Many people choose annuals when they are looking for color in their gardens. Annuals are plants that grow from seed to plant, bloom, produce seed and then complete their life cycle in one season. It also means the plants that are grown only in one season. The main reason why annuals are preferred is that […]

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There are a number of plant materials that can be use for hedges here in Minnesota. Before deciding which plant is right for your project you first need to understand the conditions that exist where you would like to plant your hedge. What are the light and soil conditions? Does this area drain well, or […]

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One of many topics to consider when planning and building your Japanese garden is the use of hedges. Hedges are used in the United States for the same reasons there are used in Japan. They are predominantly used for screening, defining spaces and directing traffic flow. In Japan hedges, fences and walls are often used […]

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When specifying plant materials for stepping stone, or tobishi, pathways in Japanese gardens it is important to consider the size of the stone. A larger stone will allow for a taller groundcover, say one that grows about 5-8 inches, while smaller stones require a shorter plant selection of not more than 4 inches tall. Planting […]

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The open arbor design we created for this project in Deephaven, Minnesota provided space for climbing hydrangea, which we planted at the base of all but two of the posts. Climbing hydrangea can be planted in zones 4-8 and are a self climbing woody vines that do not need any supports to grow upwards. They […]

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If you are interested in Japanese gardens you should know that the most common plant shape found in Japanese gardens is the tamamono, or “dome” shape. It is the easiest and and perhaps the least expensive way to add more Japanese style pruning to your garden. When visiting a Japanese garden you will see this […]

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The Monet garden is one of the outdoor rooms within the total landscape design build project. Located along the side of the barn and visible from the home’s front entry boardwalk and the adjacent dining room, the garden is a show of color throughout the growing season […]

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