Northern Westchester · Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Croton is a village of wooded hills, rock outcrops and plenty of deer. A garden here has to be planned around all three, or it gets eaten, washed out or shaded to nothing.
Hostas, tulips and arborvitae rarely last long in Croton. We design with plants deer tend to avoid, such as many ornamental grasses, ferns, boxwood, catmint and native perennials with fragrant or tough foliage, and we place the few vulnerable favorites close to the house where they get more protection.
Exposed ledge and boulders are common around Mount Airy and the hillside streets. Rather than paying to remove rock, we often make it a feature, planting pockets of deeper soil around it and setting new stone steps or short walls that look like they grew out of the same hillside.
Under a full oak canopy, fall cleanups in Croton are a big job, and spring brings its share of fallen limbs and matted leaves. We clear lawns, beds and walkways in scheduled visits, cut back perennials, and leave the property ready for the next season of growth.
From the flats of Harmon near the Croton-Harmon station up to the winding roads of Mount Airy, Croton homes are set into the landscape rather than on top of it. Bedrock often sits close to the surface, mature oaks shade much of the village, and the Croton River and Croton Point Park frame it on two sides. In the Upper Village and near Van Cortlandt Manor, older houses have stone walls and gardens that have grown in for decades.
Our Croton projects tend to be design-heavy. We plan plantings that deer usually pass over, work exposed ledge into the garden instead of fighting it, and build walls and steps from stone that suits the hillside. Then we keep it all in shape with spring and fall cleanups that handle the heavy leaf load. Design and stonework fill our calendar from May through October, so we recommend reaching out early in the year.
“Roman and his team did a wonderful job with our garden. Excellent communication and helpful suggestions. Highly recommend!”
Planting plans built around your property's light, soil and deer pressure, then installed by the same family team that designs them.
Learn more →A thorough reset of the yard twice a year: clearing winter damage and old growth in spring, and getting leaves, beds and plants ready for winter in fall.
Learn more →Block and stone retaining walls, front steps, cement landings and masonry repair, built to hold Westchester's slopes and stand up to freeze-thaw.
Learn more →Not truly deer-proof, but you can get close. Hungry deer will sample almost anything in a hard winter. A planting built mostly from species they usually ignore, mixed with textures and scents they dislike, suffers far less damage. We choose plants with that in mind from the start.
Yes, and it often becomes the best part of the garden. We plant around the base, tuck groundcovers and small shrubs into soil pockets, and sometimes add steps or a sitting area that uses the rock as a backdrop. Removing ledge is expensive, so working with it usually makes sense.
We do. Harmon lots are generally flatter and sunnier than the hillside streets, which opens up more options for lawn, flowering shrubs and perennial borders. We tailor the plan to the conditions of each property, whether it sits by the river or up in the woods.
Photos from Roman Design & Landscaping projects in Westchester County.
Call, text or WhatsApp — the owner walks the property with you and you get a written estimate. Most visits are scheduled within 1–3 days.
