The Blog

Learn how some of the best landscape architects are turning ordinary spaces into superior city parks. There are many elements to creating a good neighborhood city park, from reducing noise pollution to forming a space that speaks to your community. The Trust for Public Land uses a scale known as ParkScore to assess a region’s parks and green spaces. Scores …

A good pedestrian plaza breathes new life into an area, and can serve as a gathering place for both civic and social matters. A central plaza or square serves a critical role in an urban area’s overall vibe, it can draw people in and increase traffic to local businesses. There are pedestrian plazas all around the world. Some offer excellent …

Effective bike lanes offer cyclists a safe and separated lane to travel on alongside motorists. Biking is better for people and the environment, but bike lane design can alter how many people use them and their overall safety. For instance, cyclists may be hesitant to ride along poorly marked bike lanes, or lanes that seem too close and unprotected from …

Installing bike lanes improves safety and encourages eco-friendly travel, but can adding bike lanes increase traffic congestion? This is a common concern since more people drive than ride bikes and to carve out room in the road for a bike lane, you must take away from motorist lanes. Still, big cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago are busy …

You can improve business curb appeal without breaking the bank. The landscaping and curb appeal of your business sells the story of your brand, offering the first impression of your business. “Curb appeal” is a term often used to describe residential homes, but it’s equally important in the commercial sphere. After all, people have a choice where they spend their …

Planters are made from a wide variety of materials, some of which could be detrimental to your health when used to grow edible fruits and vegetables. That’s because toxins in the planter can leach into the soil and turn organic lettuce into contaminated lettuce. Growing your own fruit and veggie garden offers ample health benefits, there’s no reason to undo …

Extra-large planters add a lot of ‘wow’ factor to landscaping, but the fact they can be incredibly heavy deters some designers and business owners from investing in them. That’s where extra-large lightweight planters come into play—offering all the appeal of large planters without the drawbacks of using a forklift to move them. Before we get into that though, some benefits …

We bet you didn’t think commercial receptacles could be interesting, but think again! Placement of trashcans and recycling bins, as well as how many are readily available, make a big difference to how much litter is found around your property. As well as how well visitors and employees recycle. While the focus on recycling has largely been on curbside and …

There are two fundamental reasons TerraCast Products is known for making one of the most durable custom outdoor planters on the market: 1) Materials, and 2) Process. Stone, concrete, metal—there are many different materials used to create planters. Most of these materials are prone to cracking, staining, or rusting in a matter of one to several years. There’s one material …

From courtyards to city squares, there are many great examples of municipal landscapes across the world to seek inspiration from. Designing these spaces is no easy job. It takes a lot of consideration and planning to protect the best interests of the public regarding health and safety, as well as the usability and attractiveness of a space. A great municipal …