On Top of the World with Our Latest Rooftop Project

There is something special about a transformative rooftop project. I don’t know if some of it is just the enchantment of working above the city with the spectacular views and nothing between you and sky. It could also be the excitement of taking a space that hasn’t really been defined before, that no one has taken the time to transform, and taking it to a new level as a usable outdoor area. It’s just so full of possibilities and we understand that as we listen to our clients discuss what their ideas and hopes are for the space. Our Garden Designer, Todd Nappi, comes up with a plan and our Landscape Architect draws up detailed sketches of the project. The design plans are a bit technical to look at, but if you were our client, we’d go over it all with you so we can be sure we’re in complete agreement with you on the work to be done and what you want as the final outcome.

This project is unique because it features three different materials for substantial areas of the roof; concrete pavers, hardwood decking and grass (the circular area in the middle of the plan). New York Plantings will also be fabricating custom planters for this rooftop as well as installing a complete irrigation system. One of the benefits of working with a company like New York Plantings that has a variety of professional tradesman on their crew, is that there’s no having to hire outside contractors or the need to coordinate different aspects of the job between contractors. We design, draw and construct all in-house; not many garden design companies can claim that level of skill. What does that mean for the client? It means a seamless transition between different aspects of the job. We can get your job done right and on time without the hassle of keeping track of multiple contractors, multiple checks and constantly changing laborers. You’ll get to know our polite and respectful crew and you’ll know we take personal responsibility for all our work – no subcontracting!

We’re at the “purchasing materials” stage of the job, so we thought we’d show you some pictures from our trip to the sawmill. We also have access to some beautiful pavers so we thought we’d share some pictures of those as well. We’ll be getting started on the job this week, so check back and see the work in progress and, of course, we’ll post the finished project pictures too.

Thanks for following New York Plantings’ blog and if you need any garden design, landscaping, irrigation, lighting, rooftop or patio gardens, please call us at 347 558-7051. We can make your garden dreams a reality.

Renovation on a Budget; Powers St.

A client called us because they wanted a full garden landscape overhaul on a budget. Although we do a lot of high end landscaping, we enjoy the challenge and the opportunity for a wonderful transformation that comes from taking an overgrown yard and turning in into a usable living space, so, we took on this project with great enthusiasm.

It’s so important to have a garden designer who will go over their process with you; that way you’ll know exactly what to expect through each step. It’s at this point that the homeowner can also ask any questions they may have about how the job will be done and what materials will be used.

Our first step was to remove all the debris from the yard, giving us a clear view for defining the landscape and garden space. We designed the space and then got busy. We used our experienced arborist to prune the trees and we set up an irrigation system. 

We installed a wide irregular flagstone path and chose to use mortar to set the stones to give the stone walkway a neat, finished look. We were also taking the family’s lifestyle into account – with a high-traffic yard, we didn’t want sand or any other loose materials being tracked into the house. 

Even if you have a lower end budget, you should expect professionalism and high-end treatment from your garden designer. They should always take the time to learn about you and your goals for the space, something can always be expected by the professionals at New York Plantings. To help keep us within the homeowner’s budget, we purchased plants, shrubs and trees that were on sale as well as more common varieties that are proven to thrive in our hardiness zone as well as in the micro-climate of this particular garden. It all worked in perfect harmony with the new decking and railings.

Although this was planned as a budget conscious project, we were able to achieve excellent results. We took an overgrown yard and turned it into a dynamic outdoor living space while keeping within the homeowner’s budget. They are thrilled with the finished worked, and use the space all the time. This project reinforces how important plantings and landscape are to the overall quality of life in our outdoor living spaces.

Please see our site www.newyorkplantings.com for more info or contact us 347-558 7051.