Joe Ashton knows his landscaping company’s prices might not be the cheapest, but he said, he and his men do quality work and he’s looking to make a client for life when he takes on projects.

“We’re doing incredible work,” he said. “Which is a must, because service here in Sussex is crazy.”

Thirteen years in the business, most of it in New Castle County, Ashton is opening an Ashton Group At The Beach design studio on a northbound Route 1 property near the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal at 37458 Oyster House Road in Rehoboth. It’s a location that’s been home to a number of different businesses in the past few years, most recently Anderson’s Produce Market last summer.

Ashton said a lot of his work has been in the Rehoboth, Lewes and Bethany area for the past few years, and he’s been looking up and down Route 1 for a Cape Region home for his design studio. When this spot opened up, he said, he jumped at the chance. There are not too many Route 1 locations anymore, he said.

Ashton, 43, said he kind of fell into the business of landscaping. He said he used to supplement a union pipefitter job with landscaping, and then after a while he decided to start his own business.

It was the right time to get into it, and the company grew quickly, he said.

Ashton said the company does everything from the beginning of the project to the end – from designing the idea using state-of-the-art computer software to all the landscaping and hardscaping.

The property itself is undergoing a complete makeover. Ashton said he’s stripped the 60-year-old house to the studs to make sure the new location is warm and inviting for his customers when it’s all done. He’s already planted dozens of trees and bushes on the property, and some of his hardscaping handiwork can be seen at the base of the new, sky-blue business sign on the Route 1 side of the property and the driveway entrance on the backside.

Ashton said he hopes to have the renovation done and the studio open by February. He said there are plans to have a bells-and-whistles display on the front of the property – an outdoor patio, fiberglass pool, weather-friendly bar setup and pergola.

“I want people to see what kind of work we do and all the materials we’re comfortable working with when they drive by,” he said.

Ashton said he’s looking forward to becoming a fixture in the community.

“I’ve got at least 20 more years in this,” he said. “Hopefully.”

For more information on Ashton Group At The Beach call 302-212-5570 or go to ashtonatthebeach.com.