reusing stone and plants in creative landscape design

one of the things i love most about landscape design is finding ways to reuse what already exists in a yard. i’ve never been a fan of throwing away plants or stone when they can be given new life in a fresh design. in places like naperville, plainfield, batavia, geneva, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, and throughout the western suburbs of chicago, i often come across yards full of hidden potential—where a little creativity can turn what’s there into something beautiful and functional.

for example, perennials that have grown too large or spread out of control don’t need to be discarded. instead, our crew can split and transplant them into new areas, instantly creating layers of color, texture, and movement. it’s such a simple way to refresh a yard while keeping the plants that have already adapted to their space.

the same goes for natural stone. sometimes a property has piles of irregular pieces or old pathways that are no longer in good shape. rather than removing them, we can repurpose the stone into a stunning mitered patio, clean and level large outcroppings to make them look brand new, or move them to a different area where they’ll feel intentional and artistic. even a dry laid stone wall that’s starting to collapse can be reset so it looks natural, strong, and ready to last for many years.

this approach not only saves resources, but it also creates designs that feel authentic and connected to the land. i love seeing a messy or overgrown yard transform into a space that feels welcoming again—without adding to landfill waste. sustainable choices like these make outdoor living more meaningful, and to me, that’s what good landscape design is all about.