Landscaping Design on the Main Line

April 29, 2017
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Classic Japanese Garden Design Features for the Main Line Landscape

Classic Japanese Garden Design Features for the Main Line Landscape

The distinctive Japanese garden design features include water, rocks, sand, garden bridges, stone lanterns, water basins, garden fences and gates, trees, flowers, and fish. Let’s consider some of these as you infuse a bit of Zen into your garden using the following classic Japanese landscape features:

Design and installation by Aardweg Landscaping, Newtown Square, PA

Walkway materials – The overarching theme of the Japanese landscape style is simplicity. Walkway materials should be naturally compatibility with the entire garden scheme. Natural stone and sand are the traditional materials used. Other popular choices include exposed aggregate concrete or small stones sunken into the ground and planted amidst mosses or grasses to demonstrate a harmonious balance of both nature’s and man’s artistry. Pathways should be free and flowing, like a river, with no harsh or rigid lines.

Trees and flowers – Green is the color of choice in a Zen garden as it promotes contemplation and serenity. The plants integrated into the design should be soothing and multi-textured. Excellent selections are sweet flag, azaleas, ferns, bamboo, hostas, Japanese maples and mosses. Bonsai might be used as well in simple, earthy urns or planters. When placing plants throughout the garden scheme, remember to keep asymmetry at the fore. Your professional landscape designer will make this balance to be both seen and felt.

Design and installation in Narberth, PA, by Aardweg Landscaping

Natural rocks – Classic focal points in Japanese landscapes, rocks are unique studies of nature and blend perfectly into a garden whose purpose is to enhance meditative, restorative thought processes.

Décor – Seeing Japanese landscape design focuses on nature and simplicity, any added features are few and carefully selected. Of these, lanterns figure in very prominently, as well as rain chains and wind chimes.

Moving water – Flowing water in some form is often utilized in Japanese garden designs because of its soothing quality and ability to heal the mind. The choices can vary from ponds or streams to cascading fountains constructed of stone or bamboo.

Fish pond designed and installed by Aardweg Landscaping, Main Line, Philadelphia

Complimentary On-site Consultation with Steve Aardweg

Aardweg Landscaping offers a complimentary on-site consultation to new landscape design clients with Aardweg Landscaping owner Steven T. Aardweg, APLD. The consultation provides an opportunity to discuss design preferences and goals for your landscaped garden at your Main Line or Philadelphia home.

Please call 610.355.0703, or send us an email using our website contact form. Aardweg Landscaping has over 35 years of design experience in southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

“Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Satisfaction
For four years straight — 2014 to 2017 — Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA has received the “Best of Houzz” award for Customer Satisfaction from Houzz. Aardweg Landscaping also received the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz.

Steve Aardweg of Aardweg Landscaping
Possessing a broad knowledge of plants, Steve Aardweg of Aardweg Landscaping creates landscape designs and installations that are naturally suited to southeastern Pennsylvania communities. For more information call 610.355.0703, or send us an email using our website contact form.

April 26, 2017
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on How to Use Water Features in the Landscape Design

How to Use Water Features in the Landscape Design

Are you planning to integrate a new water feature in your garden landscape? If you do, begin your project by resolving these three issues:

1. Does your garden landscape design reflect a design theme? If it does, be sure to design and integrate new water features so that the whole composition blends together. This is particularly important when selecting hardscape materials, textures and hues.

2. Location, location, location! Your new water feature (whether a pond, stream, waterfall or fountain) scale, style and placement should be selected cautiously, taking in to consideration the available space. Location ideally will be selected in a spot that can be enjoyed from indoor and outdoor vistas.

3. Professional design or DIY? Quickly determine if you intend to engage a professional landscape designer for your project, especially if you plan to include more complex water features, ponds, saunas or pools such as those found at many Main Line homes in communities such as Berwyn and Gladwyne, PA.

It’s easy to bring the soothing sounds and effects of water in some form into your professional landscape design. Here are some tips from the experts at Aardweg Landscaping:

Design and installation by Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA

Ponds as unique focal points in the design: With their traditional simplicity and mirroring effect, ponds can bring a great dimension to your overall landscape design. They combine so well with shrubs and flowers of all types and create wonderful focal points.

Design and installation by Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA

Waterfalls combine with ponds beautifully! Often used in conjunction with ponds, waterfalls contribute such restful visual and audible appeal that affects the entire lawn and garden. Be sure to make room in your landscape to provide a secluded sitting nook in order to drink in the calming sights and sounds of your singing water, located in a nearby courtyard similar to the layout designed for an Aardweg Landscaping client in Gladwyne, PA, as shown below.

Design and installation of a pond as a water feature in Gladwyne, PA by Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA

Design and installation by Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA – Flowing pond located in Berwyn, PA

Streams of flowing water: This type of water feature brings more of nature’s sprawled out beauty into the landscape and furnishes a delightful place in which to enjoy the sights and sounds of running water – which can actually diminish or drown out the noise pollution of neighbors or traffic. It also offers a pleasant place to dangle feet on hot summer days. Layout above was designed as a natural flowing stream for clients in Berwyn, PA.

Design and installation by Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA

Classic courtyard fountain image courtesy of Aardweg Landscaping

Fountains add vertical action in the landscape: Reminiscent of Old World architecture, fountains bring their own vertical form of beauty to the garden. Depending on the theme of your professional landscape design, there are an abundance of styles to choose from.

According to Evergreen, “Garden water features such as fountains and waterfalls come in myriads of different forms, designs and also the materials they are made of. Garden and backyard fountains can come in the form of multi-tiered fountains, barrel fountains, pond fountains and wall fountains.”

Finally, integrating some restorative therapy into the landscape in the form of spas can, with the help of a professional landscape designer, be done beautifully and contribute its own unique element in the whole design. Whether you want your spa to suggest a more unstudied, natural style or a classically smooth in-ground tub with a waterfall, the wonders of nature can only enhance the healing benefits of the water therapy.

Complimentary On-site Consultation with Steve Aardweg

For a professional complimentary on-site consultation with Aardweg Landscaping owner Steven T. Aardweg, APLD, to discuss using water features in the landscape design at your Main Line or Philadelphia home, call 610.355.0703, or send us an email using our website contact form. Aardweg Landscaping has over 35 years of design experience in southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

April 25, 2017
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Formal Courtyard and Fountain Designs for Main Line Homes

Formal Courtyard and Fountain Designs for Main Line Homes

Can you think of anything more peaceful than a quiet, flowing fountain? Envision a formal courtyard with low hedges of closely trimmed Japanese boxwoods outlining formal parterres separated by brick-lined stone paths, all surrounding a fountain in a delightful pond. Does that match your picture of elegance and sophistication in the Pennsylvania landscaped garden?

Whether you desire to spruce up an existing formal courtyard and fountain area at your Fraser or Malvern Main Line home; or renovate an entire plaza for a fresh and original outdoor experience, think carefully about the these three elements as you incorporate them into the design — paving materials, hardscapes, and fountain style.

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Classic Courtyard Planting for Philadelphia Gardens by Aardweg Landscaping

Choosing the paving materials – Because a courtyard is a more spacious concept than a walkway, the style of the pavers is going to influence heavily the overall feel of the design. Popular paving material choices include granite cobblestone, herringbone bricks, concrete or travertine pavers, flagstone or the indigenous and ruggedly beautiful Pennsylvania bluestone. Each of these choices brings its own range of color variations, depth and texture to the finished design.

Main Line Landscape design company Aardweg Landscaping

Considering the hardscapes – Formal courtyard and fountain designs often include walls or garden beds to enhance and frame the vignette. Due to color variations in the paving materials (especially stone and brick), it is crucial that the hardscape tints are complementary to maintain balance and symmetry throughout the design and avoid any discordant color clashes. Your professional landscape designer will make sure the final result is stunning.

“Due to color variations in the paving materials (especially stone and brick), it is crucial that the hardscape tints are complementary to maintain balance and symmetry throughout the design…”

Modern courtyard with fountain in Narberth, PA; by Aardweg Landscaping

Deciding on the fountain – There are so many lovely, artistic, gaze-worthy fountains to choose from for your formal design. You can opt for any of the following:

Aged-looking, European style fountains
Sleek, contemporary selections
Ornate, multi-level fountains that awe the senses
Simple, minimalist fountains that soothe you with the soft sound of running water

Whatever courtyard style you are inclined toward, there is a fountain that will star brilliantly in your Fraser or Malvern home landscape design.

Finally, frame your masterpiece with lovely plants and flowers that enhance your display. Place topiaries in distinctive planters or urns near doorways or the courtyard entrance. Make a space for a comfortable bench or table and chairs for prolonged enjoyment of the sights and sounds of your wonderful formal courtyard and fountain design.

For a professional complimentary on-site consultation to discuss formal courtyard and fountain design for your Main Line or Philadelphia home, call 610.355.0703, or send us an email using our website contact form. Philadelphia area Aardweg Landscaping has over 35 years of design experience in southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

Classic courtyard fountain image courtesy of Aardweg Landscaping

April 19, 2017
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Stunning Traditional Landscape Design for Main Line Homes

Stunning Traditional Landscape Design for Main Line Homes

A traditional landscape design for the garden incorporates a wide variety of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and perennials, creating a complex and ever-changing palette of color throughout the entire growing season.

Photo by Aardweg Landscaping – Traditional Landscape Design, Radnor, PA

What are the best features of a traditional landscape design? For many longtime homeowners in the Main Line / Philadelphia area, traditional means stylish with a touch of both elegance and sophistication. The following are four primary features characterizing stunning traditional landscape design for Main Line homes:

Aardweg Landscaping – Traditional Landscape Design, Berwyn, PA

1. Lush plantings – Incorporating different evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and perennials, both flowering and those prized exclusively for their foliage, the Main Line landscape architect creates an elegant yet engaging formal landscape design for the home garden.

Your professional landscape designer utilizes trees or shrubs in your design to bring a feeling of maturity to your new garden design even amidst the newness (or “youth”) of fresh plantings. Homeowners across the Main Line, including in communities such as Berwyn, Paoli and Radnor; enjoy the traditional landscaped garden more than any other style. (See formal landscape design photo portfolio)

2. Detailed pathways – Just because a walkway is a necessary part of the garden does not mean it ought to be overlooked or underplayed. On the contrary, a skillfully designed path can become a true focal point of your landscape.

Whether you choose pavers surrounded by mulch or gravel, slate stepping stones or cobblestone, your pathway can be a stunning backdrop for your plantings. Billowing herbs or perennials can spill over and soften the edges and bring a charming, inviting, refreshing aura to your Berwyn, Paoli and Radnor area landscape.

Photo by Aardweg Landscaping – Traditional Landscape Design, Berwyn, PA

3. Natural hardscapes – Complementing the elements used in the pathway, hardscapes might be integrated into the design in the form of retaining walls, raised borders, boulders and such. These bring a stable and earthy presence which makes the garden, though well tended; have the feeling of unstudied natural beauty.

Billowing herbs or perennials can spill over and soften the edges and bring a charming, inviting, refreshing aura to your Berwyn, Paoli and Radnor area landscape.

4. Gates and arbors – To add an element of mystery and seclusion, gates and arbors can bring another really wonderful dimension to your traditional Berwyn, Paoli or Radnor residential landscape design. They separate different areas of the garden design and beckon garden visitors to keep walking to see what is on the “other side”.

These structures can be charming focal points, when vines are encouraged to clamber upwards and frothy, flowering shrubs and cheery annuals soften the transition from one outdoor “room” to another.

Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation to discuss formal landscape design and installation with Philadelphia area Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or by sending us an email using our website contact form.

April 10, 2017
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Formal Main Line Landscape Design Pictures & Ideas

Formal Main Line Landscape Design Pictures & Ideas

To achieve the orderly, palatial feel of a traditional formal landscape design, your professional landscape designer will utilize order, structure, massing, and carefully laid out walkways to create the formality many covet in the garden. How does one achieve the structured and elegant atmosphere of a formal garden? We suggest the following strategies:

Aardweg Landscaping — Formal Garden Design, Main Line / Philadelphia, PA

Create order and structure in the garden: The strong, linear definition which substantial paths and walkways can bring to a garden is the backbone to the overarching formal garden design. Brick, concrete, gravel, slate or stone walkways function as a grounding element around which the remaining design will focus. Utilizing these earthy materials in straight or geometric patterns can infuse the concept with a definitive European flair. For front walks, patios and driveways, this means perfect venues in which to create exceptional curb appeal.

Aardweg Landscaping — Formal Garden Design, Main Line / Philadelphia, PA

Primary mass planting is green: While some brighter colors are used sparingly, green is the predominant color. Evergreens, trees, shrubs and grasses providing a tapestry of differently textured shades of greens as classic formal landscape design selections. When closely clipped shrubs line the walks and the other garden “layers” exude precise order and refinement, the result can be a decidedly soothing atmosphere throughout your whole design.

Aardweg Landscaping — Formal Garden Design, Main Line / Philadelphia, PA

Utilize container plants: The use of urns and ornate container planters filled with boxwood topiaries or colorful annuals really brings a cohesive feel to the garden. These splashes of artistic detail are again reminiscent of Old World style.

Aardweg Landscaping — Formal Garden Design

Include focal points: While a large urn or planter can be utilized in this way, incorporating an attractive statue or water feature can bring yet another dimension to the garden space.

Finally, what is a garden if there is no place to stop and smell the proverbial roses? Your lovely design can be appreciated for more than just a pass-through when you also plan seating nooks with a stone bench or table and chairs – strategically placed to give full or partial visual sweep to your picturesque formal landscape design.

For excellent video instruction on formal garden design, check out Aardweg Landscaping’s videos on YouTube to be delighted and inspired as you learn about formal garden design and plant selection.

Steve Aardweg of Aardweg Landscaping
Lending his professional design expertise to every project, Steve Aardweg of Aardweg Landscaping creates designs and installations that are naturally suited to the southeastern Pennsylvania, Main Line and metropolitan Philadelphia environment.

“Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Satisfaction
For the last four years, from 2014 to 2017, Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Square, PA received the “Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Satisfaction from Houzz. Aardweg Landscaping also received the exclusive “Recommended” badge for top rated professionals on Houzz.

Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation to discuss professional landscape design and installation with Philadelphia area Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or via our website contact form.

April 7, 2017
by aardweglandscaping
Comments Off on Beautiful Pool Landscaping Design

Beautiful Pool Landscaping Design

Since a swimming pool is not simply a feature unto itself, here are some wonderful ideas on how to make it figure cohesively into your overall landscaping design. For starters, use colorful plants liberally in surrounding garden beds.

Give your pool landscape design the atmosphere of a lush, resort-like getaway with different varieties of plants and flowers that are at home near water and can hold up well in the summer heat.

Example plants are agapanthus, with its soothing shades of blue and white on lustrous green foliage, vibrant hibiscus with its tropical flair, or restful greens such as bamboo, papyrus or palms. Each of these are easy to maintain but lavish, hard-working star performers. Other Main Line pool landscaping design suggestions include:

Space attractive planters around the pool – Large urns and containers of potted annuals have the ability to bring bright splashes of color throughout the scheme and provide more portable cheery hues, complementing the garden beds in their fixed locations.

Incorporate shade trees – Especially in the summer heat, trees play a vital role in providing a cool place to rest within easy distance of your pool. A Main Line pool landscaping design professional brings a larger picture perspective to the placement of trees around your lovely oasis so that your setting is perfect.
Backyard Pool & Landscaped Garden Ideas for Main Line Outdoor Living Area

Create an intimate seating area – An attractive and functional pool landscape design could also benefit from an arbor or pergola in which to place comfortable, cool seating or hang hammocks for an incredible relaxation setting. Or, engage an experienced Main Line landscape design firm such as Aardweg Landscaping to design an adjacent outdoor kitchen so that your summertime outdoor parties can have all the necessary elements for a fun time.

Integrate hardscapes into the pool landscape design – For a clean, natural effect, you can utilize earthy elements such as rock, stone, slate, brick and similar features to bring a strongly defined, grounded hardscape presence in your scheme.

Steve Aardweg of Aardweg Landscaping
Possessing a broad knowledge of plants, Steve Aardweg of Aardweg Landscaping creates designs and installations that are naturally suited to the southeastern Pennsylvania, Main Line and metropolitan Philadelphia environment.

Schedule a complimentary on-site consultation to discuss pool landscaping design and installation with Philadelphia area Aardweg Landscaping by calling 610.355.0703, or by sending us an email using our website contact form.

Outdoor kitchen and living area with landscaping and hardscaping by Aardweg Landscaping of Newtown Sq., Pennsylvania