---
title: "Specialty Gardens — Landscape Contractors | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~562432679
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~562432679.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Specialty Gardens"
category: ["Landscape Contractors"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/7df3578002489a93_8461-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "P.O. Box 301, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States"
latitude: 43.0378
longitude: -86.1912
phone: "(616) 502-9815"
website: http://www.specialty-gardens.com
rating: 5
review_count: 5
best_of_houzz_awards: 7
followers: 96
last_updated: 2026-09-16
---

# Specialty Gardens

Original Houzz profile: [Specialty Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~562432679)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Landscape Contractors
- **Location:** Grand Haven, MI
- **Serves:** Muskegon, Holland, Norton Shores, Grand Haven, West Olive, North Muskegon, Whitehall, Montague, Spring Lake, Fennville, Fruitport, Douglas, Saugatuck
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (5 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2015–2022), for Design, Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 10,000 Ideabook Saves

We are a boutique gardening service skilled in the artistic design, creation, and detailed maintenance of beautiful gardens.  Our niche is creating and tending gardens that provide continuous color and interest from the earliest days of spring well into late fall, and even into winter.  Our mission is to provide the most beautiful and best maintained gardens with friendly, knowledgeable, and dependable service.

### Services Provided

- Landscape Maintenance
- Garden Design
- Pergola Construction
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Planting
- Tree Planting
- Mulching
- Tree Pruning
- Hedge Trimming

### Areas Served

- Muskegon
- Holland
- Norton Shores
- Grand Haven
- West Olive
- North Muskegon
- Whitehall
- Montague
- Spring Lake
- Fennville
- Fruitport
- Douglas
- Saugatuck

### Typical Job Cost

$10,000 - 40,000

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Specialty Gardens |
| Address | P.O. Box 301, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States |
| Phone | (616) 502-9815 |
| Website | http://www.specialty-gardens.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 96 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — www.facebook.com/SpecialtyGardens

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Specialty Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~562432679)
- **Website:** http://www.specialty-gardens.com
- **Phone:** (616) 502-9815

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Michigan State University.  2013-2014 president of the West Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association (www.wmnla.com).

- **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2015–2022), for Design, Service.

**Affiliations**
- [Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/michigan-nursery-and-landscape-association-pfvwus-pf~1418148745)
- [Association of Professional Landscape Designers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/association-of-professional-landscape-designers-pfvwus-pf~92795973)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 5 reviews**

### All 5 reviews

**★★★★★ — jabberjulie, July 2018**

> Everyone on the Specialty Garden crew are amazing upbeat lovely people. The knowledge level is great and they’re willing to share that knowledge with you if you’d like. We first hired them to design a perennial garden and walkway. They listened to our needs and taste and delivered exactly what we wanted. Now we contact them to troubleshoot any landscaping needs. They’re truly a joy to work with.

**★★★★★ — debcongrove, Dec. 2015**

> Paul and Specialty Gardens designed a flower garden and an winter floral arrangement for the front door. The flower garden has many textures and colors placed strategically - blooming in turn throughout the seasons. The outside arrangement was a beautiful addition to the gloomy winter landscape with a live evergreen, red twigs, and dried hydrangea blooms.
> Paul and company are knowledgeable and skillful, working with the soil and climate needs of the the plants and planning around their size, foliage, and colors. They proved to be thorough and conscientious, desiring to please the customer. Paul loves what he does!!!

**★★★★★ — Sara Shoemaker, Oct. 2014**

> I have been a customer of Specialty Gardens for the past year.  Originally, they were contracted for the installation of a perennial garden and a fruit garden in my back yard, but I was so pleased with the level of service  that I continued on with a monthly maintenance plan.  The service provided has been outstanding.  Everyone that I have encountered with the company has been friendly and professional.  The staff listened to my questions, concerns, and wishes throughout the design process and revisions were made without any hassle.  The installation of the plants and the maintenance of the gardens have all occurred without any issues.  Having worked with other landscaping companies in the past, I found Specialty Gardens to be very competitive in pricing, but the service far surpassed what had been my experience elsewhere.  I would highly recommend this company.

**★★★★★ — rgcotner, June 2014**

> Paul and his crew are very attentive to customer's requirements and exceed expectations in fulfilling same.  Very timely in performing work during height of their season.  Unqualified recommendation for this company!

**★★★★★ — Mw Mw, June 2014**

> Paul and his staff redesigned the landscaping at my home.  They did an excellent job of design, recommending plants, installation and maintenance since.  Always personable and very knowledgeable.  They are skilled at bringing vibrant color to your landscaping and creating an inviting yard.  We always have great color.  I highly recommend their work and professionalism.

## Selected projects

- [Lakeside Pool Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lakeside-pool-gardens-pj-vj~337539)
  - Location: North Muskegon, MI
  - Photos: 33
  - Description: Renovating an older pool landscape with a colorful combination of flowering annuals and perennials. This is in a heavy deer area so the gardens were designed to be a mixed planting of annuals and perennials that provide color all season long. Some of the primary perennials are: Helenium, Agastache, Echinacea, Allium, Geranium, Coreopsis, and Crocosmia. Some of the annuals planted for seasonal color are: Nicotiana, Tithonia, Ageratum, Argyranthemum, Marigold, Canna, and Dwarf Zinnia, (which need…
- [Front Entrance Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/front-entrance-renovation-pj-vj~2381963)
  - Location: Saugatuck, MI
  - Photos: 16
  - Description: The front entrance of this home was hidden by several massive old junipers. We designed new plantings that opened up the view to the front of the house by removing the old shrubs and adding a colorful variety of shrubs and perennials.
- [Duneside Shade Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/duneside-shade-garden-pj-vj~924783)
  - Location: Grand Haven, MI
  - Photos: 34
  - Description: This shade perennial garden was in need of a makeover. The site presented a few challenges including dry sandy soil and a heavy deer population. Our plan was to re-design the garden using shade-tolerant and deer resistant perennials which prioritized textural contrast above flower power. A few prized hostas were kept, but the garden is otherwise a deer resistant planting. 9 cubic yards of compost were added to amend the sandy soil, and an underground irrigation system was also installed. The pla…
- [English Perennial Border - Norton Shores, MI](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/english-perennial-border-norton-shores-mi-pj-vj~337522)
  - Location: Norton Shores, MI
  - Photos: 13
  - Description: For this project our client wanted a long-blooming perennial garden that would provide continuous color, screen the fence through summer, and provide interest even through winter. For early spring color we planted daffodils, crocus, and Iris reticulata that bloom before most of the perennials. Early blooming perennials include Peonies, Bearded Iris, Baptisia, Dianthus, and Salvia. Mid-season flowering perennials included are Bee Balm, Crocosmia, Helenium, Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne', Yarrow, and Lia…
- [Annual Color Explosion](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/annual-color-explosion-pj-vj~437989)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 13
- [Front Entrance Renovation - Muskegon, MI](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/front-entrance-renovation-muskegon-mi-pj-vj~420163)
  - Location: Muskegon, MI
  - Photos: 18
  - Description: The landscape around this cute little bungalow just off Muskegon Lake was tired, overgrown, and needed refreshing. We cleaned it out, planted new shrubs and flowering perennials, and added a stone pathway leading to new gardens on the side yard. The new plantings are a tapestry of color and texture that are interesting and beautiful throughout the year.
- [Driveway Entrance - Spring Lake, MI](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/driveway-entrance-spring-lake-mi-pj-vj~420129)
  - Location: Spring Lake, MI
  - Photos: 17
  - Description: This driveway entrance needed a bold, unifying design element to add color and bring it all together. Large beds of annual impatiens serve to add color while Hosta 'Halcyon', and Coralbells 'Berry Smoothie', add textural interest with their grey and purple foliage.
- [Small Condo Entrance Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/small-condo-entrance-garden-pj-vj~360449)
  - Location: Spring Lake, MI
  - Photos: 2
  - Description: This is a small condo entrance renovation project. The existing landscape was a tired mix of old yews and hostas. We livened up the plantings with a colorful mix of blooming perennials and tree-form hydrangeas.
- [Lake Michigan Hideaway - Grand Haven, MI](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lake-michigan-hideaway-grand-haven-mi-pj-vj~430326)
  - Location: Grand Haven, MI
  - Photos: 9
- [Lush Front Yard Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lush-front-yard-gardens-pj-vj~438045)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
- [Pink, Red, & White Flower Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pink-red-and-white-flower-garden-pj-vj~472740)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 4
  - Description: This lush flower border is a combination of annual and perennial plants. After renovation, it measured 100' long by 12' deep, and it's mounded appearance against the Austrian pines is a result of plant heights rather than ground slope. Plants used in the design are: annual red Salvia, annual white Lavatera 'Mont Blanc', annual pink Wax Begonia, annual Perilla frutescens (purple foliage), annual Datura meteloides 'Evening Fragrance' (Moon Flower), perennial Bearded Iris, perennial Calamintha nepe…
- [Front Foundation Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/front-foundation-renovation-pj-vj~420339)
  - Location: West Bloomfield, MI
  - Photos: 24
- [Garden Bridges, Pergola, and Flowers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/garden-bridges-pergola-and-flowers-pj-vj~421627)
  - Location: Northville, MI
  - Photos: 35
  - Description: Specialty Gardens performed several roles on this project, including the construction of two wood garden bridges and a pergola. We also planted several perennial gardens, annuals for pots and garden beds, and provide season-long garden maintenance on a bi-weekly basis.
- [Condo Garden Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/condo-garden-renovation-pj-vj~428869)
  - Location: Novi, MI
  - Photos: 13
  - Description: Adding color with annuals and perennials to an existing landscape in Novi, MI. Heavy clay soil was worked up and judiciously amended with compost prior to adding new plantings.
- [Garden Wall Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/garden-wall-renovation-pj-vj~433667)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 9
- [Front Entrance Garden Update](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/front-entrance-garden-update-pj-vj~423729)
  - Location: Farmington Hills, MI
  - Photos: 16
  - Description: This garden had solid "bones" to begin with - a berm, mature trees, and nice hedges. What it lacked was color and that 'wow' factor. We removed old roses on the berm and planted a variety of new perennials in the center (peonies, baptisia, sedum, and hosta). We created annual planting areas leading up to the front porch for all-summer color. We planted tulips for spring color, and provide on-going maintenance to assure these gardens are always looking their best.
- [Entryway Garden Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/entryway-garden-renovation-pj-vj~451266)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 14
  - Description: Renovation of a tired and dated landscape into a full and lush planting highlighted by tree-form hydrangeas.
- [Winter Container Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/winter-container-gardens-pj-vj~949126)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 17
  - Description: Winter container gardens can provide color and interest throughout a cold Michigan winter. In late fall we plant these in durable pots or urns using live evergreens such as Juniper, Arborviate, and Chamaecyparis. Cut stems of blue spruce, redtwig dogwood, and winterberry holly fill out the container while live perennials such as bergenia and yucca provide foliage contrast.

[See all 18 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~562432679)

## Community Q&A

**Q: What is the small tree to the right of the vine on the house?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Thanks!

A: Hi!  That is a Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata.  It's larger than the shrub lilacs and it blooms a little later, having creamy white flowers.  This one has been trimmed to keep its size in check with the house.  Otherwise, they can grow to be 20'-30' tall.

**Q: What is the name of the beautiful pink flower on the right?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Hi Kim, those are two different varieties of Rhododendron.  Sorry, but we don't have the specific variety names on file.  Thanks for asking!

**Q: What is the tall plant with droopy white flowers?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: The tall plant with droopy white flowers is Flowering Tobacco, Nicotiana sylvestris.    It's an annual in Michigan and can quickly grow up to 6' tall over the summer.  It has a wonderful evening fragrance and can self seed prolifically.  It prefers full sun to light shade, rich organic soil, and plenty of water.

**Q: Can you tell me, is that a sort of hydrangea on the right?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: It is!  It's a panicle hydrangea, Hydrangea tardiva, trained into a small tree form.  Every year in spring the top 'head' is cut back to 18"-24" and it blooms in late summer on the new growth.

**Q: What is the Tall plant with white flowers** *(in Photo Questions)*

Love the unusual tall plant in the center of this exquisite perennial bed.  The shapes and colors complement each other so well.  Would love to know its name.  My guess is that it's grown in Michigan as an annual?  Thanks

A: Hi & thank you for the compliment!  You're correct in that it is an annual in Michigan - it's Flowering Tobacco, Nicotiana sylvestris.  It often self-seeds in the garden and it can grow over 5' tall in one season.  It's definitely one of our favorite annuals!

**Q: Love the purple flowers in front. What are they?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Hi Gemini, the purple flowers in front are Allium 'Millennium', a cultivar or ornamental onion.  Bees and butterflies love it!

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-16.*