When it comes to choosing plants to compliment your outdoor spaces there are so many options (and opinions of others)!  The best way to narrow it down is first start with a question to yourself, what style am I trying to accomplish?  

Take into Consideration:

• Style of Architecture (Modern, Traditional, Cottage, Mid-Century, etc.)
• Surrounding Environment (Are there currently any existing plants or trees on the property that we can keep)
• Size & Space for Outdoor Entertaining (How big should the planting beds be around the new patio to accomplish your aesthetic)
• Natural Sunlight and Artificial Lighting at Night (What amount of sunlight that gets to those areas will dictate the type of plants you can install)

This project above is a great example of carving a patio out into an existing setting.  It feels very natural and non invasive with a variety of colorful perennials and shrubs.  Such as: Daylilies, Hydrangeas, Peonies, Evergreens.

This Minnetonka, MN home was in need of a gather space around a fire feature.  So we extended a bluestone patio off of the new deck structure and planted minimal plantings to complement the straight lines.  We planted Boxwoods in the raised planter, which will grow to a hedge and create additional privacy along the road for these homeowners.

Edina, MN minimalist design features low growing, aired feeling shrubs to complement the modern architecture of this home’s patio.  A variety of perennials we chosen such as Ninebark, Yew, and Catmint.

At this Medina, MN horse ranch we didn’t want to take away from the views of the rolling hills, so we chose Globe Arborvitae to provide patio and lawn separation, along with a beautiful Perennial garden in the distance for seasonal color.

This is more of a traditional cottage inspired design.  We choose to keep the theme by choosing Classic White Hydrangea Shrubs and lush grass up to the tree line.  The small stone retaining wall and stone fire feature design lends to a more classic European cottage feel.

This architecture is unique – it resembles an Asian Influenced Cottage on Lake Minnetonka.  It’s also interesting because the main entrance is on the side of the home.  We used a limestone paver to direct foot traffic to the entrance and then bluestone stepping patio to the lakeside.  We designed the plant material to tie it all together.  With the detailed architecture we didn’t want the plantings to overpower the space, but compliment it.  We used a variety of Hosta’s, Flowering Crab Trees, Boxwoods, and Pachysandra Groundcover to fill in around it all.

These clients in Edina, MN wanted their home to remain private from the street and it was completed in phases. The first phase was to build a berm with larger trees up near the home and the second phase was in between the neighbors house where we created a colorful perennial garden with Flower Crab trees.  Shasta Daisies (variety of colors), Hydrangea, Carl Forester Grasses, and Globe Arborvitae were some of the varieties we choose.

It’s fun when plant material becomes what accentuates and makes the architecture come even more alive, like in this project!  This is a new construction home with tall pointed peaks, so the designer mimicked the tall pointed feel with the Fir trees, which also soften and add texture to the front entrance.  For color and filler, the Hydrangea Bushes do that.  In the foreground are 2 Flowering Crab Trees to break up the expansive lawn and walkway.

This large retaining wall is having it’s moment!  Its beautiful how it blends into the stone on the home and we didn’t want to take any of that away.  So, we planted Purple Salvia for color and uniform.  We also added a few Flowering Crab Trees and Arborvitae.

This new construction stone home in Wayzata, MN was built with dry stacked entrance walls with a minimalistic feel.  Carl Forester Grasses, Birch Trees, Spirea Shrubs add a pop of pink color during the fall months.  We wanted it to feel non-invasive and accomplish a rustic aesthetic, and we did!

The sunken firepit and pathways set in the country near Prior Lake, MN required a rustic, natural feel.  So, that’s what we did!  We blended perennials that flow into each other and offer color through out the seasons with Hosta’s, Daylilies, Spiraeas, lots of Pachysandra and a variety of new and existing trees for coverage and texture blending it all together.

As you can see, we cover many different styles of plantings that complement architectural features, surround environments, existing conditions, and color for times of the year.  We have a variety of projects for you to view these different styles in our Gallery and Featured Projects.  Feel free to browse and contact us with any questions!