When you look at your home’s landscape, do you like what you see? Are you among the homeowners living in the Philadelphia Main Line suburbs whose garden does not live up to your dreams?

At Hanselman Landscape, we specialize in bringing renewed life to landscapes like yours, as we provide the service of landscape design in Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania, in addition to installation and ongoing garden-care services.

Your can have the garden you want—one that can be enjoyed for generations—often without having to start from scratch. We will work with you to take what your current landscape offers and turn it into a cohesive composition that is beautiful, orderly, and refreshing.

Our landscape improvement process
At Hanselman Landscape, our partnership with you begins by understanding your existing landscape and how it compares to the garden you imagine. We take the time to exchange ideas with you and seek joint inspiration as we plan landscape improvements that complement your home, your neighborhood, and your unique taste.

Often, the first and most important thing a landscape needs is ongoing maintenance from skilled gardeners. Although you may have lost hope that your garden can be restored, our expertise and experience in developing plants and landscapes may tell us otherwise. Under our stewardship, existing plants that may be unhealthy now can become beautiful again. With proper care, we can often rejuvenate failing plantings, incorporating them into a garden that will grow in health and beauty.

Landscape makeovers
In many cases, a landscape makeover is necessary because plants were improperly selected for your environment and site. Landscape improvements begin with diagnosing and resolving problems with your existing garden.

Because Hanselman Landscape’s expertise lies in the creation and nurturing of gardens for lasting health and beauty, you can be sure we will plan and plant thoughtfully, taking into account the climate, environmental conditions, insect, and deer issues, of the Philadelphia area. Your garden’s future health and success will guide every aspect of our design, plant selection, and installation process, helping you avoid major issues in the future. We will also recommend and provide expert care for your new or existing plants.

We’ve determined, over the years, a selection of valuable plants that deer won’t eat, and work well in the Philadelphia area— these plants can be among the most beautiful in any garden.

Our expertise in planning and proper ongoing garden maintenance will help avoid major issues with in the future.

The Hanselman Landscape staff continually receives training in proven Japanese pruning and care techniques. Learning from the best garden builders in the world has refined our approach to garden design and inspires us to produce gardens that delight our clients and respect the natural environment.

Other landscape improvement ideas:

• Lighting— Thoughtful lighting placement evokes drama, elegance, and a unique ambiance in your garden as daylight wanes.
• Water features— Crafted to fit naturally in the garden, a water feature can inspire tranquility and refreshment.
• Garden care— Regular, expert pruning assures steady plant development and health as your garden evolves, allowing your investment to grow in beauty and value.
• Drip irrigation— Save time, water, plants, and money (in the long run) by adding an irrigation system. These systems are convenient and can be customized to your schedule, water requirements, and soil conditions.

Developing a garden can be a fun and rewarding process. Many people seek a professional to help them turn their garden dreams into reality. In this way, costly mistakes are avoided and the learning curve is shortened. Most importantly, since plants take time to grow to a pleasing maturity, starting right can save years of frustration.

At Hanselman Landscape, we have found that clients most enjoy the garden building process when they are fully engaged as partners. Here are several recommendations to consider when hiring a garden designer.

1. Develop your garden vision

Find a source of inspiration, think about your goals, and be ready to communicate them. At this point, it is more important to understand your hopes and motivations than to worry about the details or logistics.

You should also begin to develop a budget, so that you can have a realistic conversation about costs with your designer. Realize that a garden landscape is not a one-time expense, but rather an ongoing and rewarding investment. An experienced designer understands the importance of regular garden maintenance, and can discuss ongoing costs for the garden they propose. To stretch budgets, most people choose to develop their garden in phases.

2. Decide between “design-build” and “design-only” methods

“Design-build” firms integrate design, construction, and maintenance services. “Design-only” means an individual or company provides consultation and design, while the installation is done by another firm.

Consider the integrity and ability of the landscape designer, as well as the experience and skill of the installation company. A risk with “design-build” is that the designer might lower expectations in the design stage in order to “win the bid” and ensure feasibility when the time comes to build. A risk with “design-only” is that practicality might be a problem when the design is implemented by another contractor. This can lead to fingers pointing both ways, with alternate parties blaming failures on “poor design” or “poor installation.”

We typically work in a “design-build” capacity. Because our team stands behind the entire process, we can ensure a high level of quality for our clients.

3. Interview the prospective design partner

Stellar references are the hallmark of a trusted designer. In addition, ask to see examples of projects completed in the past. If you have time, in-person visits are best, but you can learn from a series of photos as well. Look specifically for gardens that have matured over the years. Are the plants maturing beautifully, showing good selection and careful tending? What is the condition of the hardscape surfaces, such as pavers, stones, and bricks? Consider it a red flag if you are only shown examples of newly-installed gardens or referred to only recent clients.

4. Evaluate the designer’s perspective

An experienced garden designer should be able to competently “listen” to the site. In other words, a good designer will thoughtfully and skillfully consider several parameters: the natural state and boundaries of the site, the norms of the surrounding community, the aesthetics of your home’s design, your preferences and dreams, and your budget.

Look to your designer to answer the following questions in a way that makes sense to you:

• How will this landscape design look from inside the house (through a window vs. from the street)?
• Will your garden be viewed as you “walk-through” or as a “picture” from one setting?
• Will the structures and spaces be the right size and type for your needs?
• How will rainwater move through the garden and keep your home dry?
• What will this garden look like in 10 years or more? Will it keep its value and beauty?
• How will the landscape appear in each season?
• What are the costs involved and how can they be managed over time?