Steven Gladstone on lawn care and plant selection.
By Lee Hurley
Steven Gladstone, President of Steven’s Wack-N-Sack, a locally owned lawn care and landscaping companY will give a talk on Summer Lawn Success at the Albert L. Scott Library Saturday, March 21 from 1-3 p.m. While the event is free, registration is required.
Humble Beginnings
“My business actually started as a homeschool project,” Gladstone recalls. After his family moved to the area from Gadsden when he was in high school, he was looking for a meaningful project to complete. He chose lawn care—mowing neighbors’ yards and building a small customer base by the end of the summer. His father felt led to join him around 2000, leaving a steady job with the U.S. Defense Department, and the business took a leap forward. Their first work vehicle was a 1984 Nissan Datsun pickup truck—complete with broken air conditioning. Gladstone’s AC then was “two windows down, 55 miles an hour.”
Growth and Expansion
What began as grass cutting evolved into more comprehensive lawn care and landscaping services serving commercial and residential clients primarily in Alabaster and surrounding areas. While they focus heavily on maintenance, Gladstone, who has his landscape design license, still applies his design experience to installation projects and consultations.
Gladstone’s approach is grounded in practical sustainability. “When we look at a property, we ask not only how we can make it beautiful,” he says, “but also what it will take to maintain it long-term.”Year-Round Lawn Care
According to Gladstone winter isn’t a complete break for lawn professionals. January may be slower for mowing, but it’s one of the busiest times for fertilizer and weed control applications—a key service that helps lawns look their best come spring. The company also installs pine straw and mulch and performs commercial property upgrades when grass cutting isn’t as necessary.
How the Team Works With Clients
When a new client calls, the conversation could go in many directions. “Some people know exactly what they want,” Gladstone says, “and other times they look to us for recommendations.”
Whether the client has a specific vision or needs help defining one, Gladstone’s team asks questions like: Do the homeowners entertain outdoors? Do they want a low-maintenance yard? What is the budget? These questions help create landscaping plans that are both attractive and functional.
Irrigation, Drainage, and Budget-Friendly Solutions
Gladstone stresses that water management—both irrigation and drainage—is just as important as plant selection. “You can have amazing fertilizer and treatments, but if the soil is too dry or stays too wet, the landscape won’t thrive,” he says.
But it’s not just about installing systems, it’s about educating clients and designing for what they can realistically maintain within their budget. For those who can’t afford a full irrigation system, Gladstone might recommend drought-tolerant plants that require less supplemental watering.
Looking Ahead
What topics will Gladstone cover during his talk on March 21st? “I’ll talk about how maintenance should guide design, plant selection and placement, and the real care requirements people need to think about. We’ll also go over common mistakes, like putting plants in places they can’t thrive long term, or choosing plants that become too large for their space.” Because to Gladstone creating lasting beauty isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about sustainability and stewardship.