Expert Landscaping for Your New Home in Oklahoma | Ideal Homes

Ideal Homes, Marcum’s Nursery, and You

You probably know that your new Ideal Home comes with at least two trees and a selection of landscaping in the front flower beds, but did you know there’s more to the story?

For over fourteen years, Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods has sourced all OKC-area landscaping packages exclusively from Marcum’s Nursery, a locally owned landscaping and garden company whose ties to Oklahoma run as deep as those of Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods. It’s a longstanding partnership that benefits both Ideal homeowners and their gardens.

Candace Benson of Marcum’s Nursery manages the Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods relationship. A granddaughter of Marcum’s founders, Candace started her career at just ten years old, pulling weeds during the summers. When she became Marcum’s liaison with Ideal eight years ago, she immediately saw what made Ideal's new homes different.

“Some homebuilders come looking for plants at a particular price point or just want whatever is easiest to install. It’s not a thoughtful process,” Candace said. “There’s a lot more collaboration between Marcum’s Nursery and Ideal Homes. In my experience, Ideal relies on our expertise and trusts that we’ll make the best decisions for them and their customers.”

Candace said this relationship leads to healthier, longer-lasting plants for new Ideal Homes homeowners.

“Other builders have a high loss rate on the plants they install because they don’t think to ask us, ‘What will grow here?’ or ‘What will work in these conditions?’ They don’t really care if the plants will survive.”

With Ideal Homes, it’s a completely different story.

“They stress to us, and to all their subcontractors, that it’s our job to do the best we can for the homeowners,” Candace said.

The Ideal Homes Landscaping Package

Every new Ideal home includes a landscaping package that provides a foundation you can build upon and personalize. The landscaping package includes:

• Two-to-four trees per home, depending on the lot
• Evergreen shrubs for year-round greenery
• Steel edging to keep the lawn from creeping into flower beds
• High-quality, triple-ground cedar mulch

When Candace receives a contract to supply plants for a new Ideal neighborhood, she and her team assess everything – from the size of each home’s flower beds to the amount of sun each flower bed will receive. Next, Marcum’s chooses plants of different sizes, colors, and textures, for each individual home. The plants are also selected for their disease resistance and compatibility with Oklahoma’s climate.

“We select evergreen shrubs as anchor plants. This gives homeowners a solid foundation to make the garden their own,” Candace explained.

Walking through the rows of shrubs in Marcum’s greenhouse, Candace pointed out some of her favorites and why she selects them for Ideal Homes. “Nandinas for color. Boxwoods for a tailored backdrop. Abelia for fall colors and flowers. Juniper for interesting texture closer to the ground and a mix of grayish greens. Privet—an underrated shrub that can survive Oklahoma weather. We pick a mix of plants that are both beautiful and resilient.”

Candace and her team at Marcum’s take pride in every Ideal Home they work on.

“I don’t often get to meet the people who move into the Ideal Homes we landscape, but if I could, I’d tell them that the plants in their yard were chosen with care and purpose.”

The Ideal Homes Difference

Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods’ commitment to quality extends beyond the plants to every detail down to the mulch and installation process.

“Other homebuilders ask for the cheapest mulch or just take whatever’s left over. Ideal Homes wants the top-grade triple-ground cedar mulch,” Candace said.

Because of the long-standing relationship between Ideal Homes and Marcum’s Nursery, Candace even knows which of her crews to send.

“The crew I send to Ideal Homes build sites is chosen for a reason. They’ve been doing this for years. They know what they’re doing, what I expect of them, and the high standards Ideal Homes sets.”

For the last eight years, Candace has had a unique perspective on Ideal Homes—their processes, their standards, and their culture. She says it’s the culture that impresses her the most.

“Even in stressful situations, I’ve never seen anyone at Ideal Homes speak poorly of a homeowner. They operate with integrity, genuinely want the best for everyone in their homes, and treat their homeowners with respect –  whether or not those homeowners are in the room.”

One of her favorite things about her role at Marcum’s is seeing Ideal Homes homeowners return to the nursery for guidance.

“We love when Ideal Homes homeowners come back, asking specific questions about how to care for their plants or looking for recommendations to enhance their landscaping. It’s great to continue working with them over the years.”

Read more about how to care for your Ideal yard and garden.

Icing on the Cake

The longstanding partnership between Marcum’s Nursery and Ideal Homes ensures that every home has a beautiful, well-planned flower bed. What happens next is up to you! 

Learn how to add personality and color to your garden this spring.

Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods is locally owned. That means when we build a home, we’re building for our neighbors, community members, and friends. That’s also why we partner with local companies like Marcum’s Nursery.

If you’re ready to put down roots in your own Ideal Home in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Stillwater, or throughout the OKC metro, visit us at www.idealhomes.com