In 2000, after working as a golf course superintendent for 10 years, Tom McDonald decided to make a dream come true and launched Smiling Dog Landscapes. Starting with a small HOA common area maintenance project in Gold Canyon, the new company soon expanded to include yard cleanups.
Within a year, the growth of Smiling Dog Landscapes necessitated the hiring of two new crew members, thereby allowing the business to begin offering full installs and recurring yard maintenance. By the year 2008, Smiling Dog Landscapes had grown to a staff of 12 and extended its geographic reach into neighboring communities.
Eager to give back to the community that supported the business, Tom had the idea to offer classes on Sonoran Desert landscaping and gardening. The Smiling Dog Learning Center was born! These free classes, conducted from October through March, gave Tom and his staff the opportunity to educate the public on what is possible within our desert landscapes.
Now in 2020, Smiling Dog Landscapes has a staff of 17 and continues to offer new services and products to the community. Some of the newer services include rainwater harvesting, edible gardens, and custom hardscapes. Sustainable concepts, such as edible backyard gardens with chickens, fish, raised beds, and hydroponics, are also under development.
Smiling Dog Landscapes will continue to build on its history within the far east valley to deliver the highest standards through quality results and responsible education.
We aim to create sustainable outdoor living spaces that impart peace of mind, serenity, and happiness for the residents of the Sonoran Desert. To accomplish this work, we listen to our clients and educate them as to what is possible before we turn their dreams into realities.
We cultivate a workplace that inspires and nurtures our team members while providing opportunities for all to grow through training and experience. Our goal is to support our community and ecosystem by utilizing the most innovative and environmentally sustainable techniques at our disposal as well as making responsible, ethical choices in all of our endeavors.