

Starting plants from seed can be a rewarding experience. It allows you to be in control of the way plants are grown, the varieties that are grown, and the timing of plantings. If you are new to the process, start small, be successful and add more varieties next year!
We like to think of gardening as a fun science experiment and encourage our neighbors to try new things, observe the changes with curiosity, and record data to compare the next time around. There is no ‘perfect ‘ way to start seeds, but there are a few basic best practices. These tips can get you started on the journey from a few small seeds to a full-time jungle of a hobby!
As always, the friendly and courteous staff at Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center are happy to answer your questions, provide guidance, and give you a little extra help with your seed starting adventure. Stop by and pick up everything you need to get started!
Contact us today at 410-255-7730 or visit our location 7 days a week.
As the weather warms and schedules become crammed with sports activities, concerts, picnics and other school and social events, it’s natural to long for some quiet space to relax and unwind. That space could be in your own backyard!
Check out the latest outdoor living trends for 2023 and gather inspiration for creating the tranquil backyard oasis of your dreams.
Outstanding outdoor kitchens on statement stone patios set the standard for modern outdoor living. Tuck in a few herb containers on the patio or install an elevated stone kitchen garden for easy access to fresh ingredients to throw on the grill. Carefully designed sitting areas bring the comfort of indoor living to the outdoors, whether it’s a book and coffee nook for two, an outdoor bar for a few, or a bench and firepit combo for your whole crew! Fire and water elements add a touch of Zen-like tranquility to your quiet space. Or – if you like the idea of neighborhood festivities in your backyard – get creative and add a life size chess board, horseshoe pitch, or bocce ball court!
Carefully manicured landscapes in cool shades of green and white can bring a sense of peace and elegance to your surroundings, separating your space from the hectic outside world. Crisp hedges create privacy, while a few well-placed topiaries or carefully pruned trees add a three-dimensional quality that draws the eye. Stone paths and thoughtfully selected statuary add architectural interest. Columns, pillars, and urns in marble tones are timeless elements! The whole effect is enhanced by a few touches of whimsy – either with pops of perennial color in shades of purple and pink, a small water feature, or an ornate mirror or sundial as a focal point. Even the smallest spaces can benefit from the classic elements of a formal garden.
The native trend is no longer a trend… It’s here to stay! Native plants benefit the environment by creating food and habitat for beautiful birds, precious pollinators, and local wildlife. The many varieties of native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials create 4-season interest, featuring outstanding flowers and fragrance, evergreen interest, edible berries, gorgeous fall color, and more! Even a small patio planter full of flowering native perennials can benefit bees and butterflies. Enhance your outdoor space with a few native selections and draw nature in to your oasis!
Wherever your daydreams take you… let the friendly experts at Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center help you transform your yard into a uniquely beautiful habitat. Contact landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com or call 410-255-7730 to schedule a free consultation.
Contact us today at 410-255-7730 or landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com to schedule your free consultation.
Because there were no formal schools for landscape architecture in the late 1890s, Beatrix Farrand taught herself. She was introduced to Charles Sprague Sargent who served as the director of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University. Professor Sargent opened the facilities of the Arboretum to her and she became his apprentice. Farrand traveled abroad visiting and studying gardens to add to her self-taught education.
Farrand started a business in New York City out of her mother’s home. Over her career, she designed over 200 gardens for private estates, including those of John D. Rockefeller, Mrs. Henry Cabot Lodge and even the White House, where she worked for Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. Her public commissions included The New York Botanic Gardens as well as some of the country’s most prestigious private universities and colleges. Her well-known campus work began with a commission from Princeton in 1913, and led to eventual projects for Yale, Harvard, Oberlin College, and the University of Chicago. The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania recently restored and rededicated the gardens designed by Farrand.
Among the existing examples of her work are the terraced garden rooms of Dumbarton Oaks, the carriage roads of Acadia National Park, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, the old campus at Princeton University, Harkness Memorial State Park and The New York Botanic Garden. Now the headquarters of the Beatrix Farrand Society, Garland Farm is presently restoring her gardens as well as establishing an educational center with a library and archives.
In 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects was established with Farrand being the only female among its eleven original members. She was instrumental in the concept of vertical gardening and selecting plants that would provide interest during the school terms at the colleges and universities. She was famous for her advocacy of native landscapes and using plans to fit the grounds, not the other way around. Her commitment to horticulture and to her profession inspired others to follow in her footsteps.
Dumbarton Oaks
Contact us today at 410-255-7730 or landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com to schedule your free consultation.
Whether you’re prepping raised bed vegetable gardens, building a DIY patio, or applying fresh mulch to your garden beds, at some point you will need to decide about bulk material – what to buy, how much the project requires, and where to purchase the material. Himmel’s can help!
Himmel’s sells bulk items by volume. This is because we do not have a mechanism for weighing material to sell by the ton. Our machines are equipped with ½ yard and 1-yard buckets. A yard is a volume measurement.
If you are comparing pricing for bulk material, make sure to ask if the material is sold by the yard or by the ton. Once you have your price list, you can do some simple math to break all the pricing down to ½ ton increments and make a fair comparison.
Divide the price per ton by 2 to arrive at the ½ ton price, then multiply by 3 to arrive at the price per yard [because remember… one yard = 1.5 tons].
Or – divide the price per yard by 3 to arrive at the price per ½ ton.
This quick equation will allow you to compare ½ ton pricing among different vendors.
For example:
Quality, convenience, and price are important factors to consider when purchasing bulk material. Make sure to compare delivery fees too!
The amount of material depends on the type of project. For construction projects, safety regulations and building codes require a specific amount of aggregate or material for a base layer. The depth depends on whether the project is for pedestrian or vehicular application. For mulch beds, 2-3” is generally sufficient, although some gardeners prefer up to 4” of mulch. The amount of soil, compost, or fill dirt is related to the volume required for the area. A cubic yard measurement will most accurately meet your volume needs.
For example, if you have 4 raised bed gardens, each one is 12’x4’, and you want to top-dress with 4” of compost:
It’s the perfect time of year to start planning your next project! We would love to be a part of it. Call Himmel’s or visit us online and let us help you determine your material and quantity needs.
And if you decide you just don’t feel like doing it yourself, contact landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com for a free consultation, and let our friendly and detail-oriented landscaping and hardscaping crews do it for you!
Contact us today at 410-255-7730 or landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com to schedule your free consultation.
Do you dread spending your free time mowing a lawn that never seems to grow as green or weed-free as you’d like it to? Have you heard of lawn-free alternatives, but are uncertain how to make it happen in your yard? Let the experts at Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center help you lose the lawn and create a better, healthier, and more beautiful world by replacing it with a pollinator-friendly habitat!
At Himmel’s, we offer two popular lawn alternatives: a drought tolerant rock garden filled with hardy perennials and native shrubs, or a blooming wildflower meadow that provides outstanding color and interest.
Add architectural interest with beautiful boulders and colorful river rock! Careful placement of native shrubs will provide food and habitat for songbirds and beneficial pollinators, while pockets of hardy perennials and succulents draw the eye and add interesting color and texture. Add a few ornamental edible plants like blueberries, kale, bronze fennel, and Swiss chard to make the best use of space. Careful selection and proper installation will ensure that the beauty grows, and the maintenance is minimized!
Planting a beneficial wildflower meadow, even one as small as 20 square feet, will have a tremendous impact on our native wildlife, providing food and shelter for precious pollinators including bees, birds, and butterflies. Replacing any portion of lawn with a biologically diverse wildflower meadow will help draw beneficial insects, control pests like mosquitos and white flies, and contribute to a healthier, balanced ecosystem.
Did you know that spending time outdoors observing nature contributes to improved wellness?
A new wildflower garden can positively benefit your family and neighbors! The visual appeal of colorful blooms and seedheads, the beautiful variety of pollinators and birds that will be attracted to the new habitat, the pleasing fragrances, and the delight of birdsong will surely bring added joy.
Whether you prefer a wildflower meadow or a hardy rock garden, our friendly and professional landscaping team can’t wait to help you replace the lawn with an environmentally friendly alternative. We will help with a personalized design, professional installation, and post-installation guidance and clear instruction to ensure the success of your new garden.
Contact us today at 410-255-7730 or landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com to schedule your free consultation.
Although the plants in your winter garden are dormant, their tiny biological clocks are ticking, which means there is a lot of action happening underground! Soon leaf buds will sprout and leaves will unfurl as your landscape awakens to the warmth of spring. You may have already noticed snowdrops or other bulbs emerging and even in bloom! Will your gardens be ready for spring?
At Himmel’s, we know that for your plants to live their healthiest and best lives, regular maintenance is key. Each season provides an opportunity to observe the natural beauty of plants in the landscape, tend to the needs of the garden, and make valuable enhancements that will improve the longevity of the magnificent habitat you have worked so hard to create.
Hard pruning, debris cleanup, and garden bed prep with soil enhancements are a few of the services we offer during the winter months. Our professional and courteous landscaping and maintenance crews are well trained to ensure that your landscape has a healthy growing season, and that your property always looks its best.
Want to start an herb and vegetable garden this year? Let us help you put together a plan for custom raised beds that will maximize your unique space! We can even help you choose which varieties will work best and produce the greatest yield.
Winter is also a great time to start making plans for your summer patio and firepit, outdoor kitchen, or other hardscaping addition. Let our experienced and ICPI-certified design team help you plan the backyard of your dreams!
Don’t wait! Call 410-255-7730 or email landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com to schedule your free consultation today!