How to Plan Your Perfect Patio: Sizing,Materials, and Making the Right Choice
Welcome to March! The nice weather is officially back. It’s unusually warm for this time of the year (which I’ll actually dive into in my next post!), but I’m certainly not complaining. Just like everyone else, myself included, I want to spend every possible minute outdoors right now.When the weather is this inviting, our patios, […]
What a Premium Deck Renovation Actually Looks Like
Is your deck actually usable, or is it just taking up space? I walk into a lot of backyards in Decatur and Buckhead, and I see the same thing over and over again: a standard 10×10 square tacked onto the back of the house. Sure, it technically counts as a “deck,” but let’s be honest, […]
Atlanta After Dark: How I Use Light to Transform Your Home
From Buckhead estates to historical Marietta gems, here is how we redefine your property once the sun goes down. When I design a landscape for a client, I’m creating an outdoor sanctuary. But one thing has always bothered me: seeing a significant investment disappear the moment the sun sets. A stunning Japanese maple becomes a […]
Retaining Walls That Redefine Landscapes: From Boulder Beauty to Concrete Precision
Discover how retaining walls add structure, beauty, and function to your landscape — from boulder charm to clean concrete and timeless brick designs. Walls do more than hold back soil. They create rooms, define terraces, give you seating, and even become countertops or living art. I’ll walk you through the wall types I build most […]
The Smart Way to Make Slopes Safe, Durable, and Beautiful
Why Stone Treads Belong in Your Landscape Stone treads solve a simple problem elegantly: they make changes in elevation safe, durable, and beautiful. A well-placed tread provides a predictable surface, reduces erosion on slopes, and defines circulation so guests naturally follow the intended path. In landscapes where grade changes are frequent — terraces, steep front […]
Fall Garden Prep Guide for Decatur & Dunwoody Landscapes
Preparing your garden for fall in Decatur and Dunwoody is not just a seasonal shift, it’s a strategic opportunity to refresh your landscape design, enrich your soil, and set the stage for a vibrant spring. From ornamental beds and vegetable gardens to turf-heavy yards, proper fall maintenance ensures long-lasting health and beauty. Clean, Prune, and […]
Monarch Butterflies in Atlanta: Fall Migration Guide
Every fall, the skies over Decatur and Atlanta come alive with a vibrant natural show — the monarch butterfly migration. These iconic orange-and-black butterflies pass through Georgia on their epic 3,000-mile (4,800-km) journey to the mountains of central Mexico, transforming backyards, parks, and school gardens into colorful rest stops. Whether you’re an experienced gardener, a […]
When is the best time to plant in Atlanta?
There’s a common misconception that fall is always the best time to plant in Atlanta. I seethis information repeated everywhere and the answe is not as simple as your think. Manyhomeowner s assume cooler air automatically means safer transplants, but that’s only partof the story. When is the best time to plant in Atlanta? The […]
Smart and Affordable Stormwater Management in Decatur and Brookhaven
If you live in Decatur or Brookhaven, you know how quickly a yard can turn into a soggy mess after heavy rain. Stormwater pools near the house, mulch washes away, and mosquitoes take over. The good news: you don’t need a major renovation or an engineering degree to fix it. Here are three smart stormwater […]
Keeping the Garden Vivid: Sequential Flowering and Year-Round Joy
As fall approaches, many gardens lose their summer brilliance: petals fade, foliage thins, and the lush energy of July softens into a quieter palette. But at Designed Landscapes, we believe seasonal transitions should never mean dull landscapes. Through sequential flowering and smart plant layering, we design gardens that stay vivid, engaging, and full of joy […]