Landscape Articles | Flowers-Trees-Shrubs

Zach Rubin | April, 2025

How to Prepare Your Soil for Planting in Your Garden Borders

Does it seem like no matter how much you water or tend to your plants, they just won’t thrive? The culprit may be poor soil.

Zach Rubin | April, 2025

The Top Low-Maintenance Border Plants That Thrive in Massachusetts

Who doesn’t dream of a perfectly manicured garden with lush greenery and vibrant flowers lining her walkways — but between work, family, and life’s never-ending to-do list, who has time for constant upkeep? But there’s ...

Zach Rubin | April, 2025

Pollinator-Friendly Plants for a Vibrant Massachusetts Garden

You love the idea of watching butterflies flutter through the garden and listening to the buzz of bees, but you have one problem — you’re not sure which flowers and plants will keep these pollinators coming back to your ...

Zach Rubin | March, 2025

Think Sustainable Landscaping Is Too Expensive? Here's How It Saves You Money Over Time

Think sustainable, eco-friendly landscaping will be a major hit to your wallet? While it’s true that switching to organic landscaping methods might seem pricey at first, the long-term savings will have both your wallet ...

Zach Rubin | March, 2025

Environmentally-Friendly Landscaping Maintenance Through the Seasons: A Complete Guide

Imagine stepping outside and being greeted by a lush, vibrant landscape that flourishes in every season — all without relying on harmful chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides or wasteful practices.

Zach Rubin | March, 2025

Winter Pruning: Preparing Your Massachusetts Garden for Spring Growth

Winter might seem like a quiet time in the garden, but it’s actually one of the important seasons for maintaining plants and flowers in your landscape.

Zach Rubin | February, 2025

Year-Round Color: The Best Border Plants for Every Season in Massachusetts

With the proper landscape design, there’s no reason your yard can’t display eye-catching color throughout all four seasons, even in a changing climate like Massachusetts.

best time to prune flowers and trees in massachusetts

Zach Rubin | February, 2025

The Best Time to Prune Your Favorite Flowers and Trees in Massachusetts

A well-timed pruning session can make all the difference between a garden that thrives and one that struggles. Cutting back trees, shrubs and flowers at the right moment encourages stronger growth, healthier blooms and ...

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Zach Rubin | February, 2025

Low-Allergen Landscaping: Organic Solutions for an Allergy-Friendly Yard

For many allergy sufferers, spending time in their own backyard can become a struggle rather than a source of enjoyment. High pollen counts, mold and even the wrong choice of plants can trigger sneezing, sinus ...

Zach Rubin | January, 2025

Why Winter Is an Excellent Time for Designing a Landscape Plan

When you’re in the middle of the freezing temperatures, biting winds and piling snow of a New England winter, spring landscaping may seem very far away. However, the winter months are actually an optimal time to begin ...

Zach Rubin | December, 2024

Wrapping Trees for Winter: Why It's So Important

When the last of the leaves have been raked, the lawn aerated, and the final layer of mulch laid, many homeowners consider their late fall landscape tasks complete.

striking winter landscaping ideas

Zach Rubin | December, 2024

Striking Winter Landscaping Ideas That Catch the Eye Even in Cold Weather

When winter arrives and blankets everything in frost and snow, it’s easy to think of your garden as going dormant. But who says your yard has to hibernate all season? With a little creativity and our landscaping ...

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Zach Rubin | December, 2024

7 Festive Christmas Plants (That Aren’t a Poinsettia)

Bright red poinsettias may be the iconic plant of the holiday season, but they’re far from the only option that can bring festive cheer to your home this season. If you’re ready to branch out from the poinsettia plant ...

preparing your landscape for winter

Zach Rubin | November, 2024

Preparing Your Landscape for Winter: 6 Crucial Tasks Many Homeowners Overlook

Many homeowners schedule their fall yard clean up and consider their lawn care needs met until spring. But end-of-season maintenance shouldn’t stop with the collection of fallen leaves.

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Zach Rubin | November, 2024

7 Fast-Growing Trees for Privacy in Massachusetts

Privacy trees can help your landscape feel complete, and create a peaceful sense of solitude in even the most densely-settled neighborhoods. There are several excellent options for fast-growing privacy trees for ...

Zach Rubin | October, 2024

7 Must-Do Landscape Tasks to Add to Your Fall Yard Cleanup Checklist

Fall is firmly upon us, which means you may have already completed some essential landscape tasks, such as storing your garden hose, cleaning out your gutters and winterizing yourirrigation systems. However, there’s ...

Zach Rubin | September, 2024

The Best Full-Sun Perennials That Thrive in Massachusetts Home Landscapes

If you have sunny spots in your yard that are in need of some attention, consider using the space to plant a gorgeous new perennial garden. Sun-loving perennials return year after year, and can add low-maintenance ...

Zach Rubin | September, 2024

Shade Plants: How to Beautify a Not-So-Sunny Landscape

If you’re a homeowner who has been discouraged about gardening because your property is partially or even totally shaded, take heart. Gardening in shady areas is not only possible, it is also can be very rewarding — if ...

Zach Rubin | September, 2024

Planting Ornamental Grasses in the Fall for Year-Round Interest

One of our favorite things about landscape design is the amount of personal expression it allows. Most people associate landscape with flowers and shrubs, but there are many different styles of plants that can thrive in ...

Zach Rubin | September, 2024

Evergreens in Landscaping: The Secret to Visual Interest in the Fall

Now that cooler weather is upon us, you may be looking to spruce up your landscape during the favorable planting temperatures. While on the hunt for new foliage to add to your yard, consider diversifying the types of ...

Zach Rubin | August, 2024

What to Plant in Fall: The Best Options for Massachusetts Landscapes

Summertime passes by quickly, but that doesn’t mean that you’re out of time to garden this year. On the contrary, now is the perfect planting time for a fall garden.

Zach Rubin | August, 2024

Fall Landscaping to Extend Your Fall Bloom Time for an Attractive Yard

Now is the time of year when cold weather approaches and spring blooms are mostly gone. But just because it’s not the beginning of the season doesn’t mean you have no interest in your yard to look forward to. With some ...

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Zach Rubin | August, 2024

The Top Tips for Planning a Water-Wise Landscape

For an environmentally conscious gardener, managing your garden during a drought is a constant battle between needing to conserve water and keeping your parched plants alive. Drought is often paired with heat waves, ...

Zach Rubin | June, 2024

Creative Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas to Simplify Your Life

This time of year, many of us drag out our hoses and sprinklers in an effort to keep our lawns lush and inviting, only to find ourselves mowing down the fresh growth a few days later.

getting acquainted with native bees in massachusetts

Judith Lipson- Rubin | June, 2023

Getting Acquainted with Native Bees

“Save the bees” is a phrase that has been repeated endlessly over the last couple of decades. We know how important it is to support our pollinator population, and have learned many ways to care for bees as they do ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | May, 2022

Shade gardening design ideas that bring the WOW to your landscape

If you’re a homeowner who has been discouraged about gardening because your property is partially or even totally shaded, take heart. Gardening in shady areas is not only possible, it also can be very rewarding – if you ...

foundation plants

Judith Lipson- Rubin | September, 2020

How to Pick the Best Foundation Plants for Great Curb Appeal

Nothing improves the beauty of a yard and the curb appeal of a home more than the right plantings. Color, texture, size, and shape combine to create a unique and attractive environment that adds value as well as beauty ...

landscaping bloom time massachusetts

Judith Lipson- Rubin | July, 2019

3 Rules for Beautiful Landscape Blooms All Year Long

While we may be firmly in summer’s grasp here in Massachusetts, as locals know, this weather won’t last forever. Although we are now seeing more extended runs of high temperature thanks to climate change, our area has ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | June, 2019

Common Pruning Mistakes & How to Fix Them

With the warmer weather of summer now here to stay in Massachusetts, homeowners will soon start seeing sprouts and seedlings from their early season plantings, if they haven’t already. As your yard grows, it’s important ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | May, 2019

The Top 3 Summer Flowers to Beautify Your Landscape

After battling the forces of winter into the early part of May, it appears to finally be time for consistent warm weather here in Massachusetts! We’ve been dealing with the cold longer than normal this year, which can ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | October, 2018

Choosing Hardy Biennials for Your Yard in Massachusetts

As the name suggests, biennials are plants that take at least two years to go through their entire lifecycle. With multicolor bloom phases and interesting shapes, these plants make an ideal addition to any yard. Some of ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | October, 2018

Planting Grasses in the Fall for Year-Round Interest

One of our favorite things about landscape design is the amount of personal expression it allows. Most people associate landscape with flowers and shrubs, but there are many different styles of plants that can thrive in ...

Judith Lipson- Rubin | August, 2018

Best Fall Colors in New England

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 ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | July, 2018

Seasonal Planting for Year-Round Beauty and Environmental Support

Homeowners often place lots of emphasis on creating a garden with beautiful flowers and shrubs that bloom majestically in the spring season. Unfortunately, focusing on beauty for a single season can leave your yard ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | June, 2018

Getting Ready for Spring- Tips for Your Garden and Yard

Spring Is On Its Way! Here are few suggestions for getting your garden and yard ready for the warm weather and green grass.

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | March, 2018

They're Not Just for Beauty: Tips for Coordinating Bloom Times in Your Garden

The timing of your garden is much more complex than simply thinking about planting, growing, and harvesting seasons. You must also think about the lifecycle of the plants in your yard. With a bit of planning and ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | March, 2018

5 Excellent Plants for Your Natural Contemplative Garden

One of the best things about the outdoors is its ability to rejuvenate the human spirit. After a tough day at work or a difficult experience with a friend or family member, it’s nice to be able to get home to a tranquil ...

prune small trees during winter

Judith Lipson- Rubin | February, 2018

4 Tips to Prepare Your Yard for Warmer Weather (While It's Still Cold)

4 Tips to Prepare Your Garden for Warmer Weather Think you can’t garden just because it’s cold outside? Think again! While you may not be able to put in the long, peaceful afternoons in the yard like you can in the ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | October, 2017

Make Time to Stop and Smell the Flowers: 8 Plants and Shrubs with Relaxing Scents

Picking the right plants for your gardens not only makes your landscaping look beautiful, they can add pleasurable, relaxing scents. Choosing flower smells you enjoy is important because they can have a positive effect ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | September, 2017

Top 4 Landscaping Tips for the Ever-Changing New England Climate

Creating vivacious landscape designs can be challenging, given New England’s intense four seasons. Massachusetts weather ranges from bitterly cold nights in the middle of winter to hot and humid summer days. This ...

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Judith Lipson- Rubin | August, 2017

Little Known Ways to Select Foundation Plantings You Will Love

Picking out the right permanent plants will give your landscapes great color throughout the year. They will complement your house and the flowers you chose for the rest of your garden. That’s why many considerations ...

Judith Lipson- Rubin | March, 2017

Native Perennials for Eastern Massachusetts

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 ...

Judith Lipson- Rubin | November, 2016

Low Maintenance Gardens for Eastern Massachusetts

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:

Judith Lipson- Rubin | January, 2016

Perennials to Plant in Eastern Massachusetts

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 ...

Judith Lipson- Rubin | September, 2015

What Are the Best Plants for Shade Gardens?

Are You Growing Plants in the Shade?

Judith Lipson- Rubin | March, 2014

Companion Planting with New England Native Plants

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 ...

Anne Marie DiMatteo | June, 2013

Privacy Landscape Design in Jamaica Plain, MA

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

Anne Marie DiMatteo | June, 2013

Colorful Garden Landscape Designs

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 ...

Anne Marie DiMatteo | April, 2013

Is a shade garden design best for you?

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, ...

Anne Marie DiMatteo | October, 2012

Front Entry Walkway in Watertown Massachusetts

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 ...

Fothergilla Gardenii

Judith Lipson- Rubin | August, 2012

Another fragrant shrub- the Fothergilla plant

Add an early bloomer to your yard for next spring!

Sango Kaku Japanese Maple

Judith Lipson- Rubin | August, 2012

Ornamental Japanese Maple Tree for Your Garden

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 ...

Anne Marie DiMatteo | July, 2012

Shade Border Plants- Japanese Spurge

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 ...

Bigleaf Hydrangea

Judith Lipson- Rubin | July, 2012

Red, White & Blue Hydrangeas

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 ...

Jesse Golden | January, 2012

Foreman's Favorite- Dwarf Hinoki Cypress

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 ...

Anne Marie DiMatteo | December, 2011

The Importance of Wrapping Plants for Winter

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 ...

Anne Marie DiMatteo | June, 2011

A Moodscapes Favorite: Daphne Carol Mackie Shrub

Daphne Carol Mackie- Daphne burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'

Judith Lipson- Rubin | February, 2011

Look for the Early Signs of Spring in New England

February is halfway over!! This means it's 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 ...