ROOFTOP GARDENS

We continue to be excited about rooftop gardening and the evolving rooftop living aesthetic. When CSG won the $25,000 First Prize in 2006 at Mayor Daley’s inaugural Garden In A City competition for our Rooftop Garden installation Reversing the Flow, we knew we were on our way. Today many elevated surfaces can be built out to create fantastic outdoor garden rooms and unique living spaces. A rooftop garden is both similar to, and quite different from, a traditional landscape garden. Conditions on rooftops, garage roofs, decks and terraces can be extreme, but with the proper design and selection of the rooftop components a surprising number of approaches are possible.

As pioneers in the rooftop garden design/build space, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible advances in both materials and methods to make creation of a rooftop garden easier than ever. Once the crucial roof-loading, access and permitting questions have been tackled, our work begins. New systems for installing natural stone and wood decking; built structures; mechanized shade structures and systems; drip irrigation and low-voltage landscape lighting; hardy native as well as exotic plantings; incredible furnishings, appliances and features; decorative elements too numerous to mention — all these elements come together to create a one-of-a-kind green space atop the city’s skyline.

Browse Rooftop Garden projects from Chicago Specialty Gardens

landscape garden design

LANDSCAPE GARDENS

We see the garden space as an outdoor room, an extension of the home, and consider it, in effect, an open-air room addition. An exciting new generation of materials, products, technologies and installation techniques for the garden allows us to create a flow between indoors and outdoors as never before. We have structured our company as a full-service urban garden design/build firm, and the most efficient use of our resources is on projects where an entire space needs re-making from the ground up, or involves new construction.

As with Rooftop Gardens, an urban landscape can be an incredible canvas on which to work. Frequently modest in scale, with limited accessibility, city gardens pose a unique set of challenges to the landscape designer and installers. But when the project is completed, and a small jewel of a garden is created, hidden away, we feel we have been successful in our work.

Browse Landscape Garden projects from Chicago Specialty Gardens

Kind Words from Satisfied Clients

  • “I have been working with Chicago Specialty Gardens for almost 10 years now and can say nothing but good things. They are always responsive and respectful of my time and have beautiful, creative landscaping ideas. I have used them for every space of my home, both inside and out and will continue to be a customer of theirs for the next 10 years!”

    - Robyn

  • “From start to finish we have had a terrific experience with the team at Chicago Specialty Gardens. They were timely with completion and the end result is spectacular. We just had our wrap up meeting and I was handed a binder and thumb drive of all instructions, warranties and contacts. In my 15 years of working with professional landscape companies, I have never received something like this and am grateful to have it all in one place. Thank you to all who help make our project a success.”

    - Georgia

  • “We’re very happy with our choice to work with CSG to build out our patio area. Their office, construction, and design teams are all great. The job itself went smoothly and faster than originally planned. We recommend them highly!”

    - Bradley

  • “We were extremely satisfied with CSG. The work they did on our deck was outstanding. The staff is excellent – courteous and conscientious. Great design work, not only in concept but in the presentation of the concepts. They delivered in the promised timeframe and very close to budget which is a rarity. I can also tell you that we’re looking at doing another project with them this spring.”

    - Austin

  • “I had the great pleasure to work with Phil, who took my vision and made it into a stunning reality! My backyard went through an entire metamorphosis and I could not be happier with it. There was great attention to detail, good communication, and of course the end result was fantastic. I could not recommend this company more.”

    - Peter

  • “Chicago Specialty Gardens turned an average garage rooftop into our own special oasis. The project evolved over a little less than a year as they set up three phases of production to fit our budget. The finished product is a cabana, day bed and much much more of the highest quality. We are up there every chance we get.”

    - Corey