Landscaping Design on the Main Line

November 21, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on 4 Tips to Control Stormwater Problems on Your Residential Property

4 Tips to Control Stormwater Problems on Your Residential Property

Sometimes it seems we just cannot be pleased. We endure long, hot, dry spells during the summer, wishing for a nice soaking rain to refresh the parched earth. Then when cooler weather arrives, with more abundant rainfall, we panic as we survey areas in the yard that are underwater or being stripped away by runoff. However, those issues can be resolved with some landscaping design tips to control front and backyard flooding and drainage issues at your Philadelphia home.

First, take time to recognize the problem areas in your yard. These might include:

Poor drainage around the home that could potentially damage the foundation and even plantings in your landscape.
Areas of voluminous storm runoff
Sink holes
Decaying trees

Since these are also landscaping eyesores, one of best tips to control front and backyard flooding and drainage issues at your Philadelphia home is to get a professional landscaper on your side. With the expert assistance of a professional landscape designer, your storm water damage repair solutions and options expand. Solutions may involve:

Typical Cross-section of a French Drain

Discovering the root of the problem. Sometimes the source is not readily seen, but a landscaper can help solve the mystery
Installing a French drain system, which Wikipedia defines as “a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area”
Having a complete repair of the damages, providing restored a landscape that is designed to handle excess water with ease
Designing an entirely new landscape structured to address problem areas with state-of-the-art resurfacing of the landscape and savvy selection of trees, shrubs and plants to thrive in your particular micro-climate

“Rainfall is the periodic catalyst that sets drainage problems in gear. Where heavy downpours are common, poorly drained sites can become flooded for a short time if drainage structures are in place, or extended periods if they are not,” says landscapingnetwork.com.

Whatever challenges excess rain water poses for your property, Aardweg Landscaping offers numerous practical tips to control front and backyard flooding and drainage issues at your Philadelphia home.

An experienced Main Line landscaping company such as Aardweg Landscaping, will analyze the makeup of your yard, survey the grades to establish the exact topography of the property, and establish spot elevations to locate problem areas. In a brief period of time, those problems could become a thing of the past.

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.

If you need help controlling storm water on 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 16, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Winter Landscaping Tips to Perk up Your Landscape

Winter Landscaping Tips to Perk up Your Landscape

We often tend to bemoan winter as the dull, gray, lackluster time of year when we have to put our Philadelphia home landscaping dreams on hold. But, what if some Main Line winter landscaping tips could make you change that perception and help you think of winter in a new, more enthusiastic light?

Classic Landscape Design for Formal Philadelphia Gardens

We share these tips with you to help “… generate landscaping ideas for dealing with that Scrooge of the seasons, horticulturally speaking: winter. Our goal is to turn a drab yard into a winter scene worth painting — for that matter, worth looking at while you’re snow shoveling,” according to landscaping.about.com. Some key elements in taking your winter garden up a notch might include:

Tip #1: Emphasize Structure
Winter strips away much of the softening effect in your lawn and garden, leaving the basic landscaping design “skeleton” of your overall scheme. By selecting trees and shrubs that provide all-season visual appeal, such as attractive bark, decorative berries, evergreen foliage, etc., you are guaranteed to have a pleasingly strong structural presence even when the leaves have fallen.

Tip #2 – Integrate Focal Points
Some outstanding key players in the landscape field include sculptures, arbors and pergolas, attractive containers and boulders, ponds and lakes. While these serve beautifying functions all year round, they really provide some dramatic oomph for the serenity of winter scenes.

Traditional Patio by Newtown Square Landscaping Company Aardweg Landscaping

Tip #3 – Think Fragrance
One of the most surprising Main Line winter landscaping tips which breaks the winter-equals-blah mentality is incorporating sweetly-scented plants into the winter garden. Some delightfully pleasing specimens include witch hazel, sweet box and some varieties of winter-blooming camellia.

And last but not least, Tip #4 is Dream in Color. Unless you live in a neighborhood where it is prohibited, spruce up that fence or gate with some vibrant hue. It will not only cheer the grayer days of the season but will look bright and fresh against blankets of snow as well as new spring foliage when your dormant beauties begin to spring to life again. For a multi-seasonal pick-me-up, it can hardly be beat!

Main Line Winter Landscaping Tips

There are many other Main Line winter landscaping tips that you might consider implementing into your cold weather garden, or actually landscape maintenance tasks to perform. Find one that you like today… and enjoy the cheerful effects all winter long!

Are you thinking about your gardening plans for spring and summer time? Get some professional input with photographic image design from Aardweg Landscaping. Serving Main Line Philadelphia area clients for over 35-years, full-service landscape design company Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA creates realistic images according to client landscape design preferences.

Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA is widely admired by its Tri-State Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware area clients, having received both the “Best Of Houzz” 2015 award for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, and the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz for 2015.

To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation, call Aardweg Landscaping at 610-355-0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

November 9, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Popular 2015 Longwood Gardens Holiday Events

Popular 2015 Longwood Gardens Holiday Events

aardweglandscapingmainlinepennsylvaniamalvernpaoliedgemont

Source: Aardweg Landscaping, Newtown Sq., PA

The autumn season is in full-swing. With vibrant hues exploding from every tree and shrub in the Philadelphia area landscaped garden, perhaps you’ve had enough color. If so, that’s okay.

However, if you prefer to relish every rich shade the season has to offer and like the idea of an extravagant, bursting-at-the-seams-with-color, gorgeous sensory experience, why not take a trip to enjoy one of Longwood Gardens holiday events? Longwood Gardens is open year round, attracting nearly 900,000 visitors annually to the Tri-State New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware area.

The recent Longwood Gardens’ Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience transformed Longwood Gardens into a magical place, as the gardens became a living canvas for beautiful dancing lights and guests were serenaded by music designed to set imaginations aglow! New and ongoing events at Longwood Gardens include…

The Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens

Source: Longwood Gardens Press Release

A visual treat annually at Longwood Gardens is the Chrysanthemum Festival, the largest mum exhibition in the United States. From now through November 22, you have the opportunity to surround yourself in over 16,000 chrysanthemum plants. Each one is brilliantly crafted in a plethora of unique designs – clouds, spirals, balls, columns, pagodas and fountains. All are achieved by implementing the techniques of the highly revered traditional Japanese and Chinese art form.

A truly spectacular sight will be the display of the largest Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum outside Asia. This amazing plant features over 1500 exquisitely formed flowers on one plant! Breathtaking! The website says, “Chrysanthemums were first grown and displayed at Longwood in 1921 when founder Pierre S. du Pont opened the Conservatory. Longwood now has one of the largest and oldest chrysanthemum shows in North America, showcasing all 13 classes of mums grown into unusual forms, such as spirals, shields, orbs, and more.”

The Longwood Gardens Christmas

Source: morguefile.com

If you are in the mood for a fun family outing this 2015 holiday season, look no further than Longwood Gardens Christmas events for an excursion designed to delight and inspire, that runs from November 26, 2015 through January 10, 2016. For important information about the Longwood Gardens Christmas, check out the Christmas Visiting Tips. The annual event includes lights, fountains, thousands of seasonal plants, and a bounty of trees with icicles and fountain-inspired glass ornaments in the Conservatory. Outside, an illuminated 20-foot tree form and colorful fountains at the Open Air Theatre provide holiday magic.

Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation at your Main Line and suburban Philadelphia area home with Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610-355-0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

November 2, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Landscape Lighting Fixtures that Illuminate Your Garden

Landscape Lighting Fixtures that Illuminate Your Garden

While outdoor lighting is perhaps not typically a top priority in your Philadelphia garden landscape design, it is critical to the overall appearance of the garden when the sun goes down. It also affects how much the outdoor living space gets used at night, and provides a measure of security to boot.

There are a number of very practical reasons for integrating landscaping design with outdoor landscape lighting.

It makes meandering through pathways, walks, porches and steps much safer, reducing potential trips or spills in the dark.
It deters intruders from being able to wander freely on the premises.
It generates a wonderful ambiance.
It extends the practical use of the garden.

While you may be holding off on getting outdoor lighting due to the electricity requirement, it actually is not prohibitive. 120 volt lighting must be buried to a depth of 18-inces, and encased in conduit for waterproofing. HGTV.com says, “Low-voltage landscape lighting for the backyard needs only an outdoor receptacle and a transformer. The transformer converts the 120 volts coming from the household line to a usable 12 volts to operate the lights.” Solar lighting fixtures are the easiest to install, requiring only that the photo voltaic cell in the lighting fixture is properly oriented to receive a maximum of sunlight during the day.

Why not prolong your hours of garden enjoyment by incorporating some landscaping design with outdoor landscape lighting into your scheme? There are also many different styles of lighting to consider when choosing a landscaping design with outdoor landscape lighting.

Functional lighting – Includes lighting up paths, steps and driveways for clearly defined, safe nighttime excursions.

Ambient lighting – Strategically placed soft lighting can illuminate, enhance and set the mood in outdoor dining areas for intimate or festive occasions alike.

Architectural lighting – Pole mounted light fixtures provide general lighting while adding architectural character.

Entry lighting – Create a dramatic entryway with a variety of lighting options for a look that is warm and inviting. Focal points can be given a new dimension with special uplighting or accent techniques.

Don’t think of your garden as off-duty when the sun goes down. Make night time the right time for a landscaping design with outdoor landscape lighting that truly makes your outdoor living space shine like a star!

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 with Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or send an email using the website contact form.

October 30, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Outdoor Holiday Decor with Plants and Pumpkins for Your Main Line Home

Outdoor Holiday Decor with Plants and Pumpkins for Your Main Line Home

Looking for a little cool weather excitement in your yard? Consider doing some holiday decor with plants and pumpkins for a delightful seasonal punch of color at your Main Line home.

Nothing brings back memories of autumn like breathtaking foliage and floral displays. And certainly in that collection of traditional fall favorites comes the pumpkin, whose humble beginnings in an obscure field are suddenly traded for its glorious integration into show-stopping landscaping designs!

In addition to the cheerful hues that the pumpkin offers, other classic fall plants and flowers which tend to brighten the landscape include chrysanthemums, ornamental kale and wispy, feathery grasses. As these all complement one another beautifully, why not look at a few tastefully unique displays of Main Line holiday decor with plants and pumpkins?

Make a bold entrance – Add a little drama to your front entryway by interspersing vividly colored potted mums with pumpkins of various sizes and shapes. A decorative wreath of berries and leaves or fragrant cinnamon could be fastened onto the door. Such a display would be a wonderful addition to your lawn and will provide a long period of vibrancy for the autumn season.

Pile on the color – Large urns, wooden crates or apple baskets can be used as props on which to stack pumpkins, lending vertical appeal. Each level could be lined with moss, ivy, berries and leaves for a stunning focal point.

Make “living” planters – Why not try hollowing out pumpkins of various sizes and colors to use as decorative planters for contrasting colored mums?

Think in tiers – Bales of straw can be used to make tiers of decorative outdoor shelving – top them with pumpkins, mums and other autumnal art work for a lovely, rustic showstopper.

As you can see, the possibilities for Main Line holiday decor with plants and pumpkins are really endless. Gather your supplies, get your creative juices going, and create something delightfully personal and heartwarming for your autumn season landscape.

Serving Main Line Philadelphia area clients for over 35-years, full-service landscape design company 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, the leading platform for home remodeling and design.

To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation, call Aardweg Landscaping at 610-355-0703, or send an email using the website Contact form.

October 28, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Eco-friendly Low Impact Landscape Design and the Environment

Eco-friendly Low Impact Landscape Design and the Environment

We should be good stewards of the Earth’s resources, plain and simple. Whether we realize it or not, ourlandscaping choices do leave an impact on the environment, whether for good or ill. Why not demonstrate a practical awareness of personal ecological responsibility in considering some environmentally friendly tips that will energize your Philadelphia landscape design process.

The following are a few viable eco-friendly options to consider:

Sustainable plant selections – While you might be drawn to more exotic or tropical vegetation, remember that native plants will have greater adaptability to your landscaped yard and garden’s particular micro-climate – including the soil type, weather patterns, seasonal changes and water requirements. These plants are your best bet for a garden that enhances rather than depletes the environment.
Eco-friendly hardscapes – Integrating more vegetation into the landscape minimizes the need for special materials. When hardscape and paving materials are needed, choose untreated options such as crushed brick, mulch, or gravel, which require little to no processing and encourage good drainage throughout your Philadelphia landscape design.
Special outdoor features – There are many options to enhance the attractiveness and productivity of your overall design. Such interesting conversation pieces might include xeriscaping, green roofs, rain gardens, green walls, and bioswales. These brilliant techniques offer suggestions on how to make good use of often underutilized spaces to produce beautiful and eco-friendly additions to your gardening scheme.

Low Impact Materials

The American Society of Landscape Architects says, “Homeowners can significantly increase the quality of the environment through the use of innovative low-impact materials. These materials include permeable, recycled, recyclable, reflective (high albedo), and non-toxic materials. Using these materials can minimize consumption of newer materials, enable a continual reuse of limited natural resources, and decrease waste and environmental pollution.”

The ecological impact of landscape materials production increases in proportion to the extent of the complexity of the manufacturing. Low impact materials such as uncut stone, earth materials, wood and bamboo pose fewer environmental and human health risks.

Responsible Landscape Design

Take the best care possible of your own little piece of earth, and if you are interested in learning more about how landscape design impacts the environment contact professional landscape designer Aardweg Landscaping. Your local Philadelphia landscape design company, Aardweg Landscaping, offers the expertise you need to responsibly design and manage your attractive landscaped property.

Aardweg Landscaping – 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. Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610-355-0703, or send an email using the website contact form.