"We design gardens with character"
Interview with Michael Grimm, Managing Director of GRIMM garten gestalten GmbH
In times when retreating into private life and the longing for a natural experience at home are gaining in importance, the garden is increasingly becoming a stage for individual life designs. GRIMM garten gestalten GmbH from Hilzingen near the Swiss border is a company that has been setting standards in garden and landscape construction for decades – with creative planning, solid plant knowledge, and a deeply rooted passion for holistic design.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Grimm, your company has a remarkable history. How did it all begin?
Michael Grimm: My brother and I founded the company in 1983 – at that time with a broad focus on both private customers and property developers. Just a few years later, we hired our first employee. In 1992, the opportunity arose to take over the company where we had both been trained. From that point on, we completely focused on the private customer sector – a decision that still forms the basis of our success to this day.
Wirtschaftsforum: What was a particularly defining step in your development?
Michael Grimm: As early as the beginning of the 1990s, we were among the first to use CAD drawings in landscape gardening – including large-format plotter technology. That was revolutionary at the time. Today, we work in a hybrid manner: while floor plans are still created with CAD, we deliberately use freehand drawings for views. These convey emotions – and that's exactly what landscape design is all about. Customers often decide on a project when they see themselves in a drawing.
Wirtschaftsforum: You are also well-known beyond Germany. How did the establishment in Switzerland come about?
Michael Grimm: Our location is only 2 km from the border. In order to expand our sphere of influence, we founded an independent company in Frauenfeld in 2006. Today, there are nine employees working there – with the same philosophy and a focus on the private customer market. Many processes such as marketing or the website are centrally controlled from Germany, but locally we operate independently and in compliance with Swiss standards.
Wirtschaftsforum: What sets GRIMM apart from other landscape gardening companies?
Michael Grimm: In addition to designing and building gardens and pools, we have focused particularly on plants. For over ten years, we have been offering training to become a certified plant designer. The goal is to use the emotional impact of plants deliberately – for year-round flowering displays and coherent plant sociology. One square meter at our company can consist of up to five different perennials that complement each other optimally. This knowledge clearly distinguishes us from the competition.
Wirtschaftsforum: So you are also heavily investing in further education?
Michael Grimm: Absolutely. Our employees participate in a two-year training program – with eight modules and a final project. We developed the training in conjunction with a retired professor. Four of our employees have already completed it. Our goal is to pass this knowledge on to the next generation. Those who think about tomorrow today ensure that the quality remains, even when experienced workers retire.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you deal with the shortage of skilled workers?
Michael Grimm: Unlike many other companies, we currently have no shortage of young talent – on the contrary. Thanks to our reputation in the industry, we receive targeted unsolicited applications, even from masters. Our work is getting around. The latest example: A former employee in the building materials trade approached us because he wanted to be part of our team – now he is a site manager. We try to live our values: groundedness, quality, individuality.
Wirtschaftsforum: Care is a growing market for your company – in both private gardens and municipal areas. How are you positioned here?
Michael Grimm: We currently care for about 300 gardens regularly – not just with classic activities like mowing the lawn or trimming hedges, but with targeted interventions to extend blooming, care for perennials, and seasonal control. We work closely with our clients – from occasional support to full care. In addition, we also take on professional tree care and monitoring for municipalities. Especially in times of climate change, profound knowledge of site requirements and species selection is essential – an area where we specifically bring in our expertise.
Wirtschaftsforum: And what is your vision for the future?
Michael Grimm: I am convinced that cooperation is the key. Small businesses can no longer afford certain structures such as accounting or marketing on their own. Collaboration in the background – with other horticultural companies or even trades partners from electrical and sanitary sectors – would make sense. From the outside, the companies remain independent, but internally they share resources. We also want to further expand our leading role in the field of sustainable and biodiverse garden design – with real plant knowledge, not just nice words.