Custom Landscape Design and Installation

Smitty's Landscaping and Irrigation designs and installs custom residential landscapes for homeowners across Essex, Morris, and Bergen Counties, NJ. Based in Cedar Grove, we've been building landscapes in Northern New Jersey since 1981. From the first walk-through of your property to the last plant in the ground, our team handles the full design and installation process in-house.

Residential and Commercial Landscape Design and Installation in New Jersey

Every property tells us something different. A shaded corner lot in Montclair asks for different plantings than a sun-exposed hillside in West Orange. Our landscape design and installation work begins with understanding what your property already offers and what you want it to become, then building a plan that fits both.

While most of our work is with homeowners, we also design and install landscapes for commercial properties across the region. Whether it's a single-family home or a commercial project, the same team and the same standards handle the project from start to finish.

Smitty’s Landscaping and Irrigation strives to exceed customer expectations by developing comprehensive, creative, custom-tailored landscape solutions. Our professional design staff guides clients step-by-step through the design, scheduling, and implementation of their project from start to finish.

Our landscape designs are inspired by our client’s input. We create a landscape that will complement the building’s architecture and the nearby surroundings while reflecting the style of our client. The plant material we choose is always well suited for the conditions where it will thrive. Beautiful designs with the right plant material make a landscape to be enjoyed for many years.

Our Landscape Design and Installation Process

A well-installed landscape starts with a clear process. Here's how we work with homeowners from first contact through final walkthrough.

Consultation and Site Assessment

We meet you at your property to discuss your likes, dislikes and to walk the site together. We look at how sun and shade move across the yard, what the soils and drainage are doing, how the space connects to the house, and what existing plantings or hardscape you want to keep. This first visit is where the design starts to take shape.

Custom Design and Plant Selection

From there, we develop a custom landscape design tailored to your property, your style, and the conditions on-site. Plant selection is done with the specific microclimate of your yard in mind, so what goes in the ground will actually thrive there. For larger projects, we can coordinate the landscape plan with patios, retaining walls, lighting, irrigation, and drainage so the whole property works as one connected space.

Installation and Project Management

Once the plan is approved, our crew handles the installation. That includes site prep, planting, hardscape work as needed, and coordination with any related services (irrigation, lighting, drainage). One point of contact manages the schedule from start to finish, so you always know where things stand.

Final Walkthrough and Aftercare

When installation is complete, we walk the property with you to make sure everything is right. We'll go over care instructions for new plantings and answer any questions about maintenance, watering, and what to expect through the first growing season.

Two workers installing a curved stone retaining wall during a front yard hardscape project at a blue ranch home

What's Included in a Custom Landscape Design

A custom landscape design from Smitty's can be as focused or as full-scope as your property calls for. Depending on the project, that may include:

Plant beds and foundation plantings suited to your site conditions
Trees and shrubs selected for year-round interest
Perennial and seasonal garden design
Sod, seeding, and lawn establishment
Grading and soil preparation
Installation of patios, walkways, and retaining walls
Landscape lighting and irrigation planning
Drainage solutions where needed
Screening and privacy plantings
Coordination of pool installs

Why Homeowners Choose Smitty's Landscaping

Homeowners across Essex, Morris, and Bergen Counties come to Smitty's Landscaping because we handle design and installation under one roof, with a team that knows the region.

A few things that set us apart:

Over 40 years in business. We've been designing and installing landscapes in Northern New Jersey since 1981, which means we've seen how our work holds up over decades, not just seasons.
Fully licensed and insured, with all work guaranteed. Every project we install is backed by our workmanship guarantee.
Active industry members. Smitty's is a member of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association and the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), which keeps our team current on best practices for planting, hardscape, and paver installation.
In-house design and installation. No handoff between a designer and a separate contractor. The team that draws the plan is the team that puts it in the ground.
Local plant knowledge. Northern New Jersey has real seasonal swings, varied soils, and deer pressure in many towns. Our plant selection reflects what actually works here.
Full-service capability. If your landscape plan needs irrigation, lighting, a patio, a retaining wall, or drainage work, we handle all of it in-house rather than coordinating outside trades.

Worker in a red shirt reviewing site plans beside a yellow New Holland compact construction loader

Tiered gray block retaining walls with wide stone steps leading up to a covered deck and patio behind a large home

Areas We Serve

Smitty's Landscaping and Irrigation is based in Cedar Grove, NJ, and serves homeowners throughout Essex, Morris, and Bergen Counties. That includes Montclair, Livingston, Essex Fells, Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Montville, Pinebrook, Towaco, West Orange, Bloomfield, Verona, Caldwell, Roseland, Millburn, Short Hills, and the surrounding communities.

If you're not sure whether your town is in our service area, give us a call at (973) 604-2895 or reach out through our contact form, and we'll let you know.

Related Landscaping Services

Most landscape design and installation projects touch more than plantings alone. We handle the connected work in-house:

Book a Free Landscape Design Consultation

Ready to see what your property could become? Every project at Smitty's starts with an on-site consultation, at no cost, where we walk your yard, listen to what you're picturing, and talk through what's possible.

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