Garden Design Blog

Pennsylvania bluestone is the most prominent paving material in formal outdoor living spaces throughout the northeast regions. Some people may refer to it as flagstone or slate, but the proper name is bluestone and the majority of it is from Pennsylvania. The natural stone paving material can be found in estate gardens from northern Virginia…

I worked on this front of house landscape design and construction project several years ago in Bucks County PA. The homes design was developed around a rustic barn type architecture that fit naturally into the rolling agrarian landscape of the large property. To create architectural interest to the otherwise flat front of house façade, a…

  Perennial gardens have a long tradition in landscape designs going back to some of the earliest gardens of Asia. However, they are most associated as beginning with the renaissance gardens of Europe. During that period, international travel expanded as did interest in horticultural specimens from across the world. The English perennial garden of the…

Deck designs have evolved in recent years. The range of decking and railing choices has expanded drastically. Designers are expanding the program for uses and finding new, creative ways to combine materials to make each project unique. Homeowners have a wide range of decisions to make when designing their dream deck. The deck industry has…

If you are considering a swimming pool, start by calling a qualified landscape architect or designer who has experience with custom swimming pool designs. If you call a pool construction company first, they will encourage you to install one of the standard pool shapes that are easiest and cheapest to build. The pool company will…

There is nothing more refreshing than a cool swim on a hot summer day. If you are thinking about building a custom pool, the first step is to pick a landscape architect or a professional landscape designer. Do not start with a pool contractor. Very few pool contractors employ landscape design professionals who are trained…

Successful landscape projects require quality designs. This is true whether you are building a simple patio and walkway or an extravagant porch addition, pool, outdoor kitchen, fireplace project. Design is the process of unifying a range of factors including a family’s needs and desires, their budgets, natural elements of the property, and municipal building/zoning regulations.…

EP Henry Incorporated sponsored the Mid-Atlantic Hardscape Trade Show (MAHTS) in Atlantic City, NJ from February 11-13. The trade show offers a wide range of educational seminars tailored to hardscape installation crews, landscape designers and landscape company managers. Approximately fifty vendors attend and set up trade show booths to promote their products. Much of the…

With the recent snow storms, the Garden Design offices are a winter wonderland. It is hard to imagine that spring is less than a month away. Winter a great time to start planning your spring landscape projects. Visions of outdoor living can warm the freezing days of winter. Start the process by contacting a qualified…

In the fall, (pictured below) we planted hundreds of bulbs that were incorporated into the landscape around this outdoor living room. The bulbs were mixed in the wheelbarrow and tossed around the garden. There are different varieties, fritillaria, a variety of allium, lilies, and crocus. The pictures are taken today, April 30. As the garden…

Last week I listed things you should do in your landscape for spring cleanup. This blog is about things to not do or not do too early. Do not cut back roses, buddlia (butterfly bush), caryopteris until the weather is warmer. Late spring frosts can kill the plants if cut back too early. Do not…

It’s time to start thinking about cleaning up your property for spring. This post is about the things you should do in the spring. My next post will be about things your shouldn’t do! Do cut all perennials back to just above ground level, including the evergreen ones, because the foliage that has been through…