Landscape Design & Installation Advice | KD Landscape

Kevin Manning

Kevin has deep roots in the Chicagoland area, growing up in Plainfield and now residing in Naperville. He holds a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Illinois and serves on the board for the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA). Since KD's inception in 1998, Kevin has loved creating outdoor environments to match the lifestyles of thousands of customers. In his spare time, you can find him spending time on the water with his wife, daughter, son, and labradoodle.

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Recent Posts

5 Backyard Landscape Design Ideas for Naperville, IL Homeowners

by Kevin Manning

Your backyard is an extension of what’s going on inside your home -- whether that’s colorful and playful, casual and fun, elegant and sophisticated, clean and modern, or natural and lived-in. The possibilities, as they say, are pretty endless.

There are so many options that your head might already be spinning. This is supposed to be fun, after all. Don’t worry; we’ve got your back.

How do you incorporate all those stunning suburban Chicago backyard ideas you love and merge them with your own style and in your own unique landscape?

How to Prepare for a Landscape Design Consultation in Greater Chicago

by Kevin Manning

A new year means a new idea for your Greater Chicago area backyard. You’re ready for your landscape transformation.

One of the most essential steps in bringing your outdoor living vision to life is the design phase. This is when ideas begin brewing and expand from concepts to reality. When you see it on paper, you know it’s getting real. A great landscape design holds a lot of value, so you want to maximize the first phase in this process: the landscape design consultation meeting.

Wood Fire Pit vs. Gas Fire Pit: Which is Best for Your Backyard?

by Kevin Manning

There’s nothing like a fire pit in your backyard.

The warmth and dancing light that an outdoor fire pit brings are very welcome through the seasonal transitions. Not only do they make you more comfortable when temperatures dip, but they also extend your outdoor enjoyment hours and add another visual element to your space.

Choosing the best type of fire pit, however, takes some consideration. That brings in the question of a gas fire pit vs. wood fire pit.

Here are some tips on how to match the right type of fire pit to your specific needs.

Bluestone vs. Pavers: Which Patio Material is Best For You?

by Kevin Manning

*While this article offers helpful landscaping tips for residential properties, we now specialize exclusively in commercial landscaping services. If you manage a commercial property or HOA, see how we can enhance your landscape here.

Life is hectic. After a busy day, nothing is better than getting outside and breathing in the fresh air. A great backyard patio can be just the escape you need to unwind and improve your quality of life.

A patio also increases your living space, giving you a great spot for outdoor entertaining, sipping your morning coffee and listening to the birds, or even just reading a good book. What’s not to love?

The 6 Best Landscape Design & Build Companies in Greater Chicago

by Kevin Manning

Whether you’re hiring your first landscape design and installation professional or you’ve worked with one or more landscaping companies in the past but were unhappy, finding a business that you can count on to bring fresh ideas, follow through on promises, and do amazing work may feel overwhelming.

Landscaping 101: Small Space Gardens

by Kevin Manning

What we do at K & D with our landscape design is usually applied and installed in suburban locations but we enjoy a creative stretch in a small scale garden when those opportunities arise.

Recently we had the opportunity to design for a Peterson Park (Chicago) residence. Our staff responded with a team effort that grasped the opportunity and developed a landscape plan to meet the needs of the client while developing a space that was both exciting and functional.

What Hardscaping Means: Patios, Walkways & Other Options for Your Backyard

by Kevin Manning

Our garden and landscape lexicon continues to evolve year by year and sometimes day by day. A few years ago, the terms ‘sustainable’, ‘outdoor room’ and ‘low-impact design’ were just mentioned in a whisper.

But of all the newer landscape terminology, perhaps none is more well-known today than ‘hardscape’. It is mainstream to the point that most homeowners understand its broad meaning immediately when discussing their own gardens with contractors or neighbors.

The definition of hardscaping may extend to containers, armillary, sculpture or anything in the landscape that is not a plant. However, it is most widely referenced when discussing patios, walls, fireplaces, fire pits, and larger wood structures such as pergolas and arbors.

Landscaping 101: Brick Paver Patios

by Kevin Manning

Brick patios define our landscapes and gardens.

It is a pretty bold statement. But when you reflect on the ambiance, serenity and utility of a brick paver patio the statement becomes less bold and more accurate. A brick paver patio is an extension of the home and a reflection of lifestyle for the homeowner.

Landscaping 101: Brick Patios for Natural Outdoor Design

by Kevin Manning

Brick paver patios are frequently viewed as a commodity and pricing is sought and sometimes quoted based on that assumption. While the brick itself is a commodity the final product is all about the labor and the prep work.

There are “best practices” that apply to brick paver installations as there are to both technical and artistic functions. In the end it’s all about the skilled labor and the prep involved.

Kevin Manning

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