Landscaping Design on the Main Line

October 19, 2016
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Autumn Maintenance Tips for Your Tri-State PA, NJ or DE Garden

Autumn Maintenance Tips for Your Tri-State PA, NJ or DE Garden

There’s no doubt about it. Autumn is in full swing. The sky has clothed her in that royal shade of blue, and trees and shrubs are sporting their showiest foliage. And, homeowners naturally want to be outside and enjoy the ever-changing spectacle. Why not get a front row seat in the colorful parade and get your Main Line / Philadelphia landscape design all ready for the colder months at the same time?

While fall maintenance work is perhaps not as exciting as spring chores, there is still a distinct sense of satisfaction in getting things all tidy before winter arrives. And, done well, the yard and garden maintenance accomplished now can actually simplify spring to-dos.

So what should be on your checklist?

Clean up the beds – Flower gardens need some serious attention to prepare them for their winter sleep. Perennials need to be divided and cut back, the “new” plants being tucked in elsewhere in the landscape or given away to friends and family. Sticks, dead foliage and other debris need to be cleared from the ground to keep soil-borne diseases at bay. Fresh mulch needs to be spread.
Plant for fall color – Cheerful annuals can keep color coming right up until the cold arrives. Pansies, ornamental kale and mums are just a few possibilities for autumnal color in your Main Line landscape design.
Prepare containers – Tender tropical plants are very sensitive to cold temperatures, so preempt any casualties by cleaning up containers, deadheading, checking for pests, and then moving them to the indoors.
Protect sensitive plants – Roses and some perennials and other shrubs which can suffer damage from particularly cold winters need to get the additional support of extra mulch or some other protective material. These should be applied or put in place after the first freeze.

The work may seem daunting but will be so worth it! And you get the added benefit of enjoying the visual wonders of nature while at the same time putting your Main Line landscape to bed for the year.

In 2014, 2015, and 2016 Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA received the “Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz. Aardweg Landscaping also received the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz in 2015.

Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation to discuss arrangements for landscape design, installation and maintenance with Philadelphia area Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or sending us an email.

A stone cottage in the "Enchanted Garden" section of the grounds, opened in 2001 at Winterthur, Maryland, USA

A stone cottage in the “Enchanted Garden” section of the grounds, opened in 2001 at Winterthur, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

Don’t Miss Upcoming Garden Events in Tri-state PA, NJ & DE: Join Winterthur’s horticulture staff for monthly garden walks the second Saturday of each month highlighting interesting and seldom seen parts of the Winterthur landscape. The walk begins at 1 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) beginning at the Visitor Center.

Members are free and the cost of this event is included with admission for non-members. The location is Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, 5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

October 17, 2016
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Easy Outdoor Living Add-ons for Philadelphia & Main Line Homes

Easy Outdoor Living Add-ons for Philadelphia & Main Line Homes

With the sultry heat of summer getting ready to give place to the welcome cool of autumn, outdoor living rooms are highly desirable areas to saturate you in the constantly changing beauty of nature. Having such a wonderful natural outdoor living retreat within easy access means you can easily enjoy al fresco dining, visit with family and friends or even revel in the companionable silence of a good book.

Why not mull over some inspiring ideas to help you create a stunning and practical outdoor living area for your Main Line landscape design? Remember, any outdoor living space add-ons should be appropriately scaled for your home. “Don’t make your new space so large that it takes over your yard. On the other hand, a large yard with a tiny patio won’t feel right either. Keep your plans proportional,” says financial adviser Dave Ramsey.

The final project featured a hardscaped patio and walls covered with Travertine pavers on all surfaces including the pool surround and a custom built pergola. (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

This Aardweg Landscaping project featured a hardscaped patio and walls covered with Travertine pavers on all surfaces including the pool surround and a custom built pergola. (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

Gazebo, shade trellis or pergola – This is like having a free-standing extension of your home, especially if enclosed by outdoor curtains offering a wind buffer. It provides all the ambiance of the outdoors with the added advantages of sun protection and privacy.

Archway – By framing the walk into your outdoor living space with an arch or trellis, you create an enchanting illusion of stepping into a distinctly separate area via a “door.” Allowing climbing plants to clamber this focal point only enhances the charm of your Main Line landscape design.

Fencing – To more strongly define the “room” feeling of your outdoor space, sundry fencing options may serve the function. Lattice, bamboo, picket fencing, and even a living fence of shrubbery all may provide the enclosure material needed to create an exquisite and intimate nature setting for your long-time family home; or a new house with a wide open yard in need of a landscape plan.

Accessories – By decorating your outdoor living space with plush pillows, throws or rugs (that are rated for outdoor use), your nature room will be even more inviting and comfortable for everyone who visits it!

Creating an Outdoor room and hardscaping on a project on the Main Line.

Photo by Aardweg Landscaping – Discover traditional patio design ideas and outdoor living shade cover

Colorful garden fence creates a border and adds character in this Main Line, PA garden. (By Aardweg Landscaping, Newtown Square, PA)

Relish the wonders of nature this autumn; revel in the blue skies, the brisk air, and the changing foliage — and enjoy it all from a brilliantly planned and tastefully decorated outdoor living space in your Main Line landscape design. These easy outdoor living space add-ons may offer that unique final touch you’ve been looking for, for your landscaped garden.

October 5, 2016
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Special Autumn Events at Longwood Gardens

Special Autumn Events at Longwood Gardens

Autumn Events at Longwood Gardens (Image Source: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA)

Attracting more than one million visitors every year, Longwood Gardens is a truly magnificent American gem, boasting lavish landscapes and garden features, splendidly expansive greenhouses and conservatories, horticultural education and seasonal events to charm all comers.

And there is so much visual grandeur of nature to bask in during Longwood Gardens’ calendar of events for October and November of this year!

“Wonder is a natural response to the beauty of the world.”

What wonders, you might ask, are in store for visitors to Longwood Gardens?

Autumn’s Colors at Longwood Gardens – Being surrounded by the rich shades of autumn does so much for the soul, and Longwood’s display of gorgeous autumnal color is exactly what is needed to fortify the mind before the cold winds of winter blow away all but the memories. Saturate yourself in the vivid hues of blooming asters, sweet autumn crocus, gorgeous floribunda roses, Mexican bush sage and pineapple sage, winterberry holly and orange trees, interspersed with the vibrant golden tones of seasonal pumpkins. The combination is certain to provide a sensory treat for visitors to the Gardens starting October 1 through November 20.
Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens – From October 22 – November 20, Longwood Gardens’ calendar of events will include a showcase of the largest, most impressive U.S. annual display of this beloved flower. With over 17,000 chrysanthemum plants carefully cultivated and nurtured to form a massive color explosion, not to mention the Thousand Bloom Mum – a single plant with more than 1,500 perfect blooms – this festival is sure to be a breathtaking, don’t-want-to-miss event.
Nightscape at Longwood Gardens – Running until the end of October, Longwood continues to regale evening visitors with a lovely music and light show designed to demonstrate the unique beauty of the night.

Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens (Image Source: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA)

Don’t let autumn pass you by when there is yet more beauty to be enjoyed! Check out Longwood Gardens’ calendar of events to find your special outing – so that you can squeeze even more breathtaking wonders out of this glorious season!

September 30, 2016
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Aging in Place Design Ideas for Philadelphia Landscapes

Aging in Place Design Ideas for Philadelphia Landscapes

A beloved First Lady once commented that “where flowers bloom, so does hope.”* And, certainly there is nothing more optimistic than a garden. The atmosphere is heavy with expectancy. It breathes vitality. It positively explodes with potential. It is both the reward itself as well as the promise of more to come.

Gorgeous gardens invite visitors to this attractive Main Line residence

A lovely flat pathway invites guests and residents alike to this attractive Main Line residence. (Landscape design by Aardweg Landscaping)

And who, irrespective of age or mobility, would not love to be immersed in such a delightfully encouraging setting as much as possible? So consider a few tips to make your Main Line landscape design more accessible to those who have mobility challenges:

Skip the steps – While steps provide structural interest in a landscape scheme, they also present obstacles for the mobility challenged. Whether the mature garden lover uses a cane, walker or wheelchair, steps are hazards that are best avoided entirely. Gently sloping walkways are the best option for scaling the different levels within the yard or garden design.
Make walkways wide enough – A path that is at least 36” will provide ample room for nature enthusiasts in wheelchairs (or gardeners with wheelbarrows) to move easily throughout your Main Line landscape design.
Use hard path materials – This is a critical element, as pathways need to be firm enough to support wheelchair tires without causing undue strain in navigating throughout the garden design.
Plant strategically – Set fragrant, cheerful plants close to paths so that passersby can easily enjoy the colors and revel in the scents and touch the blossoms. And to ensure there is no danger of being snagged by inhospitable prickly plants, such specimens should be situated further away from walkways.
Provide ample seating – Gardens aren’t merely to walk through but to soak in. Those advancing in age can often appreciate even more the experience of “stopping to smell the roses.” So anticipate the need and create cozy sitting nooks where one can rest awhile and enjoy the richness and wonder of your Main Line landscape design.

(*Lady Bird Johnson)

September 27, 2016
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Container Plants add Variety and Color to the Fall Garden

Container Plants add Variety and Color to the Fall Garden

An old proverb suggests that “autumn is the season of change.” And it is coming, the seasonal corner has been turned, and the fall is soon to be upon us.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the garden. The bright, flamboyant hues of summer give place to the deeper, richer tapestry of color in both bloom and foliage, and the hazy, dreamy atmosphere gives way to a crisp, invigorating clarity. Why not maximize the offerings of this royal time of year by adding some seasonal containers to your Philadelphia landscape design?

Here are some tips for creating perfect fall containers.

Take advantage of the color palette – From rusty reds and flaming oranges to brilliant yellows and soothing blues and purples, the range of hues is like a sensory explosion. Combine the cool and warm colors together to make showstopping container to regale your Philadelphia landscape design all throughout the fall season.
Utilize the plethora of shapes and textures – Because autumnal brilliance resides not only in flowers but also in color-changing foliage and late-forming berries, combining several of these features in one container can really pack a punch. The contrast of soft and bold, large and diminutive, spiky and feathery can create a lovely accent or focal point in your lawn and garden.
Add seasonal accents – Vibrant fall containers can take on even more excitement when paired with autumnal decorations such as pumpkins, corn shocks, hay bales and the like. The visual treat of such a combination adds a cheerful glow to your outdoor living space.

With autumn fast approaching, it’s time to get your Philadelphia landscape design all ready for the new season. Find ways to incorporate unique, colorful containers throughout your lawn and garden – for color and richness that will only heighten your enjoyment of the great outdoors during this wonderful season.

Perennial Gardens we created in suburban Philadelphia

Perennial garden on the Main Line, PA (Photo by Aardweg Landscaping)

September 23, 2016
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Ideas for Delightful Backyard Philadelphia Landscapes

Ideas for Delightful Backyard Philadelphia Landscapes

Many homeowners view their landscaping projects through the lens of potential financial returns, in the event that these improvements might boost the value of the entire property. Which is all well and good, but that often means that the front lawn gets all the attention, to the minimizing of other parts of the landscape.

Main Line Philadelphia Garden Landscaping Design and Maintenance

Gorgeous landscaped terrace area (By Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA)

Why not look at your prospective Main Line landscape design as a way to boost the personal value and function of your property? Like your backyard?

Here are a few elements to consider when thinking of ways to spruce up your backyard living space.

Terrace – Something is so luxurious and palatial about the texture and beauty that terraces can infuse into lawns. Their sweep gives grass more “character” and also sets the stage for areas where beautiful plants can wield their charms and enchant on the varying levels for a richer tapestry in your Main Line landscape design.

Water – There is nothing quite as unique as the sound of moving water. It can soothe frayed
Lovely landscaped pond for the backyard garden (By Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA)

nerves. It can invigorate. It can provide welcome background noise. The list of possible effects goes on and on. So why not have a bit of water in your own backyard? There are so many ways to incorporate this rejuvenating element into your lawn or garden – from tabletop fountains to ponds to sunken gardens to elaborate, cascading pools.

Structure – A tasteful outbuilding can offer a great deal of beauty and interest and personality to the entire landscape. This structural focal point might come in the form of an optimistic little greenhouse for a “green thumb” or a gazebo where one might sneak away to enjoy some reading or quiet moments.
Spring Display of Boxwoods with a Sea of Myosotis (By Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA)

Your backyard need be neglected no longer. Do something for yourself. Transform what is into a Main Line landscape design that is just waiting to be unearthed – something you positively love. You will be so glad you did.