Blog
Celebrating 50 Years of Extraordinary Gardens
McDugald Steele Marks a Milestone in Houston Landscape Architecture
moreA Guide to Selecting a Landscape Architecture Firm
A helpful guide for selecting the best landscape architecture firm for your garden project.
morePlant Care: After Snow & Freezing Weather
While the aftermath of cold weather in a garden can be disheartening, many plants have a remarkable ability to bounce back with the right care. Here's a guide to post-snow and freeze plant recovery.
moreConfidence in Summer Planting
You might have heard some misconceptions about planting in the summer heat, but we believe that with the proper plant selection, bed preparation, and garden management, you can enhance your garden's beauty any time of the year. Below are a few simple tips to ensure your summer planting is successful.
more2021 John Staub Award
The new landscape design of the unique 2 1/2 acre site was conceived as a part of a larger transformation of the home inspired by the work of Sir Edwin Lutyens. We worked in collaboration with the architect and interior designer to create gardens integrally tied to the home's architecture. A strong axis was created through the site from the front pond to the series of 'outdoor' rooms extending into the native planting beyond.
The pool was repositioned back into the garden to allow for the creation of a new raised courtyard, expressive of the English Country Garden style. This elevated garden terraces down to the pool and out to the lawn beyond. Close to the house are a series of outdoor rooms connected by curvilinear reclaimed cobblestone pathways often flanked by clipped and loosely relaxed plantings. Specimen trees were planted to call attention to different sections of the garden.
The goal was for the home to appear as if it had always been there. To soften the rough limestone exterior and to knit the home into the landscape, climbing vines were added to soften the connection to the lush plant masses on the ground plane.
Rustic timber gates reinforce the countryside theme while flowering star jasmine vines encapsulate the fencing resulting in a natural clipped hedge aesthetic.
moreFall in Love with Seasonal Color
The fall season is upon us and with it brings the opportunity for extraordinary seasonal color. Fall’s seasonal color comes in an array of shapes, sizes, and textures suitable for any garden style. Depending on your garden, these versatile plants can fill your beds, borders, and containers with rich hues throughout the season.
See our Garden Management team’s top seasonal color selections that will make your garden extraordinary this autumn.
moreThe Details In Garden Design
Since 1975, McDugald Steele's award-winning landscape architects have been designing some of Houston's most extraordinary gardens. The team's superior knowledge and expertise provides a client with trusted guidance while designing their dream garden. The level of detail our licensed landscape architects provide is prevalent on every McDugald Steele garden and is simply unmatched.
See the design detail our landscape architects bring to every McDugald Steele project.
Conceptual Design Development
A garden's design should be a direct reflection of the home's architecture. Oftentimes our landscape architects meet with the home's architect and interior designer to explore overall design intent as well as ensuring the garden design fits within the proposed budget. During the conceptual design phase, our landscape architects determine the aesthetic and functionality of the outdoor spaces, how they interact with the home through the use of plant and hardscape materials.
Coordinating with Engineers
Based on the scope of the project, an engineer may be utilized within the project team to develop quality and sustainable garden designs that meet respective municipal structural codes. These experienced professionals assure our conceptual designs will stand the test of time by conducting site analysis, producing soil reports, and providing stamped construction drawings.
moreExtraordinary Blooms Have Returned
As a result of our expert team of landscape professionals' attention to detail and consistent nurturing, gardens are exhibiting extraordinary growth.
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