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Mike's Landscaping

Great landscaping starts with superb design

A lovingly designed landscape is a place of joy. Colours and textures interplay, with granite retaining walls and planters softened by a carefully chosen mix of plants, and flagstone steps and walkways leading toward welcoming patio areas or down to the lake.

Building something this delightful takes time and effort. And it begins long before the shovels touch the ground, says Mike Welsh, founder of Mike’s Landscaping. “The first step is an on-site consultation to get the ball rolling.”

Mike’s Landscaping provides high-end landscape design, construction and maintenance services. They work with their clients’ vision, while providing advice and ideas, and focusing on excellent practices and sustainability.

One of the hallmarks of their work is designs that blend manmade construction with Muskoka’s natural beauty, working with the landscape rather than on it.

“When designing a flagstone path from the cottage to a patio or the lake, for example, it often makes sense to use the land’s natural contours rather than having to cut through forest or remove boulders,” explains Brooklyn Radtke, Mike’s daughter and an operating partner along with her brother Dylan Welsh.

Naturally level areas may be the perfect spot for a patio with a fire pit – while keeping in mind municipal requirements for setbacks and fire safety, of course.

Considerations that drive plant selection include the amount of sun and moisture each area receives, the amount of space for roots to grow, and the microclimates created by cottage walls and other structures.

It’s also important to think about the seasonality of cottage use, to ensure that peak bloom times coincide with the times the owners are at the cottage: there’s no sense having an amazing spring bulb display if nobody is at the property until July.

On the other hand, if the cottage will be used in winter, then that should be taken into account too, with a selection of shrubs, trees, and grasses that will provide visual interest even when they’re dormant.

“We also want our clients to be able to switch up their gardens in the future if they decide to,” explains Megan Verhey, Lead Softscape Designer for Mike’s Landscaping.. “We work with you to design and build the oasis you desire – now and in the future.”

Plan ahead
Summer may be in full effect, but the fall and winter are always lurking. Being ready for the colder months, especially in terms of gardens and planters, is vital to having the vibrant visions next year.

Now’s the time to start planning spring bulb planting if you want an early-season floral display. Fall is also an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs as well as some perennials.

“Existing perennials may be best left untrimmed until the spring,” says Brooklyn. “But some may benefit from being divided in fall – giving them more room to grow next year, as well as giving you more plants to enjoy or share with a friend.”

It’s also a great time of year to start thinking about hardscape projects you want achieved next year. Get the consultation and designs done in the late summer and fall, so you’re on the schedule for the installation in the spring and summer next year.

“Winter is the ideal time for firming up designs and plans, so we can hit the ground running once the frost breaks,” explains Mike. “If we get out to your property in the summer and fall this year, we’ll have all the information needed so we can work out the details when the snow is flying.”

Giving back
Mike’s Landscaping has long been a supporter of community events, sports teams, organizations and even schools.

They’ve been sponsors for youth and adult programming, volunteered their time to help out whenever possible, and donated funds to help out. This year they are helping out a local school to rejuvenate and reestablish gardens that have become overgrown by donating the seeds, plants, soil and mulch.

“Helping the community is something I’ve always believed in, and we are dedicated to doing,” says Mike. “Every year we find projects like this one or other worthy causes to support and say thank you to those who continue to support us.”

25 Years of Excellence
Mike started Mike’s Landscaping 25 years ago and he has been created stunning projects ever since.

In recent years, their team has received the Green Stamp Award and other landscaping awards from Landscape Ontario. Green Stamp projects are those that exemplify green practices, using excellent construction, maintenance and design in sustainable landscapes.

Best practices can include using permeable paving, native plantings, water conservation strategies, green roof technology, and more.

This is the type of dedication and excellence Mike’s Landscaping brings to each and every project they create, big or small. It is yet another reason to trust your property in their hands.

TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
PHOTOS SCOTT TURNBULL

www.MikesLandscaping.ca

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