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Designing an English garden in Cincinnati can be a beautiful and fulfilling project. English gardens are known for their picturesque landscapes, charming cottages and classic beauty. To create your own English garden, there are a few key aspects to keep in mind.
Make the ultimate first impression with beautiful front foundation landscaping. Boost your curb appeal with gorgeous landscape design from Seiler’s Landscaping. We offer designs to fit your home’s style and only recommend plants and trees that are proven to grow and thrive in our Cincinnati climate. In this video you’ll see our front foundation landscaping examples and inspiration. Contact us to get started on your front yard makeover today.
Having a landscape with curb appeal requires year-round maintenance. At Seiler’s we offer an all-season landscaping package, Seiler’s 360, to help your home look great with less hassle for you. Here is what is included in your Seiler’s 360 service package.
When the weather starts to turn cold, spending time outdoors might be the furthest thing from your mind. But fall is actually a great time to start planning a landscaping project. Here’s why:
How did you enjoy your yard or landscaping this past spring and summer? Did you wish it had more shade, more color or more spaces to entertain? Maybe you noticed your deck was showing its age or some of your shrubs or trees were looking more and more overgrown.
Maybe you’re wanting to extend the season outdoors and wishing you had a fire pit or the exterior lighting to make your yard more welcoming on chilly nights.
With these ideas fresh in your mind, take the time now to write them down. They will help your landscape designer create the perfect outdoor setting for you.
Start by thinking about your dream outdoor spaces: Who will use them and when? Would you like to eat outside, entertain friends, grill or prepare meals or gather people around a fire? Or maybe you want to start or expand your garden space. Maybe it’s time to spruce up your home’s curb appeal. How much yard work do you like to do? Is it time for an exterior lighting plan to add interest and safety to your landscaping? Take the time to consider all these factors as you envision your new space.
Now’s the time to rough out a budget for your landscaping project, too. Will you need to finance the project? Talk to a lender about your options now. Unlike interior renovations, it’s easy to tackle a landscape makeover in phases. We’re happy to create your overall plan this fall or winter, then start creating one area at a time.
Like most landscape design companies, our schedules tend to be a bit more open in the fall and winter. Let’s talk about your vision now and start sketching out a plan. We’ll go over your ideas, look at photos that you like and discuss your budget. Then, we’ll visit your home to look at the site and take measurements.
After visiting your site, we’ll draw up a preliminary plan and provide a cost estimate. Over the next few months, you can review and revise the plan until it fits your needs exactly. If your plans include building a deck, pool or other structure, we can arrange meetings with contractors so they are on board and prepared.
Another advantage to jumping on your landscape design now is that everything will be ready to go when good weather comes around. In the spring, we can start removing any unwanted plant life or existing structures. Then, we’ll do preliminary site grading to get ready for hardscaping like patios, walkways or walls. Once those are in place, we’ll be ready to bring in your plants and you can start enjoying your beautiful new landscape.
Are you thinking of a landscape facelift or complete makeover? We’d love to hear about your ideas. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Shrubs offer a unique versatility that makes them perfect for any garden or yard. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors and can add gorgeous florals or vibrant greenery. With so many choices, it can be difficult to know what works best in Cincinnati and what works best for you and your maintenance routine. To help you decide, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite proven shrubs.
Each of these shrubs is considered hardy in Zone 6 (which includes the greater Cincinnati area), meaning all of them thrive in the range of temperatures and weather for our region.
Read on to see our list of proven shrubs perfect for your Cincinnati garden.
This fun-to-say shrub (pronounced why-JEE-luh) provides an easy-maintenance but high-impact blooming plant for your yard. The Wine and Roses Weigela features dark purple, almost black leaves and rosy pink blooms to create a dramatic and eye-catching contrast. Not only is it a gorgeous display, but it also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies while remaining deer-resistant.
It’s considered a fast-growing and easy-maintenance shrub. It grows best in full sun for at least six hours a day, and while it prefers well-drained soil, it’s adaptable. Once it’s established and begins to produce new growth, it requires little water and needs just a little bit of pruning. Its pink flowers first bloom in spring then again later in the summer. Even better, its deep purple leaves maintain their color all year for gorgeous shrubs even in winter.
The Wine and Roses Weigela grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, but if that’s a bit too big for you, try the Spilled Wine Weigela. It features the same distinctive color palette and blooming schedule, but it tops out at 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide with a beautiful spreading habit. The Spilled Wine Weigela was also voted the 2018 Landscape Plant of the Year according to plant brand Proven Winners.
Choose this shrub for:
-Low maintenance with high payoff
-Daring and high-impact aesthetics all year round
-A spring and summer-bloomer
-Tiny or medium space to fill
-Attracting pollinators
A Spilled Wine Weigela adding a bold pop of color, photo courtesy of Proven Winners®
This gorgeous bush, also called a Bridal Wreath Spirea, provides an elegant charm to any garden. Its branches gracefully arc up and out like a fountain, and in spring, clusters of beautiful white flowers bloom to create a stunning display. Its small leaves have a distinct blue-green color that sometimes appears purple in the fall.
But this beauty isn’t just easy on the eyes - the Vanhoutte Spirea is easy to grow. Once established, it’s tolerant of drought, humidity, heat, cold, poor soil and some pollution. Before this, it does need to be watered regularly, but it is a fast-growing plant. It does best in full sun but can take light shade and prefers well-draining soil. It can grow 5 to 8 feet tall and 7 to 10 feet wide, making it an absolutely breathtaking shrub.
Additionally, the Vanhoutte Spirea is listed as one of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s local pollinator-friendly plants, meaning it not only looks good, but it helps the local butterflies and bees while remaining ignored by deer.
Choose this shrub for:
-An elegant, breathtaking look
-Easy care and high payoff
-A stunning spring bloomer
-Lots of yard room to play with
-Attracting Cincinnati pollinators
The Vanhoutte Spirea’s signature arc makes for a classic look
If you have the opposite of a “green thumb,” a panicle hydrangea might be just for you. This is considered the easiest and most adaptable hydrangea so even gardening rookies can take it on. “Panicle” refers to the shape, a football-like cone of beautiful white flower clusters that bloom in the summer. But they’re not done there. As the days get shorter and temperatures get cooler, the white blooms turn to shades of red or pink, adding more color to your garden when other blooms are already done for the season. This makes these shrubs not only easy-maintenance but one of the most versatile blooming plants you can have.
Panicle Hydrangeas require at least four hours of bright sun everyday, but prefer six. They can thrive in any soil as long as it’s well-drained, so avoid planting them in a particularly swampy area of your yard. While annual pruning is encouraged, it’s not required. What makes them so easy to grow is that they only bloom on new growth every year. This means buds can’t freeze over in winter because they don’t even form until the spring. Panicle Hydrangeas are also on the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens pollinator-friendly list, attracting friendly butterflies.
Panicle Hydrangeas come in all shapes and sizes to fit your garden needs. The Bobo Panicle Hydrangea only grows up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, adding those finishing details to your lawn. Have a bigger space to fill? You could opt for the Limelight Panicle Hydrangea which can reach 6 to 8 feet tall and wide and features a light green bloom that still ages to a pink, red or even burgundy in the fall. These are just two of many Panicle Hydrangeas that might be the perfect shrub for you.
Choose this shrub for:
-Multiple looks throughout the year
-A summer bloomer with fall color
-Easy maintenance
-Attracting your favorite pollinators
-A range of options to fit your garden
Some Zinfin Doll Panicle Hydrangeas in the middle of the white-to-pink transition, photo courtesy of Proven Winners®
If you’re looking for a pop of color beyond the classic white or pink, False Indigo offers a charming blue bloom. This pea-shaped flower blooms in late spring or early summer and pops against the blue-green leaves. In winter, False Indigo is also known for its unique seed pods which are almost black in color. Many gardeners choose to leave these dark seed pods on display in the winter as a way to add color to the winter scenery.
False Indigo is also known for its durability and easy overall maintenance. While they need to be watered their first year, once they’re established, False Indigo plants can tolerate drought and poor soil. They do best with at least six hours of full sun. This shrub does require some patience, but we promise they are worth the wait. It takes a couple years for False Indigo to flower, but blooms only increase and become more stunning year after year. After that, these perennials live a long time, making them more than worth the first couple years. Pruning is optional, and if you choose not to prune, you get the distinctive black seed pods.
This shrub attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds while remaining unbothered by deer and rabbits. Once matured, they reach around 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. We do recommend choosing your spot for False Indigo carefully - they can develop very deep roots and don’t like being moved. But they provide a long-time fixture in your garden.
Choose this shrub for:
-A pop of beautiful indigo blue (plus some additional color in winter)
-A long-term fixture in your garden
-High reward after some patience
-Easy maintenance followed by durability
-Attracting pollinators
The signature blue color of False Indigo makes a pop in any garden
Although technically a tree, the Cutleaf Japanese Maple is smaller than some of our other shrubs, and our clients absolutely love them. Their weeping, umbrella shape and signature red-colored leaves make them a stunning addition to any garden. They add color for most of the year, varying between orange, red, burgundy and green between spring and fall, and they keep their color later than most other shrubs. Plus, they’re low-maintenance.
They can survive in full sun or partial shade, but the best leaf color happens when Cutleaf Japanese Maples are placed in partial shade. They grow easily in evenly moist and well-drained soil, but they can survive in many other soil types. They don’t require much pruning, and if any is needed, it should be done in winter.
These trees are slow-growing, but they pick up the pace as they grow, reaching between 4 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 7 feet wide. The stunning colors they add to your outdoor space make them worth the wait, and once established, they’ll live for a long time.
Choose this shrub for:
-Beautiful colors from spring through autumn
-An area with some shade
-A stunning, non-floral piece
-Patience as it reaches its full potential
A Cutleaf Japanese Maple adds rich contrast to mostly green spaces
These are just a few of the shrubs that could be perfect for your landscape. If you’re ready to bring new life and color to your landscaping, contact us.
Who doesn’t love flowers? The blooms on these trees bring color and life to landscaping.
From sweet to showy, choose a flowering tree to amp up your home’s curb appeal.
The overlapping white petals of dogwood blooms do float like clouds. The early spring flowers give way to dark green leaves that turn red-purple in the fall. This species prefers partial shade but can stand up to full sun. This tree just explodes every spring with layers of gorgeous blossoms.
Why Choose This Tree?
Glossy red berries that birds love
Cold hardiness
15- to 30-foot height
Billows of petal-like blooms that measure 4 inches across
Horizontal branches that make good nesting sites
This tree follows its flower performance with a second act: brilliant scarlet purple spring leaves that mature to a deep maroon color. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. This is one of our top pick’s because it takes everything you love about redbuds and mixes it with gorgeous colored foliage.
Why We Love This Tree:
Pink flowers on bare branches in early spring
20-foot height
An upright, rounded shape
Unique, heart-shaped maroon leaves that may turn slightly orange in fall
There’s nothing sour about this crabapple tree. Slowgrowing and compact, this cultivar maintains a lovely shape year after year. Look for coral pink buds in the spring, followed by bronze-red ornamental fruit. Semi-double rose-pink blossoms arrive in early spring: the perfect antidote to gray winter days.
Choose This Flowering Tree For:
Deep green foliage
Mounds of fluffy flowers
Resistance to fireblight, cedarapple rust and mildew
Tolerance of poor soil
A burst of spring color
If you’re ready to bring flower power to your yard, contact us. We’d love to discuss the options with you in a free, no-obligations consultation.
Like a great piece of jewelry, ornamental trees add a bit of bling to your landscaping.
They might be small, but they are mighty in terms of visual impact. Putting an ornamental tree in just the right spot pulls a whole landscape together. In our last blog post we talked about our favorite shade trees; here are our picks for top ornamental trees:
Tuck this specimen in at a corner of your home, in a courtyard or by your deck or patio. If you are partial to an Asian garden look, this tree is a must-have. Be sure it has protection from strong wind and bright afternoon sunlight. This lovely tree is no diva: It shines, but won’t take over your landscape.
Choose this tree for:
Lacy, elongated leaves that create a delicate look
Fall color that ranges from orange to red
Its weeping cultivars, which have graceful arching branches
Mounding growth, which retains low height
The lavender flowers of redbud trees are always a welcome sight after a long Cincinnati winter. This new genus of redbud has unique weeping and twisting branches that cascade down to the ground. Unlike its wild cousins, this redbud cultivar remains compact between 4 and 6 feet tall. Sure this tree offers gorgeous flowers and pretty colors, but it’s also tough and hardy.
You’ll love this tree for its:
Pinkish purple flowers that bloom in early spring
Dark green heart-shaped leaves throughout the summer
Yellow fall foliage
Petite size
Low-maintenance character
Dense and deciduous, the Lilac on Standard is a sweet lollipop-like tree. Perfect for a formal garden, or as a pop of color near your patio or in a front yard bed. The tree blooms later than common lilacs to keep the color going in your landscape. You get all the beauty and fragrance of lilacs in a neat tree form.
What makes it a favorite:
Sweetly scented, bright purple flowers
Nickel-size leaves that resist mildew
Neat outline and polished shape
Dwarf height of 7 feet tall
Sun-loving nature and adaptability to all soils
These are just a few of the tree species we recommend for Cincinnati landscapes. If you would like to add year-round beauty to your yard, contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
Shade trees are some of our favorite trees to plant around Cincinnati homes. These workhorse trees offer benefits all year long. In the summer, a carefully placed shade tree can cool your deck, patio or house and give your air conditioner a break.
Colorful foliage is a visual treat every fall. And when the leaves drop, you can thank these trees for allowing winter sunshine to filter in and warm your home. Here are a few of our favorite shade trees:
A moderately fast-growing tree, this red maple cultivar shades a yard with green glossy leaves that turn first orange-red then brilliantly red in the fall. A moist site makes this tree happy. It adapts to a range of climates and tolerates full sun to partial shade. This is one of our top picks because you can’t beat the gorgeous foliage of the Red Sunset. It’s a showstopper.
Choose Red Sunset Maple for:
Superior fall color
Good branch structure
Reddish winter buds and winged summer fruits
Small red and yellow flowers in the spring
Impact: A full-grown tree will reach 45 to 50 feet in height with a 35- to 40-foot spread
Its ability to stand up to the cold
If you’re looking for a shade tree that stands out, this one is for you. Also known as a Chinese tree lilac, this species grows to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It’s a trouble-free, low-maintenance lilac that prefers full sun. Don’t let the gorgeous flowers and beautiful shape fool you: This tree is tough and hardy.
What we love about this shade tree:
Showy, fragrant white flowers in panicles (long flower clusters) reaching 12 inches long
Rounded oval crown
Blooms after other lilac blooms have passed
Reddish-brown peeling bark on younger branches
Dark green leaves
Hummingbirds and butterflies love Japanese lilac trees
Make space in your yard for this tree—it will reward you with shiny dark green leaves all summer long. Lacebark elm is a tough tree with a graceful rounded shape. It’s medium- to fast-growing and easily reaches 40 to 50 feet in height with a 40-foot spread. With Cincinnati’s hot summers, we like a tree that can tolerate drought.
You’ll love this tree’s:
Multicolored bark that flakes to show gray, cream, orange, brown or green patches
Leaves that turn in shades of yellow to reddish purple in the fall
Good resistance to Dutch elm disease
Small dark green leaves
Adaptability to a variety of soil conditions
Durability
If you would like to add more shade to your front or back yard, contact us for a no-obligation consultation. Our landscape designers are thrilled to share their tree expertise.
