These Are the Best 13 Landscape Designers in the Virginia Beach Area

by Jake Hill, LawnStarter Research Analyst

July 10, 2017

Editor's Note: All images are copyrighted to their respected owners. LawnStarter does not own these images, but is featuring them on the owner's behalf.

Finding a top-notch landscape architect or designer is certainly no easy feat. LawnStarter’s research team scoured the internet in search of the Best 13 Landscape Designers in the Virginina Beach Area. Once we managed to compile a comprehensive list, we researched the services, pricing, company history, and unique selling propositions of the most highly recommended. Next, we judged the aesthetics of each company's featured projects in their portfolio. Finally, we checked references and asked ourselves if indeed these were people we’d want to do business with. If the answer was yes, they appear in the listing that follows.

So without further ado, in no particular order, allow us to introduce the Best 13 Landscape Designers in the Virginia Beach area!

Dreamscape Designers Landscape Company

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Dreamscape Designers Landscape Company

Dreamscape Designers has over 30 years experience in creating distinctive designs that fit into the existing landscape so well that they look like they have been there forever. The award-winning design/build company serves homeowners throughout Hampton Roads.

Dreamscape approaches each new project as an opportunity to create a totally unique design, partnering with the client on a complete installation or a renovation that complements the client’s home, natural surroundings and lifestyle. Projects include natural gardens, outdoor living spaces, pool surroundings, patios, walkways and water features, always completed with as little disruption and inconvenience to the client as possible.

>>See more of Dreamscape Designers Landscape Company's work

WPL Site Design

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: WPL Site Design

William P. Large founded WPL Site Design 50 years ago, single-handedly building a company by going the extra mile and standing behind his work. WPL continues to operate with that same belief in responsibility to clients today with Billy Almond at the helm and a staff of 25 professionals. The full-service firm provides planning, layouts and designs for municipal and institutional projects. By combining science, art and sustainability, WPL produces innovative concepts that are environmentally sound and engineered to be efficient and cost effective.

>>See more of WPL Site Design's work

Visionscapes Land Design, Inc.

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Visionscapes Land Design, Inc.

Shawn Anderson, owner, president and designer, has been in the landscape industry for more than 30 years. As a certified Virginia Horticulturist, he draws on both his education and on-the-job training to provide innovative outdoor sanctuaries that reflect the homes and lifestyles of his clients, while enhancing the visual appeal and increasing the value of the property.

Shawn’s priorities include superior customer service and outstanding quality of material and labor. He and his staff of professionals are experienced in every aspect of landscaping and provide the client with a personalized approach, from the first on-site consultation to completion.

>>See more of Visionscapes Land Design, Inc.'s work

Winesett Nursery & Landscaping

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Winesett Nursery & Landscaping

Mike Winesett, owner and founder, has been serving Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake for 30 years, specializing in the design of low-maintenance landscapes and gardens. Services include installations, renovations, perennial gardens, outdoor lighting and irrigation systems.

The garden center has a huge selection of trees, shrubs and perennials, all guaranteed for a year when installed by Winsett. Seasoned crew leaders ensure that work is completed in a professional and timely manner, while causing the least possible disturbance to the property and the occupants of the home or business. Mike provides guidelines for care of the landscape and follows up to help clients become good stewards of their investment.

>>See more of Winesett Nursery & Landscaping's work

McDonald Garden Center and Landscapes

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: McDonald Garden Center and Landscapes

McDonald Garden Center has been providing a wide selection of high-quality products and services for more than 70 years to the residents of Hampton Roads. After purchase by Eddie and Sara Anderson, the garden center continued to grow by leaps and bounds, as the Andersons share their expertise with their customers and always ensure an enjoyable shopping experience. Over the years, they added locations and today there are 15 seasonal locations.

The McDonald landscape designers bring imagination, originality and practicality to every project and invite the client to be a part of the process with a goal of maximizing a landscape’s potential.

>>See more of McDonald Garden Center and Landscapes's work

Hertzler & George

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Hertzler & George

In 1993, Joe Hertzler and Linda George Hertzler established GreenGuard Associates with a focus on protecting the environment. The business grew into a tree service, then into lawn care and landscaping.

Sixteen years ago, Joe and Linda created Hertzler & George, a design/build firm for residential properties. And hired talented landscape architect, Phillip Merritt. Hertzler & George/GreenGuard along with an experienced, dedicated and valued staff who are committed to environmental sensitivity, creative thinking, innovative techniques and personalized customer service.

>>See more of Hertzler & George's work

Lockwood Fine Design

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Lockwood Fine Design

Doug Lockwood’s first project, at age 10 or 11, was transplanting a neglected iris clump that thrived under his care. He had found his calling. Doug has been a professional landscape designer in Williamsburg, VA, since 1987. His many articles on landscape design have appeared in numerous gardening magazines and his work featured on television.

After 30 years in the building side of landscaping (Doug Lockwood Southern Blue Lawn and Landscaping), Doug is now concentrating on his first love, design. Due to the reach of the Internet, he designs for clients across the country. Give him a photo of the home and a site plan and the creative juices start flowing. Although he no longer installs, with his many years in the business, he can recommend the most capable contractors for a particular project.

>>See more of Lockwood Fine Design's work

Global Design Landscapes

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Global Design Landscapes

Global Design Landscapes is a full-service provider of landscape and garden design, installation, hardscape, outdoor lighting and yard maintenance. Whether they design and install or simply maintain, they guarantee that your landscape will be an eye-catching addition to your home and add to its appeal to potential buyers, should that day come.

They are known for creating timeless landscapes and outdoor living spaces, as well as for their straight-forward estimates and customer-first policy. If clients would like to see, say, a flower bed transform right before their eyes in 3D animation, Global Design can do that, without charge.

>>See more of Global Design Landscapes's work

Delightful Gardens Landscape

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Delightful Gardens Landscape

Delightful Gardens specializes in constructing and renovating landscapes for residential, commercial and municipal properties throughout Williamsburg and the surrounding Tidewater area. These horticultural professionals work with the client to refine ideas, solve problems and take a landscape from concept to completion.

Plants are chosen for their ability to flourish in a particular microclimate and installed to decrease the need for weeding, pruning and mulching. The installation team comes with an integrated set of skills that bring a design to life with precision, care and the utmost professionalism.

>>See more of Delightful Gardens Landscape's work

Nansemond Lawn and Garden, Inc.

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Nansemond Lawn and Garden, Inc.

Nansemond is a “hometown” company that has been serving its neighbors for more than two decades. The staff includes certified professionals: horticulturist, a VSLD designer, crew leaders, supervisors and pesticide applicators.

All employees continue their education year-round to enhance their knowledge and skills to better serve their clients—and because they love what they do. Each project for them is an opportunity to create a masterpiece of design and function, finished on time, with a quality that surpasses expectations, and within the client’s budget.

>>See more of Nansemond Lawn and Garden, Inc.'s work

Kathleen Zeren Landscape Design

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Kathleen Zeren Landscape Design

Kathleen Zeren studied Landscape Design at Michigan State University and, after graduation, went to work for a prestigious nursery in Michigan. When she moved to Norfolk, VA, she worked at McDonald Garden Center and All Thumbs Garden Design, until she was tapped to be a Landscape Inspector for the City of Virginia Beach.

In 1993, Kathleen opened her own business and has enjoyed great success utilizing her education and broad range of experience. She has assembled an enviable team of designers, architects, wetland specialists and installers to create practical yet artistic landscapes from residential to urban master-planning. Kathleen’s designs are distinctive due to her unusual choices of plants and multi-layers of textures and colors.

>>See more of Kathleen Zeren Landscape Design's work

HLD Landscaping, Inc.

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: HLD Landscaping, Inc.

Harry L. Delyannis, president of HLD Landscaping, is a Virginia Certified Horticulturist and a member of the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. He has been serving the Hampton Roads region for more than 25 years and enjoys a reputation for high-quality workmanship and environmentally responsible designs and installations.

Harry uses his knowledge and experience in the artistic and scientific aspects of landscaping to create beautiful and practical outdoor areas while factoring in the client’s budget requirements. His accomplished crew leaders continue their education in landscaping to ensure that clients have the advantage of the latest products and techniques.

>>See more of HLD Landscaping, Inc.'s work

Wild Works of Whimsy, LLC

1 / 5 2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 ❮ ❯

Photos: Wild Works of Whimsy, LLC

Trista Imrich opened Wild Works of Whimsy after earning a Certificate in Landscape Design from Tidewater Community College in 2016. During Trista’s six years as an officer in the U. S. Navy, she worked in watershed restoration and went on to earn a Master’s degree in environmental policy from American Military University.

The Virginia Certified Horticulturist and Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional is passionate about conservation landscaping, habitat restoration, and stormwater management. She works with commercial and residential clients in landscape design with an emphasis on native and low-maintenance plants.

>>See more of Wild Works of Whimsy, LLC's work

That's it for our picks! If you have any additional questions, please visit our Virginia Beach lawn care page.

Those featured may display our Top Landscape Designers badge on their sites. We emailed everyone that we featured, but if we missed you, we want to hear from you.

Editor's Note: Thank you to all the members of the landscape architects and designers community. We appreciate the hard work that you do. If you have any feedback for us, we’d love to hear from you.