483 Landscaping growing for new owner

As the owner of 483 Landscaping, Grant Nelson likes doing what he loves and being his own boss. 

Nelson began working in the great outdoors at age 14 by mowing lawns for extra cash in the summer. Then a family friend introduced him to landscaping. 

“When I was mowing lawns, I didn’t think I’d be doing landscaping,” Nelson said. “Then I did a few jobs and really liked it. I decided I liked it a lot better than mowing lawns.”

The Brandon resident started 483 Landscaping in May of 2017, the same month he graduated from high school. 

That first summer, Nelson worked closely with his landscaping mentor and learned a lot on the job. By August, he’d earned enough to purchase his first piece of equipment, a skid loader, and within a year, he’d paid off the loan from his parents to start the business. 

Now at the end of 483 Landscaping’s second summer, Nelson’s done half a dozen jobs in Brandon, several in Sioux Falls and Harrisburg, and as far away as Canton.

“It’s growing fast. It’s fun. I feel like we’re on the right track,” he said.

He quickly found Brandon had a lot to offer, including landscaping gig opportunities. 

He even named his business after his address – 483rd Avenue – and joined the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce this summer.

“When people need landscaping jobs and don’t know who to call, they’ll look up ‘landscaping in Brandon’ and see me,” Nelson said. “I’d like to be the landscaping company you think of when you say ‘Brandon.’”

483 Landscaping does everything from installing rocks and pavers to edging and full design of a bare back yard.

“I want Brandon to know I’m here for all their landscaping projects, big and small, and I can work around their schedules,” he said. “I’m here to create their dream back yard.”

To create that dream back yard, Nelson first uploads a photo of the space into a computer program to create a design that meets the customer’s wants and needs. 

While Nelson has primarily done residential work, he’s also handled a sprinkling of commercial jobs in the area, including hole 10 at Willow Run Golf Course. 

Using a gridded map, he and several 483 employees shaped boxwoods into a large “W.R.” at the hole. Willow Run was so happy with the result that they captured 483’s work in a drone video and featured it in a YouTube commercial.

Nelson said meticulousness and pleasing people comes with the occupation.

“You kind of have to be a perfectionist with landscaping to build up your reputation,” he said.

Joining the Chamber led to a few jobs, and referrals led to even more.

While the 19-year-old is among the Chamber’s youngest members, he’s confident in his work and prices – though he’s occasionally sensed a tinge of skepticism from customers wondering if he’s too “green.”

“I quote them a price, and they may go elsewhere and get another quote, but they’re probably going to find that 483 can do the work for less,” Nelson said. “And I think a lot of people would rather deal with a smaller company.”

The biggest challenge as a business owner, he said, is having to be the boss when his three employees are also friends. At the same time, working with his buddies is also one of his favorite perks of the job. 

Nelson is about to start his sophomore year at South Dakota State University, where he’s majoring in landscape architecture. 

He’ll room for a second year with Austin Herting, his best friend and a 483 staffer this summer.

Herting, a business major, said he admires the budding entrepreneur for 483’s success.

“In a year, he went from not knowing much to typing up estimates and coming up with his own designs. All the landscaping stuff – he picked it up pretty fast,” he said.

483 Lanscaping has jobs lined up in the days leading up to Nelson’s departure, and he plans on returning on weekends for any final touches or new projects. 

“I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of people. My parents have helped a lot,” Nelson said. “It’s been a little stressful, but not too bad.”

Find 483 Landscaping online at 483landscaping.com or reach the owner at 605-214-4608.