Jenn Nawada - A Look At Her Life And Work

Norene Senger IV 30 Jun 2025

For many who enjoy watching home improvement shows, a familiar face bringing the outdoors to life is Jenn Nawada. She is a truly gifted residential landscaper and a valued part of the teams at both *This Old House* and *Ask This Old House*. People often wonder about the folks who appear on their screens, curious about their backgrounds and what makes them tick. Jenn, with her calm way of explaining things and her deep knowledge of plants and outdoor spaces, has certainly captured the attention of many viewers across the country.

She helps folks figure out how to make their yards not just pretty, but also really useful, creating places where people can relax and enjoy nature right at home. You might see her showing how to pick the right trees or arrange a garden that feels just right. It’s almost like she helps you see the possibilities in your own backyard, which is a pretty cool thing to do, actually.

Beyond her work on television, Jenn has a long history in the field, going back over two decades. She runs her own company, Nawada Landscape Design, Inc., and has put her touch on many outdoor spots, particularly around the Boston area. Her story, you know, it includes growing up in a place full of citrus trees and finding her way to teaching others about environmental things before settling into her current passion.

Who is Jenn Nawada?
- Jenn Nawada's Personal Story
What Does Jenn Nawada Do?
- Jenn Nawada's Approach to Outdoor Spaces
How Did Jenn Nawada Start Her Career?
- Jenn Nawada's Path to Landscaping
What is Jenn Nawada's Role on Television?
- Jenn Nawada and the Legacy of *This Old House*

Who is Jenn Nawada?

Jenn Nawada, whose full name is Jennifer Nawada Evans, is a well-known figure in the world of outdoor design and home improvement television. She has become a familiar presence for many who watch *This Old House* and *Ask This Old House*, where she shares her deep knowledge about making outdoor areas beautiful and practical. Her work as a residential landscaper involves not just designing but also putting those plans into action, which is quite a hands-on job. She really helps people see how their outdoor areas can become true extensions of their homes, a place for living and enjoying, too.

Born on the seventh day of July in 1973, Jenn brings a lifetime of experiences, some of them from her own childhood, to her current work. She started her professional journey in the outdoor design field way back in 2001. This means she has over two decades of experience, which is a pretty long time to be doing anything, actually. Her company, Nawada Landscape Design, Inc., is where she brings her creative ideas to life for clients, especially those living in the Boston area. She has a way of creating outdoor spots that not only look good but also work well with nature, which is a really important idea to consider these days.

Beyond her professional work, Jenn also has a personal life that shapes who she is. She has been married to Justin Evans since 2003, and they share their life together. It's interesting to think about how her personal experiences, like growing up surrounded by fruit trees, might have shaped her passion for the natural world and design. She even mentions how having a dog makes things a bit more relaxed and fun, and she likes to bring her dog along whenever she can, which just goes to show a bit about her personality, you know?

Jenn Nawada's Personal Story

Jenn Nawada's life story, in some respects, is deeply rooted in the sunshine state of Florida. She spent her early years growing up in Winter Haven, a place in central Florida's Polk County, which was known for its many citrus groves. She often speaks fondly of her childhood there, remembering neighborhoods that were just lined with orange and other fruit trees. It seemed, she says, like those groves stretched on and on forever when she was just a kid, which is a pretty vivid memory to hold onto.

Her family home even had four grapefruit trees right in the backyard. This early exposure to growing things and the natural world, you could say, probably planted a seed for her future career. She recalls enjoying fresh grapefruit straight from the tree and even selling picked fruit from the basket of her bike, which is a charming image, honestly. These experiences, she cherishes them as part of her time in that sunny place, and they likely shaped her connection to the earth and growing things. It’s a bit like her early life was a natural classroom for what she does now, more or less.

Outside of her work and her childhood memories, Jenn also shares a bit about her family life. She has been married to Justin Evans since 2003, which is a fairly long time. She also mentions how having a dog around just seems to keep everyone more at ease and makes the day a little more enjoyable. She really likes to bring her dog with her whenever she can, which paints a picture of someone who values simple pleasures and a relaxed atmosphere, too.

Personal Details and Background

Detail	Information
Full Name	Jennifer "Jenn" Nawada Evans
Date of Birth	July 7, 1973
Place of Birth	Winter Haven, Polk County, Central Florida
Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Justin Evans (since 2003)
Profession	Residential Landscape Designer and Contractor, Television Personality
Company	Nawada Landscape Design, Inc.
Years in Field	Since 2001 (over 20 years experience)
Education	Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies
Known For	Cast member on This Old House and Ask This Old House

What Does Jenn Nawada Do?

As a residential landscape designer and contractor, Jenn Nawada has a very clear goal: to show people how to make their outdoor areas more pleasing to the eye and also more useful. This involves a lot more than just planting flowers, you know. She works on creating spaces that are both attractive and built to last, often using ideas that are kind to the environment. She’s really good at taking a regular backyard and turning it into something special, a place that truly adds to a home’s appeal and comfort.

Her work includes coming up with detailed plans for outdoor spots. These plans consider things like how people will use the space, what kind of plants will thrive there, and how everything fits together to make a nice overall picture. She doesn't just draw pretty pictures; she also makes sure those ideas can actually be built and maintained over time. This dual role of designer and contractor means she sees a project through from the first sketch to the final touches, which is a pretty complete way to work, honestly.

For clients in the Boston area, Jenn and her company, Nawada Landscape Design, Inc., are known for crafting outdoor living areas that are both elegant and practical. She helps people create spots for entertaining, for quiet reflection, or for just letting kids and pets play. Her focus on what she calls "sustainable and stylish" spaces means she tries to use methods and materials that are good for the planet and will look good for a long time. It's about building something that lasts and serves its purpose well, really.

Jenn Nawada's Approach to Outdoor Spaces

Jenn Nawada's way of thinking about outdoor spaces is quite thoughtful, you might say. She doesn't just look at a yard as a blank canvas; she sees it as an extension of the home, a place where life happens. Her designs aim to be both lovely to look at and highly functional. This means she considers how people will actually use the space, whether it's for gathering with friends, growing food, or simply enjoying a quiet moment outside. She wants the outdoor areas she works on to truly serve the people who live there, which is a pretty practical outlook.

A big part of her approach involves creating what she calls "sustainable" outdoor living areas. This means choosing plants that thrive in the local climate, using materials that are friendly to the environment, and designing systems that conserve resources, like water. She tries to make sure that the beauty she creates today will continue to look good and work well for many years to come, without needing too much upkeep or causing harm to the natural world. It’s about building things with the future in mind, basically.

When she teaches viewers on television, Jenn often breaks down complex ideas into simple, easy-to-follow steps. She shows how to pick the right plants for a specific spot, how to arrange them so they grow well together, and how to make sure the whole design flows nicely. She inspires people to take on their own projects, big or small, by giving them the knowledge and confidence they need. She really helps people feel like they can make their own outdoor areas more attractive and useful, which is a wonderful thing to do, in a way.

How Did Jenn Nawada Start Her Career?

You might wonder how someone becomes a well-known landscape designer, especially when it wasn't their first idea for a career path. For Jenn Nawada, her journey into the world of outdoor design wasn't a straight line, which is fairly common for many people, honestly. She didn't initially plan to become a landscaper. Her academic background actually began with getting a bachelor's degree in environmental studies. This shows a long-standing interest in the natural world and how we interact with it, which, in retrospect, makes a lot of sense for her current profession.

After finishing her studies, she took a different route for a bit. She started teaching outdoor education at a farm located in Vermont. This experience likely gave her hands-on knowledge of plants, soil, and ecological systems, and also helped her develop a knack for explaining things to others. It was a chance to connect with nature and share that connection with students, which is a pretty fulfilling thing to do. This teaching role, you could say, probably helped shape her ability to communicate clearly, a skill she uses a lot on television today.

It seems her time teaching and her environmental studies background laid a solid groundwork for what was to come. By 2001, she had fully stepped into the field of landscape design and contracting. This transition from teaching about the environment to actively shaping it through design shows a natural progression. She found a way to combine her passion for the outdoors with a creative and practical skill set, ultimately leading her to own her own company and become a public figure, too.

Jenn Nawada's Path to Landscaping

Jenn Nawada's story of how she became a landscaper is a good example of how interests can shift and grow over time. It wasn't like she woke up one day and decided, "I'm going to be a landscape designer!" Her beginnings were, in a way, more about understanding the natural world itself. Getting a degree in environmental studies suggests a deep curiosity about how ecosystems work and how humans fit into them. This foundational knowledge is probably why her designs often focus on what works best with nature, not against it, which is a pretty smart approach.

Her time teaching outdoor education at a Vermont farm was a really practical step on her path. Imagine spending your days on a farm, teaching people about the environment. You'd learn a lot about plants, soil, weather, and how everything interacts. This kind of hands-on experience, combined with explaining it to others, would naturally build a strong base for someone looking to work with outdoor spaces. It's almost like she was doing a bit of landscape education even before she formally became a designer, you know?

So, by the time 2001 rolled around, Jenn was ready to put all that learning and passion into her own business. Starting Nawada Landscape Design, Inc., was a natural progression from her earlier work. It allowed her to take her ideas about sustainable and beautiful outdoor areas and bring them to life for real people. Her career path, in a sense, shows how varied experiences can lead to a truly fitting profession, one where she can genuinely help others create better outdoor living spots.

What is Jenn Nawada's Role on Television?

Jenn Nawada is a key part of two well-known home improvement shows: *This Old House* and *Ask This Old House*. She joined these programs as the landscape contractor in January of 2020. Her job on the shows is to teach viewers across the country how to make their landscapes more beautiful and also more useful. She offers practical ideas and solutions, showing people how to approach their own outdoor projects, which is a pretty big help for many who watch.

Her presence on these shows is quite significant, particularly because she stepped into a role previously held by someone very respected in the field. She followed in the footsteps of Roger Cook, who was a true legend on *This Old House* for over 35 years before he decided to step away. This transition was announced with a lot of warmth and respect, acknowledging Roger's lasting impact on beautiful landscapes. Jenn, in a way, took up a very important mantle, and she has certainly proven herself worthy of it.

On the programs, Jenn inspires and teaches people how to take on their own landscaping tasks. She promotes designs that are not only pleasing to the eye but also kind to the environment, which is a central theme in her work. Viewers get to see her in action, explaining her thought process and showing how to achieve great results in their own yards. It’s more or less like having a friendly expert right there in your living room, showing you the ropes, you know?

Jenn Nawada and the Legacy of This Old House

Jenn Nawada's connection to *This Old House* and *Ask This Old House* is a really important part of her public story. These shows have been around for a long time, helping countless people with their home projects. When Jenn joined in January 2020 as the landscape contractor, she was taking on a role that carried a lot of history and respect. It was a big moment, as she was stepping in for Roger Cook, a person who had been a beloved figure on the program for over three and a half decades, which is a truly remarkable run.

Roger Cook, sadly, passed away later, but his influence on outdoor design and on the show was immense. Jenn's selection to fill his shoes speaks volumes about her skills and her standing in the profession. She inspires and teaches viewers, much like Roger did, showing them how to approach their landscaping projects with designs that are both attractive and sustainable. She brings her own unique style and deep knowledge, while still honoring the spirit of what Roger had built, which is a delicate balance to strike, honestly.

Through her appearances, Jenn gives viewers across the country solutions to make their outdoor areas better. She creates landscape plans that are not just theoretical but are practical and can be put into action by everyday people. Whether it's about choosing the right tropical fruit trees, as she once discussed, or understanding how to make a space more functional, Jenn breaks it down clearly. She really helps people feel more confident about tackling their own outdoor projects, which is a pretty valuable thing to offer.

This article has explored the life and work of Jenn Nawada, a well-known residential landscaper and television personality. We looked into her background, including her birth details and family life, and presented her personal information in a clear table. The piece also covered her professional journey, from her early education in environmental studies and teaching outdoor education to owning Nawada Landscape Design, Inc. Finally, we discussed her significant role on *This Old House* and *Ask This Old House*, particularly her succession to Roger Cook's position and how she inspires viewers with her sustainable design approach.

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Jenn Nawada - A Look At Her Life And Work

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