The Zen of Landscape Design & Water Features

“Everything is a form of art,” says Scott Olson, owner of Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features LLC in Rock Hill, SC. “Whether you’re a traditional artist, a plumber, an electrician...it’s something that flows in your brain that’s driven by a deeper calling.” This was the first thing we heard from Scott upon meeting him in Rock Hill to discuss his philosophy on landscape design and water feature installation.

Although relatively new to the Carolinas, Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features has been creating artisan paver designs and custom water features on the East Coast for over a decade. With Scott at the helm, the company has been praised for its innovative design work and meticulous attention to detail in both residential projects and commercial property installations. Despite all of the brand’s success, Scott always goes back to his down-home roots.

“It Just Looked Fun”

Scott was born on Long Island, NY, but later moved with his family to Pennsylvania. As a kid living in an apartment complex, he was enthralled by the teams of landscapers riding around on zero-turn mowers that kept the property tidy.

“That’s a vivid memory for me. I remember thinking those zero-turn mowers were so cool. I remember thinking that that’s what I wanted to do because it just looked fun.”

On Loving What You Do

Scott’s father always instilled in him the idea that it didn’t matter what you did for a living as long as you loved what you did. Scott remarks, “My dad said he didn’t care if I was flipping burgers or working on Wall Street. As long as I was enjoying what I did making other people’s lives better, that’s what mattered.”

These words of wisdom have followed Scott along his journeys, starting in Pennsylvania, where Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features was born, down to the Charlotte Metro, where the company is now based.

A New Direction

Scott had initially planned out a football career and garnered interest in joining the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, neither opportunity panned out after a devastating injury during his senior year of high school. So with college football off the table and the Coast Guard unable to accept Olson due to his history of injury, Scott teamed up with a friend in Pennsylvania to work landscaping jobs.

As he learned and grew in his craft, he began cultivating a desire to do more than just the basics. “I was always pushing to do more,” he says. “Once I discovered pavers, it opened up a new world for me. I began to see landscaping as art, and I couldn’t help but explore the possibilities. Water feature design and installation soon followed, and I was hooked.” Scott built his first water feature in his backyard, and through learning from failure, he developed a talent for sculpting masterpieces.

Creating a Lifestyle

About his work, he says, “I wake up every morning loving what I do. I love the challenges, and it’s been incredible seeing the evolution of landscaping technology and design tools.” After setting out independently and starting Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features in 2012, Scott realized there was more than just art in creating water features.

He notes that the psychological benefits of water features are some of the biggest selling points of having a custom design installed. “It really mellowed me out,” he says. “I had a lot of stress in my life, but I’ve seen firsthand how my mood shifts when sitting next to a waterfall or koi pond. The sounds of the water, seeing the colors of the plants, and then turning on the lights after dark really puts you in a completely different world.”

Your Very Own Private Getaway

He continues, “I mean, landscaping is landscaping, and I get that many people think, ‘Oh, ok, the grass-cutting guy is here.’ While we’re proud to provide general landscaping services, I want to open people’s eyes to something exciting in the landscaping industry. I want to give them their own private getaway.” Scott notes, “When you’re in your backyard, feeding the fish in your own private pond, and they’re doing their thing, and you’re doing your thing – it brings about a sense of focus on what’s important in life. All the stress you had melts away, and you start seeing things from a different perspective.”

Life in the Charlotte Metro

One of the things that brought Scott and his company to the Charlotte Metro was the weather. In Pennsylvania, the winters often stay cold much longer than in the Carolinas, leaving fewer days to get work done outdoors. As a result, Scott found that he couldn’t provide as many opportunities to change lives. He began to feel a longing desire to move his company to an area where more homeowners could be served by his unique set of skills. In 2022, the chance to relocate presented itself, and Scott couldn’t turn down the offer.

The People Make All the Difference

“I have a friend who has lived in the Rock Hill area for decades, and we visited him last summer,” says Scott. “My wife and I have always talked about moving down south, but after that visit, we made up our minds.”

He continues, “The people make all the difference in Rock Hill, and we’ve gotten a lot of Southern hospitality. Also, with the warmer weather lasting a lot longer, I can offer more people the chance to experience the art of water features in Rock Hill and the Charlotte Metro.” He laughs, “Plus, my arthritis isn’t nearly as bad as it was in the cold of PA.”

“We Create Memories”

Scott moved the Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features brand to Rock Hill in November of 2022, and the company has steadily been getting attention from homeowners in the area.

“We want to stay mostly residential. We do commercial work, but I feel like water features are a personal gift that we’re able to create for our customers. We work closely with each customer to design memorable experiences. That’s what we do – we create memories.”

Scott comments about a recent project he’s been working on installing a paver walkway from a lake house to a boat dock. “I don’t just think about the work I’m doing; I think about the joy that I’m giving,” he says.

“I think about the family I’m working for and how, in a year, they’ll be walking back and forth on my installation, enjoying time with friends and family making memories. That’s why my company does what it does, and that’s why I’m in this industry.”

The Future of Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features

Scott says he is considering expanding his team in the future, but he has to find the right people. “Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about my work. So if we expand in the future, I have to find professionals who are on the same page as me.

That’s a tall order because to do what we do, you have to be dedicated to customer service and willing to work hard to make customers happy. We deliver experiences, and we create lifestyles. This is so much bigger than just landscaping.”

To learn more about Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features, click here or visit them on Facebook. You can also call the company at (803) 371-2324 or email Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features at groundfxlandscapingllc@gmail.com.