From Lawn to
Living Landscape

Transforming a Shaded Front Yard into a Pollinator-Friendly Haven

About this Project

This small residential project in Somerset County, New Jersey, initially aimed to address shade tolerance and poor drainage in the front yard, where grass had struggled to grow.

However, the project quickly evolved into a more exciting opportunity to create an ecologically rich and visually appealing landscape. The all-native plant palette—including purple coneflower, Culver’s Root, Wood Aster, and Inkberry Holly—was designed to attract pollinators, reduce maintenance, and provide seasonal interest.

Custom Corten steel edging added structure to the planting beds, while additional topsoil ensured healthy growth conditions. This project was hands-on from start to finish, balancing beauty with ecological functionality, including pollinator support and stormwater management.

Purple coneflowers blooming in a garden.

featured plant
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Project Facts

Native Plant Count: 112

Plant Palette: Purple coneflower, Culver’s Root, Ansonia, Wood Aster, Tickseed, Summer Sweet Pepperbush, Witch Hazel, Inkberry Holly, Wood fern, Anemone, Veronicastrum, and Wood’s Sedge.

Ecosystem Services: Pollinator support, stormwater management, and lower garden maintenance.

Hardscaping: Custom Corten steel edging

Seasonal Interest: Witch Hazel blooms in the late winter, Aemone and Amsonia in the spring, Echinacea and Clethra in the summer, Aster in the fall.

Site Photo: Before.JPG
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Butterfly resting on a pink coneflower.
Plant Nursery.JPG
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Digital Layout Plan.jpg
Close-up of purple coneflowers in a garden next to a house.
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Garden bed with green plants and pink flowers bordered by Corten steel edging.
Purple coneflowers and other plants in a backyard garden
Green ferns planted in a garden bed.
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Bee pollinating a white flower in a garden
Purple coneflowers blooming in a garden.
Lush garden with various plants, ferns, and flowers near a porch and house.
Purple coneflowers growing in a garden bed with green foliage.

Client Testimonial

“Design Ecosystems took the time to explain how each plant contributes to the ecosystem, making it clear how much care and knowledge went into the planning.

Working with Dean and Tom was a pleasure—professional, communicative, and genuinely invested in creating a garden that not only enhances the space but also makes a positive environmental impact. I highly recommend Design Ecosystems to anyone looking to design a garden that is both beautiful and beneficial to pollinators.”