Dry stack retaining walls behind bluestone patio 
Thermal bluestone patio on Muirfield golf course 
Tumbled concrete pavers on Old Town East patio 
Oversize pavers and seat walls on log home patio 
Oversize concrete pavers & seating on Powell patio 
Basic 6″x9″ concrete pavers on Powell patio 
Pattern flagstone on Clintonville home 
Tumbled bluestone & brick on Victorian Village patio 
6″x9″ pavers cut into circle on Ostrander home 
Berwick patio using tumbled pavers 
Pattern flagstone on Clintonville home 
Clay brick pavers on Worthington patio 
Pattern flagstone on tiered Upper Arlington patio 
All natural stone used on tiered Upper Arlington patio
design
A patio garden designed with purpose will provide space for entertaining as well as a personal escape during off time. Every site offers its own specific challenges even while most client goals are similar. Whether working within the confines of a small urban lot or a sprawling rural property all design goals are attainable. An unrushed design process followed with thoughtful construction methods guarantee success. While the urban lot may not allow space for a soccer game, enough turf area can certainly be carved out for a corn hole game. Whatever the scale, purposeful areas can be constructed within a patio garden to control traffic flow while also providing multiple outdoor rooms that may overlap yet still be distinguishable. Creating distinct areas for different activities is possible even when space is limited. For example, it may seem like a good idea to mount the tv above the outdoor fireplace until the kids want to cook smores during the game. Simple features such as a seat height wall and a firepit can provide overflow seating during parties while also offering a hangout area for those less interested in the game.
plant selection
Well chosen and properly sited plants will provide structure and color to a property while also complimenting the home without overpowering. Keeping favorable views open while at the same time screening out unwanted views is a popular request, as is minimizing future maintenance. There is no such thing as a zero maintenance plant, however a well planned garden will not need to be continually pruned back into submission. Using well spaced shrubs and trees as a framework, groupings of perennials and groundcovers will complement the architecture of a building while offering year round color.
Building a friendly, colorful, and useful garden is always an achievable goal. Planting within the budget is always possible. Wholesale nurseries price plants by size. Plant cost can increase dramatically by size, however most trees and shrubs grow roughly one foot per year. Controlling budget by simply using smaller trees and shrubs is an easy way to trim cost. Luckily Central Ohio is an excellent climate for perennials and they can provide a great amount of performance at low price points.
hardscape materials
With almost infinite options, choosing the best hardscape materials for your project can be challenging. Following the architectural ques of the home is a great place to start. For instance, the latest color and texture trends in Suburban Powell may look out of place on a historic home in Old Town East or Victorian Village. Setting a budget is helpful as well, concrete materials are usually less expensive than natural stone. Brick pavers also offer a very good value. Although with fewer shape, size and color offerings brick has the benefit of never suffering the color fade that plagues concrete pavers. Similar to brick, natural stone does not fade but will typically darken over time, and if cleaned can be restored to near new condition. A tour through German Village in south Columbus will prove this out, the brick pavement and limestone stoops look much as they did 50 or even 100 years ago.