Landscape design & build for Orlando

Yardzen designs everywhere in the U.S. and the Orlando area is one of our favorites. Orlando may not be coastal, but you feel water is a major presence there, thanks to powerful summer humidity and a landscape dotted with hundreds of lakes and swamps.

EXPLORE DESIGN PACKAGES
Orlando side yard design with patio
Climate

Summer in Orlando is a hot affair, with glowing sun and 90-plus degree heat, though near daily thunderstorms offer some respite, along with an entertaining dose of natural drama.

Winter swings the other way, with dry conditions (sometimes too dry) and mild temperatures that rarely get too cold. For anyone – but heat lovers in particular – Orlando is a fabulous place to spend time outside year round.

Outdoor Living

Landscape design can make the most of what Orlando has to offer. Be it providing ways to endure the summer heat, creating flexible spaces for outdoor living, or developing planting designs appropriate for alternately wet and dry climate, Yardzen has done it all for our Orlando clients.

Design & Build

Whatever your landscape vision may be, Yardzen is ready to make it a reality, working with you to craft a landscape design that achieves the look, feel, and function you are dreaming of, then connecting you with a vetted contractor from Yardzen’s Pro Network to get your design built.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA LANDSCAPE DESIGN GALLERY

POPULAR LANDSCAPE AMENITIES IN ORLANDO YARDS

How Yardzen Works

Simple and thorough online process

Take a style quiz, share videos and photos of your existing outdoor space, and learn about the costs in our Yard Builder™ tool. Our design team will help you at every step of the process.

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The easiest path to a final design you’ll love

Review your first design in our online Feedback Studio. You’ll be able to share feedback before we start incorporating your changes. A live design review call is also available to help get your project ready for installation.

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Built by someone you (and Yardzen) trusts

We’ll translate your 3D design concepts into a detailed CAD plan that’s ready to install. Next, we’ll connect you to a vetted, Orlando area landscape contractor who can bring your dream yard to life.

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Custom designs for your unique outdoor space

We've built a database of plants, trees, and groundcovers that match to Orlando’s planting zones, sun/shade/water requirements, aesthetic, and essential features like native plants. Using satellite and aerial imagery, coupled with your photo, video, and factoring in your details, we can create the outdoor space of your dreams.

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WHICH YARDZEN PACKAGE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Take our YardBuilder quiz to find out.
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1. Tell us about your unique outdoor space

2. Answer a few questions about your dream yard

3. Get a personalized design package recommendation

WHAT YARDZEN CLIENTS ARE SAYING

Orlando outdoor kitchen and dining design

ORLANDO LANDSCAPING FAQS

What design styles are popular with Orlando homeowners?

Orlando landscapes often draw inspiration from the English colonial style, incorporating hedges, symmetrical evergreen accents, and, above all, large lawns, which are ubiquitous in many neighborhoods.

Many landscapes eschew flower color, relying exclusively on low maintenance evergreens. Others blend in bold pops of flower color in mulched beds, often mixing multiple colorful species to play foreground to a tidier set of background shrubs.

This being Florida, plants like palms and ferns work their way into many designs, adding a dash of tropical flavor to any and all design styles.

Stone paving is popular, offering an upscale look and good slip resistance – a necessary consideration for pool decks and anywhere exposed to rain.

What are popular features in Orlando landscapes?

Orlando landscapes embrace outdoor living, frequently featuring outdoor kitchens and dining, flexible lounge spaces for entertaining friends, and even outdoor showers.

Swimming pools (big and small) along with simpler decorative water features are popular and effective choices for keeping cool, whether or not you actually get wet.

Pergolas are immensely popular as well, defining comfortable outdoor “rooms”, ready-made visual focal points, and functional flexibility.

Surprisingly, fire pits and hot tubs – also popular landscape elements – are also great amenities to beat the summer heat, offering a fun activity to get you outside during the cooler evening hours. Fire pits and hot tubs work double-duty, providing a heat source to keep you outside through the odd cold snap that hits the city.

Should I use plants native to Orlando in my landscape?

No matter where you live, native plants are an excellent choice for your landscape. As lovers of the local climate, native plants typically require fewer inputs of water, fertilizer, and maintenance than species introduced from elsewhere. With natives, you’ll get great plant performance with less expense and fuss.

At the same time, native plants offer unmatched habitat value for local wildlife, and help designed landscapes feel connected to the broader regional landscape.

Looking for a few natives to get you started? Beautyberry, pink muhly grass, the sabal palm, and the Southern magnolia are popular local staples. And for those looking for hedges, the Southern wax myrtle makes for a great native option.

What are top considerations for Orlando landscapes?

Despite the wet summers, drought can be a serious issue in Central Florida. Drought tolerant plants, especially drought tolerant natives, can withstand dry spells, and will save money on irrigation to boot. Sabal palm, passion flower, and pink Muhly grass are a few of many drought tolerant natives available for Central Florida landscapes.

Wind tolerance is another factor to consider. To avoid damage to your landscape design, opt for plants like beautyberry, which can withstand hurricane winds.

Heavy rains also can raise drainage challenges. Utilizing proper stormwater management techniques can capture water in desirable locations, recharging groundwater while minimizing the mess that unchecked stormwater can spread across a property.

Given the abundant heat and sunshine, solar exposure should be accounted for – avoid blasting outdoor spaces with harsh late afternoon western light, unless shade trees or structures are being utilized.

Wildfire can also be a concern. Designs can be tailored to meet a client’s desired level of fire safety, at a minimum providing defensible space around the perimeter of the home.

When should I start my landscaping project?

Now! Any time of year is great to begin work on a landscape project.

When possible, we suggest utilizing the winter to work through the design phase – this sets you up to get on contractors’ books early in the build season, so you can have your design installed and ready to enjoy in time for summer.

If winter has passed, don’t worry, it’s never too late in the year to begin work on a landscape design project.

Orlando Front Yard Design with Pergola-covered Paver Patio and Porch Swings

Orlando Front Yard Design with Pergola-covered Paver Patio and Porch Swings

Highly suggest Yardzen. The online process made everything super easy and efficient. Thank you to the entire Yardzen team.

Shannon M., Yardzen client

Yardzen creates local landscape designs in and around:

Apopka, Christmas, Clarcona, Gotha, Killarney, Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Plymouth, Tangerine, Windermere, Winter Garden, Winter Park, and Zellwood.

 

Explore other Florida landscape designs by Yardzen

Miami, Palm Beach, Tampa, Winter Park