Blog: Southern Landscape Trends & Tips
Welcome! Read our articles that answer FAQ’s about landscape design and offer recommendations on yard care & plants for your Southern home.
Although our branches are located in Georgia & Alabama, we hope our articles provide information & ideas for landscaping in any region. Check back often for new information about the latest landscaping trends, seasonal tips, advice and education to keep your yard looking its best!
Recent blog posts:
What Happens During the First Meeting with a Landscape Architect
Your first meeting with a landscape architect is a focused, two-way conversation designed to align your vision with the realities of your property. It's not about walking away with a finished blueprint-it's about establishing goals, assessing your site, discussing...
How Poor Drainage Can Quietly Damage Your Landscape and Foundation
Most homeowners don't realize their property is under attack until the damage is already expensive. A hairline crack in the basement wall, a patio that's slowly tilting, plants yellowing for no apparent reason-these are all symptoms of the same quiet problem....
Why Some Outdoor Living Projects Stay on Budget While Others Don’t
Every homeowner who invests in outdoor living spaces wants to know exactly what the project is going to cost - and wants that number to hold. Yet across the construction industry, over 60% of projects exceed their original budget, with average cost overruns landing...
What to Expect When Hiring a Professional Landscaping Company
Hiring a professional landscaping company is one of the most impactful investments you can make in your property, but for most homeowners, the process itself feels unfamiliar. What does the timeline actually look like? How much should you budget? What deliverables...
Landscape Architect vs Landscape Designer: What’s the Difference?
If you’re planning an outdoor transformation, you’ve probably encountered two professional titles that sound almost interchangeable: landscape architect and landscape designer. Understanding the main difference between these two professions can save you thousands of...
Smart Solutions for Dealing with Poor Drainage in Your Yard
You’ve invested thousands into your backyard patio, planted new beds, and planned a weekend gathering, only to wake up after a Thursday night storm and find standing water pooling across your yard and creeping toward your home’s foundation. If this sounds familiar,...
What Happened When a Homeowner Didn’t Know Where to Begin With Their Backyard
Many homeowners dream about having a beautiful backyard, but feel overwhelmed when it comes time to make decisions. They know the space has potential, yet they are unsure what to prioritize, how to create a cohesive design, or where even to begin. This situation is...
The Role of Lighting in Modern Pool Landscaping
When the sun sets over your backyard pool, the right lighting makes all the difference between a dark, underutilized space and a breathtaking nighttime oasis. The role of lighting in modern pool landscaping extends far beyond simple illumination; it transforms your...
How Can You Blend Hardscape and Softscape in Landscape Design?
The most beautiful outdoor spaces share one defining characteristic: you cannot tell where the stonework ends and the garden begins. This seamless integration of structure and living elements transforms ordinary yards into resort-level retreats. Understanding how can...
How This Family Transformed Their Wooded Backyard Into a Functional Outdoor Living Space
A wooded backyard often feels like a hidden opportunity, full of natural beauty, but not always easy to use. Uneven terrain, drainage concerns, dense plant growth, and unclear design possibilities can make homeowners unsure where to begin. While the vision of a...
Common Pool Design Mistakes Alpharetta Homeowners Make and How to Avoid Them
Building a swimming pool in Alpharetta represents one of the most significant investments homeowners make to completely transform their outdoor space, yet countless homeowners discover expensive mistakes only after construction is complete. The combination of North...
The Benefits of Hiring a Landscape Architect for Your Atlanta Home
Atlanta homeowners face a unique challenge: creating stunning outdoor spaces in a climate that swings from sweltering 90°F summers to occasional winter freezes, all while dealing with notoriously difficult red Piedmont clay soil that drains poorly and compacts easily....
Your Complete Guide to Landscape Design
A thoughtfully designed landscape does more than enhance curb appeal; it transforms how you experience your home while adding long-term value. Whether you’re envisioning a structured garden, a seamless outdoor living space, or a design that complements your home’s...
What Are the Benefits of Artificial Turf? A Complete Guide
Artificial turf has emerged as a smart solution for achieving a consistently polished landscape without the ongoing demands of traditional grass. For homeowners investing in premium outdoor living spaces, artificial turf offers a compelling alternative that delivers...
What Questions To Ask Before Hiring a Landscaping Company in Alpharetta
Choosing the right landscaping company is a critical step in transforming your outdoor space into something functional, beautiful, and built to last. With so many options available, knowing what questions to ask can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure you...
Different Types of Landscaping
Creating an exceptional outdoor space starts with understanding the different types of landscaping and how each style shapes both the look and function of your property. From timeless formal gardens to relaxed naturalistic designs and modern outdoor living spaces,...
How Long Does Artificial Turf Last in North Central Georgia’s Climate?
Homeowners throughout North Central Georgia, from Athens to Gainesville and across the surrounding Piedmont, frequently ask one critical question before investing in their outdoor spaces: how long does artificial turf last in North Central Georgia’s climate? The short...
What to Consider When Buying Artificial Turf in Atlanta for Kids and Pets
Atlanta families know the frustration well: heavy clay soil that turns into a muddy mess after rainstorms, traditional grass that browns and dies under scorching summer sun, and yards that require constant attention yet still fail to hold up to active kids and...
Understanding the Pool Construction Timeline: Start to Finish
Building a custom pool is an exciting investment, but the process involves much more than excavation and installation alone. From design and permitting to construction coordination and surrounding landscape work, each phase plays an important role in shaping the final...
Best Backyard Pool Designers in Alpharetta, GA
Creating a beautiful backyard pool requires more than just construction—it takes thoughtful planning, creative design, and the expertise of professionals who understand how to transform outdoor spaces into relaxing retreats. In Alpharetta, GA, homeowners have access...
Reasons Why Landscape Architecture Is Important
Landscape architecture plays a vital role in shaping how outdoor spaces look, function, and support everyday living. More than simple yard improvements, it combines design, engineering, and environmental planning to create outdoor environments that are both beautiful...
Does Landscaping Increase Home Value?
Landscaping can do far more than enhance the look of your property—it can directly influence how buyers perceive your home and what they are willing to pay for it. From front yard curb appeal to functional outdoor living spaces, the right improvements can create both...
Spring Landscape Planning: Top 3 Maintenance Tips for the Alpharetta & Atlanta Areas
As winter begins to recede and warmer weather moves in, spring is the ideal time to prepare your landscape for a healthy, beautiful, and enjoyable season ahead. A thoughtful approach now will ensure your property looks its best as we move into late spring and the...
Using Backyard Plants as Holiday Decorations
Before you make an arrangement with branches and holiday plants, Make sure they are not potentially harmful to pets or people During the holidays, using plants and trees from our backyards in our holiday décor can be fun, easy, and cost-effective. We...
Fall and Winter Backyard Entertainment & Gift Ideas
Wherever you are with your backyard landscape project, small investments can help turn your yard or patio into the best entertainment spot in the neighborhood. These additions to your backyard – or even your front yard - will keep the fun flowing for outdoor...
Fall in the South – tips to keep a front yard beautiful until Spring
Sometimes it takes a little longer to feel the crisp fall air or to see the leaves turn when you live in Southern states, but when it happens, it doesn’t mean your front yard has to “fall” to the wayside. Here are a few of the ways we work with our clients to...
Client Review Confirms a Thoughtful Landscape Design is Key to Success
We have written several articles about why choosing a landscape design/build firm with a landscape architect or the right landscape design company helps to ensure a good outcome for your landscaping project. A recent Google client review prompted us to share the...
Landscape Ideas to Combat Summer Heat in the South
Our Atlanta area clients have asked us how to use landscaping to help cool down as the summer temperatures rise. Our landscape designers have compiled a list of the “beat the heat” landscape ideas, techniques, & strategies they are adding to their client’s...
Should I Hire a Landscape Architect to Design My Pool?
Are ready to take the leap to upgrade your back yard with a pool? If so, you may be wondering if you need to hire a landscape architect for your pool design or if all you need is a pool company. You are not alone in asking this question. As a matter of...
Shrubs we Love for Georgia & Southern Landscapes
After our recent articles, the first covering thebest trees to plant in Georgia, and the second listing our favorite flowers & plants for Atlanta, we were asked to share our choices of the best shrubs and bushes for Georgia and other states in the South. We...
Landscape design for your backyard resort – Should you do it yourself?
Undertaking a backyard landscaping project can be challenging. A full backyard makeover is a big job, made even more complex when planning a resort-style yard with a pool. Be prepared to manage and schedule each contractor - from the landscape architect and pool...
Our Top 8 Plants & Flowers for Spring Planting in the Atlanta Area
A telltale indication Spring planting time has arrived is when you see the parking lots overflowing at Atlanta plant nurseries.... Proof that you don’t have to be a landscape design expert to create an eye-catching garden! To lend a hand, we’ve asked our landscape...
Find the Best Landscape Design Company in Alpharetta / Atlanta areas
Finding a great landscape architect or landscape design company near you can be challenging. In this article, we’ll review 7 key factors to consider to find the best landscape design-build firm in any area, inside or outside the North Atlanta “triangle”. #1...
Which trees are the best to plant in Georgia? Our Top 8 Trees:
Our top trees to plant in Georgia: Hardwoods: “Sangria” Nutall Oaks and “Princeton” Elm. Evergreens: “Green Giant” Arborvitae, “Nellie R. Stevens” Holly, and “Carolina Sapphire” Cypress. Flowering trees: Saucer Magnolia. “Kousa” Dogwood, and Vitex or Chaste Tree.
Is it time to invest in landscape grading or lawn leveling?
Lately we have had several inquiries from Atlanta-area homeowners about landscape grading and drainage solutions. Since the South has had an abundance of rain lately, we decided to focus our latest article on the benefits of landscape grading for your...
How important is curb appeal and landscaping when selling a home?
It’s true, homebuyers are calling their real estate agents as 2024 is off to a great start for home sales. According to industry experts, so far this January mortgage rates are dropping and mortgage applications are rising. This means, if you are thinking of selling...
Hardscaping Ideas & Trends for Elevated Southern Landscape Design
In the South, we are lucky to be able to work on our landscape projects year-round, especially when the design is centered around key hardscape elements. Since there are very few days when weather prohibits hardscape installation here in Georgia & Alabama,...
I live in Atlanta, Georgia. What can I do to improve the appearance of my front yard landscaping during the winter when my grass is brown and dormant?
In Georgia and other Southern states where warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia are common, it's normal for the grass to go dormant and turn brown during the winter months. Even if your lawn isn’t the centerpiece of your front yard landscape design, there are...
Can I give someone a landscape gift for the holidays? You bet!
To us, the perfect outdoor holiday landscape gift is a fire pit. When the weather gets chilly, being able to bundle up and sit around a firepit making smores or having a glass of wine is truly a treat. If a fire pit doesn’t light you up, maybe a putting green,...
Do I need a Design Build Landscape Company? And..
What is the difference Between a Landscape Design Build Firm and a Landscape Maintenance Company? In this article, we are discussing the different types of landscape companies and when to choose a "design build" firm instead of a maintenance company and vice...
Living in the South, are there plants that will flower in the winter?
If you live in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and other Southern states where temperatures may dip below freezing in the winter months, it doesn’t mean you have to give up including flowering plants in your gardens. These states are mostly USDA zones 7b, 8a,...
Fall & Winter Landscaping Ideas for the Atlanta Area
Don't let the dormant front yards you see during the fall and winter months of Georgia fool you! Even though many types of grass used in and around Atlanta go dormant when it starts to get cold, it doesn’t mean you can't work on your outdoor living space! If you’re...