Landscape Design Services in Milwaukee

How to Add Edible Plants and Trees to Your Landscape

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Incorporating edible plants and trees into your landscape is a great way to not only enhance the beauty of your outdoor space but also provide you with fresh, organic produce right from your own backyard. Whether you have a large yard or a small balcony, there are many different types of edible plants and trees that can thrive in a variety of settings. Here are some tips and ideas to get started with incorporating edible plants and trees into your landscape.

Plan Your Space

Before you start any kind of planting, it’s important to assess your space and determine which types of plants will work best. Decide which areas of your yard you want to dedicate to edible plants and trees. Consider the amount of sunlight each area receives and choose plants that will thrive in those conditions. Make sure to leave enough space between plants for them to grow and spread out.

If you have a large yard, you may want to consider planting fruit trees such as apple, pear, peach, and cherry. These trees can serve the dual purpose of providing delicious fruit, but also add shade and beauty to your landscape. If you have limited space, you may want to consider growing herbs and vegetables in containers. This puts fresh herbs and vegetables at your fingertips, even if you don’t have a large yard. Some great herbs to grow in containers include basil, thyme, oregano, and parsley. Vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers can also be grown in containers with proper care.

Choose the Right Plants

tomato

When choosing edible plants and trees, it’s important to consider your climate and the type of soil you have. Some plants thrive in cooler climates, while others do better in warmer weather. Make sure to choose plants that are well-suited to your area. Some examples of edible plants and trees include tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, apple trees, and pear trees.

Consider Aesthetic Appeal

Incorporating edible plants and trees into your landscape doesn’t mean sacrificing aesthetic appeal. There are many edible plants and trees that are not only delicious but also beautiful. For example, lavender is a popular herb that not only smells great but also adds a lovely pop of purple to your garden. Other edible flowers like marigolds, nasturtiums, and pansies can also add a colorful touch.

Think About Seasonal Harvests

When planning your edible landscape, think about the timing of when your plants will be ready to harvest. Planting a mix of edible plants that mature at different times can help ensure a consistent harvest throughout the growing season. For example, planting early-maturing plants like lettuce and radishes alongside later-maturing plants like tomatoes and peppers can help ensure that you have fresh produce throughout the summer.

Include Edible Shrubs

Shrubs, like blueberry bushes and raspberry canes, are a great addition to any edible landscape. These plants are relatively low-maintenance and can be grown in containers or in the ground. They also provide a delicious and healthy snack for you and your family! When choosing edible shrubs, make sure to consider their size at maturity and select a variety that is well-suited to our Wisconsin climate.

Create a Garden Bed Dedicated to Edible Plants

Creating a dedicated garden bed for your edible plants and trees can help keep them organized and easy to maintain. Raised garden beds are a great option because they provide good drainage and can help keep weeds and pests at bay. When creating your garden bed, make sure to use good-quality soil and consider adding a layer of mulch to help retain moisture.

Pro Tip! Many pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies can damage or kill your edible plants. However, there are many natural pest control methods that can be used to keep your edible plants healthy. For example, ladybugs and praying mantises are natural predators of many garden pests and can be purchased and released in your yard. Additionally, companion planting, which involves planting certain plants together that complement each other and repel pests, can also be effective in controlling pests.

Establishing edible plants and trees in your landscape is a great way to create a beautiful, functional outdoor space. By selecting the right plants, providing proper care, and utilizing natural pest control methods, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest and a beautiful landscape.

Let our experts guide you in assessing your space and choosing the perfect edible trees, shrubs, and plants to incorporate into your landscape. Contact us today!

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How to Achieve an Alpine Landscaping Style

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The Alpine Landscaping Style was originally inspired by the mountainous vistas of the European Alps. In the United States, we tend to think of areas that are characterized by sloped terrain, rocky landscapes and dry, well-drained soil. People who live in these areas appreciate the outdoors and prioritize developing spaces for outdoor living. In some ways, the Alpine Landscaping Style overlaps with the Rustic Landscaping Style simply because of our local geography.

Alpine Landscaping Style

Alpine settlers developed their landscapes using the natural features and products available to them. They were surrounded by rock formations, wooded hillsides, tumbling terrain. Bringing this to the modern landscape involves using natural stone materials for paving and walls. Wooden chairs, benches, and structures are used to complete the look.

Alpine Landscaping Style Plantings

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  • Specialty Evergreens
  • Poplars/Aspens/Birch
  • Native shrubs
  • Native perennials

Hardscapes and Elements in the Alpine Landscaping Style

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Alpine Landscaping Style
  • Outcropping & boulders
  • Natural stone water features
  • Cedar pavilions & furniture
  • Steel fire pits

American Landscape’s expert design team can help you achieve whatever your preferred landscaping style might be, including the Alpine Landscaping Style. Reach out today to start on the path to your dream landscape!

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Backyard Renovation Feels Like a Vacation at Home

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This backyard renovation was a bittersweet one for our New Berlin, Wisconsin clients.  While they had long dreamed of creating a beautiful backyard oasis where they could entertain, the project was put off for years due to the unexpected passing of their teenage son.  And, standing in the way of the renovation was their late son’s playset.  

This design needed a creative, yet mindful touch.  The clients entertain often and also enjoy traveling.  On their wish list was to create a space that gave them the feel of being on vacation right in their own backyard. To that end, the features they requested included a hot tub, a fire pit, and a large area to entertain friends and family. Of utmost importance was to also provide privacy from the neighbors in the back, as well as around the hot tub area. 

Thoughtful Design for an Expansive Patio and Multi-Purpose Fire Pit

Backyard Renovation

For both the patio and fire pit, we used wet cast pavers to accent and complement the house. The patio also has a double border detail to highlight the curves and corners of the space.  It makes for a spacious and appealing gathering space with plenty of room for multiple tables and chairs. The fire pit is a showstopper, with a full seat wall enclosure to provide a comfortable area to sit by the fire, while doubling as a bar on the backside for bigger parties.  Firewood storage pillars were added with large Lannon stone caps to keep wood dry and readily accessible.

Plantings Lend Privacy for Backyard Oasis

Plantings to Screen Hot Tub Area

The hot tub anchors one corner of the backyard, abutting a neighbor’s yard on the side. To give necessary screening, we surrounded it with juniper and fine line buckthorn. Adding to the ambiance are new garden beds, edged with Lannon cobbles and populated with hydrangeas and ninebark. Large 12-foot arborvitae were installed on the back-property line to instantly provide the privacy needed for this beautiful retreat. 

Finishing Touches

 

Lighting for Backyard Transformation

To ensure their enjoyment of their backyard oasis extends into the evening hours, we included lighting carefully placed throughout the backyard.

Planting for Backyard Renovation

Lastly, with their late son’s playset gone, we wanted to honor their late son with a memorial magnolia. This colorful focal point will bloom every spring as a memorial. 

Our customers now have a beautiful Backyard Oasis where they can entertain, enjoy the ambiance of the fire with a Brewer game on TV, or enjoy the sounds of live music echoing from down the block while relaxing in the hot tub.  

 Are you ready to create your dream backyard? Let one of our expert designers help you realize your vision for your backyard.  Get in touch! Contact us here or call 262-252-4260 today.

 

30-Year Dream Backyard Becomes Reality

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This project started off as a dream of the client’s late wife.  For years she had wanted to transform their backyard into a retreat.  After her passing our client felt a pressing need to bring this 30-year dream to life in memory of her.  

The backyard had major drainage and erosion issues.  The decaying timbers were becoming dangerous for the grandkids and the client’s dog.  There was no safe way to get down to the lower level of the yard and to the shed.  The client gave us an open slate as he felt he could not put a price on this memorial for his wife.  

The client’s requirements for the project included a water feature to minimize the noise of the freeway, replacing the walls, adding steps to make the lower level accessible, solving the major drainage issues, and bringing in color. 

Fieldstone was chosen for the walls to go with the natural design of the house.  The walls terrace the landscape to solve the erosion while creating multiple planting areas.  Lannon stone steps were installed to make a beautiful and safe transition to the multiple levels of this landscape.

We were challenged by narrow access to the yard because of the privacy fence, so we needed to remove fence panels to get into the yard.  The 5 cubic yard drywell was installed to mitigate the drainage issues in the lower level.  All drainage in the back yard comes to this area, and it handles it with ease.  

 

The basalt columns water feature was chosen for it’s natural appearance which blends in with the other features of the home and landscape.  The pond-less aspect was chosen to be child and dog friendly, as well as being low maintenance.  Landscape lighting brings this to life late into the evening and it can be viewed from multiple windows in the home.   

A hammock was added to this project so the client could enjoy afternoon naps and catch up on some reading.  It is the perfect location to enjoy the entire back yard while listening to the sound of water cascading down the centerpiece of this landscape.    

The plantings were chosen to be tough enough to handle the dog traffic and able to thrive with only having filtered sun due to the large overhead trees.  The mix of textures and newly installed sod give this lush backyard retreat its finishing touches.  

Do you have a dream in mind for your own landscape? Get in touch today to connect with one of our talented landscape designers. 262-252-4260

Why All the Neighbors Can’t Help but Look at the Landscaping of this Brookfield Home

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Transforming a blank space takes vision. For this project, we were tasked with the landscape development for a newly-built, contemporary home in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The design and construction involved hardscape, landscape, drainage, irrigation and lighting elements for the property.

“Classic, timeless, simplicity, and refined” were the directives given by the client for the design and implementation of this project. This was achieved through the right selections of hardscape colors, mature landscaping elements and an eye for connecting all the outdoor spaces into one cohesive design.

See the transformation in this short video compilation of before and after images:

 

Patios

Spacious, classic bluestone patios provide restful retreats for peaceful relaxation and stunning sunset vistas.

Retaining Wall & Staircase

 

 

Elegant, modern-themed retaining walls and staircase flights transcend the steep grades of the site and the use of U-Cara wall block for the wall and steps complements the modern style of the architecture. 

Walkways

 

 

A sweeping front walkway and intimate courtyard of patterned bluestone creates a beautiful and timeless front entryway to the residence. Pathways of natural flagstone and contemporary rectangular concrete steppers cross the lush green lawns, connecting the outdoor living spaces and introducing texture, pattern and visual interest to the hardscape aesthetic.

Trees/Shrubs/Perennials

 

 

 

Specimen trees, arcing evergreen hedges and generous groupings of flowering shrubs and perennials provide a diverse combination of bloom, structure and seasonal splendor throughout the site.  

Lighting

As the sun sets, the home comes to life with a stunning display of up-lite trees, highlighted architectural features and the warming glow of path lights along patios, walks and wondering pathways.

All elements of the landscape were carefully designed to complement and beautify the home’s exterior. A mix of materials gives the landscape interest and texture, while the trees, shrubs, and perennials soften the hard edges and provide seasonal color.

Put our talented designers to work on your own landscape project. Contact us today at (262) 252-4260 or https://amerlandscape.com/contact-us/.

Creating a Rain Garden in Delafield, Wisconsin

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Earlier this year, we were happy to be a part of establishing a rain garden at a commercial property in Delafield, Wisconsin.

The purpose of the rain garden is to collect, absorb and filter run off from the parking lot.  A rain garden in this situation has specially engineered soil and filtration layers. Having the rain garden plants and filtration layers serves multiple functions:  

  • helps prevent contaminates from reaching our waterways
  • assists in preventing flooding and drainage problems
  • increases the amount of rainwater that filters directly into the ground
  • benefits our native wildlife because they are filled with native plants 

How a Rain Garden Works

A rain garden sits lower than the drainage pipe to allow as much water as possible to filter through the root systems of the plants and the filtration materials.  In the event of a substantial flood event, water would enter a traditional drainage overflow system to prevent flooding of the public space.  Rain gardens in the home landscape rarely require extra drainage systems as they do not need to filter runoff from a large paved surface. 

On this jobsite, the building contractor engineered and built the structure and American Landscape planted and established the gardens.  The builder constructed the areas for the gardens in fall, but since it was too late in the year to establish the small plants we planned on using, we waited until spring to get started.

Establishing Native Plants in the Rain Garden

First, the crew prepared the area by removing any weeds and lightly tilling the surface, being careful not to damage any layers. 

 

 

We sorted the plants by variety and planted them in groupings to mimic the native environment.  A variety of native grasses, sedges and wildflowers were chosen based on their ability to tolerate varying moisture levels.  Over 700 native plants will be used between the 2 beds. You can find native plants that will work for your own rain garden plans here.

 

Plants will be watered regularly so that they can develop strong root systems, and weeds will be kept to a minimum to prevent competition as the young plants grow.

Once they are established the garden will require little care, other than monitoring for and removing invasive weeds, and some watering during times of drought.  As with any planting, a little maintenance will always be required, but the payback to the environment in this situation is well worth the effort.  

We were grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a project and look forward to future projects as more and more communities are starting to require environmentally sound storm water management practices.

If you’re interested in learning more about rain gardens you can go to this link provided by the Wisconsin DNR

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Stormwater/documents/RainGardenManual.pdf. 

Our designers have the expertise to work with you to create your own rain garden. Get in touch today to schedule a time to discuss your plans.

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American Landscape - 50 Years of Outstanding Landscaping Service to the Greater Milwaukee Area

(262)252-4260
info@amerlandscape.com

N60 W16073 Kohler Ln,
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

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