Can't-Miss Tips From One Of Chicago's Top Landscape Design Firms

When it came to landscapes back in the ’70s, concrete patios, basic plantings, evergreens and lawn chairs with aluminum frames and nylon straps were de rigueur. “There was no outdoor furniture and no outdoor kitchens,” says Tony Lobello, a design principal at Mariani Landscape, which has been sprucing up Chicago yards for over 65 years. How times have changed. Here, Lobello gives LUXE the lowdown on local landscapes.

How has landscape design evolved?

When the fabric to keep furniture outdoors was introduced, it changed how we use alfresco spaces. People are treating their homes more like a resort. We’re installing swimming pools, plunge pools, hot tubs, saunas, pergolas with motorized louvered roofs and golf greens as well as designated dining and cooking areas. It makes a huge difference for your enjoyment of your house. It’s very far from how it used to be a few decades ago.

What plants work well in Chicago?

Perennials, including peonies, iris, salvia (all seen above in the Mariani Landscape-designed front gardens of a home by architect Celeste Robbins) and phlox as well as shrubs like yews, hydrangeas and boxwoods, which require minimal pruning. The new hydrangea varieties have thicker stems and smaller, more numerous flowers so they don’t flop in the rain. It’s a favorite of Chicagoans. In general, people are moving away from plants that are finicky.

Can you share some trends you’ve been seeing lately?

We’re seeing more wellness gardens for relaxation, yoga and meditation, as well as the increased use of technology to conveniently control outdoor lighting and sprinklers from mobile phones. Artificial lawns have also become popular as turf has evolved to feel more like grass. It’s pretty convenient for small spaces. And, of course, vegetable gardens. There is nothing healthier and more sustainable than growing your own vegetables at home.