Business Details
42 Years
experience
Custom Urban Garden Design in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Gardens specializes in full-service urban garden design and installation for residential and commercial properties in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Founded in 1984 by Toni Ann Flanigan, our team combines over 30 years of expertise in native plant cultivation with a commitment to creating sustainable habitats for local wildlife. We focus on transforming challenging urban spaces like roof decks and courtyards into functional, aesthetically pleasing gardens that reflect Philadelphia's natural beauty. Our services include custom container gardens, landscape lighting, water features, and irrigation systems, all designed to integrate seamlessly with clients' lifestyles.Recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as Best Urban Garden Designer and featured in Architectural Digest, we maintain rigorous standards through eco-friendly practices like recycling 5,000 nursery containers annually. Our team's specialized training ensures clean, efficient installations in hard-to-access locations, while our educational background in horticulture enables us to provide expert guidance on plant selection and garden maintenance.
Services
Container Gardens
Roof Decks
Flower Boxes
Landscape Lighting
Water Features
Habitat Gardens
Irrigation Systems
Garden Maintenance
Native Plant Design
Urban Garden Consultation
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience in Philadelphia's urban gardening landscape
- Our designs prioritize native plants to support local wildlife habitats
- Specialized team trained for clean installations in challenging urban spaces
- Recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as Best Urban Garden Designer in 2006
- We recycle 5,000+ nursery containers annually through our sustainability program
What people say
Wealth of horticultural expertise
Thorough consultation process
Transformed concrete spaces
Expert plant recommendations
Professional installations
Services
Container Gardens
Custom-designed container gardens transform small spaces like decks and patios into vibrant green areas. Our team selects appropriate containers and native plants that thrive in Philadelphia's climate while maintaining aesthetic appeal and ecological benefits. Ideal for urban environments where ground space is limited.
Roof Decks
Specialized roof deck installations create urban oases in high-rise settings. We implement lightweight soil systems and drought-resistant native plants that withstand rooftop conditions while attracting local wildlife. Our designs incorporate proper drainage and structural considerations for safe, sustainable rooftop gardens.
Landscape Lighting
Low-voltage LED lighting systems enhance nighttime garden aesthetics while ensuring safety. Our installations include 1-year maintenance and fixtures with up to 10-year warranties. We offer free demonstrations to help clients choose optimal lighting solutions that highlight key garden features without disrupting nocturnal ecosystems.
Habitat Gardens
Native plant gardens designed to support local biodiversity. We create butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, and pollinator habitats using regionally appropriate species. These gardens provide food and shelter for displaced native animals while maintaining year-round visual interest through carefully planned plant combinations.
Garden Consultation
Expert garden assessments conducted by senior designers with over 10 years' experience. Consultations include plant selection recommendations, space optimization strategies, and implementation guidance. Our $300 one-hour sessions provide comprehensive horticultural expertise to help clients develop clear garden improvement plans tailored to Philadelphia's unique urban environment.
People
Toni Ann Flanigan
Founder & Lead Designer
Founder of Philadelphia Gardens since 1984 with extensive experience at Deerfield Estate. Recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the world's best garden designers. Lectures annually at Philadelphia Flower Show and maintains active memberships in multiple horticultural societies.
Curtis
Design Officer
Senior designer with over 10 years' experience creating urban gardens alongside Toni Ann. Specializes in transforming challenging spaces into functional green areas. Provides expert consultation on plant selection and garden maintenance strategies tailored to Philadelphia's climate.
Brendan
Design Officer
Experienced designer with decade-long tenure at Philadelphia Gardens. Expert in both renovating neglected spaces and maintaining established gardens. Collaborates closely with clients to develop practical, aesthetically pleasing garden solutions that integrate with urban living requirements.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We serve Philadelphia and surrounding neighborhoods including Manayunk, Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, and Germantown for both residential and commercial properties.
What's included in your garden consultation?
Our $300 one-hour consultation includes site assessment, plant recommendations, design suggestions, and implementation guidance from our senior designers with over 10 years' experience.
Do you handle lawn care services?
We specialize in garden design and installation but do not provide lawn care services of any kind.
What makes your garden designs unique?
We focus on native plants that support local wildlife while creating functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces tailored to Philadelphia's urban environment and climate conditions.
How do you handle difficult access locations?
Our team is specially trained to work cleanly in challenging urban spaces, using equipment that minimizes disruption and leaves no trace of our installation process.
Do you offer maintenance services?
Yes, we provide year-round maintenance services including seasonal flower box installations and irrigation system management for both residential and commercial properties.
Reviews (7)
Marjorie Davis
Nov 09, 2021
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Excellent work from Philadelphia Gardens in transforming my backyard to a beautiful new living space. From their design work, coordination with fencing and hardscrape workers, and plant/shrub recommendations, everything was perfect. Thanks to their entire team!
Andrew Stutzman
Sep 25, 2021
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Buyer beware! Inept work, arrogant service. Took over $1000 for plantings that were done incorrectly with wrong plants, all dead within three months, then refused to do anything to fix it. Bizarre, boorish and shameful. Would not recommend to anyone.
Charlie Cooper
Jun 27, 2020
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I am delighted with the job Philadelphia Gardens did! From the initial consultation through the designing process to the actual installation they were professional, courteous, clean and thorough. They were attentive to the few elements I had hopes for and did a terrific job of incorporating them into the design. There willingness to maintain the garden works well for me also. I am so glad I chose them!
Madis Pihlak
Mar 17, 2020
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The Philadelphia Garden's Team is very pleasant. The design is really a work of art with plants. I am amazed at the birds and butterflies attracted to my garden. I really like the native plants that really seem at home with your weather.
Brendan Cooper
Mar 06, 2020
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I couldn't be happier with the services they provided. I had a dreary concrete pad in my backyard with a few sad pots scattered around, Toni Ann and her crew came in and completely renovated it. I look forward to the change in each season to see what new beauties will bloom in my new yard, honestly thrilled I contacted them!
Kristin Kopple
Jan 09, 2020
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The garden planting ensemble looks gorgeous and the plants are thriving. Everything that I'd hoped for in my garden was achieved.
Meg Feehan
Dec 24, 2019
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Very creative ideas for my space, crew courteous and prompt, expectation was met 100%. Would highly recommend.
