According to Sandra Moffatt, custom pergolas have become increasingly popular over the last 10 years. “[Pergolas provide a] way to add feel and flare to your home without breaking the bank,” she says. As the Construction Division Manager for McHale Landscape Design, Moffatt has helped to build pergolas of every size and shape imaginable during Read More
With 32 years of experience in the landscape industry as a Landscape Designer – including 22 working with McHale Landscape Design – Julie Patronik has first-hand knowledge of what design can achieve when done properly. Starting out as an assistant to a Landscape Architect, Julie’s artistic ability and love for plants led quickly to landscape Read More
Acquisition of Well-Established Residential Landscape Company Bucks Trend of Commercial Mergers UPPER MARLBORO, October 29, 2018 – McHale Landscape Design, a high-end residential design-build landscape contractor operating in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia markets, is proud to announce its strategic acquisition of Green Gardens, Inc. “We have always had the highest regard for Green Gardens Read More
This summer, many discerning homeowners will begin to think about creating a fresh look for their landscape, and will enlist the services of a professional contractor to reevaluate their property and make suggestions for improvement and reinvention. And while the sky is virtually the limit when it comes to upgrading your property, there are three Read More
McHale Landscape Design’s Mike Miller recalls one particular pool renovation in Crownsville, Md., in which space constraints were optimized to create an entirely new aesthetic. The semi-wooded property featured a house on the water at the end of a long drive. An existing rectangular pool and a modest pool house were the focus of the Read More
Less than a week after a Valentine’s Day, Maryland residents received an impromptu taste of summer, with back-to-back 78 degree days. Skies were blue, the sun was shining, and many high-end homeowners were abruptly reminded they had lawns and gardens that would soon require attention. But seasonal landscape maintenance is meant to be an ongoing Read More
There are a number of DIY projects around a home. Landscape design is not one of them. Meticulous stonework and elaborate hardscaping are not exactly weekend hobbies. Selecting the best native plantings for your home’s ecosystem is not a simply a matter of what looks good next to the pool. Decisions like these should be Read More
Entry courtyards and arrival courts have become increasingly popular with owners of high-end luxury homes. They originally rose to prominence in the southwest, where they offer ventilation and cooling properties, but are growing in prominence throughout the country – including Maryland – thanks to their unique visual aesthetics that hark back to classic architecture. These Read More
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner outdoors? Why not? It worked for the Pilgrims. Believe it or not, more and more homeowners are planning holiday parties in their custom outdoor kitchens. And while the potential for a cold snap is ever-present in the Mid-Atlantic in late November, the heat generated from a gas stove and adjacent firepit Read More
There’s a reason native plantings in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) are so successful. They were made for this environment. Put simply, there is no safer, more efficient, or more breathtaking way to populate your luxury landscape than with the implementation of plants that naturally belong. Even better, here are six ways that native Read More
It takes extraordinary people to do extraordinary work. McHale Landscape Design’s continued success is the sum total of the expertise and dedication of more than 150 talented individuals, from landscape architects and designers to sales and administrative professionals, operations personnel, and skilled field workers. Fifty-two of these individuals have been a part of the McHale Read More
Pre-fabricated, man-made water features have grown in popularity in recent years, largely due to their off-the-shelf convenience and instant gratification. Still, many high-end homeowners desire something more personal; something that appropriately compliments their hard-earned investment. Customized water features can enhance and magnify the natural beauty of your surroundings. Outfitted and framed with natural stone, or Read More
Unsure if your landscape walkway design is headed in the right direction? Leave your worries on the doorstep. Each and every landscaping triumph begins with just a single step. Hardscaped pathways are a perfect opportunity to lend further definition and functionality to your lawn and garden, while contributing a sense of welcome to your home, Read More
Outdoor living spaces have come a long way since they were simply known as “backyards.” Their rise can be traced back to the postwar period of the 1950s and 60s, when the U.S. economy had rebounded in a big, brash way. A chance to relax and the ability to spend one’s money on leisure were Read More
Eco-roofs, or green roofs, have continued to sprout up in residential neighborhoods throughout the U.S. over the last decade. Their burgeoning popularity largely stems from the environmental benefits they offer – such as stormwater retention, improved air quality, and assistance mitigating the urban heat island effect. These low-maintenance wonders are populated with drought-resistant plants that Read More
From baseball diamonds to backyard paradises, summer is a time of teamwork. A defined design-build process can deliver a winning landscape for your home, with architects and construction crews working together to achieve optimal results in the most efficient manner possible. Unlike the traditional design-bid-build way of doing business, the landscaping design-build process offers a Read More
Spring is passing us by at a rapid clip, and the sweltering heat of summer will soon be beating down upon our homes and landscape. With cool nights and chilly temps all but a memory for time being, homeowners throughout the Mid-Atlantic might think that outdoor fireplaces and firepits should take a breather until the Read More
McHale Landscape Design was recently honored with an “Excellence in Landscaping Award” from the Landscaping Contractors of America for its work on a 90-acre, 19th-century garden in Easton, Md. Spearheaded by McHale’s own Hans Bleinberger, the meditative and meticulously crafted grand retreat was featured in HOME&DESIGN. Read more about the project in HOME & DESIGN Read More
Outdoor kitchen designs have gradually transcended the typical backyard barbecue to become expanded living spaces that range from the leisurely to the luxurious. Immaculate stone, steel, and concrete configurations can create an ideal spot to eat, escape, and entertain, and preparing meals outdoors will keep your home free from heat, smoke, and the lingering scent of Read More
What was James Taylor dreaming about when he wrote “deep greens and blues are the color I choose” in his song “Sweet Baby James?” Maybe it was the variations of the two colors that work so well in a perennial garden. With so many shades of blue and green to choose from, it’s easy to Read More
As spring approaches, the desire to enhance one’s property with custom hardscaping features begins to steadily mount amongst homeowners throughout the Baltimore-Washington area and along the Eastern Shore. Professionally-installed hardscape waterfalls can add a singular sense of wonder to your backyard, providing a one-of-a-kind respite for family and visitors, alike. Here are just four ways Read More
A New Year is often associated with a new outlook on life – and that includes one’s passion for hearth and home. Many luxury home and property owners have already started planning various landscape enhancements for 2017, and landscape architecture construction should be listed high among their considerations. Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary practice blending Read More
A New Year is often associated with a new outlook on life – and that includes one’s passion for hearth and home. Many luxury home and property owners have already started planning various landscape enhancements for 2017, and landscape architecture construction should be listed high among their considerations. Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary practice blending Read More
In those particularly magical moments, the winter months can yield frosty wonderlands covered with snow and serenity, but they can just as quickly drain the color and vibrancy from a home’s landscape, thrusting gardens and grounds into a drab, dreary wasteland. At this time of year, many homeowners may feel like throwing up their hands Read More
In a November interview with Nursery Management magazine, McHale Landscape Design president Kevin McHale shared his views on plant shortages in 2016, and what growers and landscapers should expect in the New Year. Just a month prior, Kevin and Stephen McHale discussed design trends during a forum for the National Association of Landscape Professional’s national Read More
Like the old song says, the hills are alive. And under extreme conditions, they can begin rolling directly toward your home. There’s absolutely no shame in telling yourself that you are installing a landscape retaining wall for the singular protection it provides your home, while secretly rejoicing about the fact that it makes your Read More
Labor Day has come and gone. Summer is officially behind us. As the days grow shorter, the nights longer, and the memories of Memorial Day dearer, you may find yourself reflecting on those poolside parties and elegant outdoor dinner engagements that filled the last three months with wonder. And, then, wonder – were there any Read More
Container gardening continues to grow in popularity among landscapers and homeowners, thanks to its versatility and relative ease of care. When utilized properly, container gardening can effectively spruce up large property landscapes, outdoor living areas, patios, and pool houses, while providing quirky, quaint, or distinguished splashes of seasonal color throughout the year. Just getting Read More
Summer has arrived, and your backyard is calling. Patios are a low-maintenance means of expanding your home’s living space, and with the help of a professional landscape designer, can be built to any specification, shape, or size. Perhaps the biggest decision encountered when installing a patio is what type of stone you will choose. At Read More
Protecting the Chesapeake Bay and preserving its natural aquatic ecosystem is an enduring goal for those living and working near Washington, D.C. As conservation minded professionals, McHale Landscape Design must anticipate any and all environmental effects on Maryland’s critical areas to ensure that our multiple projects near the Bay or the Eastern shore meet and Read More
Spring is here. The sky is blue. And before long, garden soirees, pool parties, and backyard barbeques will be consuming weekends and late summer nights, as warm weather revelers take to their lawns for some fun in the sun. For many homeowners and party hosts, the patio often becomes the de facto base of operations Read More
Many homeowners aspire to have gardens akin to those at the Palace of Versailles, but many more feel as though they barely have the time to be proper caretakers to a houseplant. If that sounds familiar, don’t get discouraged. Low maintenance landscape design can be achieved with a little bit of ingenuity, patience, and the Read More
Everyone on the East Coast would likely agree that we’ve endured an unsuspectingly brutal winter. But the silver lining on that particular storm cloud is that summer is now within reach. Soon, it will be time for flip flops, umbrella-topped beverages, and poolside fun. Is your pool deck and outdoor living area equipped for summer Read More
At McHale Landscape Design, each design-build project is undertaken with an eye toward sustainable landscaping. Whether populating gardens with native plants, which aid the environment by reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides, or installing green roofs that improve air quality, promote biodiversity, and conserve energy, our team remains dedicated to making clients’ homes – Read More
The Valentines have been opened, the rose petals scattered, and the chocolates picked over. Now, a new love affair begins as the promise of spring prompts an overwhelming desire for reinvention. Homeowners in Maryland and Virginia soon will be turning to their lawns and gardens – and pools – for a sunny reprieve, particularly after Read More
