With thoughtful design and expert craftsmanship, Brownswood Nursery & Landscape turned a small, everyday backyard into a sanctuary for outdoor living. What was once a compact, exposed space is now a layered oasis complete with a breezy pergola, built-in stone countertops, and a cozy firepit set atop an oyster shell pad - each detail intentionally placed to create function, beauty, and serenity.

Small yards demand creativity, and this transformation proves that size is never a limitation - it’s an opportunity for innovation. Every element serves a purpose:
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• Vertical interest from the pergola and layered plantings draws the eye upward, expanding the sense of space.
• Lush privacy plantings create a secluded atmosphere even in a neighborhood setting.
• Natural materials - stone, shell, and wood - tie the design to Charleston’s Lowcountry charm.

In tight-knit neighborhoods, privacy is precious. Through thoughtful layout and plant selection, this project created distinct "rooms" within the yard - a dining area, a fireside nook, and soft planting borders that buffer neighboring homes. The result feels open yet intimate - a seamless blend of comfort and elegance.

No matter your yard’s size, our Design and Build teams can help you reimagine it into a space that truly feels like home. From functional outdoor kitchens and cozy firepits to year-round gardens rich with texture and color, we specialize in crafting personalized outdoor sanctuaries.

Ready to transform your landscape?
Book an in-yard design consultation today with an expert design consultant!

Charleston summers are no joke. Between the rising temps, high humidity, and long stretches without rain, your landscape has to be tough to thrive. Fortunately, our growing region is home to a wide variety of plants that don’t just survive the summer - they shine in it.

Whether you’re refreshing your foundation plantings or creating a brand-new landscape design, these heat-tolerant selections are ready to handle whatever Charleston’s summer throws at them.

Even the toughest plants need a little extra care when the temperatures soar. Here are five essential tips to help your landscape beat the heat:
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1. Water Deeply and Early
   Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation. Aim for less frequent but deep watering to encourage strong root systems.
   
   
2.  Add a Layer of Mulch
   Mulch helps retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and reduce weed competition. Apply 2–3 inches around your plants (but keep mulch away from trunks and stems).
   
   
3. Watch for Signs of Stress
   Wilting, scorched leaves, or leaf drop can be signs your plants are struggling. Adjust your watering schedule or provide temporary shade to help them recover.
   
   
4. Avoid Fertilizing During Peak Heat
   Fertilizing in mid-summer can stress plants and encourage new growth that may burn in the heat. Wait for a break in the weather or fertilize earlier in the season.
   
   
5. Plan Ahead with the Right Plants
   Choose heat-tolerant, Charleston-tested varieties like the ones above to set your landscape up for success. Right plant, right place = happy plants all summer long.

Spring is an ideal time of year to add new pollinator-attracting plants to your landscape! The Garden Center is full of plants with flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing for a wide array of combinations to suit various bed shapes and design styles. 

1.  Know Your Planting Location: Before choosing plants, be sure you know key characteristics about the area in which you are planting. Many plants for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love sunshine. So, siting your butterfly garden in an area that receives a minimum of 6+ hours of sunlight will likely be ideal. Also, most pollinator-friendly plants will appreciate soil that is well-drained (i.e. not soggy). Of course, there are exceptions to these guidelines for sunlight and soil moisture. If you are working in an area of the yard that has more shade or moisture, our Nursery Professionals can also assist you in choosing plants that will work for those conditions as well.

2. Choose the Right Plants: Generally, nectar-rich flowers are key. And, including an assortment of bloom shapes will encourage a variety of pollinators to visit. It is also important to consider bloom season so that flowers are present early spring through fall.

​Have space to go bigger? Pollinators also love these flowering shrubs and trees:

3. Get Your Soil Ready: We highly recommend amending the soil in your planting area with Brownswood Premium Planting Mix as well as a starter fertilizer such as Espoma Organic Bio-tone® Starter Plus to give your new plants their best start. You can find our Planting Guide at the link below. It provides planting instructions and helpful information about watering and getting new plants established.​

4. Plant: Planting different varieties of plants in groupings of three or more will result in more blooms of any given flower type being available at once. Do keep in mind mature heights and widths of each plant for best spacing and arrangement. For example, if arranging in tiers, situate taller plants in the back of the bed and work forward. It may be helpful to sketch a layout of your planting area with rough measurements beforehand to ensure proper spacing. Water regularly as new plantings are getting established and provide a balanced fertilizer in spring and fall.

5. Enjoy! Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are a delight for all ages to observe, adding a sense of wonder and excitement to the landscape. It may take a little while for pollinators to find newly planted flowers, so be patient... they will come!