By Georgia Elgar Spent hydrangea flowers in a patio garden designed by Zachary Berger Our Yards and Gardens Matter. The midwinter freeze is upon us and the garden stewards here at Distinctive Gardening, Inc. have been using this time to take stock of our true role as gardeners. Those of us in the landscaping industry have an important role to play in creating human outdoor spaces that work with and mimic the nonhuman world. We carry enormous potential to be leaders in counteracting the entire array of global environmental crises: species biodiversity loss due to climate change, habitat loss d ..read more

By Emily Macduff The appeal of weed mats or landscaping fabric is undeniable. Who wouldn’t want a ‘weed-resistant’ barrier between your soil and mulch layers? The reality is a little less rosy. And over time, weed fabric cannot stand a chance against the power of nature. The Promise Retailers promise that weed fabric, primarily made from woven polypropylene, can be inexpensively installed to suppress weeds for as long as 20 years! The old adage ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’ rings true. The Reality: Common Weed Mat Problems At DG, we often meet new clients with well-establ ..read more

“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden” –Elizabeth Lawrence It’s officially midsummer and by now your garden is likely bursting with new life. As a proud homeowner, you might spend several hours a week hauling watering cans, fertilizer and trellises back and forth. But are you taking care of your garden helpers? Pollinators – the overlooked support crew behind every great garden – are essential in ensuring an abundant harvest of flowers and vegetables. By rolling out the welcome mat to our winged friends, you’re not only helping your own garden but the entire food chain. Honeybees may b ..read more

“Busy hands and idle minds have knitted many a sweater; Busy minds and idle hands have knitted many a brow.” Maryrose Wood, Author & Amateur Gardener While the world around us feels increasingly uncertain and chaotic, Mother Earth’s natural rhythms continue on unchanged. It’s officially springtime in New Hampshire; the days are getting longer, the first spring shoots are popping up, and the time to plant garden vegetable seeds and seedlings is upon us. Many among us are experiencing increased frustration or anxiety, and have extra time to indulge these worries. Instead, why not think ab ..read more

https://www.indeedjobs.com/distinctive-gardening-inc-2d46d84/_hl/en_US?cpref=JXWAtnzf3XWjLOi4YeVNLikN87qYWwuQwZhy01xko6E Come join our gardening gang... Work outside with plants and soil alongside great people!  If you have gardening experience and live in the Portland, Biddeford, or Kennebunk areas, please email us your resume - we are hiring gardeners starting this spring: info@distinctivegardeninginc.com   Native plants planted and cared for Mixed borders designed and maintained Some wild but carefully managed Edible gardens our newest venture -organic of course ..read more

In 2017 our "Rustic and Repurposed" garden, in collaboration with Boiling Spring Landscape and Gogan Landscaping, won the "Plants for the Kitchen Award", and tied for the "Pollinator Award ..read more

The Maine Flower Show! 2017 Please come see our display ..read more

Looking for something extra special for the holidays?  let Distinctive Gardening locally source, design, and install fresh greenery for your winter exterior decorating ..read more

Some of our fall annual displays this year! View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize ..read more

-From earliest to latest blooming- photos courtesy of our gardeners Physostegia virginiana-  Obedient Plant (long bloomer) Buddleia sp.- Butterflybush (Monarchs favorite!)  Hibiscus- Hibiscus (these tropical looking perennials will survive winters here in New England) Hydrangea paniculata- Panicle Hydrangea (classic form and beauty)  Tricyrtis- Toad lilly (a unique perrenial great in shade and blooms as late as October ..read more