Thoughtful Guidance from Local Outdoor Design Experts
Tips, tricks, and inspiration from the crew who makes dreams come true - welcome to our landscape design blog.
Outdoor Fun: Backyard Sport Courts for Active Families
Being active outdoors is both a fun and healthy way to create opportunities for valuable family time. The opportunity to play sports right at home makes that family fun even more convenient. As you consider landscaping projects, here is a rundown of all of the...
Charleston Gardens Landscaping Design
Sprawling acreage or small urban plot, you can have the charm of the Deep South in your Dayton backyard. To most people, the mention of Charleston, South Carolina evokes historical images: Fort Sumter, belles in colorful hoop skirts carrying parasols, the scent of...
Decks Are Back in Style
“Decks are like taxus shrubs – everyone liked them and then they didn’t like them, so it’s tough to get people to see the progress they’ve made.” Dave Swearingen, The Site Group. Ten years ago, wooden decks were almost mandatory in a well-appointed backyard landscape...
Sculpting the Landscape With Retaining Walls
From pillar to post, retaining walls are versatile enough to solve many site challenges. Sloping terrain. Stormwater erosion. Boring landscaping. What’s a homeowner to do? According to Dave Swearingen, a Landscape Architect with The Site Group in New Carlisle,...
Pavilions, Screened Rooms, Shade Sails, Awnings or Pergolas – Which is Right for Your Landscaping?
Ah the Midwest… Frigid winter, lovely spring and fall, and hot, sun drenched summers. We have it all! That beautiful sunshine, however, can be a bit much in the dog days of summer. How can you avoid too much sun, yet still enjoy the great outdoors during an Ohio...
A New Approach to Paver Patios and Hardscapes
Pick up any design magazine and you’ll no doubt find a section on “what’s new”. We place high value on having something that is not readily available or embraced by the masses. Marketers even recognize a whole class of consumer called early adopters – people who...
Why Are Landscaping Projects So Expensive?
So you’ve perused the magazines. Checked out the makeover shows. Looked around the neighborhood. Made a list of what you want to have. Now your dream project has its first setback, and it is a common one: sticker shock. How could a project that...
Patio Fire Features and Fire Pits
Conjure up with me a fall memory. Beautiful leaves, football Saturdays, and crisp evenings around a campfire come to mind for many. About that campfire… What makes it so magnetic? Is it the dancing flames? The gentle warmth? A hint of smoke or cooking food in the...
Shedding some light on landscape lighting
There are more reasons for you to include landscape lighting for your home’s exterior than meet the eye. Take safety. The last thing most of us want is to have folks taking a header on our property and possibly hurting themselves. Nighttime increases the risk for such...
Phasing Your Landscaping
How do we get started on this project? Do we have to do it all at once? Will our whole yard be torn up at once? These are questions that we frequently hear. Taking the plunge and allowing a landscape contractor to tear up a perfectly good yard –...
Landscape Design FAQs
Dave Swearingen, Landscape Architect with The Site Group, Inc. of New Carlisle, Ohio, answers some FAQs about landscape design and installation. Q. How much should I spend on my landscaping? A. This one really depends on several factors: How much do you enjoy...
Successful Landscape Planning
“Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential” – Winston Churchill Perhaps Churchill had it right. Maybe the reason we hesitate to plan, to write anything down, is that experience has taught us that our plans always change. According to research by the...
The Site Group Featured in HouseTrends Latest Landscaping Challenge
Once again HouseTrends magazine has chosen to feature The Site Group in their latest backyard landscaping challenge. Click here to view the article.
HouseTrends features The Site Group in their latest backyard landscaping challenge
HouseTrends Magazine has once again featured The Site Group in their latest backyard landscaping challenge. Click here to view the article.
Site Group Landscaping on Houzz
If you haven't heard of Houzz, it is kinda like Pinterest but just for the home. Our customers love Houzz for gathering photos, landscaping inspiration, planting ideas and more. They often bring these ideas to our consultation meetings to share their vision for their...
Outdoor Gas Firepits and Fireplaces
Imagine walking out your back door and relaxing in front of a beautiful roaring fire - gas firepits are a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. These outdoor landscape features enhance the ambiance of your outdoor living space and light-up instantly. They add a cozy,...
Enhance Your Curb Appeal With LED Landscape Lighting
If you are thinking of enhancing your property’s curb appeal this summer, LED landscape lighting is a great way to accent your outdoor living space and dramatically improve your home’s curb appeal. LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lighting isn’t just a trend – it’s the...
Spring Recommendations
Want to keep your spring garden looking as fresh as the season? Here are some spring recommendations from the pros at The Site Group: Look into using a pre-emergent herbicide such as Preen to help control weeds. Pre-emergents will kill seeds of any plant, so...
Spring Planting Guide
Here are some great ideas for your spring planting: Bulbs: Great early color. Coordinate bloom times and colors for longer life. Remember that tulips lose vibrancy each year while old standards like daffodils and hyacinth get better with age. Creeping Phlox: Early...
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