Business Details
23 Years
experience
Your Trusted Landscape Design & Gardening Partner in Boston
Terrascapes Landscape Design & Fine Gardening, founded in 2003 by Massachusetts Certified Horticulturalist Susan Opton, is a full-service landscape design and fine gardening firm serving residential clients in Boston and surrounding areas. Our team of four landscape designers, eight fine gardeners, and specialized horticulturists deliver sustainable, client-centric solutions through landscape design/installation, seasonal container programs, and comprehensive garden maintenance.With expertise in ecological practices, we prioritize long-term planning, organic pest control, and native plant integration. Our work spans from small urban gardens to large estate transformations, supported by community initiatives like the Needham Adopt a Space program. We combine artistic design elements with functional outdoor living spaces, emphasizing environmental stewardship and client education.
Services
Landscape Design
Fine Gardening
Container Installation
Garden Restoration
Organic Rose Care
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of landscape design experience with certified horticulturists
- Our sustainable practices integrate native plants and organic maintenance methods
- We provide full-service solutions from initial design to installation and maintenance
- Our team includes American Rose Society judges and specialized container designers
- We maintain community green spaces through the Needham Adopt a Space program
What people say
Expertise
Transformed outdoor spaces
Personalized service
Sustainable practices
Professional team
Services
Landscape Design
Our landscape design service creates customized outdoor spaces that reflect your lifestyle and property. We combine artistic elements like water features and stone with sustainable practices to maximize usability. Our process includes site analysis, concept development, and detailed planting plans for installations that balance aesthetics with ecological responsibility.
Fine Gardening
Professional seasonal maintenance services keep your landscape thriving year-round. Our horticulturists provide pruning, pest management, and plant care using organic methods. We offer weekly or monthly visits for established gardens, including restoration of neglected landscapes through proper horticultural techniques and soil management.
Container Installation
Custom container designs enhance entrances and outdoor living areas with seasonal interest. We create artistic arrangements for spring, summer, fall, and winter using client-provided or sourced containers. Our designs incorporate color theory and plant compatibility to maintain visual appeal throughout the growing season and beyond.
Garden Restoration
We specialize in revitalizing neglected gardens through structural pruning and ecological rehabilitation. Our process removes excess mulch, restores proper plant spacing, and implements sustainable maintenance practices. This service transforms overgrown spaces into healthy, manageable landscapes while preserving mature plant material where possible.
Garden Education
Through hands-on guidance and practical demonstrations, we teach clients about plant care and sustainable practices. Our educational approach covers seasonal maintenance requirements, organic pest control methods, and long-term landscape management strategies tailored to your specific garden conditions and plant selections.
People
Susan Opton
Owner, Design Director
Massachusetts Certified Horticulturalist with 20+ years experience. Graduate of Harvard's Landscape Institute. Active member of APLD, ASLA, and COGdesign. Founded Terrascapes Landscape Design & Fine Gardening in 2003 after career in healthcare.
Emma Tizio
Senior Landscape Architect
Landscape architect with Penn State degree. Works across design and maintenance divisions. Specializes in horticultural integration with landscape architecture. Holds pesticide license for pest management.
Lynne Butler
Staff Landscape Designer
BS in Plant & Soil Science from UMaine. 22 years experience in Los Angeles residential design. American Rose Society judge. Expert in native New England plant applications.
Brooke Morin
Project Coordinator
Business Management graduate from Wentworth Institute. Coordinates design projects and container programs. Manages client communications and project scheduling for landscape installations.
Questions
What services does Terrascapes Landscape Design & Fine Gardening offer?
We provide landscape design/installation, fine gardening maintenance, seasonal container programs, garden restoration, and horticultural education for residential properties.
How does the landscape design process work?
Our process includes initial consultation, site analysis, concept development, design revisions, and installation. We begin with a $100/hour site visit that applies toward your design fee.
Do you serve areas outside Boston?
We serve Boston Metro-West communities including Needham, Wellesley, Natick, Sherborn, and surrounding towns. Projects extend to Hudson, Plymouth, and Andover.
What makes your gardening services different?
Our horticulturists use organic methods and hold pesticide licenses. We focus on ecological practices, long-term planning, and plant health management for sustainable landscapes.
Can you help with container gardening year-round?
Yes, we design seasonal container arrangements for spring, summer, fall, and winter. We install in existing containers or source new ones for year-round visual interest.
Are you involved in community projects?
We maintain a Needham community space through the Adopt a Space program and donate design services to local organizations and fundraising events.
