Landscaping
Top 5 Outdoor Living Upgrades to Maximize Value & Enjoyment
If you are looking to enhance your curb appeal or outdoor living space in 2026 without a total revamp, here are the top 5 upgrades that will make a huge impact & change your outdoor space!
Use this guide & consider which upgrades you would enjoy the most. Each of these simple enhancements will increase the value & enjoyment you receive from your home!
1. Fire Pits
Fire pits create an experience in your outdoor space. They serve as the focal point, the spot where everyone wants to be. Priceless memories are made around the fire! Whether you are roasting marshmallows with your family or exchanging stories with friends, this is the place to be. With countless ways to customize fire features, they are an instant fun & value booster for your home!
We look at inspiration clients may have and collaborate with our expertise and skill to overcome design or terrain challenges and achieve the desired results regardless of the complexity of the property. Steep slopes, tight spaces, or a flat open canvas, we handle it all!
2. Patios
If you have a backyard where there is no place to set a table or even a few chairs, a small patio can totally change the exterior of your home, adding enjoyment & customization. Adding a patio creates a defined space to gather & enjoy the outdoors. Making this simple addition will leave you wondering how you lived without it! Building this space will create an extension of your home where outdoor living can be a dream come true, a simple space where priceless memories will be made & cherished!
3. Walkways
Walkways are great for enhancing your curb appeal or cohesively connecting key areas of your outdoor living space! Whether you need an intentional pathway leading guests to your front door or a discreet, turf-set stepping stone path leading to a secret garden retreat, this upgrade will make a huge difference. Investment levels are customizable with endless options ranging from custom pavers to timeless flagstone!
4. Landscaping
Installing a new landscape at your home is sure to turn heads! From subtle pops of perennial color to elegant evergreens & specimen flowering trees, a professionally designed landscape will create an environment that is warm, inviting, and unique to your style & vision. Incorporating seasonal interest will have guests & neighbors anxiously awaiting the next season to see what colors will pop at your home. Expertly installed landscapes bring your property to life and allow your home to stand out!
5. Landscape Lighting
Lighting is hands down the best way to improve the usability of your home after dark, capture its beauty all night, and even enhance your home’s security. Want to keep that backyard cookout going after the sun sets? Or impress your neighbors as your home glows through the night? Lighting is the answer! With color-changing options, the possibilities are endless with a custom outdoor lighting system!
If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:
- Property evaluation and design possibilities discussion
- Preliminary budget guidance
- Timeline and process overview
- Next steps if we're a mutual fit!

Trending: The Experience Behind a Luxury Outdoor Living Space
The Process for Your Outdoor Living Space
In 2026 a unique trend is coming to light, this trend affects nearly every industry in the country and is causing shifts in consumer trends. Consumers are looking for experiences over just investing in material objects or services. When you think about experiences, you may think of sporting events, vacations, etc however, these experiences can also come from high quality service providers.
At Arborvine Landscaping, our mission has always been to provide the best experience for homeowners looking to create their dream outdoor spaces. Our clear process & legendary experience is one that has set Arborvine apart and forged our reputation as the most sought after design build firm in New Castle County, DE & Southeastern Chester County, PA.
An outdoor living space can be a big decision & investment, our dedicated team curated a custom process to make this journey effortlessly enjoyable.
A Thoughtful, Client-Centered Design Process
Starting from the initial design meeting, our creative design consultants will listen to our clients lifestyle preferences, visions & goals to create a space that suits their needs while also respecting the site conditions and style of the home.
We look at inspiration clients may have and collaborate with our expertise and skill to overcome design or terrain challenges and achieve the desired results regardless of the complexity of the property. Steep slopes, tight spaces, or a flat open canvas, we handle it all!
Bringing Your Vision to Life Through Design
From here, our process really comes to life as we create a design that allows our clients to digitally interact with the outdoor space. Our clients will feel like they are living in their space thanks to the quality of our design renderings.
This allows plenty of time to refine details, discuss phasing and select materials. Each design detail is thoughtful & intentional to reflect each client’s unique vision.
We will provide material samples and carefully review each selection to compliment the space with the finest available products to ensure a luxurious & durable outdoor space. Each earth derived natural stone selection is complimented beautifully by luscious plantings & even lighting or sound systems to create vibrant outdoor spaces.
This period of collaboration ends with a clear & detailed proposal outlining the scope of work, material selection and creating a clear blueprint to turn this vision to reality!
From Planning to Construction Excellence
Each Arborvine backyard is clearly planned before a shovel hits the ground. The Arbovine experience continues to impress as we move from planning to construction.
Our production managers will procure materials, handle permits & align our expert crews perfectly. After careful planning & coordination, a pre construction meeting kicks off the build. This is where our seasoned craftsmen will seamlessly integrate with the design team to fully understand the vision and start to bring it to life.
Each project built by Arbovine comes with a level of quality that is sure to exceed expectations.
A Stress-Free Build Experience
Construction can be stressful, but not when you choose Arborvine. Clean & safe jobsites, constant communication & attention to detail that is unmatched in our industry.
This stage of the process will leave you relaxed & informed, not worried about managing the project or stressing over the details. This step is where the importance of the design & planning process shine. The time spent with our consultants reviewing the design & carefully selecting the materials all pays off when it’s time to build.
At this point there is nothing left for you to do but enjoy the journey & cherish this design & build experience curated by Arborvine.
Many of our clients are sad to see our crews go. While they are ecstatic about their new personal paradise, they slightly miss the joyful daily bustle and positive vibes of our crew members & project managers. The true pride we take in our craft shows each and every day through our smiles, laughs & productive harmony as we proudly bring these visions to life.
Completion, Care, and Long-Term Confidence
On completion, our experts will proudly walk you through the space answering questions and guiding you through the key steps of care & maintenance. We will customize maintenance plans to suit clients needs and protect their investments.
There is no better feeling than the pride & confidence that comes with an Arborvine built backyard. From reminiscing on an experience that makes you smile, to the peace of mind that comes with our industry leading warranties and most importantly, the memories created in your space that you will cherish for life.
Our clients are forever members of the Arborvine family!
Build With Arborvine
If you are a homeowner who values a high quality experience as much as a high quality & long lasting outdoor space, build with Arborvine.
Our perfectly orchestrated process is the only choice when looking to enhance the enjoyment of your home through a custom outdoor space or landscape. While consumers valuing experiences may be a new trend, Arborvine stayed true to our roots, beat the curve by a decade & has been providing a top notch experience since the very beginning.
Join our rapidly growing family of happy clients who are actively creating memories in their dream backyard, proudly built by Arborvine!
If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:
- Property evaluation and design possibilities discussion
- Preliminary budget guidance
- Timeline and process overview
- Next steps if we're a mutual fit!

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Testimonials
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We had a great experience with Arborvine. From the detailed suggestions we got from Kathy on what solutions would work best for what we needed, to Angel who worked so hard in our yard, to Erica in the office who made our project plan invoice quickly & easy to review, sign off on and pay. It was convenient, detailed & professional. Exactly what we had hoped for. Our yard is now well on its way to looking the way we’d like. I would highly recommend Arborvine if you want a personalized & professional landscaping job done. Big or small, they will be able to take care of what you need. We’ll be back for sure for the next phase!
Robyn PooreWilmington, DE -
We are so pleased with the outcome of our project, particularly the hardscaping. It is so much better than I ever envisioned. I let them know what I was thinking and from that, they were able to make this happen. We get compliments all the time from neighbors and people just passing through. I can’t say enough good things about the men who were here doing the work. They were respectful, hard-working & took the time to get the wall just right even though it was during a heat wave. Greg has put together a great team! He was also incredibly kind & patient, more so than we could have hoped for.
Angela HopkinsWilmington, DE -
We called Arborvine to help us with a drainage issue in our yard. The entire experience from beginning to end was reat. We received, in my opinion, a fair estimate. From there, the project went smoothly. Greg and Peter were great and his team was outstanding. They arrived on time, focused on the project, worked all day, and paid attention to detail. The crew was friendly, courteous, and professional. Our yard looks great, even better than before, and the water problem seems to have been resolved. The cleanup was outstanding. They will be our first choice when we need landscaping in the future.
M. Jean ChamishWilmington, DE -
If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Greg was great to work with – he came out within a day or so of my inquiry to discuss my project and provide an estimate. He listened to what I was looking to do and wrote up a detailed estimate outlining the scope of the project perfectly; offering to schedule the work to be done much sooner than I expected. His estimate was right within our budget and communication was great (can’t say that about many other contractors!).
The day the work began, his crew arrived early and began right on time. I left a few things in the area where the work was to be done – they cleared the area with care and neatly stacked the things I left behind my shed. Everything they did was meticulous and professional. His crew followed the scope of work to a T.
Greg made sure to ask me ahead of time which path I’d prefer them to use to haul the heavy equipment to the project area. His crew stayed perfectly within the area/path specified to minimize damage to my grass… and they of-course repaired all areas as needed afterwards. Very happy with the results! Can’t beat fair pricing AND professionalism!
Jon CombsWilmington, DE -
I have nothing but good things to say about my experience with Arborvine! Everything went better than I could have asked for from the quote to the final touches. Kathy was so easy to work with, and the choices she made were exactly what I was looking for without really being able to fully explain what types of shrubs I wanted. She got it perfect on the first try! Even better was the fact that the crew that came out to work on our yard were such great people. They were so friendly at every interaction, and honestly, working with the team again, I’d be interested in specifically requesting that they be the ones to do the next phase!
We got quotes on three separate projects from Kathy, prices fit our budget nicely and it didn’t feel like we were skipping anything to save on cost. Overall, I’m feeling pretty excited for when we move on to the next project!
Kyle HicksHockessin, DE -
Greg and his team were a pleasure to work with. They were always extremely responsive and though weather and supply issues prolonged the overall project timeline, there was constant communication and they were committed to ensuring everything was installed properly and efficiently.
Nathan & Kelly BachmanNewark, DE -
Greg and his crew did an amazing job in our backyard today. They pulled out some dead bushes, relocated other bushes, and cleaned up all my flower beds. Added sod and shrunk some beds to lessen my weeding. I will be having him back for more work and highly recommend Arborvine Landscaping to everyone.
Diane PhillipsHockessin, DE -
Dealing with Greg was excellent. The contract was detailed and every detail was fulfilled. I appreciated the communication as every text with a question had a very quick response. As for his crew that did the work, they were such hard workers. They showed up on time for work every day and I’m very pleased with the outcome. I would highly recommend Arborvine Landscaping.
Marene MiastaMiddletown, DE -
Arborvine landscaping is easy to work with and is a professional, courteous company. Their workers are efficient and friendly.
Lisa BrooksWilmington, DE -
Greg is very knowledgeable and professional. He cleaned our landscape beds and also added a stone border to a small bed at the back of the house. His crew was efficient and left everything immaculate!
Stephane & David RadinMiddletown, DE