Landscape 101

The following information is to help you better understand the differences in landscape style, stone used in the garden, unique features you can add, and final touches to pull your landscape together.

    Types of Landscaping:
    • Shade Garden – the use of shade-tolerant plants with interesting leaf color and blooms.
    • Formal garden – perfectly manicured for the tidy gardener.
    • Cottage style – very colorful and informal, this type of garden has year-round color.
    • Prairie/ornamental grasses – walking through your own meadow is a reality.
    • Natural/native – strictly Minnesota!
    • Rock garden – berms decorated with rock and alpine/drought-tolerant plants.
    • Japanese garden – mixing Japanese or Asian-looking plants with rock and water.
    • English garden – traditional beds and borders with elegant old-fashioned plants.
    • Spring bulbs – add another month of color into your garden.
    • Rain gardens – help Mother Nature by channeling run-off into a collection area.
    • Butterfly gardens – attract butterlies by using specific plantings.

    Stone Used in the Garden:
    • Brick patios – there are many patterns to choose from including basket weave or herringbone.
    • Brick edging – traditional 4” x 8” clay bricks create an outstanding edging.
    • Natural stone edging – this stone creates bold edging lines.
    • Natural stone walls – nothing looks better than a natural stone wall.
    • Natural stone patios – Bluestone, Fond du Lac and Desert Bronze are ideal choices.
    • Limestone rock outcropping – naturally occurring in Minnesota, this stone is elegant.
    • Superior trap outcropping – if you like the “up north” look, this is it!
    • Stamped concrete walkways – texture like natural stone but more cost effective.
    • Retaining walls – the man-made alternative to natural stone.
    • Pavers – cheaper than brick with all the looks!

    Unique Touches:
    • Outdoor kitchens – create an outdoor room for that weekend get-together.
    • Fire pits and brick ovens – relax around a fire after a long day!
    • Garden paths – an essential part of any landscape.
    • Benches/arbors/trellises/pergolas - structure in the garden can make the difference.
    • Streams and dry creek beds – a natural way to add movement to your yard.
    • Ponds – these are so realistic…forget the cabin!

    Pulling It All Together:
    • Irrigation – save yourself the hassle of watering every day.
    • Lighting – extend the beauty of your landscape into the night.
    • Fences and decks – sometimes they are necessary components of the new landscape.
    • Decorative pots and planters – it’s the little things that count.