Landscaping Design on the Main Line

December 26, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Year Round Philadelphia Landscape Maintenance

Year Round Philadelphia Landscape Maintenance

As a Philadelphia area homeowner, are you intimidated by the idea of having a lush, extensively landscaped residential property? Many homeowners feel that having anything more developed than a few lovely trees, small foundation plantings and attractively potted plants on the doorstep necessarily involves too much work, time and money spent on landscape maintenance. Be prepared to smile then when you read on…With Aardweg Landscaping’s ability to provide year round Philadelphia landscape maintenance, you can quite literally have your cake and eat it too! This prestigious Main Line Company offers a full lawn and garden service for every imaginable landscaping need – to facilitate the truly beautiful and literally carefree home owning experience. The range of available areas of expertise includes:

1. Scheduled or periodic landscape maintenance – This involves every aspect of lawn and garden care, and visits can be as regular as clockwork or occasional scenarios when you want some extra attention to detail for special events.

2. Seasonal pruning – Another of Aardweg’s superb year round Philadelphia landscape maintenance offerings is their pruning, trimming and cleaning service. The professional team is well acquainted with the specific needs of trees and shrubs, the best ways to control and get rid of invasive plants and weeds, ornamental trimming techniques – in short, everything necessary to make each year in your garden better than the last.

3. Garden rejuvenation – If your lawn needs updated and redefined, freshly planted flower beds, new mulch and restored pathways, Aardweg has everything to make this process a breeze.

4. Irrigation – Your irrigation system is likely something you take for granted until the day it doesn’t work properly. Aardweg can repair and maintain your drainage systems to keep things working like they should.

Landscape design by Newtown Square Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Aardweg Landscaping

BHG.com says, “Just as your yard has four distinct seasons of growth and rest, it has four distinct seasons of landscape maintenance. What you have to do depends on the time of year and the type of tree or plant, too.” For year round — four season — Philadelphia landscape maintenance, look no further than Aardweg Landscaping whose wealth of knowledge, experience, exceptional customer service and competitive pricing will leave you more than satisfied.

Here is a June 2015 online review by one satisfied Aardweg Landscaping client who said:

“This is the third time we used Aardweg Landscaping. The first two gardens they created for us in the last 4 years look great now. Their price is not the least expensive, but they normally give 3 different ranges of cost from which we can choose. Also, they try hard to incorporate our wishes for designs and plants we want to have. They are real professionals and they care about the quality of their work. Even after a few years from the project completion, they still come back and take care of problems (e.g., broken tubes in the irrigation system). They are very reliable. We recommend them with our utmost confidence.”

In 2015 Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA received both the “Best Of Houzz” 2015 award for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, and the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz. Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation to discuss arrangements for year round landscape maintenance with Philadelphia area Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

December 20, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Using Earthworks in Residential Landscaping Design

Using Earthworks in Residential Landscaping Design

Do you have drainage or stormwater issues that you’d love to be able to address in a practical and attractive way? Or do you have a boring area that needs a dramatic change to make it spring to life? The use of berms and mounds in your residential landscaping design might be just the answer you are looking for.

Berms and mounds are collectively known as earthworks, and they are landscaping grading features designed to build up the ground so as to provide better soil conditions for mass plantings, channel potentially damaging excess water runoff to designated areas, or simply create stunning, multidimensional landscape schemes.

Berms are typically linear, and while the height and precise pattern might vary, they serve to redirect water or for erosion control.

Mounds function more like islands rising from a “sea” of lawn and are often utilized for decorative purposes, such as providing surprising explosions of colorful floral drama in the middle of the landscape. They are also used to create privacy around an outdoor living area or a backyard outdoor kitchen.

Now imagine these features at work in your yard, where the careful incorporation of berms and mounds in your residential landscaping design could bring a sense of harmony and order in the combination of aesthetic appeal and utter practicality.

One of the frequent mistakes encountered in the installation is underestimating the amount of fill that will be required for the project, due to the extent of the compaction necessary to guarantee cohesiveness in the soil, and the cost of trucking in fill dirt. Earthworks are most effective in a situation where clean fill is generated by the cuts that have been made in the landscape design plan, thereby providing fill from the site.

“Where topsoil is a limited commodity, a mound or berm can be created with less fertile soil known as substrate such as rubble or gravel. A layer of clay is laid upon the substrate, and then it’s all topped with a thick layer of topsoil,” says Landscaping Network.

Think of the picturesque view of a well tended golf course. Its manicured green terrain rolls smoothly and naturally, despite the fact that the surrounding topography might be a stark contrast. This is achieved through the use of berms and mounds, which when used in a well-planned residential landscape add tremendous curb appeal.

Amazing, right? Call your local landscape professional, Aardweg Landscaping for more of the ins and outs of adding beautiful berms and mounds in your affordable residential landscaping design – and take your landscaped property to the next level!

Aardweg Landscaping is a double Houzz award recipient. In 2015 Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA received both the “Best Of Houzz” 2015 award for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, and the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz.

To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping call 610.355.0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

December 12, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on A Backyard Outdoor Kitchen & Patio Renovation You Will Love

A Backyard Outdoor Kitchen & Patio Renovation You Will Love

Double Houzz award recipient Aardweg Landscaping recently completed another noteworthy landscape design project including an outdoor kitchen and living area project with hardscaping and landscaping. Working with a great client, we evaluated a number of successful solutions and integrated it all to create a design the client loved.

This project followed the traditional landscaping design process including the 1) creation of a landscape design plan, 2) demolition and site preparation, and 3) light grading and irrigation installation; all followed by the final hardscaping and landscaping install. Working methodically through each phase of the project, we were able to optimize all of the backyard outdoor kitchen design ideas this Main Line Philadelphia homeowner was looking for. The final project included the following:

Patio and walls covered with Travertine pavers on all surfaces including the pool surround
Outdoor kitchen featuring a grill area with a top-of-the-line Lynx grill and Sub Zero fridge
Custom built pergola and trellis for roses
Garden areas with landscaping throughout the project

Here are some before and after outdoor kitchen and patio renovation pictures for you to enjoy:

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This new backyard outdoor kitchen renovation by Aardweg Landscaping sports a new Travertine patio and walls, outdoor kitchen featuring a grill area; custom built pergola and privacy fencing, and professionally designed landscaping and irrigation. (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

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)

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

The final outdoor kitchen area features a grill area with top-of-the-line Lynx grill and Sub Zero fridge (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

The final outdoor kitchen area features a grill area with top-of-the-line Lynx grill, Sub Zero fridge, custom designed privacy fencing and Travertine paved patio (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

A “before” picture, our crew removed a large deck and more than 36 tons of concrete before completing the light grading and installation of the irrigation system. (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

A “before” picture, these Main Line Philadelphia homeowners were ready for a renovation. (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

A “before” picture, this Main Line Philadelphia homeowner was ready for a renovation. (Image via aardweglandscaping.com – Main Line Philadelphia PA)

Aardweg Landscaping is a double Houzz award recipient. In 2015 Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA received both the “Best Of Houzz” 2015 award for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, and the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz.

To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping call 610.355.0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

Planning a backyard outdoor kitchen and patio renovation on the Main Line or in the Philadelphia / Tri-State PA, NJ, DE area?

How about you, are you contemplating the design and installation of an outdoor kitchen renovation? Few home upgrades add popularity and value to your home while enhancing your love for entertaining family and friends like an outdoor kitchen. Whether that venue consists of a simple barbecue grill on which to make those juicy steaks or the classic outdoor culinary setting, the image of warmth, hospitality, laughter and fantastic food in a beautiful natural setting is a consistent theme.

Spaces by Newtown Square Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Aardweg Landscaping

So with that mental picture in mind, what are some helpful things to remember when brainstorming backyard kitchen design ideas that can make it become a true enjoyment for years to come? Some rarely thought of but oft-proven professional studies suggest that you:

Determine the function and use patterns – Knowing what you need and want in an outdoor kitchen is key. Some homeowners are perfectly satisfied with a grill and small refrigerator in addition to their eating area, while others, who entertain numerous guests on a regular basis, might require a larger serving area and extra counter space as well as a more fully functional food preparation zone.

Plan ahead to include all of the important details – Some of the greatest backyard kitchen design ideas have actually come after the completion of the project, when people have their wistful “I wish I had thought of this” moments. Some of these insightful nuggets might include choosing a paving material which is resistant to stains and grease buildup, going with lighter colored counter-tops which reflect rather than absorb the sun’s heat like dark colors do, not skimping on the grill quality or sink size, and maximizing the lighting for both the cooking and dining spaces. Each of these is a fairly affordable outdoor kitchen design idea option, add it to your wishlist for now!

It’s true – looking at backyard kitchen design ideas can really get the creative juices flowing in regards to the possibilities for having your very own outdoor entertaining and dining experience. Is it time to start on front yard landscaping design and installation? Your local landscaping professional, Aardweg Landscaping, can help you make this dream a reality!

To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping call 610.355.0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

December 7, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Affordable Hardscaping and Landscaping Ideas for Front Yards & Backyards

Affordable Hardscaping and Landscaping Ideas for Front Yards & Backyards

Let’s face it — even homeowners with good looking properties dream of having that picture perfect lawn and garden to outdo the neighbors. It’s an unspoken competition, right? Not really, but sometimes it feels that way. Who likes having drab adjectives such as “boring”, “uninteresting”, or “lifeless” associated with their property?

True, a major upgrade might not be in the budget right now, but what about exploring a few affordable hardscaping and landscaping ideas for your front and back yard gardens to add the fresh interest and vibrant personality that shine even in a neighborhood with great looking gardens and lawns. Here are a few ideas to consider:

Place pavers in a lovely garden walkway surrounded by grass

Select an inexpensive material such as crushed rock or gravel to add a porous surface underfoot a new outdoor kitchen seating nook or dining area; or place pavers in a lovely garden walkway. BHG.com suggests, “If you do use traditional pavers, consider unusual placement — large stones interspersed with wide swaths of grass, for example — to cut down on the total material needed.”

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Add a new patio with outdoor living furniture and plants

Have a patio area designed and installed. By creating an oasis in your lawn, garnishing it with soothing colors amid comfortable outdoor living furniture, you will turn something boring into an attractive gathering place where you and your family, friends and neighbors can “stop and smell the roses.”

Landscaping and Hardscaping for Storm Water Control in the Main Line Garden

Replace the lawn with hardy plants and ground covers

Replace the lawn with hardy plants and ground covers. This particular idea has a lot of pluses going for it. You have a blanket of varied color all year round. Since the grass has been retired, you are no longer required to mow every couple weeks during the hot summer! It is also a great way to conserve the earth’s resources, requiring less maintenance, making this suggestion a very affordable option for front and backyard landscaping design ideas.

Spruce up tired walkways with new materials or plants

Spruce up tired walkways by one or more of the following ideas: Widen them for a more spacious feel, lay down attractive stepping stones and surrounding them with gravel. Or, provide a contrast in shapes and textures, which, when softened by flowers or grasses, further encourages passersby to linger in the lovely surroundings.

Add a few carefully selected and well placed plant containers in the front yard entrance area

Finally, consider adding a few carefully selected and well placed planters in the front yard entrance area suitable for seasonal planting year round. Take your lawn from “yawn” to “WOW” with some impressive, yet affordable hardscaping and landscaping ideas for your front and back yard Main Line Philadelphia gardens – and never look back.

For additional landscape design ideas perfectly suited to your Main Line / Philadelphia residential property, schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703; or send an email using the website contact form.

November 30, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Solutions for Common Landscape Design Problems

Solutions for Common Landscape Design Problems

Any number of landscaping challenges can ironically jump start the perfect landscape makeover including poor drainage, unsatisfactory layout, crowded beds, and too much noise or visual access from adjacent properties. Each of these common landscape design problems is frequently encountered by Philadelphia homeowners, and each has an array of available solutions.

Garden Style Issues – If your landscaping theme doesn’t complement your house, then it’s time to redefine your style. Maybe your home’s character or architectural style suggests a cottage garden style of landscape design bursting with curved borders and billows of floral sprays. Perhaps it conjures up a formal landscape design, with strongly defined lines, stately focal points and monochromatic colors. Possibly your preference is something more relaxed and meditative, along the lines of an Oriental garden design. A professional consultation can tap into your yard’s latent beauty just waiting to be discovered!

Privacy Screens – Regardless of the size of your outdoor space, you shouldn’t have to deal with the noise from neighbors and traffic or have the disconcerting feeling that your every move is being watched by curious unseen eyes – unless, of course, you prefer it. Since that is highly improbable, there are really wonderful options for attractive and effective living screens to solve this common landscape design problem at Philadelphia homes – check out the before and after pictures of screening for privacy.

Drainage and Erosion Issues – Poor drainage can take a toll on the landscape, often destroying flower beds or leaving ponds in the lawn after torrential rain. Effective techniques to resolve damaging soil erosion and storm water issues include swales to redirect water drainage; heavy mulch such as hardwood mulches; rain spout diversion; the use of underground drains along driveways and permeable driveway surfacing materials.

Common landscape design problems at Philadelphia homes can be frustrating. Look to the local landscape design professionals at Aardweg Landscaping for help in addressing these types of problems.

Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

November 23, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on How to Update & Restore an Overgrown Residential Garden

How to Update & Restore an Overgrown Residential Garden

Do you recall how excited you were when you first installed your landscaped garden, and then that first spring when everything bloomed on schedule? Have things changed now, five or ten years later? There’s nothing quite as uninspiring as an overgrown lawn and garden. You know it when it just doesn’t “pop” with personality, it looks messy in places, or sometimes it’s just plain ugly. And, the thought of trying to reclaim the lost semblance of order is more than a little overwhelming. Never fear – below are a few proven restoration tips for your Main Line PA overgrown residential garden that will get you on the right track to a garden you love.

“It is sometimes right to ‘restore’ a garden in the exact sense of putting it back to its condition at a previous date. This can be done using archaeological evidence, drawings, estate records, illustrations, travelers accounts and any other information,” according to Gardenvisit.com.

For homeowners with older gardens, the question may come up about restoring the garden to an original plan. “It is sometimes right to ‘restore’ a garden in the exact sense of putting it back to its condition at a previous date. This can be done using archaeological evidence, drawings, estate records, illustrations, travelers accounts and any other information,” according to Gardenvisit.com. They go on to say that most gardens have been subject to continual change, therefore a decision needs to be made as to the target date for the restoration.

Proven Restoration & Organization Tips for your Main Line PA Garden

Residential Garden Cleanup
By teaming up with someone who knows how to prune correctly, the symmetry of your garden can be gotten back. When trees and shrubs are put back into their proper bounds, spent blossoms deadheaded and sheared back and broken limbs removed, the garden atmosphere begins to feel more soothing and orderly.

Garden Redefinition & Renewal
Taking things up a notch, the next garden restoration tip for your Main Line PA overgrown residential garden involves giving it a “face lift.” This includes extensive cleanup – redefining garden borders, applying fresh mulch, fertilizing, planting perennials and seasonal selections, and refurbishing walkways with desired materials.

Traditional Landscape by Newtown Square Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Aardweg Landscaping

Garden Overhaul & Reorganization
Perhaps you just moved in and find the landscape completely unappealing; or perhaps you just want something new after years after the “same old” design. If so, a fresh, totally new garden layout could be the answer. You can start from scratch, keeping the features that integrate well into your new scheme, and removing the ones that are overgrown or simply undesirable.

If your landscaped garden is old, crowded and unexciting, contact Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610-355-0703, or sending an email using the website contact form, and ask for some restoration tips for your Main Line PA overgrown residential garden that can transform it into the gorgeous showstopper you want it to be!