Landscaping Design on the Main Line

February 14, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Delightful Landscape Design for Your Cottage or Informal Garden

Delightful Landscape Design for Your Cottage or Informal Garden

The Artist's Cottage Garden at Giverny - Claude Monet

The Artist’s Garden at Giverny

One of the most delightful of all landscaping designs is that of the cottage or informal garden. This garden’s beauty lies in its extravagance of hue and texture, in borders whose blurred softness bring all the dreamy charm of an Impressionistic painting into living color. In fact, the renowned Impressionist artist Claude Monet said, “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

According to About Home, “One of the most famous English cottage gardens was designed by none other than the French Impressionist painter, Claude Monet …Monet is a particularly interesting case, being not only an artist who painted landscapes but also someone who was active in garden design. With Monet, the influence went both ways. English cottage gardens, with their wild abundance of rose bushes, perennial flowers, vine-covered arbors, and plants tumbling over walkways, are widely emulated in the U.S.”

Magical Transformations - Main Line Landscape Design

Lovely cottage garden designed and installed by Aardweg Landscaping

Let’s consider a few of the primary features of a landscape design for cottage gardens. In contrast to the strong structural features of formal gardens, cottage gardens almost appear to have grown effortlessly, as each plant billows leisurely into its neighbor, creating a mass of color and textures to enchant the entire season.

“To possess a delightful cottage garden is to own art in its finest form, indeed!”

In order to achieve this studied ease, there are no severe lines, but pathways, paved with natural materials such as gravel, pebbles or wood chips, meandering throughout the garden, providing soft perimeters along which plants may spill carelessly to further blur any strongly defined edges.

Perennial-garden-aardweg-landscaping-Main-Line-Pennsylvania

Perennial Garden by Aardweg Landscaping for Main Line Philadelphia Home

Plant selections encompass a diversity of possibilities, including flowering shrubs, whose height in borders and island beds furnish a perfect backdrop for lower growing perennials and annuals. Staggering perennials and annuals allows each specimen to contribute fully. Ornamental grasses offer a magical effect, and luxuriant roses bring romantic fragrance to passersby.

Focal points such as arbors or trellises offer the perfect structures on which creeping vines sprawl and enchant with vertical beauty. Secluded nooks for seating provide the ideal place to saturate oneself in the loveliness of nature. To possess a delightful cottage garden is to own art in its finest form, indeed! (Monet image via Wikimedia Commons)

Recently awarded the “Best Of Houzz” 2015 Customer Service Award, the 35-year old full-service landscape design company, A ardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA is widely admired by our Main Line Philadelphia residential clientele. Are you dreaming about having a Monetesque informal or cottage garden of your own as a front yard or backyard design? To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation, call Aardweg Landscaping at 610-355-0703, or send an email using the website Contact form.

Visit Aardweg Landscaping on YouTube:

February 9, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Classic Landscape Design for Formal Philadelphia Gardens

Classic Landscape Design for Formal Philadelphia Gardens

Who has not experienced the utter delight and serenity of stepping into the thoughtfully designed and meticulously arranged landscape of a formal garden? The lines of which are clean and simple, with symmetrically pleasing patterns, all ensconced in a well-ordered world of soothing greens and muted shades. Surely these surroundings offer a reprieve from the hectic pace of life and provide moments of rest and peaceful reflection.

What constitutes a landscape design for formal gardens? The first step in creating a formal garden is developing a clean and classic pattern. This is often accomplished by the inclusion of a brick, stone or paved pathway, with straight or slightly curved, clearly defined lines. The pathway creates order and adds a sense of strength and tidiness to the layout. Along this crisply delineated path, harmonious accents, such as a comfortable concrete garden bench or large urns, are added to bring Old World charm and traditional form to the garden.

Next come evergreen focal points and massed shrubberies of various textures and growth patterns, billowing hydrangeas and stately roses — all classic formal garden additions that add a soft floral impact. Perennials and annuals are integrated in tasteful amounts to enhance the design, giving surprising bursts of color amid the soothing green backdrop. Focal points and artistic planters bring drama and refinement to complement the picture.

“…along this crisply delineated path harmonious accents such as a comfortable concrete garden bench or large urns are added to bring Old World charm and traditional form to the garden.“

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Classic Landscape Design for Formal Philadelphia Gardens

Traditionally landscaped formal gardens, representing great diversity as to specific design, are everywhere on display in Europe. HGTV.com says, “Give your yard an air of elegance and refinement by incorporating principles of formal garden design. This garden style dates as far back as ancient Egypt and began to spread across Europe during the 16th Century. Formal garden design is all about order and balance. Symmetrical plantings, well-defined paths, and pruned plants all contribute to the formal ambiance of a garden. ”

Your very own Philadelphia area garden may well be a Cinderella story in the making – a transformation from something drab into something beautiful and conversation-worthy — truly an happily ever after ending to a garden with a modest and unassuming beginning.

The 35-year old full-service landscape design company, Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA was recently recognized with the “Best Of Houzz” 2015 award for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Are you interested in seeing how your Main Line garden can be transformed with a lovely design, quality plant materials and decades of garden design and installation expertise? To schedule a complimentary on-site consultation, call Aardweg Landscaping at 610-355-0703, or send an email using the website Contact form.

February 5, 2015
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Press Release: Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square Receives Best Of Houzz Award in 2015

Press Release: Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square Receives Best Of Houzz Award in 2015

Over 25 Million Monthly Users Rated Top-Rated Home Building,
Remodeling and Design Professionals in the United States and Around the World

Newtown Square, PA (January 05, 2015) – Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 35-year old full-service landscape design company was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the
more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.

“We heartily thank our awesome clients for their kind testimonials and endorsements that earned us yet another Best of Houzz Award in 2015,” said Steve Aardweg, owner of Aardweg Landscaping. “With 35 years of experience designing, installing and maintaining a plethora of beautiful gardens in communities across the Philadelphia Main Line, we are looking forward to another great year in 2015.”

“Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize Aardweg Landscaping among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow Aardweg Landscaping on Houzz.

About Aardweg Landscaping
For over 30 years, Aardweg Landscaping has been one of the leading design-build Philadelphia landscaping companies; designing both large estate master plans and small, intimate gardens. Known for richly captivating garden colors and design styles, owner Steven T. Aardweg, A.P.L.D. is a licensed member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Aardweg Landscaping specializes in low maintenance; custom designed garden styles and themes, including the Formal Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Casual, Cottage Style or Natural Garden. Garden restoration is one of the focal points of their work, providing the creativity and inspiration needed to transform an overgrown residential landscape into a source of distinct pleasure and pride.

Main Line Landscape Design Company Aardweg Landscaping Earns Best of Houzz for Customer Satisfaction 2015

About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

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July 16, 2014
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Popular Trees Found in Gardens Across the Northeast

Popular Trees Found in Gardens Across the Northeast

Whether you’re planning a large-scale landscape design for your property or simply searching for that perfect ornamental tree to create year-round interest in your front yard formal garden, here are a few interesting facts about some surprisingly popular trees found in gardens across the Tri-state Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware area.

Maples for Bright Fall Colors and Medium Annual Growth
Two maple trees popular in the northeast are the Amur Maple (Acer grinnala) and Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum). These trees provide bright fall color and grow at a slow to medium rate, increasing less than 12 inches each year. The Amur Maple can grow to 15 to 18 feet in height, with an equal-sized spread. The dark green, glossy foliage of the Amur Maple becomes yellow and red in the fall, with fragrant yellow-white flowers that open in mid to late spring. The foliage of the Trident Maple is bronze-purple when new. It becomes green at the beginning of summer and turns to red, yellow and orange in the fall. The tree can grow to 20 to 30 feet tall, with a similar-sized spread. The unscented flowers are green-yellow in color with fluffy umbels or flat-topped flower heads.

The Elegance of Dogwood Trees
Two elegant dogwood trees are the ornamental Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alterniflia) and the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). The Pagoda Dogwood can grow to 20 to 35 feet in height, while the Flowering Dogwood can rise to heights of 40-50 feet. Offering year-round interest, these trees exhibit white, pink or red bracts with small clusters of yellow flowers in the spring. According to HGTVgardens.com, “In summer, their blossoms give way to light green leaves that provide welcome shade. And in autumn, that foliage turns a stunning deep red before falling, leaving a handsome skeleton with alligator skin-like bark in winter.” Dogwoods grow best in partially sunny locations and well-drained soil. When growing in nature, they grow as understory trees, and therefore enjoy afternoon shade to protect them from bright sunlight.

Beautiful Crape Myrtle for Lasting Color and Bloom
Is the beautiful Crape Myrtle one of your favorites? If it is, you may know that the new hybridized form of Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) can be successfully grown in the Tri-state Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware area. Best grown in full sunlight, Lagerstroemia require little pruning, however, pruning will advance new flower-producing branches since flowering occurs on new growth. If you prefer a colorful, low maintenance and long-blooming tree, select a Crape Myrtle tree to enhance your landscape design plan or formal front yard garden.

According to HGTVgardens.com, “In summer, their blossoms give way to light green leaves that provide welcome shade. And in autumn, that foliage turns a stunning deep red before falling, leaving a handsome skeleton with alligator skin-like bark in winter.”

Aardweg Landscaping Design, Installation and Maintenance
Serving the Tri-state area of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware for over 30 years, Aardweg Landscaping is based in Newtown Square on the Philadelphia Main Line. With decades of experience selecting the perfect ornamental trees to suit formal and informal residential garden landscape designs, the professional team at Aardweg Landscaping stands ready to transform your landscape design ideas into a beautiful new outdoor space. Contact Aardweg Landscaping by telephone at 610-355-0703.

Visit Aardweg Landscaping on YouTube and Houzz.

July 1, 2014
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Privacy Screening Ideas for Philadelphia Homeowners

Privacy Screening Ideas for Philadelphia Homeowners

Have you recently purchased a home in a new home community in Metro Philadelphia and now realize that you have a vast yard that needs privacy screening? Or, maybe you’ve owned your home for a number of years and a new home has been built adjacent to your home, stealing your privacy. What are some of the things you should think about, as you consider different ideas for privacy screening?

What will the neighbor’s think?
It is important to consider the impact of the privacy screen from the neighbor’s perspective. Will it add a lot of shade to their property, block views, or enclose a portion of their yard? Additionally, is there any possibility the screen planting will impact drainage patterns or put pressure on an existing fence or stone wall on the neighbor’s property?

How much space do you have?
If you have a small yard and are in need of privacy screening, it is important to realize that your plant selection will be critical. Certain types of plants, such as evergreens, which are excellent for screening, actually take up a lot of space. Other plants take up less space, but may grow more slowly and be less dense when mature.

Will you use a fence in addition to a planted screen?
Early on in the process it is critical to determine whether you will be adding a fence as part of the privacy screen. This brings additional considerations, both aesthetic and financial (and sometimes legal if your local municipality has restrictions for fences, walls, hedges and rockeries). In addition to these practical reasons for determining early on whether you will include a fence in your planning, the master landscape design will be impacted by whether or not there is a fence behind the planted area.

Summarizing, take a little time to consider all of the factors involved when you begin to plan for privacy screening at your Philadelphia home. There are trade-offs between the different options, after careful evaluation you can determine what your priorities are.

Landscaping ideas that facilitate screening for privacy primarily involve a hedge, a screen of trees, or a densely planted garden area with selected tall trees, each defined as follows:

Privacy Screen Hedge: A hedge is typically created by planting one variety of shrub adjacent to one another, and once the plants have filled out, shearing the hedge to create a formal look.
Planted Screen: A privacy screen made from plants typically a screen consisting of tall, narrow trees closely planted in a row.
Densely Planted Garden: This densely planted garden area with selected tall trees illustrates how we created beautiful landscaped garden areas that simultaneously provide privacy.

The images below illustrate a wide variety of landscaped garden plans that offer ideas for privacy screening in the garden.

Looking for landscaping ideas for privacy screening? Consult with the talented landscape design professionals at Aardweg Landscaping; we can help you create a beautiful new garden with the privacy you seek. Call 610-355-0703 for a complimentary consultation at your home, or contact us online through the Aardweg Landscaping website.

Aardweg Landscaping is a recipient of the coveted Best of Houzz 2014 Award for Customer Satisfaction in Landscape Design and Architecture. Visit our Houzz page to see many gorgeous garden designs and images.

Visit Aardweg Landscaping on Houzz and YouTube to see many fine examples of landscaped gardens that provide privacy and beauty, including gallery images and videos with narrated walk-throughs of some of both Formal and Perennial garden designs.

June 25, 2014
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Best Gardens in the Tri-State New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware Area

Best Gardens in the Tri-State New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware Area

Longwood Gardens East Conservatory (Image via Wikimedia)

Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens, located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is a world renowned horticultural display garden originally created by Pierre DuPont. It includes more than 1,000 acres of gardens woodlands and meadows including more than 40 indoor and outdoor gardens. With events such as the summer Fireworks and Fountains Shows scheduled year round, including musical performances and horticultural classes and workshops, Longwood Gardens offers something for everyone. Open every day of the year, Longwood Gardens attracts nearly 900,000 visitors annually to the Tri-State New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware area.

Bartram’s Gardens
Bartram’s Gardens are located near Independence Hall in downtown Philadelphia. The oldest botanical garden in America, Bartram’s Gardens include a wildflower garden, river trail, wetlands, and a stone building overlooking the Schuylkill River. You can visit Bartram’s Gardens including the historical botanical gardens with American native plants when you visit the Betsy Ross House and the Liberty Bell.

Chanticleer
Chanticleer, located in Wayne, Pennsylvania on the Main Line, is familiarly called a “pleasure garden” and was originally designed to illustrate the beauty of the art of horticulture. Featuring orchards of flowering trees and native wildflowers, a cut flower garden, fruit trees and a water garden, Chanticleer was the former residence of Adolph Rosengarten, Sr.

Morris Arboretum, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Image via Wikipedia Commons)

Morris, Scott and Tyler Arboretums
Three arboretums in the Tri-State New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware Area you should plan on visiting (if you haven’t already!) are the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College and the Tyler Arboretum in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Featuring many of Philadelphia’s oldest, rarest, and largest trees; thousands of types of ornamental plants and horticultural collections, rare specimens, ancient trees, historic buildings, and extensive hiking trails. The Morris, Scott and Tyler Arboretums are each unique horticultural destinations worthy of a visit.

Sightseeing in Philadelphia this summer? Visit the Horticultural Center at Fairmount Park
If you plan to visit Fairmont Park this summer, be sure to check out the arboretum, greenhouse, demonstration gardens, and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden at the Horticultural Center. The Horticultural Center is located within Fairmount Park at the southeast corner of Belmont and Montgomery Drives.

Open daily except holidays, the Horticulture Center was built for the 1976 United States Bicentennial celebration. The original Horticultural Hall was built in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition. The Horticultural Center grounds contain the Centennial Arboretum, an exhibition hall, seven demonstration gardens and a 31,000 square foot greenhouse featuring tropical plants.

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Philadelphia, PA (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

If you anticipate a visit to the nationally-ranked garden in Philadelphia’s West Fairmount Park, Shofuso Japanese House & Garden, fairmountparkconservancy.org says, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden “… reflects the history of Japanese culture in Philadelphia, from the 1876 Centennial Exposition to the installation of its contemporary paintings in 2007.” Call 215-878-5097 for more information.

Beautiful Landscape Design by Aardweg Landscaping
Are you enjoying the beautiful garden images and interested in transforming your own landscaped garden? Contact the experienced and talented landscape design professionals at Aardweg Landscaping to learn about our landscape design and installation, garden restoration, and flower garden design ideas for your Tri-State New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware area home. For more information about the Aardweg Landscaping process, visit the Aardweg Landscaping website, or contact us by phone at 610-355-0703.

Aardweg Landscaping is a recipient of the coveted Best of Houzz 2014 Award for Customer Satisfaction in Landscape Design and Architecture.

See gorgeous perennial garden images at the Aardweg Landscaping YouTube and Houzz pages.