Plant Care Tips: How to Take Care of Fiddle Leaf Figs

Fiddle leaf figs are one of the best indoor plants for anyone looking to add a striking addition to any room in their home. With its larger size and beautiful leaves, you’ll want to ensure you understand the top plant care tips for this exotic plant.

Keep reading to learn the best ways to preserve your fiddle leaf fig. We’ll help you avoid common problems associated with this popular plant.

What You’ll Learn:

Light

When finding the correct position for your fiddle leaf fig, ensure your indoor plantscaping sees this plant placed by a window. It needs to receive some direct light daily, so ensure your window is unobstructed. The window doesn’t need to face any direction, so don’t worry if your window isn’t south-facing. Remember that you shouldn’t place it outdoors since full sunlight will be too much for the plant.

Soil

To look after your fiddle leaf fig, you’ll need to plant it in a well-draining potting mixture. It should ideally be rich in organic matter, such as peat-based soil. The soil should be evenly moist, which will help keep the roots hydrated without getting too wet.

Watering

When it comes to indoor plant maintenance and watering for fiddle leaf figs, ensure you water them roughly once a week. This step will depend on the size of your plant, so adjust the amount of water you give it. For example, a six-foot-tall plant may need about ¾ of a gallon weekly. If the top inch of the soil feels dry to you, it needs watering when looking after exotic plants. Slowly water all around the pot to effectively water the entire root ball.

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Temperature

The key to successful indoor plantscaping depends on many factors, including the average temperature of the place where the plant will live throughout the year. Keep your fiddle leaf figs in temperatures of roughly 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. The most important thing is to place this plant indoors so it won’t receive heat or hot air from a fan or heating vent.

Fertilizer

Applying fertilizer is a good idea when taking care of any of the best indoor plants, but you’ll want to be cautious with how much fertilizer you use on your fiddle leaf figs. Avoid using too much fertilizer at once on the plant, or you may find that you’ve undone all of the good work of the plant care tips we’ve shared so far. A slow-release “pelletized” fertilizer is a good option for the spring and summer of this type of plant. This type of fertilizer sits on the top layer of the soil, where it will last for a few months before you need to consider giving the plant more. Consult the instructions on the fertilizer for the correct amount to apply.

Potting and Repotting

Take great care when potting or repotting your fiddle leaf fig. You should repot your plant when it outgrows its previous pot, which is generally just every two or three years for this exotic plant. The best type of pot for a fiddle leaf fig is a tighter container with many drainage holes. This plant can easily adapt to any shape and type of planter, but make sure you water it generously upon repotting it to help it settle into the new pot.

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Common Problems

It’s important to be aware of the common indoor plant maintenance issues that may crop up. Overwatering is one of the biggest issues we see with fiddle leaf figs, resulting in fungal infections or root rot. You may notice that your plant develops spots or dropping leaves, indicating a bigger issue with your plant care. If just the edges of the leaves are turning brown, that’s an indication that the plant isn’t getting enough water.

Drying Leaves

Many of the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig will eventually turn brown and dry. While this is part of the normal process of aging leaves, you should certainly be concerned if this happens to the whole plant at once. If you move your plant to a new area of your home, you may find that it may take a little time to adapt to its new location. You can pluck off any dried and old leaves, but consider whether you are following our indoor plant maintenance tips if you are concerned there is a greater issue. Ensure you are offering the plant enough water and not placing it in sunlight outdoors, as these two factors could be the reason for your browning leaves.

Pest Infestations

As with many exotic plants, pests may decide to give your fiddle leaf figs a visit at any time. You can treat the infestation if you catch this issue before it’s too late. The Chinese Black Armor Scale and mealy bugs are the two most common infestations. Pests may sometimes appear blemishes on the leaves, so use a magnifying glass to check out the issue. Smaller pests can easily blend into the leaf, but the sooner you treat this problem, the more likely you’ll be to preserve your plant.

Key Takeaways

By following these indoor plant care tips, you can ensure your plant lives for many years. These are very long-lasting and beautiful additions to any indoor plantscaping design. However, you’ll want to ensure you give them the correct water, sunlight, and temperature conditions to grow and thrive. While there are a few common issues you need to be aware of, they are generally quite low-maintenance plants that are easy to look after. You’ll find they make a very dramatic addition to any living space, which is why we are seeing more and more homes across the country put these plants on display.

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Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For 40 years, we’ve provided award-winning plantscaping services in the Boston Metro area.

We customize and plan our roof garden projects and interior plantscaping to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for corporate plantscaping and residential community projects.

In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications. You can find us in Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape.

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Plant Care Tips: How to Take Care of Philodendron Plants

Philodendron plants are a popular option to add to your home or office, providing a tropical addition to any space. Two popular varieties are:

1) the Swiss Cheese Plant, which has rounded leathery leaves that develop deep lefts and oblong perforations as they grow older;

2) the Split Leaf Philodendron, also known as Monstera, has a unique leaf pattern of large split leaves.

While either plant variety would make a great addition to any room, you must ensure you offer it the right amount of light, water, and heat to grow and thrive.

Keep reading as we share some of our top plant care tips for these plants, so you can discover how to add one or both of these tropical varieties to your interior plantscape.

What You’ll Learn:

Light

Split Leaf and Swiss Cheese philodendron plants require bright but indirect sunlight to grow and thrive. If you offer too much sunlight in the summer, the foliage will be more likely to get burnt. You may be surprised to learn that this plant can also grow outside in the shade or semi-shade of the woodlands, which you can keep in mind if you add it to an urban garden.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Both the Swiss Cheese and Split Leaf varieties are native to the tropical climates of Mexico and Central America. They can easily acclimate as year-round indoor plants regardless of where you live. However, if you live in an area with cold winters and plan to include them in a roof garden or other outdoor plantscape, they will need to be brought indoors over the colder months.

When you bring them outside again in the Spring, even indirect sunlight might be too intense for them at first. Plan to keep them in heavy shade – like under a tarp – for the first two weeks. That way, they can adjust to being outdoors again.

Soil

If placing your philodendron plants within a container, use a peat-based potting medium for the base. For those who live in milder climates, you can plant directly in the garden in light sandy soil.

In either case, the plant will need a pH between neutral and acidic to grow, but whatever type of soil you use, ensure that it is porous and well-drained.

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Watering

During the main growing season – generally Spring and Summer – one of the most important plants care tips is to ensure that you water your Split Leaf or Swiss Cheese plant weekly. Continue watering the plant until the excess water seeps through the drainage holes, then stop adding water. Give the soil time to dry out between each watering session.

In the fall and winter months, you won’t need to water either variety of plants as often, but misting an indoor plant may be helpful to increase the humidity in your house.

Temperature

The perfect temperature for philodendron plants in your indoor plantscape is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. As mentioned above, this temperature is needed alongside bright and indirect sunlight to give your plants the best chance to grow.

If the temperature in your area dips below 65 degrees for much of the year, you might find it impractical to include it in your outdoor plantscape.

Fertilizer

We recommend using a balanced fertilizer three or four times yearly to help your plant reach its maximum potential. When secured to a stake or pole, you’ll find that the Split Leaf variety can grow up to 10 feet tall. However, you’ll need to ensure you follow all of the plant care tips we’ve shared today to experience this.

A balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer is your best bet for the Split Leaf and Swiss Cheese plants, which can occur every few weeks within the main growing season. Create a mixture of the fertilizer and water, which you can then pour into the soil during your weekly watering.

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Spread vs. Vertical

There are generally two styles of training for the Split Leaf and Swiss Cheese philodendron plants. They can train to climb a stake or pole (vertical style), or they can spread out over a large area (spread style). Decide which style will work best in your space.

Do you have a tall space to fill, such as an accent wall, or a large area to fill – such as a plant container in the lobby of an office building? Whichever style you choose, it’s important to stay consistent.

If you plan to use the vertical style, tie the plant to the stake from the beginning. Later, it will be hard to re-train a spreading style plant into the vertical style.

Potting

Roughly every two years, you’ll need to repot the Split Leaf or Swiss Cheese plant, so it continues growing. These plants outgrow their current pot every couple of years. You’ll want to upgrade to a slightly wider and deeper pot to offer it the extra space.

We recommend using pots made from terracotta or clay, as they offer the plant extra airflow and drainage. The main thing to look for is that the pot has drainage holes.

To pot or repot your plant, add a peaty potting medium to the bottom third of your pot. For the vertical style, create a stake for the plant’s stem and gently set the roots into the pot. Cover the roots with the soil before using plant ties to secure the stem.

Common Problems

The Monstera Deliciosa or Swiss Cheese variety makes a fantastic addition to your interior plantscaping. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind about this plant. It may attract common pests, such as scale and mealybugs.

The best way to avoid this issue in the first place is to catch it before it gets established. Regularly examine the plant to nip trouble in the bud. Use a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to rid the plant of mealybugs. Use a horticultural oil or Murphy’s soap to remove the scale.

The other issues you may experience are in regards to the leaves. The tips of the leaves may turn brown when the soil is dry. You can avoid this issue by following our plant care tips above for watering. Yellow leaves are also a problem when the soil is dry, and for both of these issues, you should remove the impacted leaves straight away before trying to remedy the problem.

Finally, wilting leaves are a sign of a watering problem, which could be either overwatering or underwatering the plant. Be very mindful of how much water you add to the pot to avoid damage to your plant.

Key Takeaways

Philodendron plants can enhance your indoor plantscaping or urban garden. With a little care and attention, you’ll find it a very attractive plant to add to any room in your home, creating a tropical atmosphere in any space.

Make sure you keep an eye on how much you water the plant and always place it in indirect sunlight. By keeping the watering, soil plant care, and temperature tips we shared above in mind, you’ll find that this plant will continue to grow year after year, creating a centerpiece for your home or office.

Philodendrons are one of the most exciting indoor plants to consider investing in this year. We hope these tips will make caring for either variety of plants a little easier for you shortly.

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Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest rooftop garden and plantscaping services for clients across the Boston Metro area.

We customize and plan our roof garden projects and interior plantscaping to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for corporate plantscaping and residential community projects.

In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications. You can find us in Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape.

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Holiday Decorating: How to Plantscape for the Holidays

There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than by planning your holiday decorating in advance. But how do you start the holiday process?

If you’re searching for a sophisticated holiday interior plant firm to enhance the beauty of your office environment, you should first understand the scope of your project. At Foliaire, we can design the perfect palette for your lobby or office to create an inspiring, memorable holiday aura. By offering a high-quality selection of unique holiday décor, you’ll maximize your enjoyment of the season. We have decorating to please every taste and situation. Whether you’re celebrating inside your office or preparing a festive lobby, we have the aesthetic expertise to exceed your expectations.

Keep reading for our best holiday decorating tips.

What you will learn in this article:

 

Holiday Decorating Blog Image 1

How to Plan Year-End Holiday Decorating

Knowing how to approach your holiday display requires an eye for design. That’s where we come in. By employing a combination of bright and natural holiday décor, we create a premium feel with our curated trees, faux/artificial wreaths, and lively poinsettia arrangements. We arrange our décor in various color palettes and themes to suit any event or company brand. Furthermore, we have the capacity and personnel to deliver stunning results in time for your holiday display.

 

Bring Holiday Spirit to Your Office

When it’s the most wonderful time of the year, you’ll want to celebrate in style. Our design team will install themes and decorations throughout your workplace to ensure that your space is ready for maximum effect. Whether you’re seeking traditional holiday décor or a more avant-garde approach, we can tailor the installation to your space.

Unparalleled Style & Selection

We pride ourselves on our beautiful selection of plants and ornaments. If you’re part of a commercial office space, you can include live plants like poinsettias, amaryllis, and cyclamen. White orchids and red bromeliads are also popular choices. We can custom-build any tabletop or desktop floral arrangement for common rooms and reception areas.

Our holiday decorations typically include:

  • Trees (with lights and ornaments)
  • Wreaths (for walls and doors)
  • Garlands (for fireplaces and railings)
  • Swags (diamond-shaped decorations to hang on the wall)

Holiday Decorating Blog Image 2

Step-By-Step Holiday Decorating

By decorating your office for the holidays, you provide holiday cheer that guests and employees alike will love. We offer installation and takedown of all holiday plantscaping for both large and small businesses. We manage the design, installation, takedown, and storage of all of your holiday décor. When you hire Foliaire, you can expect the whole nine yards: gorgeous artificial trees, wreaths, and garlands, as well as specialty props and custom-made tableaux.

Poinsettias and Gift Plants

Traditional live poinsettias add warmth and color to office décor and also serve as great gift plants. We have the very best floral quality in a wide range of sizes and colors– plus amaryllis, Norfolk Island pine, bromeliads, orchids, and much more.

Custom Holiday Décor

Some companies like to put up a tree with wrapped holiday boxes, simulating gifts under the tree. Not only can you customize the color palette, but you can also opt for a non-denominational display! We’re pleased to offer appropriate features for all cultures, ranging from traditional Christmas plants, Kwanzaa banners, and Hanukkah décor. We also help you see the potential in any office space – lobbies, cafeterias, conference rooms, and much more.

Fire Safety Precautions

There are comprehensive safety precautions we implement to reduce the risk of fire. For example, we don’t use cut, live evergreen trees, wreaths or swags, to protect your employees and guests against any risk of fire. In addition, we follow all fire code regulations.

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When to Unveil Your Holiday Décor

Timing

Our holiday installations traditionally start right after Thanksgiving. After all, most people want to see their holiday installations immediately to have the longest time to enjoy them. Consequently, we recommend booking your installation date early. This planning will ensure that your installation happens on your schedule.

First, book your installation in August or September to allow ample lead time for your holiday decorating. Then, we will typically conduct an on-site visit or walk-through to describe your ideal holiday display. Overall, we help you design the layout of your decorations, including how many faux and live plants you’ll need.

Storage

It’s just as important to schedule when you want your décor taken down and put in storage. For all of the faux/artificial decorations that you’ll want to use each year, we’re happy to offer storage for you between seasons. This storage can be at several possible locations: our facility, storage space at your site, or in another local storage unit.

Holiday Decorating Blog Image 3

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, now is the time to initiate contact to help design and plan a holiday display at your office or business. The splendor of the Christmas season is only a few months away. Early booking ensures that we’ll be ready to transform your office into a luxurious holiday wonderland. That’s why we have a stock room full of deluxe pieces ready for us to hand-craft and tailor-fit to your property.

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Boston’s #1 Holiday Decorating Plantscapers

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest quality plantscaping service for clients across the Boston Metro area. We customize and plan all of our installations to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for both corporate and residential community projects. In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications, including Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape.

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What Are Living Screens?

When considering ways to create more privacy in an office or home, there are a few different options available. Living screens allow you to avoid putting up a standard plexiglass barrier. Instead, you can create an attractive and moveable screen. Here we’re going to share everything you need to know about these beautiful features and how you can incorporate them into your office. 

What you will learn in this article:

Living Walls – How Do These Privacy Screens Work?

Living screens are widely used within office spaces today. If you have an open-plan office space, there’s often a desire to separate individual office areas. Many want to create more privacy for employees and managers. Instead of using a plexiglass barrier or a fabric-covered sectional, living screens provide privacy using indoor plants or live moss. They can be created from artificial or live plants, offering you a low-maintenance solution and adding more indoor plantscaping to your space.

Where Can Living Screens Be Used?

We place living screens where you would otherwise add other types of privacy solutions. As we mentioned above, you see them in office spaces. Designers often find these to be an excellent solution for their reception or waiting area, offering visitors more privacy or shielding them from seeing confidential material about the business they’re visiting.

Living screens are part of an interior plantscape design, and, as such, they create a more attractive working environment than you would otherwise have with other privacy options.  Indoor plantscaping offers so many benefits to everyone working within the space, which is why we highly encourage offices to consider this more appealing option. The plants used for living screens are carefully selected to thrive in an indoor environment.

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The Benefits of Living Screens

There are so many reasons why companies today opt to use living screens instead of standard privacy dividers. When you add living walls to your space, you’ll notice all of these benefits immediately, creating a more inviting and relaxing working environment for your employees.

Instant Privacy

Living screens use indoor plants to create privacy and improve discretion and security for your employees. They are an instant solution that doesn’t require you to build permanent walls for your employees but will still protect them from prying eyes and those working nearby. Especially in spaces that see a lot of activity, they can offer your staff members the privacy they need to focus on the task at hand, instead of being distracted every few minutes. We also appreciate that they can be easy to move around as either a temporary or permanent solution.

Improved Air Quality

Living screens that contain real indoor plants also contribute to improving the air quality within your office. Especially for people who are sensitive to pollution, improved air quality is something we are all looking to increase today. Live plants literally cleanse the air around you, making them ideal for use to create an overall healthy environment.

Maintenance

When installing these screens into your office, you may be concerned about them outgrowing your space. When it comes to these privacy screens, you have two options; artificial or live indoor plants. Of course, if you opt for artificial plants, you won’t have to worry about them growing beyond the wall. Even with real indoor plants, you will find that the types of moss and plants used are very easy to maintain and don’t need more than weekly attention or care.

Safety and Security

Safety is always been one of the top priorities today within offices and buildings. To keep people separated from hazards or unsightly areas, you may want to incorporate living screens into space. They can also keep unwanted visitors out of a space ideal for when a meeting is in progress or confidential matters are underway.

Planning Before You Install Living Screens

While living screens are quick and easy to install – usually completed in one day, we always encourage you to do some prior planning before purchasing this type of interior plantscape design for your office. The great news is that living privacy screens come in all shapes and sizes and can be fully customized to fit your requirements. You’ll want to start by meeting with the experts, and together planning out your space and deciding where exactly you want to place them.

As well as planning out the interior spaces you are trying to create within your office; you may want to think about your current indoor plantscaping. How will living privacy screens enhance your office’s overall aesthetic? When adding this new structure, we recommend that you use a living wall as an accent feature. Too many plants within a small space can reduce the impact of the element. 

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About Foliaire

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest quality plantscaping service for clients all across the Boston Metro area. We customize and plan all of our installations to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for both corporate and residential community projects. In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications, including Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape. Follow us on social media to learn more: 

What is a Living Wall?

We’re all looking for ways to bring more nature into our homes or offices. A living wall is an excellent way to elevate your current space. Sometimes known as green walls, this concept has been around for many years now but has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Living walls are no longer just reserved for huge architectural projects and are instead becoming staples of spaces of any size and shape. Today we’re going to share everything you need to know about adding a living wall to your property this year and the top considerations for adding this feature to a home or building.

What You’ll Learn In This Article:

What are Living Walls?

Living walls are panels of indoor plants which are grown vertically using hydroponics. They can either be attached to a wall or free-standing, depending on the space you are using. You may sometimes hear these structures referred to as green walls or vertical gardens. However, they generally refer to the same type of indoor plantscaping.

How Do Living Walls Work?

One reason why so many property owners today are considering indoor plantscaping with a living wall is a lack of space in modern residential spaces. Living walls are built in the same manner as regular walls. The fabrication team will start with a structure installed in individual sections to create your ideal living wall. You’ll find there are many high-tech options available on the market today, including self-watering systems with hidden pipes. While you can water your living wall by hand, self-watering is a great option for a low-maintenance solution for your home. Living walls work to add a large number of plants to even the smallest of spaces, thanks to the ability to extend all the way up your wall. So instead of taking over your floor as traditional indoor plants would do, you can make the most of unused space in your home and transform it into an indoor garden.

What are the Best Indoor Plants for Living Walls?

When selecting the best indoor plants for your living wall, it’s important to consider the space. Where you will be adding this feature to your property is the first decision you should consider. The type of plants you choose will be dependent on the size of the wall you are creating and the amount of light you can offer the plants.

Philodendrons are a popular option for living walls, as they are vining plants known for their fast growth. They need very little attention, which makes them a superb choice for this type of interior landscaping. Ferns are another good option for living walls, and they also grow reasonably quickly. However, they will need more moisture than other options and both should be placed in indirect but bright light where possible. Of course, the options are unlimited when adding plants to a living wall, so you can mix and match plants to create your desired look.

The Benefits of Adding a Living Wall to Your Home

Living walls offer an aesthetically pleasing addition to your already stylish home. You’ll find that living walls also offer a wide variety of benefits. Plants help absorb any carbon dioxide or other pollutants and then release clean oxygen instead to maintain a clean environment for your home. On top of that, they’ll minimize the noise in your home or from the apartment next door. Based on research, people’s mood and productivity are improved when surrounded by nature. Which is why living walls are so popular within offices today.

Within cities today, we are often running out of outdoor space to build new parks and outdoor green spaces. So individuals are looking for interior landscaping ideas to incorporate into apartments and office blocks. Yet, even during the winter months, you’ll still receive your daily dose of nature from the comfort of your home. When it’s more challenging to spend time outdoors, you can still enjoy nature indoors.

Where Can Living Walls be Installed?

Living walls are used by individuals and businesses today in a wide variety of buildings. They add a unique decorative element that will elevate any building and add a central focus point to the room. In addition, you’ll find that a living wall adds more texture and color to uninspiring spaces. They are the ideal solution for any property that has minimal floor space. Quaint apartment or an office filled with many desks and furniture? You can still add a beautiful living wall to your space. You can add living walls to hallways, reception areas, living rooms, meeting rooms, and any other space you fancy. It could be as small or as big as you like and designed to fit around even the most awkward wall spaces.

Custom Living Wall Designs

No two living walls will look the same, thanks to the variation in real plants used within their design. However, to create a really unique addition to your property, you can create a custom-made living wall. Green walls are customized to your specifications. This allows you to incorporate lighting, shelving, or a television screen into any space. Today, many companies use a living wall within their reception area and will incorporate their company’s logo or a welcome screen into the design. As with any interior landscaping, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating a living wall. You can customize it to blend in with your current home décor and styling.

Next Steps…

Living walls offer many benefits to homeowners today and have become a frequent addition to homes of all shapes and sizes. If you are looking to bring an element of nature into your home but have already run out of space for indoor plants, you’ll find this to be an excellent solution. Living walls can brighten up any home, and they offer many environmental and health benefits to property owners. By choosing the best indoor plants for your home environment, you can enjoy a daily dose of nature without having to spend too much time on the upkeep of your new wall feature.

Ready for your own custom living wall? Foliaire can help!

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About Foliaire

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest quality plantscaping service for clients all across the Boston Metro area. We customize and plan all of our installations to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for both corporate and residential community projects. In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications, including Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape. Follow us on social media to learn more: 

What is Urban Landscaping?

Cities today are becoming more populated than ever before, forcing exterior landscape designers to find new and creative ways to work with the city environment. Urban landscaping works to add residential and commercial gardens to areas with a small footprint. Residents in cities today are still looking to enjoy spending time outdoors. City landscaping helps to offer an improved quality of life for individuals worldwide.

What you’ll learn in this article:

Features of Urban Landscaping

Designers and landscapers today are incredibly creative when making the most of the limited space in city environments. Urban landscaping can transform any plot or rooftop into a beautiful space in which homeowners and residents will enjoy spending time outdoors. With the ever-increasing population in cities, these outdoor spaces help offer residents much-needed additional living space.

Urban landscaping commonly includes: 

  • Adding rooftop gardens to buildings
  • Terrace landscaping
  • Transforming courtyards or public areas within apartment complexes

In addition to private properties, large corporations use urban landscaping to offer their employees an outdoor space to visit on their lunch break. Individuals today are beginning to understand the benefits that spending time in nature can provide to everyone. Even in cities, creating beautiful outdoor spaces can be crafted with the proper design.

Urban landscaping usually combines various elements and techniques to create outdoor spaces that are functional yet aesthetically pleasing. Recreational areas and parks often feature modern art installations, playgrounds, and facilities for pets. They take older spaces and make them usable and accessible to an increased population. For instance, water management and horticulture best practices are the first steps. Then, buildings and outdoor spaces can offer residents the chance to spend more time in nature. These environmentally conscious spaces decrease stress and promote a more balanced lifestyle. These spaces last for very many years and serve to attract more residents in the future.

Urban landscaping on a rooftop area with beautiful foliage by Foliaire Inc. in Boston, MA

How Does Urban Landscaping Work?

Urban landscaping starts with a piece of land of any shape or size. Then, you improve its aesthetic and usability for the neighboring area or building. However beautiful your space is now, urban landscaping can completely transform it. The goal is to offer a beautiful and relaxing place of nature within the city. Of course, this can sometimes be an incredibly challenging undertaking, especially with more quaint and compact spaces. Urban landscaping involves architects, surveyors, horticulturists, and landscape designers. However, these experts work together to enhance the building while ensuring the garden is safe for humans and animals.

Planning is a crucial consideration when opting to add rooftop gardens or terrace landscaping to a property. Concept plans will help visualize whether the idea is realistic with the space you are working with and will help to strategically place plants, grass, and trees in the garden. Suppose fencing and decking are also part of the plan. In that case, you’ll also map out the plans for these additions. You can split urban landscape design into a few steps. This way, landscapers and designers work within city environments and make the most of their limited space.

Educational and Recreational Spaces

Urban landscaping also offers an excellent tool to educate the population on farming and wildlife. Moreover, community gardens often help schools or nonprofits. Many of these organizations welcome the public to visit to learn more about gardening with limited space. Today, many apartment blocks have a communal garden space. Most importantly, these spaces allow residents to meet and work together to maintain their surroundings. Furthermore, city farms can help children learn more about farm animals and gardens.

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Working With Restrictions

One of the biggest concerns when undertaking an urban landscaping project is the state and local government restrictions. These restrictions will dictate what you can add to a building’s rooftop or courtyard area and the extent to which you can change the area’s overall appearance. When adding plants or water features, it’s critical to consider both water restrictions and weight limitations, which may impact the water usage in an area. Natural bodies of water often can’t be touched within cities, which may reduce the space available to you when considering a city landscaping project.

Element restrictions can also dictate the type of plants and grass you can add to rooftop gardens. Some cities will only allow you to use low-water plants or native species. From there, you can review the zoning laws, which will regulate fence placement and height, and the structures, fencing, and decking you can add to a project. Restrictions may seem like quite an inconvenience for urban landscapers, but you must take the time to review these first for anyone undertaking a new project.

Planning for Urban Landscaping

Design mockup for urban landscaping rooftop project

After assessing all panning considerations, time must be allotted for the planning process. After that, you’ll be ready to begin constructing rooftop gardens or commercial gardens. The site will need to be fully surveyed and assessed to identify how you can transform it for another use. A plot plan or site plan will allow designers to find locations for drainage. For permanent structures, blueprints are submitted to ensure that the project is allowed to go ahead and will follow all of the restrictions in place in the city.

Key Takeaways

The number of people living within cities is only continuing to increase. With the limited number of private gardens attached to homes, urban landscaping helps to offer residents a way to spend time outdoors and connect with nature. The work that landscapers and designers complete today in cities are incredible. They can take an old and unused space and repurpose it for specific communities. If you’re thinking about urban landscaping, you should always follow the regulations for your local area. Create thorough plans before starting work. With the right guidance, you can make the most of any outdoor space and create a beautiful roof garden or terrace to make your evirons enjoyable.

If you’re looking to take advantage of your urban environment, Foliaire can help!

Learn more about our expert city landscape design services today

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About Foliaire

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest quality plantscaping service for clients all across the Boston Metro area. We customize and plan all of our installations to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for both corporate and residential community projects. In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications, including Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape. Follow us on social media to learn more:

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