The Big One: Keepin’ it classic

Company: Designscapes Colorado
Location: Englewood, Colo.

Designscapes Colorado installed the landscaping at this neoclassical home about 20 years ago. When a client moved into the home 10 years later, Designscapes came in to handle the maintenance.

The client wanted to maintain a seasonal aesthetic. Services include weekly mowing, installation of annual color, pruning and trimming shrubs, performing seasonal cleanups and installing holiday lighting. The property is maintained by a crew of eight to 10 employees.

According to Phil Steinhauer, owner of the company and designer of the original installation, one of the property’s biggest challenges is the detail and the variety. “There are some small grass areas, some large grass areas, lots of flower beds and lots of blooming shrubs,” he says.

Paying attention to detail is how the company overcomes this challenge. Steinhauer says the account manager walks the property on a weekly basis and looks for different areas the crew needs to focus on. Steinhauer also notes that as the property has matured, some areas that were sunny are now shady, so beds are being redesigned as the trees get larger.

The company uses a variety of equipment on the property, including 48-inch Walker ride-on mowers, 30- and 36-inch walk-behind mowers, hand pruners, hedge shears, string trimmers and backpack blowers.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

A view of the grand entry of the neoclassical home captured in the early 2000s when Designscapes Colorado began landscape management on one of the homeowners’ many properties the firm has maintained.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

Now in 2019, ninebark shrubs peer over the brick retaining wall lined with boxwood hedges, hypnotica lavender, hot pink geraniums and white vinca.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

Euonymus shrubs and crabapple trees surround a hand-sculpted sitting bench.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

A composed row of boxwood hedges.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

Autumn Brilliance maple trees with mixed wax begonias align the winding driveway.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

A closeup of the delicately planted mixed wax begonias in the tree rings.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

To the west of the driveway, boxwood hedges, white peonies, white shrub roses and red barberry border a gravel pathway that leads the homeowners to the sentimental rose garden.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

An early photo of the rose garden.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

The formal lawn, mowed weekly, lies to the north of the pool terrace and organic moss grows between the patios seems.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

The pool terrace filled with symmetrical displays of annual plantings.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

Hydrangeas, catmint and begonias outline the inner garden wall.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

Lilac SunPatiens surround the outskirt of the fountain, while linden trees and mixed wax begonias fall into the background.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

Evergreen Euonymus “Sarcoxie” climb up the brick retaining wall.

Photo: Designscapes Colorado

A view of the traditional colonnade as Clematis “Jackmanii” twirls around the posts.