Susan Schlenger Landscape Design

Awful! Incredibly disappointed! I spent tens of hours taking pictures and video inside and out of my home so Susan could understand what we wanted and needed in our yard. I had numerous examples to show landscapes and privacy screening that I liked. I wrote out a list of plants that I really enjoyed and plants that I can't stand. Susan said she understood completely what my husband and I wanted and she could deliver. Well, it was a HUGE FAIL! Susan designed a yard that she liked. She didn't take into consideration the plants that I liked (except 1) and she didn't create any privacy screening like we had asked. The entire yard was perennials with a few deciduous trees. There was nothing evergreen. HUGE viburnum everywhere. The yard would look like a jungle if I used even 1/2 of the plants she suggested. She failed to take into consideration where the sun would be (ie. herbaceous peonies planted in full shade.) She had a row of hostas with liriope as the front bed plantings for my very large 2 story house in a neighborhood with deer and bunnies. She ignored several areas of the yard, one which is a pretty key focal point from our deck. It's as if she had put in her time and thus stopped 2/3 of the way through the design. Style/feel of the various beds were not cohesive. We talked through revisions and even after being very specific with things (eliminate this, change this plant to this plant, etc.), she ignored them. It's if we hadn't spoken. She lacks creativity and depth as a designer. She is very unprofessional and rude. This is the 5th yard that I have completely redone but the 1st landscape architect that couldn't deliver, couldn't come up with alternate selections, couldn't properly plan out the space, and couldn't create the feel that we wanted. Don't waste your time or budget.

Susan Schlenger was able to provide us with an outstanding landscape design since she was willing to listen carefully to our desires (including our general landscape goals, specific hardscape and plant material preferences, and budget concerns), surveyed our property meticulously (to assure that plants were spaced and sized appropriately as well as had adequate light & water for healthy growth), and had a deep knowledge of both natural stone hardscape materials and unusual plant material (to provide us with a truly unique and beautiful landscape plan with 4 seasons of interesting features). My wife and I challenged Susan with a highly complex design request. We needed a complete landscape plan, including more than 3,000 square feet of natural bluestone patios and walkways, a custom fire pit and seating walls, a 22 x 22 foot white fiberglass Pergola, about 15,000 square feet of beds and borders, and a new driveway. Susan designed the landscape with and without a swimming pool so that we could work on the design in stages. Susan completed an initial design, met with us to discuss any changes we would want her to make, and then finalized the plan with all of our requested changes. I would highly recommend Susan to anyone desiring a customized landscape. You will not get a "cookie cutter" landscape that looks just like everyone else's property. For a design that fits your own individual goals and desires, give Susan a call. In addition to a fantastic design, I was blessed by having hired a remarkable landscaper to complete the work. They have many photos of their work on my property on their Facebook site at www.facebook.com/onyourturf . If you need any landscaping work performed in Monmouth or Ocean Counties of NJ you would be wise to give them a call as well.

Excellent sense of landscape design, balancing the use of hardscape materials with plantings in complementary colors, textures and extended bloom times. The end result is a series of welcoming "garden rooms", perfect for outdoor entertaining or quiet relaxation. A pleasure to work with, professional, dependable and knowledgeable.

I found Susan Schlenger on the internet and, without meeting her, took the risk and hired her as our landscape architect. We have almost two acres of land and I didn't know what to do. Susan is fantastic and I can not say enough good about her: 1. She is prompt and always responds to questions or issues in a timely way. 2. She is very knowledgable and even though she is not in my zone (I live in the midwest and she lives on the East Coast) she was knowledge about the plants that would work in my area. 3. She listened to what I wanted and came up with a brilliant idea for my front walk. I really wanted a front porch, but it didn't go with the style of our home. I told her I wanted a place to sit in the front of our home. She designed a front patio - which I thought would look weird - but it looks great and makes a welcoming place in the front. (We just moved in and the picture doesn't show how great it looks. I will put four planters with boxwoods in the corners with benches on either side.) 4. Great Design: We have a large back yard and she designed a patio with a seat wall. I was worried the seat wall would "cut" up the yard look odd. I trusted the professional and the seat wall looks FANTASTIC. Everyone who comes over comments on how great the seat wall is. It is great for extra seating when we have guests for a BBQ and it makes the patio feel better - I am not sure how to explain it, but it does. I also wanted paths going to my garden (rose garden and vegetable garden) and I love how she designed the paths. The attached picture show the path in progress. 5. Great at follow up: As I have now learned, things always change along the way. Certain plants aren't available or the house design changed. Susan is great at follow up and even giving advice on plants after the full bill has been paid. She has given me advice on plants and other items with a bit of the design had to change because of the cement work of the house. Even though we haven't done most of the landscaping yet, we just moved into the house, I can already see how the bones of the design are brilliantly done. Susan is trustworthy, smart, great to work with and is willing to help after the fact. I can highly recommend her!

We have a transitional-style home in a gated community in Midlothian, Virginia. Over the years the walkway to our front door began to deteriorate. The old walkway was set in pebbled concrete and while functional it was unattractive and never added to the curb appeal of our home. After carefully assessing the incline of our front yard and the complex angles of our front door, Susan Schlenger designed a beautiful brick walkway that enhances both the design and function of our home. Her unique design features two steps on the lower walkway and a small patio area leading to the larger front door steps. This inviting patio area allows us to display a small fountain, ceramic planters and garden bench. When guests visit our home they always comment on our attractive walkway. Patricia H. Midlothian, Virginia