Landscape Articles

Before the wind and early snow take away the rest of our fall foliage, make some time to appreciate the variety of color New England has this time of year. Plants that have phenomenal fall foliage colors are important to consider when designing landscapes. A few of our favorite fall beauties are: Diane Witch Hazel Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane', Little Henry Virginia Sweetspire Itea virginica 'Sprich' and Paperbark Maple Acer griseum.

How to use a small yard for a sitting area? Simple!

Native ornamental grass will give your garden four seasons of interest and a low-maintenance option for garden design. Creating a unique garden to fit your needs can be a challenging task, but with the help of native plants and especially ornamental grasses, it becomes enjoyable.

Throughout the past few years it has become a very popular trend for designers to create a native plant garden design, and for good reason.  The benefits of using native plants in your home garden can be extensive.  Some of them are:

Two of our favorite native perennials to plant in Eastern Massachusetts are Kim's Knee High and Bridal Veil False Spirea. The Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High' is a compact version of Purple Coneflower. It is covered in 3-inch rosy-pink flowers that have drooping petals. This Coneflower will begin blooming a week or two the other Echinacea's. It is the ideal addition to a small landscape design where birds and butterflies can access it. All Coneflowers have such good root systems that they are known as "clay busters", tough enough to handle difficult clay soils. They grow best in full sun and are known to attract birds and hummingbirds, while keeping away deer due to their rugged texture.

In Eastern MA, there are many different types of gardens that will grow and thrive, even in the finicky coastal MA weather. A few garden types you might want to consider planting are:

More information on Patio Materials! The least expensive patio material to buy and install is pea gravel, also know as pea stone.

PATIO MATERIALS- concrete PAVERS!

Are you looking for a new landscape design this season? All landscape design jobs- backyard designs, garden design plans, and front yard landscape designs, require a consultation with a professional landscape designer as the first step.

Being from New England I have seen many snow and ice storms come through. It’s important to keep in mind both personal and public safety with winter weather. State workers and highway departments take care of snow removal and sanding/salting for all public roads, but most sidewalks, walkways and driveways are the property owners’ responsibility.

Regarding your own personal sidewalk, walkway and driveway there are two routes you can go: do it yourself or hire a professional.

Many gardeners choose perennials to plant in their yards to add color and create a low maintenance garden space. Perennials are great because they have color that pops in the spring, summer, or fall, then die back for the winter and repeat the next season.

Growing plants in the shade can be a daunting task if not properly thought out. This does not mean you need to hire a professional landscape designer, but it does mean you have to do your research.

Are You Growing Plants in the Shade?

This is part 2 of the Patio Material blog series- Understanding the Cost of Bluestone Patios.

Choosing a garden designer can be more difficult than it sounds. Although there are a lot of great ones out there, not every designer is willing to meet your high standards. If you’ve got something very specific in mind, you may find that not every designer will be able to get the job done in the way that you imagine.

Many people think that they can replace the work of a professional without a lot of effort. Sometimes, this is true. But, in other cases, you are almost always better off hiring someone who can do the job right the first time. When you want professional landscape design, there really is no easy way to skimp on costs or services. If you treat your property like the treasure it is, and arrange for professional landscaping design and maintenance, your land will be beautiful and useful for many years to come.

Tackling landscaping of your New England property is a daunting prospect. With the help of our qualified, experienced and professional landscape designers, you unlock the full potential of your lot. A great landscape design plan utilizes every positive aspect of your property, which increases curb appeal and your ability to enjoy the outdoors for its beauty and exterior living capabilities.

Gardens can be time-consuming and difficult to manage, especially if you have a large plot of land at your disposal. One of the trends that is becoming more popular with people who have large trees or unused wooded areas in their yard is to start up a woodland garden, which has the benefit of being more natural and less manicured than more traditional gardens.

Because there are so many factors to consider, it is best to leave shade garden designs to the professionals. To get you started, here are 3 ideas to get you thinking about the endless possibilities there are for growing plants in the shade.

Before making any major decision regarding a home, any homeowner should do their due dilligence by researching their problem as well as all the possible solutions. Deciding what to do with your yard and then choosing the right landscape design can be very daunting and exhausting. We like to encourage potential customers to think about how they want to use their yard and the aspects of their existing conditions that they don't like.

Learn about 3 of the most common customizable characteristics of patios while deciding what you are looking for in your yard. Professional landscape designers are trained professionals to help you get the most out of your space and money, but it is important for you to understand how they can custom design a patio for your home.

Before starting in your garden, make sure to get your soil tested. Many gardeners and landscape professionals forget this step and plant incorrectly. It is important to know the basic information about your soil in order to what know what and where to plant in your garden.

One of the best ways to create an ecological garden is by planting more native plants. Planting native plants enhances and supports your local ecosystem which has more benefits than we can imagine. When selecting plants think about companion planting. Many native plants have evolved along side each other and grow more naturally together. The following are two great examples of companion planting:

Home owners are more aware of the beauty and ecological benefits of an edible garden, and some are hiring professionals solely for their help with adding a variety of edible trees, shrubs, and perennials to their landscape. Edible gardens can be used to perform many functions in the landscape while achieving design and practical goals. For example, to reduce erosion and out-compete weeds, creeping herbs can be used as ground covers.

Many people think to have an edible garden (a garden with fruit and vegetable plants), it has to be in a large, fenced in section of their backyard. This is not only false, but far from the truth.

Six high rise buildings over looking the George Washington Bridge and Manhattan Sky Line are home to former NYC residents who are "escaping city life". Fort Lee, NJ sits on the top of a cliff with a mountain-like climate, high winds and cold winters. My father-in-law was the landscape architect assigned to this community and was faced with the problem of finding a hardy, all season interest plant to put in the garden beds at the main entrance. Being the creative and innovative landscape architect he is, my father-in-law suggested a plant known for its hardiness and extended season.  It has yellow, red, and orange foliage in the autumn, yellow-green to reddish stems for winter interest, urn-shaped white flowers in May, and a tasty blue fruit. What has all of that? A blueberry bush, the Vaccinium corymbosum.

His proposal was questioned numerous times-- a blueberry bush in the front of a multi-million dollar high rise complex, home to retired NYC residents who felt they were moving to suburbia by leaving the heart of Manhattan to only be 10 minutes outside the city with a panoramic view of the city skyline?!? Was he crazy? No, he was innovative and persistent. The highbush blueberry shrubs were eventually "okayed" and planted in front of two of the six buildings.

After a year or so, the lifelong city dwellers got to do something they never imagine, dreamed or even thought of possibly doing. Every morning, you would see these elderly urban dwellers go out their front door dressed in their designer robes, and pick fresh blueberries for their breakfast. As these women "foraged" for their food, they got to finally taste the fruits of gardening; something they never thought possible from their NYC life style.

As you find yourself in the middle of winter with below freezing temperatures and wind chills, it is a perfect time to stay inside and look out at your yard. What do you see? What would you like to see? This is the time you want to think about how you may want to fill in and add to your landscape. There are so many plants that will liven any landscape, even in the dead of winter. 

Moodscapes has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013. They won the award in two categories, “Mulch & Topsoil” and “Landscaping - Hardscaping & Pavers”.
 
“Only about 5 percent of the companies Moodscapes competes with in Arlington, MA are able to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a mark of consistently great customer service.”
 
Angie’s List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Moodscapes has received the Super Service Award for many years and continues to excel within the field of Landscape Design and Installation.

A fruit and vegetable garden is a great way to customize your landscape in New England.

An unspoken rule of thumb for living in New England, is that, when it is nice outside, you stay outside.

Last summer homeowners in Newton, Massachusetts were connected to the city sewer system which left their backyard looking like the picture to the left, a complete mess. They wanted a redesign of their entire backyard with new plantings, some type of hardscape for entertainment space, as well as a swing for leisure and relaxation. The property is surrounded by many trees making the backyard a natural woodland setting with privacy.

Everyone knows how important curb appeal is for selling and maintaining value to a home. We as landscape designers always encourage homeowners to think about increasing property value and their curb appeal through proper landscape design and installation. Aside from proper landscape design, there are many other aspects to homeownership that will help maintain and increase value. A great resource for understanding all the aspects of owning and selling a home in Massachusetts is MassRealty.

The Moodscapes team designed and installed this beautiful landscape with a combination of knock out roses (Rose x 'Knock Out'), a type of switch grass (Panicum virgatum 'Ruby Ribbons'), cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana 'Nana'), and an inkberry shrub (Ilex glabra). This custom landscape design allows the outdoor entertaining area to be surrounded by plants with a variety of color, scents, and textures all year round.

(Photo taken by David Halberstadt)

Above is a picture of a natural field stone walkway and front garden bed our team installed last year. Plants, trees, and shrubs are growing well together and the field stone walkway adds an element of elegance and simplicity to the front yard design. To view this yard last year, read, Natural Field Stone Walkway.

Professional landscape designers often use water features as a focal points for the landscape design. Above is an example of a water feature surrounded by plants and pea stone pebbles to emphasis the calming affect of the water fountain.

Throughout the past few years it has become a very popular trend for designers to create a native plant garden design, and for good reason.  The benefits of using native plants in your home garden are extensive and long lasting.

A personalized landscape design in Winchester Massachusetts to lead guests into their new backyard. Our team customized a wooden arbor to lead the way along a paver walkway and along side the newly planted perennials and shrubs. The plants were selected to enhance the walkway during all seasons with various bloom times, colors, and textures.

what is the difference between a healing garden and personal landscape?

The below image is what a personal landscape design plan looks like from Moodscapes.

Are you looking to add more late summer blooms in your garden? You can attract butterflies AND add color for the end of the summer and early fall with the butterfly bush shrub. This shrub has all the fragrance and butterfly appeal of traditional butterfly bushes, but in as a small, easy to maintain plant. In most climates, Blue Chip stays under three feet tall without any pruning, and blooms continuously from mid-summer to mid-fall. We love to use these shrubs for borders and perennial beds. It is a great shrub to have in the yard for children to enjoy the butterflies.

Clients in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts presented us with a very challenging situation in their back/ side yard.

This is a photo from a design and installation job we did last summer of their beautiful front yard garden design in full bloom! The colors and textures all work so nicely next to each other and compliment the style of the house and neighborhood as a whole. The stand out purple perennials are Salvia and will bloom from about June to September. The two corners have trees which add height to the garden and compliment each other with the deep red/purple colors. The Heuchera Coral Bell ground covers are slow-growing perennials that will continue to get larger and add texture as well as pick up the red color from the trees. Some of the shrubs have not yet bloomed and will do so later in the summer to add late summer and early fall color to the garden bed.

The colorful garden combination above is from a front yard garden design in Arlington, Massachusetts. The homeowner wanted colorful blooms combined with various textures and flower shapes and sizes. The pink shrub is an Anthony Waterer Spirea which blooms throughout the summer and even attracts butterflies. The blue shrub placed slightly behind the Anthony Waterer Spirea is an Endless Summer Hydrangea. This specific hydrangea needs to be planted in well-identified soil because the bloom color changes with elements found in the soil. The Endless Summer Hydrangea has a blue bloom in more acidic soil and a pink bloom in alkaline soil. The perennial in the front is a Hillside Black Beauty with dark purple, almost black leaves and creamy white flowers in early fall. The three plants next to each other makes this yard noticeable to anyone passing by as the colors compliment each other while allowing for each plant to stand out in a unique way.

The characteristics that make a garden therapeutic or "healing" to someone is personal for each individual. For me, driving up to my house and seeing this mixed perennial and shrub border in bloom with different shades of color, various textures, and fragrant shrubs is healing. After a busy or stressful day, what I enjoy most about arriving home is walking up my front steps and experiencing the tranquility that my front garden design offers and the feeling of peace that is restored inside of me- a true healing landscape.

A new trend is starting with homeowners in Eastern Massachusetts- circular patios. Homeowners are looking for custom patio designs that give them space for a table and chairs and lawn play space. The solution professional landscape designers across Massachusetts are designing for their clients are circular patios, which can be built with almost any patio material. The below patio was designed for a client in Lexington Massachusetts who wanted a shaded patio tucked away in the corner of her property. 

Add creativity to your backyard with a personalized landscape design plan to incorporate all of your outdoor needs. Our clients wanted a small paver patio just large enough for a few adults to sit and relax on while the children had the rest of the backyard to play. In order to have space in a small backyard for both a patio and grass we designed the circular pattern to fit nicely in the corner. Plantings were added to the existing trees and shrubs around the patio for color and fragrance as the flowers bloomed.

One of the many benefits of hiring a professional landscape designer is that you do not have to worry about plants growing too closely together (see above photo). When you hire a professional landscape designer they work hard to properly measure and plan out the space in your garden bed. If plants are planted too closely together they may not root properly and therefore not bloom or grow to their full potential. Many times plants can be moved by digging out the roots and transplanting them, but you risk harming the plant if it is not done correctly. Save yourself the time and aggravation of transplanting and hire a professional to help you.

Create an elegant and easy to follow path in your side side by choosing a natural field stone walkway. Flat field stone is the most natural looking stone and when installed correctly, can become a smooth surface to follow along. Often times field stone comes in varying heights and widths and therefore finding the correct stone is very important for creating a smooth, safe walkway. It is important for side yard walkways to be continuous from the front to back yard without imposing on the look of either space.

When deciding on a new garden landscape, there are many types of garden designs to choose from. Depending on your needs and existing conditions, gardens can be made for privacy, relaxation, entertainment, play space, etc. The garden pictured below is a mature shade garden designed and installed in Lexington Massachusetts by the Moodscapes team a couple years ago. 

WHAT IS A SOIL TEST?

It is technically spring now, but the lingering white blanket across eastern Massachusetts makes it hard to believe. During the few days of completely melted snow blooms were beginning to come through winter mulch and exciting everyone!

A small backyard sitting area for the entire family to enjoy!

Clients in Roslindale, Massachusetts had very specific ideas for how they wanted their backyard sitting room to be designed and installed. Our designer worked closely with them to infuse her expertise into their desires.

1. GOALS AND MATERIAL- Clients wanted a fairly sophisticated and formal outdoor entertainment space that would extend their house and add outdoor living space. They wanted it to be formal, but provoke their senses at the same time. We added a water feature, various fragrant plants, and outdoor lighting surrounding the patio to allow nighttime enjoyment. The patio material was a carefully selected, formal blue stone, which created a structured layout. The nooks and sitting wall were added for additional space and enjoyment.

2. PLANTS- Plants were carefully chosen according to their textures and subtlety of the blooms' colors and smells to enhance the formality of the space. The plants soften some of the space by adding lighter color, but there is still a lot of structure in the plantings as well as the hardscape. We kept it simple.

3. COMPLIMENTED THE EXISTING CONDITIONS- The design mimicked vertical lines found throughout the yard as a whole. The fence gate especially mimics the railings coming off the steps. There are also a lot of square and vertical lines, which creates the complete formal setting they wanted for entertainment and privacy.

A couple weeks ago, NOFA Organic Lawn Care Certificate Course was offered to landscape professionals to learn about and stay up-to-date with the latest information on organic land care. The course touched upon topics ranging from storm water management, soil biology, and information on organic approaches to lawn care. The course was guided by the Organic Land Care Standards approach to all landscape situations.

We were approached by a family in Winchester Massachusetts to design and install a new front and back yard that encompassed three very specific needs. The family wanted to use their yard to entertain family and friends, access the outside directly from their house, and enhance their new front entrance and porch.

What are the benefits of a personalized landscape design in eastern Massachusetts? A personalized landscape is one that is designed and installed to fulfill your outdoor sensibilities, such as sense of space, privacy, texture,and  color. For a more in depth definition of personal landscapes, please read the article What is a Personal Landscape?

Every home, landscape, and family is different. When deciding to redesign your landscape, choose a landscape design company that will create a personalized landscape design and installation to work within your existing yard conditions, as well as meet your personal and aesthetic desires. 

A landscape design/build company is responsible for all aspects of the project from initial consultation through design and installation. Some companies also provide long-term maintenance. The company starts with a consultation with the potential customer in order to gather all information necessary for the job in terms of goals, budget, and schedule. After the proposal is agreed upon, a design plan is drawn up and a schedule is set for installation. Some clients wish to have long-term maintenance services, which is why many landscape design companies have started year round maintenance services.

Here at Moodscapes, we approach new projects differently than other companies. As our mission statement states, we work hard to create inspirational and harmonious landscapes by combining the clients practical needs and aesthetic desires within the existing conditions of the landscape. Our team offers personalized landscape services from start to finish. We take pride in our detailed design process and continuous conversation with the client from the start with consultations, to the end of the installation. In order to create a personal landscape we take extra steps throughout the consultation, design process, installation, and even maintenance if a client chooses.

As the new year begins, this is the best time to start thinking about your spring garden plans and goals. January is a great time to sit back and brainstorm about what your ideal garden would look like. Jot down notes, pull out pictures, maybe even draw a sketch or two, but most importantly find a local landscape designer to contact. This is their off season and the best time to get their undivided attention for an hour or more! They will dream up your garden with you and put it into a visible plan that will come to life in just a few months.

Thankfully the cold winters of Massachusetts and the northeast mean that we can rest from our garden labors. A few things to make sure you have done:

• finish mulching and burlap wrapping vulnerable trees and shrubs

• mark driveway perimeters so snow plows will not damage your lawns

• clean and service all garden tools before safely storing them away for the winter

• enjoy the holidays

It is also a great time to start thinking about your spring landscape plans. If you are looking to redesign your yard, or just add a few more plants, now is the time to contact your local landscape designer.

Contact Moodscapes if you live in Eastern, Massachusetts- we would be happy to talk with you about your landscape needs and desires!

 











Watertown residents wanted to enhance the front of their home with a walkway that would invites friends and family into their beautiful home. In collaboration with the homeowners, Moodscapes designed a paver walkway with a variety of pavers to increase curb appeal and aesthetics. We used Millstone Vineyard Blend quarry pavers, edged on the inside with a standard cobblestone. A half circle was designed right before the steps to mimic the architecture of the circular patterns on front porch and throughout the house. This enhanced and complimented the unique features of the home while increasing their front yard curb appeal.

Homeowners in Watertown Massachusetts contacted us to redesign and install their front yard. They wanted to remove the overgrown shrubs and replace with something more appealing. Our design team shaped the existing garden beds to soften the front yard. We also added more beds to the front for warmth and enclosure. The plants installed were carefully chosen to include various textures, colors and bloom times. The new garden beds, trees and shrubs will increase curb appeal and property value for the owners. When redesiging your front yard, consult with your local garden center or a landscape design company in your area.

Clients in Watertown Massachusetts wanted to make their backyard more usable by reducing the size of their deck. The existing deck was too large for the small backyard space and prevented easy access to the lawn. Moodscapes was able to redesign the deck allowing space for a bluestone patio and beautiful fieldstone wall with granite steps to the lawn. The clients are extremely satisfied with their custom built deck and new blue stone patio which they can now sit, relax and entertain on.

At our client's home in Watertown, Massachusetts, a beautiful arbor design is complimented by an existing Hydrangea paniculata 'Pink Diamond' Tree. Well designed front entry walkways connect the front yard to the back yard in a fluid manner. This particular side yard design has field stone steps surrounded by plants as you walk through to the back yard.

A hand made custom designed fence by Moodscapes and installed by the Art of Fence, is pictured above. Our clients were looking for a white cedar fence to add privacy in their yard, while allowing light and sun to go through. This fence was custom designed to fit the client's wants and needs perfectly. It was built with the highest level craftsmanship and installed to perfection. A Massachusetts custom designed fence adds a lifetime of beauty and elegance to any yard.

Native plants of the northeast have the best fall color in New England, displaying a wide variety of reds, oranges and yellows. This shrub is extremely hardy, with foliage lasting through some of the winter.

Make your yard the envy of the neighborhood next spring by planting spring-flowering bulbs this fall. Planting bulbs now will extend your garden lifetime next season with early blooms in the spring.

When designing your backyard, make sure to include space for both adults and children to play. Creating a backyard oasis for entire family is easier than it may seem. An adult space can consist of a patio made of any material just large enough for a grill, table and chairs. Surrounding the patio should be organic lawn for a swing set or a simple space to run and play. Moodscapes loves to create kid friendly backyard designs centered around the adults requests. Download our design process guide to learn about hiring a landscape design professional.

As the summer months come to an end, it's time to think about preparing your garden for the wonderful fall months ahead. The first step in fall garden preparation is a clean up. Fall clean up services typically include a full garden clean up, as well as, debris and leaf removal services, weeding, the pruning of plants and shrubs, and winter bed preparations.

Would you like to add an elegant water feature to your garden for the fall, and all seasons to come? There are many options for water features that range in price, size, and function. A unique, low cost idea for a water feature is adding a bird bath to your yard.

Add an early bloomer to your yard for next spring!

One of the most versatile trees for almost any garden in New England, Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) exists in a multitude of forms that provide an endless choice of colors, sizes, and shapes. The most recognizable feature is the hand-shaped leaves, especially with its fall foliage colors of reds, purples, and greens. It varies in size from large shrub to small tree, but all have similar trunks that look great even in the leafless months of winter.

Creating a backyard oasis for the entire family is easier than it may sound. A family from Medford, Massachusetts hired Moodscapes to create a safe play area for their daughter, while keeping some space for the adults to sit and relax. We designed a kid friendly backyard, by adding a fence around the backyard, a paver patio just the right size for a few chairs, a couple fruit trees, and installed an organic lawn. This combination of elements will create a backyard space enjoyable for all ages!

Most hydrangeas bloom once and are done for the season. The Endless Summer, also known as All Summer Beauty Hydrangea, bears blossoms on new growth! This means you can enjoy the flowers several times each summer. The colorful blooms continuously surprise and brighten any yard or landscape. For gardeners in cold climates where winter damage prevents other hydrangeas from flowering, 'Endless Summer' ensures a spectacular show for the summer.

The flowering shrub bears large, ball-shaped flower clusters in pink and blue in neutral soil and rich blue in acid soil. Beautiful green foliage provides a lush background to the opulent blooms. A deciduous shrub, great for cut flower arrangements for the household to enjoy!

Field stone walkways create a natural, elegant, and easy to follow front yard entrance way. Flat field stone is the most natural looking stone and when installed correctly, can become a smooth surface to follow along. Often times field stone comes in varying heights and widths and therefore finding the correct stone is very important for creating a smooth walkway. Front entry walkways are very important for curb appeal and adding an edged garden bed with various plants and shrubs will enhance the natural look of field stone.

One of the most important factors that play into landscape design is understanding the light conditions of a front, back or side yard. When selecting new plants to add to your yard, or moving existing ones around, it is necessary to fully know and understand the light patterns before starting.

Hydrangeas are one of the easiest shrubs to identify throughout Eastern Massachusetts. They are superb garden plants with an enormous diversity from evergreen climbers, to small deciduous trees with splendid masses of flowers, to lovely alpine shrubs covered with flowers with fall color. In general, hydrangeas are summer bloomers, easy to grown and maintain, and suitable for all kinds of soils. They come in a wide range of shapes and colors and have long lasting bloom times.

Beautiful purple Ramona Clematis flowers are starting to cover fences and arbors throughout Eastern Massachusetts, and it is a sure sign summer has begun!

The climbing flower vines, are most commonly used for fence and arbor garden designs, but can also be used for a groundcover.

Now is the time to buy a home. Unfortunately, there are plenty of homes on the market for house hunters to choose from. If you are looking to sell your home, it is important to actively attract buyers rather than sit and wait for them to come to you. This can be done in many ways, some of which include clean landscaping, an attractive exterior, and an appealing interior.

A quick suggestion for someone looking to create a backyard oasis for the entire family is to use the existing features in their yard. This backyard in Belmont, Massachusetts was designed and planned around the large maple tree that shaded parts of the patio and lawn. With the use of this tree, a new paver patio is able to create both a sunny and shady spots for the entire family to enjoy. The children can play both in the sun and shade, while the adults can sit and relax in their choice of sun or shade as well. Perennials and shrubs were selected according to sunlight available for the particular garden bed location.

The term "healing garden" is used more commonly, but what does it actually mean and how does a garden become a healing environment?

Humans have continuously increased the rate of plant movements and introduced new plant species to Massachusetts for many years. Most introduced plants do not threaten our native plant and animal communities, but some non-native plants spread rapidly in our natural areas, thrive in a variety of habitats, and are difficult to remove or control. With the exception of direct habitat destruction, these invasive specifics pose the greatest threat to the native biodiversity of Massachusetts.

A commonly asked question is about the difference between landscape designers and landscape architects. Although they both require extensive training, education and licensing in a similar field of study, there are explicit differences between them.

Find some time and get outside in your yard to spruce up your garden beds, trees and shrubs! Pruning is one of the best ways to clean up your yard and with our simple tips you will avoid the common mistakes and misunderstandings over pruning.

Rain gardens are a lovely way for homeowners to help ease water problems due to storms. It is a garden, planted in a low area of your yard to catch run off water from rain. A Rain Garden can be created in 7 easy steps.

Step 1: Location, location, location.
Avoid creating your garden too close to your home because of potential flooding in your house. Choose a low spot in your yard that is in the sun.

Step 2: Determine the size
Will rain from your sidewalk or driveway drain into your garden? Measure all areas that will drain into your rain garden. Use the following guidelines to ensure the ideal size for your garden:

Soil type     Multiply by
Sandy            20%
Loam             30%
Clay               45%

Step 3: Create a Design
Use paper and pencil to sketch a unique design or layout for your garden. If design isn't your forte, consider hiring a local landscape designer to help you.

Step 4: Plants, plants, and more plants
Choose flowers and other plants that are well suited for your climate and grow well in both wet and dry areas.

Step 5: Lay it Out
Use your design to shape and form the boundaries for your garden.

Step 6: Prepare the Soil
Remove grass and dig your garden 4-8 inches deep. Mix the soil with 2-3 inches of compost.

Step 7: Plant, Mulch, and Water
Plant your flowers and grasses. Apply mulch 2-3 inches deep, using wood chips that won't float or blow away.Water your garden every other day for 2 weeks, if it doesn't rain.

For many homeowners here in the Northeast, having enough space for entertaining guests can be a bit challenging. A good cost-effective alternative to full-scale home additions or remodeling is creatively extending your entertainment space outside.

Through professional landscape design and master planning, common yards can be transformed into both practical and highly aesthetic entertaining areas, ones that compliment the look and flow of your existing home.

Regardless of how big or small your yard space may be, an inspired, well-conceived design plan can determine the most effective and attractive use of your space.

Something as simple as a walkway made of pavers, and a bench, can be used to create a quiet garden retreat. Or resurrecting that long neglected lawn into a thriving, safe organic grass play area for your family and pets.

Outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular, offering an enjoyable combination of grilling space and garden beds. Space heaters can extend the use of these areas well into the fall months.

There are a wide variety of design elements to choose from to create a relaxing space that is uniquely your own and reflects your individual lifestyle. From plush gardens and blue stone patios, to decks and arbors, your yard can become the envy of the neighborhood!

Whether you do the work yourself or have it professionally done, begin with a design plan that is custom-tailored to your specific needs and desires. To better understand the design process, please download our free guide.

Studies show that a well-executed, professional landscape design can increase a home’s value by 20 percent. Landscape designers utilize the creative process to plan an outdoor environment that’s a haven for your family and an asset to your home and neighborhood. Employing fundamental artistic design concepts of texture, color and proportion, they create anything from a sweeping, accented lawn to a quiet backyard room for relaxation.

Mulching has many benefits, not the least of which, is that it makes your yard more asethicialy pleasing. Professor of Landscape Horticulture at Cornell University, Dr. Donald Rakow, believes the three major benefits of mulch are: the reduction of water losses from the soil, the suppression of weed growth, and the protection from soil temperature extremes.

If you're looking to install a paver patio in your backyard, the process is limited only by your imagination. Once you've decided what kind of pavers you want to incorporate in your patio design, it simply becomes a matter of installing everything step-by-step.

Growing and maintaining an organic lawn is a worthwhile and valuable investment with many benefits for your home. Here in Eastern Massachusetts there are many options available to you to make it easy to reap the benefits, including:

Thank you to Dianne Aucello for contributing this article to our blog! If you live in the Boston area check out Edesia Kitchen & Bath Studio at: http://www.edesiakbs.com/

A patio is an investment not only in the value and outdoor appeal of a home, but also an investment in the quality of life for the homeowners that live there.  A quality outdoor patio material and of the right size provides the perfect environment for kids to play, entertainment area for your friends, or just to kick back and unwind at the end of a long day.

One of the many considerations that goes into a new outdoor patio is simply "how big should it be?".  If a patio is built too small it will feel crowded by the time the furniture, grills and planters are put on it.  If it's too big, you'll lose that intimate feel that patios can provide.  Feel free to use these ideas when deciding on just how big of a patio space you or your family may need.  



1-CONTRAST- Properly planned and planted plants with color and texture contrast next to each other in a garden bed can add a lot of character to a front yard design. When selecting plants with contrasting colors, you must make sure they have similar soil and light conditions.

Despite the warm weather this March, be aware that the ground is still frozen. Here in the Northeast, it is normal to have frosts throughout April and May, which delays the planting season as well.

As a professional landscape design and maintenance company, we suggest these 5 signals to help you determine if your home needs a new landscape design this year.

Part 3 of Patio Materials: FIELDSTONE- How much does a fieldstone patio cost?

Welcome to our 2nd blog series on Choosing Paving Materials- Understanding How Much Patio Materials Cost.

Our blog this week is an update about the where abouts of our team. For the past few days the Moodscapes team attended the largest green landscape conference in the Northeast, New England Grows. We all participated in various workshops, seminars and visited many exhibits. Below are highlights of just a few favorites.

On Wednesday, we attended the lecture called, "Where the Wild Things Are: Designing with Native Plants" given by two landscape professionals Kyle Turoczi and Liza Turoczi from Woodbury, CT. They spoke about the importance of using native versus invasive plants when designing gardens and landscapes. They shared a portfolio of different projects they've completed using native plants, including the creation of many rain gardens. A reminder they had for us all, is to stay away from the two most commonly used invasive plants, the Barberry and the Burning Bush.

On day two, we listened to Lew French a stone designer from Vineyard Haven, MA, talk about the different types of stone and its use in landscapes. He emphasized the importance of using stone in its most natural form. By avoiding changes to the stone's face and shape as much as possible you are able to create a more natural and organic look to the landscape. Each type of stone has its own unique properties and function. When designing with stone it is important to consider these unique characteristics.

Lastly, on Friday morning we attended the intriguing lecture given by Brook Klausing from Brook Landscape, Inc in New York City and Rebecca McMackin from the Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York.  Both spoke about the unique idea of outdoor rooms. They explained the purpose of an outdoor room is to bring people from the inside to the outside while remaining in a comfortable surrounding. Each room is designed and built with a specific purpose and function, whether it be entertaining, relaxing, cooking or playing. All outdoor rooms must create the "lure of a sheltered corner", by creating a feeling of sides, a roof and a view. Along with designing with a purpose, outdoor rooms should consist  of as many  native plants as possible in order to expand the ecosystem and to create a healthier environment.

New England Grows provided our team with refreshing ideas and a great opportunity for networking.

Welcome to our 3rd and final blog of the Landscape Problems & Solutions series!

Welcome back to our Problem & Solutions blog series!

Welcome to the new blog series- Landscape Problems & Solutions!

One of my favorite aspects of living in New England is being able to watch the seasons change and plants adapt with seasonal interest. Most plants have one or two seasons of which they bloom or have bright foliage, very few are considered all season interest plants. Evergreen shrubs are one of the few plants put into this category of having all season interest.

Winter sun, wind, and cold temperatures can damage bark, injure or kill branches, flower buds, and roots. Snow and ice can break branches and ruin entire trees. Winter food shortages force some rodents and deer to feed on bark, twigs, flower buds, and foliage, injuring and potentially killing trees and shrubs. All is not bleak, however, as landscape plants can be protected to minimize some of this injury.

It is officially fall in the garden- foliage, final blooms, exotic colors and exfoliating bark!

"Reading is good but the garden is the best teacher."
-Chistine Allison

October in the garden is one of my favorite times of year! Leaves are turning color, flowers are blooming, grass is green and the air is crisp!

Why does one need fall clean up services? This is a great question! Here is why Moodscapes feels it is very important to schedule a fall clean up as soon as the leaves fall.

We still have some time before the end of gardening season! Here are a few helpful tips to save money as you continue to garden until the end of the season.

1- Discounts! Many garden centers and nurseries have late summer discounts after the summer buying rush is over. It is important to remember though, you get what you pay for. Discounted plants tend to spend too much time on racks and end up in need of some extra attention. Try pinching back stems just above a set of leaves to encourage branching. Before planting, add compost or soil to enrich the soil. Late summer discounts are worth taking advantage of!

2- TLC! Buying new tools this late in the season is not the best use of money. Give your old tools a little extra TLC as the season comes to an end. Better Homes & Gardens has a great resource for turning worn out tools into great workers again. Check out www.BHG.com/toolcare for more information!

3- New Flowers! An easy way to change up your garden or to fill in gaps in your garden is to let flowers that sow their own seeds grow where ever the wind takes them! Plants like black-eyed Susan, hollyhock, and alyssum can grow where they blow. By delaying the deadheading process, flowers have an easier time spreading.

Use these few tips to help save you money and get the most out of this garden season!

Before you start digging up your yard to plant a garden or add a few new shrubs, plans should be made to make the most of your garden layout. The first thing to understand is the sun and shade exposure throughout your yard. This week I am going to focus on one specific plant that thrives when correctly placed.

5 Quick Tips for Selecting Plants for Your Yard!

Daphne Carol Mackie- Daphne burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'

Choosing the right type of patio material is the hardest part of designing or redesigning a patio. Here is a quick summary of the most commonly used material for patio design and installation.

Outdoor Patio Materials can be divided into 4 basic categories:

1-Brick: best used in locations with some sunlight, it can become moss-covered if there is not enough sun; shades of red and brown make up a variety of brick color. Learn about the cost of a brick patio here.

2-Concrete Pavers: many variations in color, shape, and texture; moderately priced; add long-lasting value to a home with durability and easy maintenance. Learn about the cost of paver patio here.

The most basic principles of garden design include simplicity, rhythm and line, proportion, balance, and focal points. Every gardener should follow these principles in order to achieve a garden space that is aesthetically pleasing and an enjoyable outdoor space.

1. Simplicity- This refers to a design that has a simple theme with just enough colors and elements to achieve an aesthetically pleasing garden. A simple design is found by using basic garden bed lines and curves.

Do you see the plants, tress, shrubs, and lawn struggling to grow in your yard and wonder how to fix it? Can they even be fixed? What about the site conditions...poor water drainage, too much sun or shade? So many things to think about! That is exactly why you should hire a landscape designer. Some battles are worth fighting, but this time, let the professionals fight your landscape war.

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Landscape Designer:

Think Green!

How much to water does my lawn need?

What kind of fertilizer should I use?

These are common questions that we hear in the landscape design industry. We believe it is important to always THINK GREEN when answering such questions so here are our Green Environmental Tips for your common questions!

A landscape that is well designed and installed will increase curb appeal which can also increase property value.

If you are planning on selling your house this year or the next, landscaping is one of the most essential and rewarding things you can do to prepare for the prime selling season.

A Clemson University study found landscaping can result in more than 100% return on investment. The return on investment is contingent upon the quality of the landscape design and installation project and company. According to Clemson Professor, Mark Henry, "There are few guidelines available to homeowners on the return of investment in sales that could be expected from added investments in landscaping".

February is half way over!! This means its time to start looking for  early signs of spring! There is nothing I love more than looking out from my home office window and seeing a glimmer of hope for warm weather radiating out of the snow covered garden. The following are just a few examples of plants that start budding in the early spring! Keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful buds as they start appearing.

Moodscapes attended the annual New England Grows Convention, the largest green industry conference in the Northeast. As always the convention brings together designers, specialists, practitioners, and contractors from all areas of the landscape industry ranging from hardscape and landscape supplies to lawn products, nurseries and professional organizations.

In 2005, Boston Magazine's Home & Garden section featured Moodscapes in their "Water in the Woods" article, as a landscape design company in Massachusetts with the ability to create a woodland garden design from a woodsy, sloped yard.

Do the deer dare? YES!

Many professional landscape designers have problems finding deer resistant plants for clients- for the simple fact that there are none. The only way for a plant to become deer resistant is if the deer themselves choose not to eat it.

A perfect example is the Acer palmatum senkaki, also know as the Coral Bark Maple, 'Sango-Kaku'.

Our foreman Jesse Golden went out to Sharon, Mass today to take a picture of this plant that is commonly known for being "deer resistant" with its newly engraved deer markings.

Landscape designer Judith Lipson- Rubin shares some of her winter interest plants with us. Judith has been a landscape designer in MA since 1997 and is the owner of Moodscapes, a landscape design company in Arlington, MA.

Weston Nurseries of Hopkinton posted this new plant on their website.

Here are some great winter interest plants I found in my own yard.

As the fresh snow accumulates inch by inch, and school is canceled, and work is graciously closed, and we are left to enjoy the serenity of a cup of hot cocoa in front of the fireplace, take a stroll outside when the blizzard finally subsides and check out the beauty that now surrounds us!

Over the years, many close friends, colleagues, and clients have asked me, "Why Moodscapes?" I put together this brief explanation for our followers and hope everyone enjoys getting to know me better through this article.

Don't know what to give your spouse or loved one?

Want a new landscape design? Asking the right questions about your yard and personal preferences will start you off on the right foot.

Here are 10 guiding questions to think about during a landscape design consultation:

Everyone has questions! Read through this article for our most commonly asked questions and if you still have more check out our website or send us an email! Don't be shy!!