A good landscape design is a vision, an interpretation of your wants and needs and how to best incorporate those into the workable space you have. Good landscape design looks nice, but great design looks effortless and natural when built. At Urban Gardens, we are known for the creative edge and forward thinking of owner, Dean Smouse and Sr. Designer Michelle Maust with 45 years of experience combined and unique visions they create.

Our Process
We begin with an initial consultation to establish a framework to guide development and begin a collaboration of ideas and concepts. We start with a site analysis to take measurements and notes on existing structures, grades, plant material, and general site conditions. For larger-scale projects, a conceptual landscape plan is presented first to highlight ideas and potential design layouts. The conceptual design phase determines the clients' needs and desires and addresses the site's conditions. From this, we can establish the aesthetic, functional, and horticultural requirements for your design.

Then we enter the creative phase making the Master Landscape design plans, which provides a grand vision that integrates priorities, goals and objectives and allows for phased installation. Their purpose is to provide design solutions for today’s needs, while also addressing future opportunities. Master planning also shows a logical sequence for construction and budgeting. Our goal is to develop master plans that allow our clients to realistically achieve their dreams and visions for their landscape, or large.

Final plans include scale work drawings with detailed locations and specifications of material proposed. We present your master plan and walk through your property together, so you can visualize how the design ideas will come together. In addition to plantings, full scope plans may include the possibility of incorporating hardscaping, ponds, decks, or various other types of shade structures such as gazebos, arbors and pergolas. Written estimates for your project are presented with the plans.

At Urban Gardens inc. Landscaping we create extraordinary landscapes by combining an artistic vision, expertise and knowledge to seamlessly blend the architecture of a property with its landscape environment.  Custom landscape design build plans, landscape master plans, and concept drawings are the beginning of the process, and start the framework for your new landscape installation.

From smaller scale gardens to multi-acre landscapes, Urban Gardens Inc. brings balance to every property. From native landscapes, formal English gardens to natural meadow plantings, we design and build landscapes that transcend the seasons.

We are also expert at laying the groundwork for the foundation for your landscape. We have the experience to install drainage systems, excavate, prepare soil and install rainwater conservation systems. Urban Gardens inc. Landscaping offers hardscaping services in addition to landscaping and design.  We build beautiful walkways, fire pits, retaining walls and much more to complement your outdoor living space.

We specialize in all aspects of landscape design and installation, including:

• Perennial & native gardens
• English & formal gardens
• Custom planters
• Large scale tree planting
• Water features - ponds, waterfalls, etc
• Hardscaping - patios, walls, walkways

Urban Gardens inc. Landscaping takes great pride in your landscape’s upkeep. We believe keeping your garden healthy, and visually pleasing is just as important as the initial landscape design and installation.

Our landscape maintenance programs maintain the integrity of your original design and allow your landscape to appreciate in value. Urban Gardens Inc. has Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturalists on staff who will develop a program suited to your landscapes needs and budget. Professional landscaping provides a tremendous value to your home, but proper maintenance is essential to maintaining the highest return on your investment. Ensuring the long-term health of your landscape safeguards your investment, and keeps your property looking pristine.

Our landscape maintenance plans include:

• Annual contracts for property maintenance - monthly or quarterly programs customized to your properties needs
• Seasonal clean-up services - spring, summer, fall, winter seasonal care
• Landscape lighting system maintenance
• Deer control and management solutions
• Summer watering program
• Seasonal color rotation - If you like a little variety in your landscape, we can recommend and install seasonal annuals. Seasonal color rotation is a simple solution for keeping a landscape fresh year-long.

We recognize many homeowners are concerned with the use of pesticides and fertilizers on their property. We are MD Certified Pesticide Applicators, but we also offer AND promote the use of organic care alternatives within the landscapes we install and maintain.

Patios, Walls & Walks

From retaining walls to terraces and patios, Urban Gardens can execute every aspect of masonry and stonework in your landscape. Hardscapes are blended within the landscape to create boundaries and structure while enhancing the stability of softer forms. We're well known for our fine stone masonry and craftsmanship landscaping services.

Urban Gardens offers a full range of natural stone, brick, and paver work, including:

• Structural retaining walls
• Stone seating walls
• Terraces
• Brick, paver, and stone patios
• Pathways and walkways
• Swimming pool terrace decks
• And more!

Our certifications
Professional installation of your hardscape is extremely important to ensure proper design and structural integrity. Our installers are hardscape certified through ICPI and NCMA. We work with the best crafted products in the outdoor industry including EP Henry, Techo-Bloc, Atlantis Outdoor Cabinetry, and Backyard America Pergolas.

Urban Gardens provides landscape site work solutions to establish the foundation for your project, or correct a problem within an existing landscape. We have the experience and equipment to install drainage systems, excavate, prepare and amend soil. We offer services for rainwater management, drainage and grading and erosion control. We also offer finer renovation services such as sod installation, turf aeration and overseeding. We are MDE Erosion Control Green Card Certified.

Our drainage and grading services include:

• Demolition work
• Excavation
• Drainage systems
• Bank stabilization
• Erosion control measures
• Soil amendments

Outdoor structures add great usable space to a landscape. From a simple deck to a complex outdoor kitchen, Urban Gardens inc. Landscaping can design and build the perfect outdoor room for your landscape.

We work with the best crafted products in the outdoor industry. Custom pergolas, trellises and arbors are crafted of teak, cedar, or reclaimed oak. We install wood, vinyl and ornamental aluminum or steel fences and custom detailed entry gates. Pool houses and outdoor kitchens constructed of teak, reclaimed woods, stainless appliances and custom stone counters are our specialty. Our landscape structures are aesthetically pleasing and top caliber, making your outdoor space a "home outside of home".

Our landscape structures services include:

• Pergolas, trellises, and arbors
• Custom gates and fences
• Pool houses
• Outdoor kitchens & rooms
• Teak of cedar planters built to suit
• Stone fire pits
• Brick or stone mailboxes

Water features
Urban Gardens can incorporate a wide variety of water features into your yard to deliver a beautiful and tranquil feel. Water features include waterfalls, streams, ponds and fountains appropriately suited to your landscapes aesthetic and geographical style. Fountains, waterfalls, ponds and water features add beauty, sound, lushness and intimacy to any landscape and when paired with landscape lighting these features can provide a focal point to your yard even after the sun sets. We design and build ponds and water features that compliment your home and transform the grounds into a unique and tranquil setting.

• Ponds and water features are an endearingly popular landscape design feature. A pond provides a relaxing focal point for your yard, and the addition of pond plants or fish can create a mini ecosystem for added enjoyment.
• Fountains are an excellent choice if you enjoy the sound of gently falling water. The gentle splash of running water is instantly calming and the fountain designs are visually stunning. Urban Gardens installs water fountains and vases from Aquabella Designs

lighting features
Landscape lighting extends the pleasure of your landscape well into the evening hours, brightens an otherwise dark surrounding and provides a welcoming atmosphere. Well placed outdoor lighting can enhance your enjoyment of your outdoor living space by making it more usable. Areas of your landscape that would be uninviting after dark can be illuminated to make them functional long after the sun has set. By investing in outdoor lighting, you will be able to get more enjoyment out of your entire outdoor living space.

We use low voltage landscape lighting for outdoor areas like barbecues, decks, pools and spas. Area lighting, step lighting, and down lighting provide safe walk ways, brightens dark entryways and provide a warm welcome home at any hour. Landscape lighting systems can be installed in conjunction with a new landscape, or we can retro-fit lighting to an existing landscape with minimal disturbance. Urban Gardens uses only the highest quality outdoor lighting systems from Unique Lighting. These systems offer long life, energy saving lamps, sustainable solid brass or copper fixtures, and efficient, cost effective transformers for superior worry-free performance.

Urban Gardens inc. Landscaping designs and builds amazing custom nature playscapes for children. Nature play spaces, or playgrounds, are designed to integrate natural components into an unstructured play and learning environment for children. Nature play spaces encourage creativity, connect children with the outdoors, grow their imagination and promote physical exercise all at once! A recent study by the University of Tennessee found that kids who played in a natural play space versus a traditional playground engaged in more physical activity, played for longer periods of time, and appeared to use their imaginations more.

You've probably already seen, and maybe even played on, our nature play spaces if you've attended the Md State Fair in the past two years. Urban Gardens has sponsored the design and build of the Nature Play Space by the Horseland Tent in 2016 and 2017.

We can design and build any components of these play spaces at your home! Nature play spaces are great ways for children to explore things like sand, maze, nature art, gardening, balancing and building by incorporating educational play into a functional landscape.

• Seasonal Containers for residence
• Special Events
• Rented containers planted for events
• We will install and do fillers for replacement.
• Purchase of containers