Step into a landscape that has undergone one of the most breathtaking transformations of the year! Nestled around a classic Tudor home in Hartsdale, NY, this project began with a vision to elevate the exterior. The homeowners, eager to breathe new life into their outdoor space after renovations to the home, partnered with us to reimagine the entire landscape in carefully orchestrated phases. We aimed to create a garden of native plants that would navigate the front yard’s steep slope while providing resources for a diverse array of pollinators.
Phasing for Plants and Pollinators
Each phase, timed to perfection, embraced the changing seasons, ensuring optimal plant growth while working around the windows of plant availability. But the real magic began with the first and most critical phase: transforming the soil and refining the hardscape, laying the groundwork for a garden path that would invite discovery at every turn.
Soil Reconditioning
The fieldstone exterior walls had been beautifully repointed during the renovations, but this process left behind a challenge—soil contaminated with masonry debris, an elevated pH, and altered texture. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we saw this an opportunity. We seized the moment to redesign the garden path, subtly adjusting the course of the existing bluestone walkway to create an elegant curve from the driveway to the front door. This was no small feat, as the path had to align perfectly with the future grade of the yet-to-be-installed driveway. With the path established, we focused on revitalizing the soil, carefully amending it with a rich blend of topsoil, compost, and strategically applied elemental sulfur to lower the pH.
We expanded the existing garden beds, with some existing perennials seamlessly incorporated into the new design such as the Vernonia lettermannii, beloved by the client and pollinators alike. While we prepared the entire bed, we took a thoughtful approach by planting the shrubs and perennials first, leaving the grasses to be planted in the spring, ensuring they’d thrive in the optimal conditions.
Pollinators Paradise
While working we encountered active ground nesting bees. These pollinators were quite literally buzzing at our feet as we planted, however they were passive and nonconfrontational, not a problem at all to work around. These native bees are most active in the spring and by the summer I did not see them in the landscape.
Other pollinators word appear more regularly: Monarchs on the milkweed, painted ladies on the pussy toes, dozens of other species drawn to the masses of Goldenrod and Mountain Mint. We were also excited to hear from the client, that there were considerably more fireflies than in the past.
Stormwater Management
Winter 2023-2024 found us hard at work tackling pressing drainage and erosion issues that had become increasingly urgent. As downpours grow more intense and frequent, flooding and drainage problems have become a recurring challenge. The silver lining? These issues are now more visible than ever, giving us a clear opportunity to prepare and adapt for the storms of the future. While we can’t control the weather, nor the land of our neighbors, we’re still committed to addressing the most pressing stormwater concerns. Unfortunately, surface runoff from properties above our client’s home had been overwhelming the landscape—eroding soil, carving gullies, and depositing debris right in the driveway. With a new driveway slated for installation, it was critical to resolve these issues before the work began.
In the mature woodland garden at the top of the property, we carefully identified the most strategic spots to introduce stormwater management solutions. We dug infiltration trenches, filled them with drainage stone, and incorporated drywell overflows. Using the resulting fill, we created small check dams to slow water flow. We also installed a river rock-armored forebay and swale, designed to direct water, reduce erosion, and improve water infiltration.
As we dug nearly 3 feet deep to install the storm water infrastructure, we were pleasantly surprised by the soil’s composition—loose and well-draining, ideal for hand excavation. Considering the landscape’s natural slope and soil conditions, we hypothesized that the entire hill might be a moraine of glacial till, left behind thousands of years ago by retreating glaciers. A soil test from Rutgers was consistent with this idea, classifying the soil as sandy loam, with an unusually high percentage of organic matter for that texture.
If you are interested in testing your you can contact Rutgers soil testing lab.
Enter the Matrix
Throughout the winter, we dove into planning the next phase of the landscape, building upon the existing conditions and natural grade of the front yard. The layout was clear: the steeper areas would be transformed into lush planting zones, while the flatter sections would be carefully graded and maintained to create terraces of inviting lawn spaces for relaxing and enjoying the garden. These zones were carefully flagged, and the plan was reviewed and refined with the client on-site. We took precise measurements to estimate the square footage of the proposed planting areas and determined the ideal plant ratio: 40% shrubs, 25% perennials, 35% grasses, and 5% boulders. Armed with this framework, we curated a thoughtful plant list featuring native species and cultivars, aiming to stay as true to the local flora as possible while considering practical needs. A conceptual planting plan was then created, outlining the front yard slope and driveway planting area—setting the stage for a beautifully balanced landscape to unfold.
Creating Rhythm and Flow
While the primary focus of this project is the front yard, circulation and egress across the entire property were thoughtfully incorporated into the master plan. Early in the spring, we installed a set of natural stone steps, framed by boulders, to navigate the slippery steep slope of grass beneath the home’s shaded canopy. This new connection seamlessly links the front yard to the backyard, enhancing both accessibility and flow throughout the landscape.
Sculpting the Steep Slope
As spring progressed, we completed the planting of the front foundation with grasses and began preparing the remaining garden beds. The existing slope presented a significant challenge, making the use of heavy machinery nearly impossible. Opting for a more hands-on approach, we tackled the work manually. Though we used a sod cutter where feasible, we removed most of the lawn with sharpened garden hoes, with approximately 60 yards of sod, roots, and soil painstakingly loaded into wheelbarrows and carted off to the dumpster. The effort, though labor-intensive, was crucial to the process of soil reconditioning, removing much of the seed bank and persistent lawn weeds.
Balance, Form, and Function
‘Winter King’ Hawthorns provide stunning spring blossoms and vibrant red fruit, which not only catch the eye of garden enthusiasts but also attract birds in the winter, and pollinators in the spring. Their strategic placement was key to anchoring the garden, framing the house with their elegant presence. Once the trees were positioned and the conceptual plan in hand, we took the design into the field, working alongside the client to fine-tune plant placement in real time, adjusting as we went.
Given the scale of the planting, it was essential to create plant masses that felt cohesive yet not overwhelming. The natural slope of the land played a significant role in our decisions—taller plants were placed lower down on the slope, acting as a buffer from the street and framing the higher garden beds. In contrast, we strategically placed low growing perennials in the upper beds, nestled in front of the garden wall between the hawthorns.
In the some of the steepest areas of the sloped garden more erosion control measures were needed. Jute netting was stapled into the landscape, and plants were planting throughout.
The driveway planting bed offered a unique challenge, with a different plant ratio and species mix, tailored to its specific conditions. Shaded by mature trees, including a willow oak and flowering dogwoods, this area called for a distinct palette of native plants. Despite the variety, we we designed to maintain a sense of unity through overlapping rhythms, textures, and forms, ensuring it harmonized beautifully with the rest of the landscape. This diversity creates resilience and resources for pollinators and wildlife.
Mastering Maintenance: Irrigation, Weeding, and Erosion Control on Steep Slopes
With planting complete in early summer, the next challenge was achieving the right balance between irrigation, weeding, and soil erosion. Without a strategic approach, a negative feedback loop can easily emerge. Excessive irrigation encourages weeds, weeding disturbs the soil, which increases erosion and weed pressure—especially tricky on a steep slope. Over time, as the garden matures, this becomes less of a concern, but in the early stages, it requires vigilant attention.
Evolving the Landscape: Enhancing Access and Plant Composition
As we continued to monitor the garden into the fall, we worked closely with the client to find ways to improve access to the garden beds and create safe, easy pathways to navigate the slope. To address this, we installed two stone staircases, which also necessitated transplanting some of the year’s plants. This turned out to be a great opportunity to re-edit and refine the landscape. As a team with the client we agreed, although great for the pollinators, the large swaths of mountain mint and blue mist flower were overwhelming for this particular garden. We reduced or removed these plants entirely. Meanwhile, smaller plant clusters were relocated and concentrated in more impactful areas, improving both the visual strength and legibility of the garden.
Interested in improving your landscape? Contact us for a consultation!
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