Design • Build • Care
Shape Your Realscape
From native plantings to stonework and lighting, we create outdoor spaces that feel natural, purposeful, and easy to enjoy.
- Native Planting
- Stone & Hardscape
- Seasonal Care
Our Services
Built for real life outdoors
Native Planting
Plant communities, not plant lists.
We design layered, site‑specific plant communities using locally appropriate natives. Expect four‑season interest, less irrigation, and habitat for birds & pollinators.
- Site & soil analysis
- Water‑wise palettes
- Deer‑smart selections
- Irrigation tune/retrofit
Recent Projects
Real spaces, carefully built
Forest‑Edge Backyard, Kilworth
A low‑impact terrace floats at the edge of a Carolinian woodlot. Locally sourced flagstone and layered native understory make the space feel like it’s always been there.
Permeable build, shade‑tolerant species, and night‑safe lighting keep wildlife and neighbors happy.
Urban Stone Courtyard, London
A tight city lot turned into a quiet, layered retreat. Dry‑laid stone, cedar screening, and pollinator‑rich planters bring texture and privacy without feeling heavy.
Everything drains, breathes, and ages well—built once, loved for years.
Pollinator Front Yard, Byron
Turf out, habitat in. A resilient meadow‑inspired palette softens the street edge while a stone ribbon path guides guests to the door.
Four‑season interest, less watering, more life—designed for people and pollinators.
Our Process
Crafted, not complicated.
We guide you from first walk‑through to long‑term care with a clear, human process. Built for your site, your habits, and our climate.
Every project is site‑specific: native palettes, permeable builds, and details that age beautifully. You’ll always know what’s next—and why it matters.
Start your planStep 1
Discover
Site walk, goals, budget, and a concept path that respects the land.
Step 2
Design
Scaled plans, materials, and native planting palettes with maintenance in mind.
Step 3
Build
Permeable hardscape, careful grading, and clean installs that last.
Step 4
Care
Right‑season pruning and soil health so your landscape matures gracefully.
Field Guides
Know your site. Plant with purpose.
Actionable, local advice to help you design, build, and care for your landscape—season by season.
Shade‑Tolerant Natives
A layered palette for the north side: ferns, sedges, and spring ephemerals.
Permeable Patio Basics
Base layers, edge restraint, and joint media that drain and last.
Deer‑Resistant Planting
From aromatic perennials to textured foliage—what actually works.
Rain Garden 101
Sizing the basin, selecting plants, and connecting downspouts.
Pruning by Season
Dormant vs. green‑season cuts, and a simple structure checklist.
Low‑Voltage Lighting
Color temp, beam spreads, and simple wiring that lasts.
No guides match your filters—try a different topic or clear the search.
At a glance
- Light: Dappled / north exposure
- Soil: Leaf‑litter rich, well‑drained
- Water: Low after establishment
Palette starters
Christmas fern, wild ginger, foamflower, Pennsylvania sedge, Solomon’s seal, wood aster.
Design moves
Layer groundcovers under clump‑forming ferns; keep edges loose; mulch with shredded leaves, not bark.
Structure
- Excavate to stable subgrade
- Open‑graded base (e.g., 3/4" clear) in lifts
- Bedding layer (1/4" clear)
- Stone with spacer tabs or open joints
- Aggregate infill (no polymeric sand)
Checklist
Edge restraint, 2% cross‑slope, drain points, and clean compaction between lifts.
Principles
- Avoid salad‑bar plants (soft, tasty new growth)
- Favor aromatic and fuzzy/rough foliage
- Plant in masses; confuse browsing patterns
Try these
Yarrow, catmint, black‑eyed Susan, switchgrass, boxwood, false indigo, hellebore.
Protect what’s precious
Use temporary cages or repellent on new shrubs until established.
Sizing
Target 10–20% of roof area. Dig a shallow basin, broad not deep, with a level spreader at the inlet.
Soils & plants
Loamy mix (40/40/20 sand/compost/topsoil). Use sedges, blue flag iris, Joe‑Pye, and swamp milkweed.
Overflow
Direct high flows to a gravel sump or daylight with erosion controls.
Winter (dormant)
Structure cuts for trees/shrubs; remove crossing/dead; never “lion‑tail”.
Summer (green season)
Light shaping, deadheading, pinching. Avoid heavy cuts in heat.
Ten‑minute check
- Branch collar visible
- Three‑cut method on anything heavy
- Clean, sharp tools
Goals
Warm 2700K light, shielded fixtures, and dark‑sky friendly aiming.
Beams & fixtures
12–24° for accents, 30–60° for paths. Stagger, don’t runway.
Wiring
12V AC, weatherproof connections, load 70–80% of transformer capacity.
About Realscapes
Landscapes that belong to the place.
We design, build, and care for outdoor spaces with a light touch—native planting, permeable craft, and details that mature beautifully.
Rooted in ecology
Native palettes and permeable builds so water sinks in, wildlife moves through, and your landscape feels like it’s always belonged.
Learn moreBuilt to last
Dry‑laid stone, honest grading, and materials chosen to weather well. We build for decades—then stand behind it.
Our processStewardship, not upkeep
Quiet, ecological maintenance—right‑season pruning, soil health, and small adjustments that help your garden thrive with less input.
Maintenance plansStart a Project
Tell us about your site.
A few details help us prepare a tailored plan. We typically reply within one business day.
- +1 (226) 555‑1234
- hello@realscapes.ca
- London & nearby communities