After a Wild Week, It's the Perfect Time to Reimagine Your Landscape
Last week was certainly one to remember.
From the powerful microburst that swept across the Main Line on Saturday to the smoky skies drifting south from the Canadian wildfires, spending time outdoors looked very different from one day to the next.
Thankfully, this week feels like a return to the best parts of summer. Temperatures are more comfortable, rain is in the forecast, and our landscapes are responding beautifully.
For gardens across the Philadelphia Main Line, this is one of the most rewarding times of the year.
Summer Gardens Are at Their Best
The heat and humidity of summer have pushed tremendous growth over the past several weeks. Landscapes are lush, colorful, and full of life.
Some of our favorite native plants are now reaching their peak, including:
White Hydrangeas like Annabelle and Incrediball
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Orange Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Purple Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Pink 'Jeana' Garden Phlox
Broadleaf Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Grande')
Golden Fleece Goldenrod
Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'
Together, they create a tapestry of blooms, foliage, movement, and texture that changes throughout the season while providing valuable habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
This is exactly what a thoughtfully designed native landscape is meant to do.
Every Landscape Tells a Story
The recent storm certainly left its mark. Across Merion, Narberth, Wynnewood, and many surrounding neighborhoods, mature trees and large branches came down, changing some landscapes from deeply shaded gardens to spaces that now receive full sun.
If your property escaped significant damage, that's wonderful news.
It also means you have the opportunity to step back and see your landscape exactly as it performs during the height of the growing season.
Summer has a way of revealing what spring sometimes hides.
Now is the time to ask yourself:
Does your landscape provide enough privacy from neighboring homes?
Does all of the color arrive in April and May, only to disappear by July?
Do the plantings feel pieced together rather than thoughtfully designed?
Does your front yard create the welcoming first impression you'd like for family and guests?
Are there portions of your lawn that could become beautiful planting beds filled with native plants for birds, bees, and butterflies?
If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you're not alone.
More importantly, now is the perfect time to begin imagining what's possible.
Fall Is One of the Best Times to Plant
Although many people think of spring as planting season, late summer and fall are actually among the best times to install trees, shrubs, perennials, and native plants.
Unlike annual flowers and vegetable plants that complete their life cycle in a single season, perennials return year after year. As temperatures begin to cool, they naturally shift their energy away from producing flowers and foliage and toward building strong, healthy root systems.
That underground growth continues long after the leaves begin to slow down above ground.
By next spring, those well-established roots are ready to support vigorous new growth, healthier plants, and better flowering.
Fall planting works with nature rather than against it.
Better Plants, Better Conditions
There are practical advantages to fall planting as well.
After spending the growing season in the nursery, plants have developed larger, stronger root systems and are ready for installation. Soil temperatures remain warm enough to encourage root growth while cooler air temperatures reduce stress on newly planted landscapes.
Instead of racing against unpredictable spring weather and limited plant availability, fall offers consistent planting conditions and an opportunity to establish your landscape before next year's growing season begins.
Dream Now. Enjoy It Next Spring.
One of the best parts of landscape design is that it begins long before the first shovel goes into the ground.
It begins with looking at your landscape honestly.
What feels cluttered?
What feels unfinished?
What areas aren't being used to their full potential?
How could your outdoor spaces better reflect your home and the way you enjoy it?
Whether you're hoping to improve curb appeal, create more privacy, add four-season color, replace underutilized lawn with beautiful native plantings, or simply make your home feel more welcoming, this is the season to start planning.
At Union Landscape Design, we believe the best landscapes combine timeless design with plants that thrive in our region. By using native plants thoughtfully—through repetition, layering, structure, and seasonal interest—we create landscapes that are organized, elegant, low-maintenance, and alive with birds, butterflies, and pollinators.
If you're looking around your landscape this summer and feeling like it could do more—more beauty, more function, more color, or more enjoyment—don't wait until spring.
Now is the time to dream, develop a plan, and prepare for a fall installation.
Your future spring landscape starts with the decisions you make today.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation, and let’s start planning your perfect outdoor retreat.
Explore our Pricing Packages to see real examples and find the right starting point for your project.
— Union Landscape Design
