The August Advantage: 5 Late-Summer Landscape Secrets Every Elegant Homeowner Should Know

Whether in Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, or Dublin, the properties we design and maintain begin to truly shine in these late summer weeks.

Late summer is your landscape’s best-kept secret—when stonework softens, evergreens come alive, and the garden takes on a new kind of elegance.

At Landfare Ltd., we believe August is a second act for luxury outdoor living—an opportunity to refine your hardscape, extend poolside elegance, and set the stage for fall’s quiet beauty. Whether in Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, or Dublin, the properties we design and maintain begin to truly shine in these late summer weeks.

Here’s how.

1. Let the Stonework Speak for You

Steps are everything.

Stone, when cared for properly, only grows more beautiful with time. Late summer is ideal for:

• Refreshing or regrouting bluestone, limestone, or herringbone patios

• Enhancing entryways with honed limestone steps or custom thresholds

• Adding pathways or stone borders to shape fall planting beds

• Steps are everything (see a beautiful set here.)

  
  

“Stonework doesn’t shout—it settles in with the home. It’s timeless,” says John Spayde, Principal & Designer at Landfare Ltd.

Explore this Upper Arlington stone and pool project. Watch the transformation: Four-Season Outdoor Living.

2. Design with Boxwoods, Not Just Blooms

Boxwoods shaped like clouds.

Annuals fade—but structure is forever. Boxwoods, yews, and clipped hornbeams provide an architectural element to the garden that thrives in the quiet of late summer.

• Use layered boxwoods for privacy in open patios or sunrooms

• Line a pool deck or terrace with structured evergreens

• Refresh hedging with crisp pruning and seasonal feeding

  
  

See the artistry of sculptural greenery

“Boxwoods are the secret to making a garden feel finished—even when nothing’s in bloom,” says Spayde.

3. Don’t Close the Pool—Elevate It

A beautiful hot tub with a retractable cover.

While others are covering up, luxury homeowners are extending the season with design-forward features:

• Heated spas integrated into existing pools

• Retractable covers to preserve warmth

• Poolside pergolas or limestone seating for cooler evenings

  
  

Explore this natural stone pool transformation. Or this Grandview patio and spa oasis: Watch now.

“A pool doesn’t have to be seasonal. With the right structure, it becomes a year-round experience,” Spayde says.

4. Plant Now for Fall

Masonry with year-round foliage.

Mid-August is ideal for laying the groundwork:

• Plant bulbs (tulips, daffodils, alliums) for spring color

• Install ornamental grasses and seasonal annuals (salvia, mums, cabbages) for fall

• Refresh containers with textural planting

  
  

See our full seasonal installation process.

5. Commit to Care: The True Luxury

Precision is key with maintenance.

What sets these properties apart isn’t just the design. It’s the full-service attention year-round:

• Weekly mowing and seven-step lawn fertilization

• Seasonal aeration and overseeding

• Irrigation monitoring, shrub pruning, mulch, and bulb planting

• Ongoing maintenance for patios, fountains, pools, and hardscape masonry

  
  

Learn more about our garden and pool maintenance.

“Our clients want a landscape that works as beautifully in October as it does in June. That only happens with consistency,” says Spayde.

See the Late-Summer Shift in Action:

Upper Arlington Four-Season Porch & Garden.

Stone Pool and Spa in Grandview.

Luxury Fountain + Boxwood Design.

A Beautiful August is Still Ahead

As the pace of summer slows, your landscape has the chance to become more intimate, more refined, and more ready for the months ahead.

At Landfare Ltd., we specialize in timeless outdoor design, architectural planting, natural stone installations, and full-service care tailored to the needs of high-end homeowners across Central Ohio.

It’s not too late to begin. And there’s no better time to elevate.

Schedule a consultation with Landfare Ltd.