Lawns today are much more than an attractive vista. They are backdrops for outdoor living and entertainment. Rich Linehan, owner of New Image Lawn and Scapes, is right there to create whatever level of backyard bliss a client envisions. "It can be a simple scape of beautiful lush lawn or a centerpiece of artistry in a backyard that welcomes parties of any and all ages. Whatever clients desire, we are thrilled to create," he insists.

Many people know owner Rich Linehan as a father, friend and businessman. The family moved to the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake about the time that Rich turned 10 years old. Growing up there and graduating from Great Bridge High School gave Rich lifelong friends in the community. He is glad to call Chesapeake home. He got his start in lawn care as a teenager working for his dad's business in the summers. "I learned how to care for people's lawns and gardens from the ground up, so to speak," Rich smiles. That includes amending soil to improve its ability to sustain plants, designing customized landscapes, and neutralizing pests.

After a hot summer, lawns can start looking thin and brown due to heat stress or disease. Brown patch is a huge issue for fescue turf.  It's a cool weather turf, designed to thrive in the fall, winter and spring. Summer weather really causes lawns to deteriorate, and they need some tender loving care in order to recover â€" soil aeration and planting of new seeds â€" and the best time to have this done is in the early fall.

What does aeration do for one's lawn? It provides a way for water, nutrients and oxygen to get to the roots of those starving blades of grass. It reduces thatch accumulation and alleviates compacted soil. The next step, overseeding, plumps up thin or bare areas and introduces new, improved grass varieties to the existing turf.

After almost 11 years of running his own business, Rich is an expert at keeping beautiful lawns healthy, as well as caring for gardens and flower beds. "I work directly with my clients to learn what they like and what they have in mind, and then I sketch out the design and we choose the plants together," Rich describes.

The company founder is very proud of the team of 16 who now work with him. The maintenance crew cuts and maintains monthly clients and the detail crew  does mulching, planting, and spring or fall cleanups. Rich does the turf applications and is always working side by side with his team whenever he is needed. He also personally handles estimates.

Most of the team members have been with Rich for eight years or more. They say he puts them first; Rich says they all work exceptionally well together. "It's critical to me to get the right people in place for a smooth running machine," Rich insists. His office manager of two years, Maurita Simonds, brought some game-changing talents to the business. Everyone supports each other and has the same goals in mind and that translates to very satisfied clients. Many of them have been with Rich since the days when he was a one-man show.

No two homes or properties are exactly alike, and no two homeowners have the same preferences, so Rich makes sure he can accommodate individuality. He sets his landscaping business apart by offering customized care packages to clients. One of the most popular packages is the Hall of Fame, which  includes annual landscape maintenance, turf program and annual mulching. And just to make sure clients are well taken care of, payment can be amortized over 12 months. Rich is happy to take care of any size property, whether it's a cozy oasis or an expansive backyard.

"Their work is amazing!" Patty Adkins emphasizes. "They are a blessing. The New Image team goes far above and beyond any other landscaping firm, and I've gone through many. They are extremely knowledgeable and if there is something one would like changed about their service, they can easily adjust. Their rates are excellent and they were highly recommended to me by friends who were also extremely happy with their work."

The best way to have a healthy lawn is to get on a comprehensive turf program including fertilizer, organic matter, weed control, post and pre-emergent treatments and organic iron powder to keep the grass green. A beautiful lawn needs attention in every season, not just the growing months. In the fall and winter, driveways and sidewalks need to be blown off, decks need to be cleaned, weeds still grow and leaves and sticks need to be removed. All New Image's clients are offered year-round service to keep the yard work from becoming overwhelming.

"I am so pleased!" Phil Hightower affirms. "Their work is excellent. They are always pleasant and easy to work with, doing that little bit extra whenever it's needed. All the crew members are doing the very best they can do at all times. I'm looking forward to them keeping my property beautiful for many years to come!"

But Rich isn't only about work. He's the proud dad of two boys, Dylan, age 14, and Landyn, age 9. These young men are excellent students â€" Dylan has never had below an A in his scholastic career and is a Presidential Education Award student, and Landyn earns Honor Roll grades each semester.

Rich spends time in his own backyard with his boys and two lovable dogs, Maximus and King Leonidas. But this picturesque family scene was jarred when Dylan started having pain in his arm.  Surgery was recommended, and the problem turned out to be a benign cyst that was removed. Dylan has been 100 percent cleared by his doctors and is able to resume full activities.