Total Transformations

Your Property.
Completely Reimagined.

A complete landscape renovation isn't just a new lawn or a few fresh plants. It's starting over — wiping the slate clean and rebuilding your entire outdoor space with intention, expertise, and a plan that addresses everything from drainage and grading to plantings and outdoor living.

At Iron Lungs, we approach every renovation the way a builder approaches a custom home — the foundation comes first. That means proper grading, drainage correction, and soil preparation before a single plant goes in the ground. Ashley's background in geology and hydrology ensures the underlying systems are engineered correctly, while Chuck's 20+ years of field experience ensures every element is executed with precision.

The result is a landscape that doesn't just look beautiful on installation day — it performs, drains correctly, and gets better every season. We specialize in incorporating native South Carolina plants that thrive in Upstate's climate, support local wildlife, and require far less maintenance than non-native alternatives.

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Native SC Plant Specialists

We believe the best landscapes work with nature, not against it. Our renovations feature native South Carolina plants — Black-Eyed Susans, Muhly Grass, Coneflowers, Dogwoods, and Eastern Redbuds — that are naturally adapted to Upstate SC's climate, require less water and maintenance, and support local pollinators and wildlife.

Complete landscape renovation aerial view — retaining wall raised garden bed riprap mulch Greenville SC — Iron Lungs

What's Included

Everything Your
Renovation Needs

A complete renovation pulls together every service we offer into one cohesive project. Here's what we bring to a full landscape transformation.

📐 Full Property Grading

Every renovation starts with proper grading. We reshape the land to ensure water drains away from your home, beds drain correctly, and every surface performs as intended. This foundational step is what separates renovations that last from ones that fail.

🧱 Retaining Walls

Retaining walls create level, usable spaces on sloped properties, define zones in your landscape, and prevent hillside erosion. We design and install walls that are structurally engineered, visually beautiful, and built to last for decades.

🌱 Sod Installation

Fresh sod is the single biggest visual impact in a renovation — nothing transforms a property faster. We install Empire Zoysia, Tall Fescue, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Centipede depending on your specific yard conditions and preferences.

🌸 Native Plant Beds

We design and install landscape beds featuring native SC plants chosen for your specific sun, soil, and moisture conditions. Our selections look stunning, attract pollinators, and thrive in Upstate SC without excessive watering or chemical inputs.

🥬 Raised Garden Beds

Custom raised garden beds using railroad ties, stone, or timber create functional growing spaces on sloped or challenging terrain. Perfect for homeowners who want a garden without fighting their property's topography.

🪨 Mulch, Rock & Erosion Control

We finish every renovation with the right ground cover — mulch for beds and hillsides, riprap for erosion control at slopes and bases, decorative rock for low-maintenance areas. Every material is chosen for both function and appearance.

Our Specialty

Native South Carolina Plants We Install

Native plants are our passion. They're adapted to Upstate SC's soil, rainfall, and climate — meaning they establish faster, need less water, and thrive for decades with minimal care. Here are some of our most requested natives.

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Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Cheerful golden blooms from summer through fall. Drought tolerant, attracts butterflies and bees, and spreads naturally to fill beds beautifully over time.

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Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris

Stunning pink-purple cloud-like plumes in fall. Low maintenance, drought resistant, and creates dramatic texture in landscape beds and borders.

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Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

A South Carolina native beloved by pollinators. Long blooming season, extremely tough, and comes back stronger every year with minimal care.

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Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

South Carolina's state flower. Spectacular spring blooms, beautiful fall color, and year-round structure. A centerpiece tree that defines Upstate SC landscapes.

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Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Breathtaking magenta blooms in early spring before the leaves emerge. A fast-growing native tree that adds incredible color and structure to any landscape.

Featured Project

Complete Front & Back Yard
Renovation · Greenville, SC

This downtown Greenville renovation is one of our most comprehensive projects — a complete transformation of both the front and back yard from scratch. The homeowner wanted to start over entirely, creating a beautiful, functional outdoor space that solved drainage issues, created usable living areas on a sloped property, and included a dedicated garden space. Here's everything we did:

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Front Yard — Full Zoysia Renovation

Removed all existing lawn, regraded for proper drainage, installed new landscape beds along the foundation, and laid fresh Zoysia sod across the entire front yard.

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Full Property Regrading

The entire back yard was regraded to properly manage drainage, create level usable spaces, and prepare a stable foundation for every element of the renovation.

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Retaining Wall & Level Lawn

A retaining wall was installed to create a level outdoor living space at the back of the home — turning an unusable steep slope into a flat, beautiful lawn area with fresh sod.

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Raised Garden Bed

A raised garden bed built from railroad ties was installed on the hillside — creating a flat, productive growing space on terrain that would otherwise be impossible to garden.

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Hillside Mulch Coverage

The steep hillside below the retaining wall was covered with fresh mulch — eliminating the need to mow an unmowable slope while creating a clean, low-maintenance finish.

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Riprap Erosion Control

Riprap was installed at the base of the hillside to prevent future erosion, stabilize the slope, and protect the newly transformed yard from washing damage during heavy rains.

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New Flower Beds

Custom flower beds were designed and installed around the outdoor living area, incorporating plants that complement the space and add seasonal color throughout the year.

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Fresh Sod Throughout

Fresh sod was installed in the level back yard area created by the retaining wall — giving the family a lush, beautiful lawn and a true outdoor living space for the first time.

Before landscape renovation front yard downtown Greenville SC — patchy lawn

Before — Front Yard · Downtown Greenville, SC

After landscape renovation front yard — Zoysia sod and new beds downtown Greenville SC

After — Zoysia Sod & New Beds · Downtown Greenville, SC

Before back yard renovation downtown Greenville SC — aerial view sloped unusable yard

Before — Back Yard · Sloped & Unusable

After back yard renovation — retaining wall raised garden bed mulch riprap aerial view

After — Retaining Wall, Garden Bed & Riprap Installed

After back yard renovation — level sod lawn retaining wall Greenville SC aerial

After — Level Lawn Created Behind Retaining Wall

After complete back yard renovation — full aerial view Greenville SC Iron Lungs

After — Complete Back Yard Transformation · Aerial View

How It Works

Our Renovation Process

Site Assessment & Vision

We visit your property, assess the land, drainage, existing conditions, and listen to your vision. We ask the right questions — how do you want to use your space? What problems need solving? What's your maintenance preference?

Custom Plan & Estimate

We develop a complete renovation plan addressing grading, drainage, structures, planting, and finishing — with a detailed estimate for every element. No surprises, no hidden costs.

Foundation First

Every renovation starts with the ground — grading, drainage correction, and any structural work like retaining walls. Getting this right is what ensures everything installed on top performs correctly for years.

Complete & Walk Through

We finish with planting, sod, mulch, and all final details, then walk the entire project with you before we leave. Your satisfaction is guaranteed — we don't leave until you love it.

Common Questions

Landscape Renovation FAQs

How much does a complete landscape renovation cost in Greenville, SC?

Renovation costs vary significantly based on the size of the property, scope of work, and materials selected. A front yard renovation is a very different project from a complete front and back yard transformation with retaining walls and raised beds. Iron Lungs always provides free on-site estimates — we assess your specific property and give you accurate, detailed pricing with no obligation. Call (864) 238-4448 or fill out our estimate form.

Why should I choose native SC plants for my landscape renovation?

Native plants are adapted to Upstate SC's specific soil, rainfall, and climate conditions — meaning they establish faster, need significantly less water once established, and thrive with minimal maintenance for decades. They also support local pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects in ways that non-native plants can't. Species like Black-Eyed Susans, Muhly Grass, Coneflowers, Dogwoods, and Eastern Redbuds are naturally at home in Greenville's climate and will look better every year.

Can you create a usable yard on a sloped property?

Absolutely — this is one of our specialties. Sloped properties in Upstate SC are extremely common, and many homeowners feel like they can never have a usable backyard because of the grade. Retaining walls, regrading, and terracing can transform a steep, unusable slope into level lawn areas, outdoor living spaces, and garden beds. Our downtown Greenville renovation is a perfect example — a steep, problem-filled backyard became a beautiful, functional outdoor space the family uses every day.

How long does a complete landscape renovation take?

Timeline depends on the scope of work. A front yard renovation with sod and new beds might take 2 to 3 days. A complete front and back yard transformation with retaining walls, grading, and full planting could take 1 to 2 weeks. We provide a clear timeline during your free estimate and communicate throughout the project so you always know what to expect.

Do you handle everything or will I need to hire multiple contractors?

Iron Lungs handles the complete renovation — grading, drainage, retaining walls, sod, planting, mulch, riprap, and raised beds. You work with one team, one point of contact, and one coordinated plan from start to finish. No juggling multiple contractors or worrying about scheduling conflicts between trades.

Complete Landscape
Renovation
Greenville, SC

Your Property.
Completely Reimagined.