Northern Westchester · Ossining, NY
Downtown Ossining is built on a bluff, and the roads that fall from it toward the river, the Sing Sing Kill and Route 9 carry a lot of water in a storm. Yards here need grading that works with that, plus help with the leaves and deer that come with the woods.
Between the riverfront at Louis Engel Park and the ridge along Route 133, Ossining covers a lot of ground. The village has older homes on short, steep lots near the Double Arch where the Old Croton Aqueduct crosses the Sing Sing Kill. Out in Crotonville and toward the Croton River the houses spread out under tall trees. In neighboring Briarcliff Manor, including Scarborough and Chilmark, lots are larger, more wooded and often set well back from the road.
That range shapes what we do. In the village we spend a lot of time controlling runoff before it reaches a foundation or a neighbor's yard. Further out, it is about keeping up with wooded edges: thorough spring and fall cleanups, hedges trimmed and protected from browsing, and fresh mulch in beds each year. We have been working in Westchester since 2009 and carry a 4.9-star rating on Google.
Heavy rain on the hilly streets downtown runs fast and finds the lowest point, which is too often a basement door or a back patio. We regrade around the house, cut swales across the slope, install catch basins and dry wells, and build short walls where the ground needs a step down.
Homes in Crotonville and along the Briarcliff line back onto stands of oak, maple and tulip trees. Every spring we clear what the winter left behind, and every fall we work through leaf drop in more than one visit, cleaning out beds and keeping drains and swales open so they function when the rain comes.
Deer move freely through the wooded parts of town and strip arborvitae and yews from the ground up. We prune what remains to encourage regrowth, mulch beds to protect roots, and when a hedge is beyond saving, suggest more deer-resistant shrubs that will still give you privacy along the road.
Standing water, soggy lawns and runoff toward the house usually come down to grade and soil. We find where the water is going and give it a better path.
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 →Pruning that keeps shrubs healthy and in proportion, hedges trimmed clean and even, and beds finished with fresh mulch and sharp edges.
Learn more →Photos from Roman Design & Landscaping projects in Westchester County.
“Roman and his crew did an amazing job, reviving a neglected lawn and grounds on our new home. They even removed a small dead tree and cleared the way for more improvements!”
In many cases, yes. We look at where the water enters and where it needs to leave, then use grading, a berm, a swale or a drain line to steer it around the house. We work within your property and can point out if part of the problem is on the village side.
Yes. Our northern Westchester crews work throughout the Ossining area, including Briarcliff Manor, Scarborough, Chilmark and Crotonville. Wooded lots out there usually call for a bit more cleanup time each season, and we plan the schedule with that in mind.
Usually not on the bare lower trunk. Arborvitae rarely refills from old wood, so we often trim the top to balance it, then plant lower, deer-resistant shrubs in front to fill the gap. If the hedge is mostly gone, we can lay out a replacement planting that holds up better.
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.
