Design for Small Yards & Outdoor Spaces

Space, being a precious and limited commodity in towns and cities, should be functionally efficient. Using outside space is an enjoyable and stylish way of extending the boundaries of your home. Often in-between and left over areas can be designed into usable and even popular places for entertaining, relaxing or just hanging out. In order to make the most of a small space, one must break free from the preconceptions about what makes a garden and remember that first and foremost gardens are for people. The key to realizing the potential of your small yard space involves designing and planning areas suitable to your lifestyle.

 Design Elements

  • A sustainable patio was built with sealed gravel and custom blue stone to allow water to reach the roots of the nearby trees which were laced with outdoor tube lighting for an evening atmospheric glow.
  • A stone water basin, carved in Rhode Island by an artisan, doubles as a water bowl for the beloved four-legged resident who also appreciated the tiny lawn installed specifically as a cool resting place.
  • Fencing and existing walls were all adorned with wall art, some of which allows plants to casually climb their surface.
  • The existing deck was demolished and replaced by a raised vegetable garden with vertical gardening on the walls and up bean poles.
  • A rain barrel, composter, and rain chain were installed to recycle water and organic food remnants back into the garden as nourishment.

Create an Outdoor Room

A beautifully designed back yard gives you the space to enjoy the world outside. Your yard can become a space to grow food, dine, entertain, and have a small pet run. A small space gave you the opportunity to use the design elements of a indoor room in an outdoor setting. Design a space to enjoy during the warmer seasons.

Low Maintenance
Landscape Design

Our goal is to design landscapes and gardens that reflect your unique lifestyle and allow you to balance your busy schedule with outdoor enjoyment. Using the elements of design with plants, stone, water, and light, we fashion places to enjoy. We also take into consideration our clients’ busy schedules and do our best to create landscapes that are low-maintenance using environmentally responsible landscaping and horticultural practices. We also promote conservation and protection of our natural resources while simultaneously striving to create harmony between the built and the natural environment.

Container Garden Design

Container gardens always add artistic elements and functionality to a small space. Container style can lend flavor and character creating a unique and easy to maintain outdoor space. We are happy to design a garden with existing containers or bring in new containers for you. Also, custom container gardens and raised beds can be built to house a vegetable garden or colorful accent plants.

Schedule a Site Visit

We welcome your questions, concerns, and ideas for your yard. Together we can create your perfect outdoor space. Contact us to schedule an initial site visit for residential landscape design or fine gardening needs.

CONTACT US

Schedule a Site Visit

We welcome your questions, concerns, and ideas for your yard. Together we can create your perfect outdoor space. Contact us to schedule an initial site visit for residential landscape design or fine gardening needs.

CALL TODAY

Our Design Team

Susan Opton, MCH
Susan Opton, MCHOwner, Design Director, Horticulturist
Landscape designer and Massachusetts Certified Horticulturalist, Susan Opton is a graduate of The Landscape Institute of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and practices private landscape design and consultation for residential and commercial projects nationwide. She is an active member of APLD, MNLA, ELA, NEHLDA, ASLA and is a COGdesign advisory board member. Susan has owned and managed Terrascapes since 2002.
Emma Tizio
Emma TizioSenior Landscape Architect & Project Manager
Emma has worked as a designer and installation project manager with Terrascapes since 2014. She earned her degree in Landscape Architecture from Penn State University. With a keen interest in horticulture, Emma also occasionally crosses over to work in our garden maintenance division. Her personal interests include fishing, graphic design and insects.
Anna Papok
Anna PapokStaff Landscape Architect & Project Manager
Anna has been a landscape designer for Terrascapes since 2013. She earned her degree in architecture and has worked in landscape design for over 15 years. Anna has an art background and is a talented illustrator and sketch artist. In her free time she enjoys gardening, walks, garden tours, and spending time with her family.
Lynne Butler
Lynne ButlerStaff Landscape Designer & Project Manager
Lynne is a recent addition to Terrascapes. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant & Soil Science from UMaine, Orono, and is a graduate of the Landscape Design program at the Radcliffe Institute. Born and educated on the East Coast, she spent 22 years in Los Angeles designing residential projects for a variety of clients. Lynne is thrilled to be back in New England, designing with the native palette in traditional settings. She is an American Rose Society judge of new rose varieties. A good day for Lynne is spent in a native, woodland garden, a formal rose or herb garden, or sipping tea in a traditional Japanese garden.
Diana Simon, MLCP
Diana Simon, MLCPSenior Landscape Designer, Project Manager & Garden Educator
Diana works for Terrascapes as a designer and horticulturalist. She has a landscape design degree from the Boston Architectural College and is also a graduate of the Green School. Diana is a certified Master Gardener. Diana’s interests include permaculture design, sustainability, and edible gardens. Her dream is to own her own plant nursery.

About Terrascapes

Terrascapes is an award-winning firm specializing in residential landscape designs that reflect your unique lifestyle and allow you to balance your busy schedule with outdoor enjoyment. Using the elements of design with plants, stone, water, and light, we fashion places to enjoy. Incorporating sustainable garden philosophies, we also offer fine gardening and garden education to residential clients in Boston and surrounding areas including Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Milton, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Dover, Westwood, Natick and other local suburban cities and towns.

Our Mission

Terrascapes’ mission is to advocate environmentally responsible landscaping and horticultural practices. We believe in developing and managing beautiful and healthy landscapes for people, pets, and wildlife. We also promote conservation and protection of our natural resources while simultaneously striving to create harmony between the man-made and the natural environment.

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