Tree & Shrub Planting & Installation in Chester County & the Main Line

Trees and shrubs are the bones of a landscape, and they live or die by how they are selected and planted. As a design-build company with 20-plus years across Chester County, Delaware County, and the Main Line, JHL Landscape Design installs everything from foundation shrubs to large feature trees. We pick material that fits your site, soil, and deer pressure, then plant it with the technique our heavy clay demands so it establishes and lasts.

Selecting the Right Tree or Shrub

The wrong plant in the wrong place is wasted money, so selection comes first. We match every tree and shrub to its actual site: how much sun it gets, how the clay drains there, how exposed it is to wind and cold, and how hard the deer hit that part of your property. A baking foundation, a wet low spot, and a shaded side yard each call for different plants.

Deer-smart, clay-tolerant choices

Deer pressure is heavy across our area, and a planting that ignores it gets browsed to sticks. We lean on deer-resistant and native selections like serviceberry, redbud, inkberry holly, and oakleaf hydrangea, which take our clay and climate in stride.

Shade and ornamental trees chosen for mature size, form, and clearance
Evergreen and deciduous shrubs for foundation, screening, and mixed beds
Deer-resistant and native material suited to Zone 6b-7a and clay soil
Healthy nursery stock with strong roots, never pot-bound or stressed

Planting Technique That Lasts

How a tree or shrub goes in the ground decides whether it thrives. Our soils are heavy Wissahickon-schist clay that holds water and fights roots, so technique is everything. We dig wide holes, two to three times the rootball, and loosen the surrounding clay so new roots can spread instead of circling in a slick-walled pit.

B&B versus container, and how we set them

Larger trees often come balled-and-burlapped (B&B), with the rootball dug and wrapped at the nursery; shrubs and smaller trees usually arrive in containers. Either way, the rules are the same: set the plant so the root flare sits at or just above grade, never buried, and tease or score circling roots on container stock so they grow outward.

Holes two to three times the rootball width, with loosened clay around them
Root flare kept at grade, planting too deep is the number-one tree killer we see
Backfill amended with compost where the clay needs better structure and drainage
Burlap, wire, and twine cut back from the trunk on B&B stock before backfilling
Mulched two to three inches, pulled back off the trunk and stems

Specimen Trees, Screening & Foundation Shrubs

Some projects need instant presence. We install large specimen trees and mature shrubs when a property calls for immediate scale, a focal point, or fast privacy. Large-specimen installation takes the right equipment and handling, and our crews are set up for it.

Screening is one of our most-requested jobs: a staggered row of evergreens, planted at the right spacing for mature width, turns an exposed yard private without looking like a fence. Foundation shrubs frame the house, soften the architecture, and give the front beds year-round structure. We stake trees only when wind or top-heaviness requires it, and remove stakes once roots take hold, since trees allowed to flex build stronger trunks.

Establishment & Aftercare

A newly planted tree or shrub needs water to establish. We water plants in at installation and leave you a clear schedule for the first one to two seasons. Deep, infrequent watering drives roots down into the soil instead of keeping them shallow and vulnerable.

Healthy stock, correct planting, and real establishment care are what make trees and shrubs thrive, and we back our installations. Spring and fall are our prime windows; fall in particular lets roots grow into warm soil ahead of summer. Call (610) 422-3474 to scope your tree and shrub work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What trees and shrubs hold up to the deer here? No plant is truly deer-proof, but deer-resistant and native material holds up far better. We build around selections like serviceberry, redbud, inkberry holly, and oakleaf hydrangea, and we shelter the plants deer favor where placement allows. Heavy deer pressure across Chester County and the Main Line makes smart selection the single biggest factor in whether a planting survives.

What is the difference between B&B and container plants? Balled-and-burlapped (B&B) plants are dug at the nursery with their rootball wrapped in burlap and wire, common for larger trees. Container plants are grown in pots, common for shrubs and smaller trees. Both can succeed; the key is planting at the right depth, loosening or scoring container roots so they grow outward, and cutting wire and burlap back from the trunk on B&B stock.

Can you install large, mature trees for instant impact? Yes. We install large specimen trees and mature shrubs when a property needs immediate scale, a focal point, or fast privacy screening. Large-specimen work takes proper equipment and careful handling, which our crews are set up for. We will help you weigh larger stock against smaller plants that establish faster, so your budget goes where it counts.

Why do newly planted trees fail, and how do you prevent it? The two most common causes are planting too deep and poor establishment watering, both made worse by our heavy clay. We keep the root flare at grade, dig wide holes, amend the backfill where needed, and leave a deep, infrequent watering schedule for the first one to two seasons. Reach our West Chester studio at (610) 422-3474 to discuss your project.

Areas We Serve

West Chester, PA — Home base at 701 S Franklin St; shade trees, screening, and foundation shrubs
Newtown Square & the Main Line — Specimen trees and evergreen screening from Wayne and Villanova to Gladwyne
Malvern, Exton, Kennett Square, Chadds Ford — served towns

Ready to start? Request a consultation or call (610) 422-3474.

About JHL Landscape Design

JHL Landscape Design is a design-build landscape company serving Chester County, Delaware County and the Main Line from West Chester (701 S Franklin St). We design, install, and care for complete landscapes — landscape design and 3D rendering, hardscape and patios, drainage and grading, and plantings — with every project grounded in a plan you approve before work begins.

PA HIC #PA035784 | ICPI Certified | HBA Member — Chester & Delaware Counties | BBB A+ | 20+ Years Chester County

JHL Landscape Design | PA HIC #PA035784 | ICPI Certified | Licensed & Insured 701 S Franklin St, West Chester, PA 19382 (610) 422-3474

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