Wharton's Landscaping expands Airport Road garden center

The garden center on Old Landing and Airport roads, Rehoboth Beach, got a facelift over the winter when Wharton's Landscaping took over the facility and expanded into retail sales.

Now, as the owner of a landscaping company and garden center, Josh Wharton said he's realizing a dream with his family-run business.

"I was in the landscaping business 18 years, and this property became available, so we decided to venture into the garden center side of the business," he said.

Once the decision was made, Wharton said, his family and staff of 24 employees got to work, transitioning the garden center to serve both the landscaping business and general public.

They replaced signage, reorganized, restructured and reopened less than two months after taking possession of the property Feb. 1, he said, and there's been no looking back.

"Word is still getting out, but people come in now and tell us all the time how great the place looks," Wharton said. "We have a great staff; they are all awesome, and I feel very fortunate to have the employees I have."

Starting as a landscaper in 1998, Wharton has built his Lewes-based  operation into a full-service landscaping company, adding staff and expanding his service area from Milton to Bethany Beach.

"It went from me and another guy to 20 people working for me," he said.

Now with the addition of the garden center, Wharton's Landscaping Office Manager Lauren Johnson said they can serve more clients with landscape and hardscape design and installation, and offer specialty products and services as well.

"Not only can you buy plants here," Johnson said. "We can plant them for you too."

Rehoboth resident Joan Tremeain stopped in recently to pick up some plants for her garden and said she's noticed the new selection and organization at the center.

"It's beautiful!" Tremain said. "They did a wonderful job fixing it up here."

In checking out the selection of annuals and perennials, and looking to add a few to the garden this season, she was impressed.

"My husband and I put in annuals for some spots of color, and they have some beautiful things," Tremain said.

For more information about Wharton's Landscaping and new Garden Center on Airport Road in Rehoboth Beach, call 302-278-7041.