posts by a Blade of Grass

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transformations - after - Duxbury Harborside Entertaining

Expanding Coastal Horizons | Boston Design Guide

The latest edition of the Boston Design Guide Prelude magazine features an insightful look at one of our Duxbury properties and the unique design challenges these coastal landscapes present, including high winds, salt exposure, and strict conservation regulations. Special attention is also given to material selection and maintenance. Read the entire article here.

Residential lawn irrigation system running across a landscaped property, illustrating sprinkler coverage and the need for timely irrigation system upgrades.

Keeping Your Landscape Healthy and Beautiful: When to Upgrade Your Irrigation System

An aging irrigation system can waste water, stress plants, and undermine a well-designed landscape. Learn when Boston-area homeowners should upgrade irrigation to support healthier lawns, planting beds, gardens, and long-term property maintenance.

Close-up of winter pruning with hand pruners cutting a dormant tree branch against a snowy landscape.

The Essential Guide to Winter Pruning: Boost Your Landscape’s Health Before Spring

Winter pruning can improve structure, plant health, and long-term landscape performance when it is done correctly. Learn what Boston-area homeowners should prune in winter, what to leave alone, and when professional care is worth it.

A rich layer of shredded bark mulch, showing the coarse texture and natural material used to protect and finish garden beds.

Which Mulch Is Best for Your Landscape: Leaf, Bark and More

Discover how leaf, bark and other mulches perform in New England’s climate. This guide helps Boston-area homeowners choose the best option for soil health, weed control and lasting curb appeal based on their property’s unique needs.

A herringbone brick garden path winds through layered perennial plantings beneath mature trees, showing how hardscape and landscaping can work together naturally.

Hardscaping vs. Landscaping: What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Landscape Company

Hardscape and planting work best when they are planned together. Learn how Boston-area homeowners can coordinate patios, walkways, walls, drainage, planting, lighting, and outdoor living spaces as one cohesive landscape.

A close-up of a Christmas fern frond, showing its distinctive leathery green leaflets and finely textured form.

8 Best Ferns for Boston Shade Gardens

Ferns can bring texture, movement, and quiet beauty to shaded Boston-area gardens. Learn which fern varieties work well in New England landscapes and how to use them in woodland edges, foundation plantings, slopes, and low-care shade gardens.

A narrow garden path winds through a lush historic-style planting of roses, perennials, and groundcovers, creating a layered, informal sense of discovery.

Historic Gardens for Victorian Homes

Victorian homes deserve landscape design that respects their architecture without feeling frozen in time. Learn how planting, paths, entries, structure, and seasonal detail can complement historic Boston-area properties.

Tall grasses continue to provide screening and sanctuary for wildlife.

Design Ideas: Winter Silhouette Gardening

A well-designed winter garden depends on more than evergreens. Learn how grasses, seed heads, branching structure, stonework, and layered planting can give Boston-area landscapes texture and interest through the colder months.

Dew-covered native grasses catch the morning light, bringing fine texture, movement, and easygoing structure to a low-care woodland garden.

Low Care Natives for The Woodland Garden

Woodland gardens can feel natural, refined, and easier to maintain when the right native plants are used in the right places. Learn how Boston-area homeowners can create layered shade gardens that support beauty, resilience, and seasonal interest.

A child sits along a garden path drawing with chalk, capturing how time spent at home can turn the landscape into a place for creativity and everyday discovery.

Gardening in 2020: The Pandemic Effect

Through all the negative things that happened in 2020, there was plenty that occurred as a result that was inspiring. The green industry alone saw an activity spike that included such things as enthusiasm for growing vegetables at home, garden centers sold out of just about everything, and a wait of months to get playsets installed as families remained at home and spent the summer outside.

posts by a Blade of Grass

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