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Every landscaping company owns lawn mowers. Most can install a patio. Plenty can plant beautiful flowers. So, what separates a good company from a truly great one? Over the past year, more of our clients have taken the time to leave Google reviews. While we always appreciate the kind words, something else stood out to us as we read through them.

If you've admired one of our colorful seasonal containers or flower beds lately, there's a good chance Amy helped bring them to life. In just a year and a half with M.J. Design Associates, Amy has become a familiar face to many of our clients. Her friendly personality, genuine excitement for plants, and willingness to listen has earned her several glowing Google reviews, with clients praising everything from her beautiful arrangements to her helpful advice.

If your lawn suddenly looks like it's growing faster than ever—but not in a good way—you may have an unwelcome guest moving in. Crabgrass is a bit like that neighbor who only shows up when there's free food. It waits for your lawn to become stressed from the summer heat, then quickly fills in any thin or bare spots. If you notice light green, coarse patches spreading across your yard, chances are crabgrass has found an opening.

Whether you're hosting backyard cookouts, relaxing with a morning cup of coffee, or spending evenings around a fire pit, your outdoor space should feel like an extension of your home. The best outdoor living areas aren't necessarily the biggest or most expensive—they're the ones that are thoughtfully designed for how you live. So what makes an outdoor space truly stand out?

At M.J. Design Associates, we spend a lot of time planting trees. Every landscape we install is an opportunity to create beauty, provide shade, support wildlife, and leave a lasting impact on the environment. But we're not the only ones working to make Central Ohio greener.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, we're taking a look at how the landscapes we love today evolved over centuries of history, innovation, and outdoor living.

Some landscapes look beautiful from the street but rarely get used. Others feel disconnected from the home itself — outdated layouts, too much hardscape, or planting that no longer fits the property. This project was an opportunity to completely rethink how the homeowners experienced their outdoor spaces every day.

One of the funniest things about landscaping is this: There’s actually no scientific category called “weed.” A weed is really just a plant growing somewhere we don’t want it. That dandelion popping up in your lawn? A weed.The same dandelion growing in a wildflower field? Suddenly people think it’s charming.

May is one of our favorite times of year at M.J. Design Associates. Our crews have been busy planting summer containers and beds all across Columbus, and while everything already looks beautiful, this is truly just the beginning. Some of these plants are going to completely transform by August, and honestly, watching that happen is one of the best parts of the season.

If you've been spending more time outside this spring, whether in your garden, on a trail, or just in the backyard, there's something worth knowing before you head out the door. Ohio's tick landscape is changing, and a new invasive species has quietly been making itself at home across the state.

As the season gets underway, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to care for landscapes, but also how to do it responsibly. Sustainability isn't just a trend for us. It's something we're actively working toward in our own homes, in the field, and at our shop. We're not perfect, but we are intentional.

If you've ever noticed plants struggling in a newly installed landscape—whether it's around a new home, along a roadway, or in a park or public space—you're not alone. In many cases, those issues don't come from a lack of maintenance. They start much earlier, during installation.

Spring in Ohio is one of the most unpredictable times of year. One week brings sunshine and growth, the next brings steady rain and saturated lawns. While everything is starting to green up quickly, it also creates one of the biggest challenges in lawn care: when (and when not) to mow.

Two we’re keeping a close eye on right now in Ohio are the Spotted Lanternfly and the White Pine Weevil. Neither is a reason to panic, but both are worth understanding, especially if you want to stay ahead of potential damage.

One of our favorite times of the year is finally here! Our full seasonal team is back, and that means one thing: things are about to get busy (in the best way possible).

For M.J. Design Associates owners Molly and Joel John, a recent journey through Rwanda and Tanzania became something more than travel. It was an experience that shifted perspective on nature, on people, and on the quiet responsibility we all carry to protect the world around us.

There’s something about the first signs of spring that makes everyone ready to refresh their outdoor spaces. After a long Ohio winter (and let’s be honest… a few fake springs), adding a fresh seasonal pot by your front door or patio is one of the easiest ways to bring things back to life.

Winter in Ohio has a reputation. Gray skies. Snow-covered beds. Bare branches. But if you know where to look, this is one of the most quietly beautiful times in the landscape. A thoughtfully designed garden doesn’t disappear in winter, it shifts. Structure, texture, bark, and early blooms take their turn in the spotlight.

Winter deer damage is one of the most common landscape issues homeowners notice in February, especially on evergreen shrubs like taxus, arborvitae, and boxwood. If your shrubs look chewed, uneven, or strangely sculpted, deer are likely the culprit.

You know the feeling. You’re on hold. Again. An automated voice cheerfully reminds you, “Your call is important to us,” while you stare at your phone in disbelief. You’ve already explained the issue. You’ve pressed every button. You’ve been transferred more than once. This is call number 26. And still, no one has taken ownership.