, garden gift ware and landscaping material, including soil, bulk rock and mulches. 'We offer a complete line up for do-it-yourself landscapers,” he said. 'We consider ourselves a full-service landscape service and garden center.”

Customers might also spot one of several cats - rescued by Megan - who live in and wander around the garden center.

Cedar River Garden Center typically opens for the spring season sometime in March and calls the season closed at Thanksgiving. 'With a seasonal business it can be intense,” Diehm said. 'You do the majority of your business during a six- to eight-week window.”

But just because they close up shop for the winter months doesn't mean the Diehm's get a long break, as the couple uses the time off to plan for next year.

The weather each year can be a business challenge for a Garden Center, Diehm said. 'We had the wettest June on record, so this year was delayed. We fight weather issues and have to make up that time.”

' Know a manager or company in business for more than a year that would be ideal for 'My Biz”? Contact Chelsea Keenan at Chelsea.keenan@thegazette.com

At a glance

'Name

: Dan Diehm

'Title

: Owner

'Company

: Cedar River Garden Center

'Address

: 2889 Palo Marsh Rd., Palo

'Phone

: (319) 851-2161

'Website

: www.cedarrivergardencenter.com