Meet Allan — 37 Years Building Greater Boston Backyards

American Elm Landscape is a family-run, design-build hardscape and drainage contractor based in Medford, MA, building paver patios, retaining walls, driveways, and drainage across Greater Boston since 1989. The owner, Allan Spires, is on every job — and he's one of the area's few NDS Certified Professional Drainage Contractors.

That's the short version. Here's the longer one, and why it matters when you're deciding who to let into your backyard.

37 years, and still on the job

We started in 1989 and never turned into the kind of outfit that hands you off to a salesman and a subcontractor you never meet. Allan is on site overseeing the work, and the business has grown the slow, honest way — on referrals and repeat customers, one Greater Boston backyard at a time. After 500+ patios, we know this area's soil, its winters, and what actually lasts here.

What makes us different

• NDS Certified in drainage. Almost no local competitor holds this. The water side — grading, base, French drains, dry creek beds — is the part that makes a patio or wall actually last, and it's the part we build to standard instead of hoping for the best.
• Allan's on every job. You deal with the person responsible for the work, start to finish.
• We're the crew that fixes other people's failed patios. We get called in to redo heaving, sinking, pooling jobs other companies walked away from — which is exactly why we don't cut the corners that cause them.
• Tight city lots are our specialty. Somerville triple-deckers, Cambridge side yards, Medford lots with no truck access — the hard-to-build spaces most crews shy away from.
• Written estimates, licensed & insured. Real numbers up front, no sticker shock, no games.

What we build

Paver and bluestone patios, walkways and steps, retaining walls, paver and permeable driveways, yard drainage and wet-yard fixes, masonry, fire pits, synthetic turf, and full backyard transformations — design and build, start to finish.

Where we work

All across Greater Boston — Medford, Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Winchester, Malden, Everett, Boston, Brookline, Watertown, and the surrounding towns.

What our customers say

“Allan and team have been doing landscape and hardscape work for many years at our home in Cambridge. He's always creative with our 'city yard.' His team is professional, and he's always present to oversee their work. His prices are reasonable, and he is responsive.” — Jenna S., Cambridge

“Allan was amazing to work with! We designed our backyard space with him to create a mini oasis with lots of plants and good lighting. He has experience with Somerville and knows the area very well, which makes it even more seamless.” — Nitasha & Tejas, Somerville

We hold a 4.6★ rating across 58 Google reviews — earned the same way the business grew: by doing right by people.

Common questions

How long has American Elm Landscape been in business?

Since 1989 — that's over 37 years building patios, walls, driveways, and drainage across Greater Boston.

Is Allan on the job himself?

Yes. Allan is on every job overseeing the work — you're not handed off to a subcontractor you never met.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes, we're licensed and insured, and Allan is an NDS Certified Professional Drainage Contractor — a credential almost no local competitor holds.