Landscape Design and Architecture in Kennett Square, PA

A landscape should do more than look good from the street. It should change how you experience your property—how you arrive home, how you move through the yard, where your eye rests, and how the seasons reveal themselves across your outdoor space.

GreenRoots Design Firm has been creating custom landscape designs for homes across Chester County, PA and northern Delaware since 2002. We are a landscape architecture and installation firm, which means we do not just draw plans and hand them off. We design the vision, then we build it—ensuring that every line on the blueprint translates into something you can walk through, sit in, and enjoy for decades. Having your designer oversee your project is what gives each project a level of detail that cannot be generated by anyone other than the designer with the original vision.

Our approach is rooted in a principle the team lives by: no detail is overlooked. From the species of grass that borders a walkway to the angle of a retaining wall to the specific stone chosen for a patio—every decision is intentional, every material is selected for how it will look, feel, and age on your specific property.

What Landscape Design Means at GreenRoots

Landscape design is a broad term. For some firms, it means choosing shrubs and placing them along a property line. At GreenRoots, landscape design means reimagining how an entire property functions as a living environment. We consider the architecture of your home, the topography of your lot, the way light and shadow move across the land, the views you want to preserve, and the experiences you want your outdoor space to provide.

Our team includes designers with backgrounds in home architecture, horticulture, and project management. That combination is deliberate. When our designer Josh considers a backyard, he is thinking about how the inside of your home affects the outside—where the sight lines fall from your kitchen window, how the transition from indoor flooring to outdoor paving should feel underfoot. When our horticulturist Jaime selects plantings, she is thinking about plant behavior, interactions, and long-term impact on the garden ecosystem—not just what will look good in May, but what will thrive in October and endure for years.

This is the difference between decoration and design. One puts things in a space. The other shapes how the space makes you feel.

Our Landscape Design Services

Personal Consultations and Site Analysis. Every project begins at your property. We walk the grounds with you, discuss your goals, and conduct a thorough site analysis that evaluates sun exposure, grading, drainage, existing vegetation, soil conditions, and the architectural context of your home. This is not a sales pitch—it is the foundation of everything that follows.

Custom Landscape Design Plans. We create detailed design plans tailored to your property’s unique dimensions, topography, and character. These are not templates pulled from a catalog. Every plan is drawn from scratch, considering the specific conditions of your site and the specific way you want to live in your outdoor space. Our plans address everything from hardscape layouts and planting palettes to lighting, grading, and drainage solutions. Every design we produce has put hours and hours into consideration of every possibility and consideration for your home and lifestyle.

3D Design Walkthroughs and Renderings. This is where GreenRoots truly sets itself apart. Before any work begins on your property, we create immersive 3D renderings that let you experience your future landscape from multiple perspectives. Stand at your back door and see the new patio. Walk the proposed path to the fire pit. View the pool house from the perspective of someone sitting at the outdoor dining table at sunset. Our 3D walkthroughs have included outdoor rooms, fire pit designs, pergola placements, pool houses, and complete backyard transformations—all rendered in detail so you can refine the vision before a shovel touches the ground.

Master Plans. For properties that require a phased approach—or for homeowners who want a comprehensive long-term vision—we develop master plans that map out the full potential of your outdoor space. A master plan allows you to build in stages while ensuring every phase connects to a cohesive whole. This is especially valuable for larger properties in areas like Chadds Ford, Glenmoore, and Villanova where the landscape may include multiple zones across significant acreage.

Detailed Plant Specifications. Our planting plans go beyond species names. We specify mature sizes, seasonal behavior, root patterns, water requirements, and how each plant interacts with its neighbors over time. The goal is a landscape that looks intentional in year one and exceptional in year five.

From Design to Installation: One Team, One Vision

Most landscape design firms design. Some install. Very few do both at the level GreenRoots does. Our designers and our installation crews are part of the same team, working under the same roof, meeting every week to discuss active projects. When our project manager Bryan walks a site with the installation crew, he is carrying the full context of the design intent—not interpreting a set of drawings someone else created.

This matters more than most homeowners realize. The difference between a retaining wall that feels like it belongs and one that feels like an afterthought often comes down to a two-inch adjustment that only makes sense if the builder understands why the designer placed it there. At GreenRoots, that knowledge never gets lost in translation.

In our Kennett Square “Modern Meets Nature” project, the design called for plants tucked into juxtaposed stones at the driveway entrance—a subtle detail that created a functional arrival softened by nature. That detail survives from concept to completion because the same team carries it through.

Landscape Design Across Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware

From our home base in Kennett Square, we serve homeowners throughout Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County in Pennsylvania, as well as Wilmington, Greenville, and Newark in Delaware. Our portfolio includes projects in West Chester, Chadds Ford, Chestnut Hill, Newtown Square, Villanova, Garnet Valley, and Glenmoore—each designed for the specific character of its community.

Southeastern Pennsylvania offers a remarkable diversity of landscapes. The rolling lots of Chadds Ford present different design opportunities than the compact urban properties of Chestnut Hill or the established neighborhoods of Wilmington. We do not apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Every design responds to its site, its architecture, and the people who will live in it.

Why Homeowners Choose GreenRoots

Founded in 2002. Over two decades of landscape design and installation experience across the region. Our longevity means we have seen how our designs age—and we design with that long view in mind.

Full-Service Firm. Design and installation under one roof. No miscommunication between designer and contractor. No compromises during the build.

Community-Rooted. We are part of the Kennett Square community. We participate in the annual Mushroom Festival, we helped break ground on the Kennett Bike Park, we host students from Williamson Trade School, and we built a walking trail at a local kindergarten. This is our home, and the work we do here reflects that.

Award-Winning Design. Our work has been recognized by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), and our projects are documented by professional photography and videography teams because the results warrant it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does landscape design cost in Chester County?

Design fees depend on the scope and complexity of the project. A focused design for a single outdoor area is a different investment than a comprehensive master plan for an entire property. We discuss budget during the consultation process so we can design a plan that delivers maximum impact within your range. The design fee is always separate from installation costs, and we are transparent about both.

How far in advance should I start planning?

We recommend beginning the design process 6-12 months before your ideal installation date. For spring and summer installations, that means starting conversations in fall or winter. December and January are some of our most productive design months—by the time the ground thaws, your plan is finalized and the crew is ready to begin. However, the more time the better. If you know that you want to install in 2 years, reaching out today is the safest way to allow ample time for detailed designs, selection and sourcing of materials and the permitting process.

Do you only work on large properties?

Not at all. Some of our most rewarding projects have been compact spaces—urban backyards in Chestnut Hill, courtyard gardens in downtown Kennett Square, and townhome patios in West Chester. Great design is not about square footage. It is about making every square foot count.

What is the first step?

Contact us for a personal consultation or call 484-739-8314. We will discuss your vision and begin the conversation about what your landscape could become.

Ready to reimagine your landscape? Contact us for a consultation or call 484-739-1218.

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