Landscapes by Michelle

Landscapes by Michelle Luxury landscape design and outdoor living transformations by Landscapes by Michelle, a division of Image Pro’s.

Custom patios, fire features, water elements, gardens, and curated outdoor spaces designed for the way you live.

Looking for a distinctive large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with dramatic, season-long color?Winecraft Black® smok...
09/05/2026

Looking for a distinctive large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with dramatic, season-long color?

Winecraft Black® smokebush creates a dense canopy of deep purple-black foliage, reaching approximately 8–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide. In early to midsummer, reddish-purple, smoke-like plumes add a soft texture, followed by brilliant red-orange foliage in fall.

Leave it unpruned for a full, shrub-like shape, or remove the lowest branches to expose its woody base and create the appearance of a small multi-stemmed tree.

Hardy in Zones 4–8, Winecraft Black® prefers full sun and average soil. It’s easy to grow, requires little maintenance and is typically resistant to deer and rabbits—making it a striking option for many Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin landscapes.

Stop by The Landscape Connection to explore available plants and talk through options for your property. For help placing the right plants in a professionally planned landscape, schedule a consultation with Landscapes by Michelle.

📍 Landscapes by Michelle
4472 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL
📞 (815) 443-5106
🌿 LandscapesByMichelle.com

Which panicle hydrangea is right for your landscape? Start with its mature size—not simply the size it is at the garden ...
09/02/2026

Which panicle hydrangea is right for your landscape? Start with its mature size—not simply the size it is at the garden center today.

Consider how much room the plant will have once fully grown. Could it reach its mature height and width without covering a window, crowding a walkway or pushing into nearby plants? Because panicle hydrangeas have similar growing requirements, choosing the proper size is one of the most important parts of successful placement.

Here are four popular options:

‘Limelight’
Approximately 8 feet tall and wide. Its substantial size makes it ideal as a focal point or trained into a small tree—but it requires plenty of room.

Limelight Prime®
Approximately 4–6 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide. Strong stems, a tidy shape and large blooms make it a great option for hedges.

Little Lime®
Approximately 3–5 feet tall and wide. This medium-sized variety often works well in foundation plantings when properly positioned around windows and other features.

Tiny Quick Fire®
Approximately 1½–3 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide. Its compact form is well suited to the front of a garden border, limited spaces or mass plantings.

The right plant in the wrong location can quickly become a maintenance problem. Landscapes by Michelle considers mature plant size, sunlight, spacing, seasonal color and the surrounding architecture to create a landscape that works now—and continues to work as it grows.

Schedule your landscape design consultation now to secure your fall installation.

📞 (815) 443-5106
🌿 LandscapesByMichelle.com

Summer is meant to be enjoyed outdoors—sharing a meal with neighbors, playing lawn games or simply relaxing among the pl...
08/29/2026

Summer is meant to be enjoyed outdoors—sharing a meal with neighbors, playing lawn games or simply relaxing among the plants after a long day.

A thoughtfully designed landscape makes those moments possible. Landscapes by Michelle can create the planting plan, while our family at Image Pro’s can build the paver walkways, patios and hardscape features that bring the entire outdoor space together.

If this summer revealed that your backyard isn’t working as well as it could, now is the time to begin planning what comes next. From concept to completion, we can help create a beautiful, functional setting you’ll enjoy for years.

Schedule your landscape design consultation:

📞 (815) 443-5106
🌿 LandscapesByMichelle.com

A healthy landscape starts with healthy plants.If shrubs or perennials begin turning yellow during the heat of summer, i...
08/28/2026

A healthy landscape starts with healthy plants.

If shrubs or perennials begin turning yellow during the heat of summer, it's often a sign they're under stress—not necessarily that they're dying.

Proper soil preparation, plant selection, irrigation, and ongoing nutrition all work together to keep landscapes healthy throughout the season.

That's one reason we design landscapes with plants that are well-suited to our climate and install them with long-term success in mind. A thoughtfully designed landscape is easier to maintain and more resilient when summer conditions become challenging.

Beautiful landscapes don't happen by chance—they're designed to thrive.



Landscapes by Michelle
4472 S. Mulford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61109
📞 (815) 443-5106
🌐 www.LandscapesByMichelle.com

Late August is the perfect time to notice what your landscape is missing—and plan improvements for fall planting.Proven ...
08/27/2026

Late August is the perfect time to notice what your landscape is missing—and plan improvements for fall planting.

Proven Winners’ Buzz & Bloom #1 EZ Scapes™ plan is designed for sunny, lower-water areas using three heat-tolerant, low-maintenance perennials that attract pollinators:

🔥 Pyromania® ‘Orange Blaze’ Red Hot Poker
Hardy in Zones 5b–9 | 2–2½ feet tall

💜 ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ Nepeta
Hardy in Zones 3–8 | 12–14 inches tall

🌸 Rock ’n Grow® ‘Coraljade’ Sedum
Hardy in Zones 3–9 | 16–18 inches tall

Together, they create layered color, texture and pollinator activity from summer into fall—without requiring a high-maintenance garden.

Want to adapt this look for your property? Landscapes by Michelle can create a thoughtful landscape plan based on your space, sunlight and style.

📞 (815) 443-5106
🌿 LandscapesByMichelle.com

Find more free Proven Winners garden plans at EZScapes.com.

Yellow brings warmth, energy and a touch of sunshine to the landscape. It naturally draws the eye, brightens shaded area...
08/24/2026

Yellow brings warmth, energy and a touch of sunshine to the landscape. It naturally draws the eye, brightens shaded areas and pairs beautifully with nearly every other color.

Use yellow blooms repeatedly throughout a garden bed to create rhythm, add a few to containers for a seasonal accent or plant them in a larger grouping to create a bold focal point.

A few options to inspire your landscape:

💛 ‘Firefly Sunshine’ Yarrow, Pyromania® ‘Solar Flare’ Red Hot Poker, ‘Banana Cream II’ Shasta Daisy and Kintzley’s Ghost® Honeysuckle Vine for sunny areas

💛 ‘Treasure Trove’ Black-Eyed Susan for sun to part sun

💛 ‘Bottle Rocket’ Ligularia to brighten a partially shaded garden

💛 Double Delight® Primrose Begonia and Supertunia Mini Vista® Yellow Petunia for colorful seasonal containers

💛 Tropical hibiscus and Texas primrose for sunny annual displays in our Zone 5 climate

Color is most effective when it’s thoughtfully repeated and balanced with foliage, texture and plants that bloom at different times. Landscapes by Michelle can create a coordinated planting plan tailored to your property’s sunlight, architecture and existing landscape.

Schedule your landscape design consultation now to plan a fall installation.

📞 (815) 443-5106
🌿 LandscapesByMichelle.com

What is your favorite yellow flower?

Garden design tip: Summerific® hibiscus makes a bold statement, but its mature size matters. These tall perennials typic...
08/22/2026

Garden design tip: Summerific® hibiscus makes a bold statement, but its mature size matters. These tall perennials typically perform best in the middle or back of a sunny garden border, where they can add dramatic color without overwhelming shorter plants.

This Proven Winners Low Maintenance Sunscape #2 EZ Scapes™ plan combines four hardy perennials that work beautifully in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin landscapes:

Summerific® ‘Cookies and Cream’ Hibiscus
Near-black foliage and white flowers create striking contrast. Growing approximately 2½–3 feet tall, it stays below many windowsills.

Color Spires® ‘VioletColor Spires® ‘Violet Riot’ Salvia
Purple blooms provide earlier-season color before the hibiscus and black-eyed Susans begin flowering.

‘Treasure Trove’ Black-Eyed Susan
Golden-yellow flowers brighten the planting from summer into fall and stand out beautifully against the hibiscus’s dark foliage.

Prairie Winds® ‘Brush Strokes’ Little Bluestem
Icy-blue foliage adds structure along the walkway, then develops rich wine-red tones in early fall.

The result is a layered, low-maintenance landscape with contrast, movement and color that evolves throughout the season.

Want help adapting this look to your home, available space and growing conditions? Contact Landscapes by Michelle to schedule a landscape design consultation.

📞 (815) 443-5106
🌿 LandscapesByMichelle.com

What would you pair with perennial hibiscus in your landscape?

Another quality J&S Better Built Barns LLC shed has SOLD and been delivered! 🏡Found the structure you want but need help...
08/21/2026

Another quality J&S Better Built Barns LLC shed has SOLD and been delivered! 🏡

Found the structure you want but need help preparing the site? Image Pro's can provide site-adaptation services such as gravel bases and concrete pads to help create a solid, properly prepared foundation for your new building.

Stop by The Landscape Connection, wander through the available J&S Better Built Barns inventory, and find the shed, garage, studio, or utility building that fits your property.

Landscapes by Michelle
4472 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, IL 61109
📞 (815) 443-5106
🌐 www.LandscapesByMichelle.com

A professionally designed landscape shouldn't have one "wow" moment.It should have four seasons of interest.One of the b...
08/19/2026

A professionally designed landscape shouldn't have one "wow" moment.

It should have four seasons of interest.

One of the biggest differences between a professionally designed landscape and a collection of random plants is succession. We intentionally combine plants that peak at different times so your landscape always has something beautiful happening.

Some of our favorite late-season performers include:

• Panicle Hydrangeas for dramatic summer-to-fall blooms.
• Coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans for dependable perennial color.
• Rockin'® Salvias and Superbena® Verbena for months of vibrant flowers and pollinator activity.

When every season is considered during the design process, your landscape never feels like it's "between blooms."

If you're ready for a landscape that looks beautiful from spring through fall, we'd love to design it with you.



Landscapes by Michelle
4472 S. Mulford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61109
📞 (815) 443-5106
🌐 www.LandscapesByMichelle.com

Every beautiful landscape starts with an idea.The question is... how do you turn that idea into a landscape you'll love ...
08/13/2026

Every beautiful landscape starts with an idea.

The question is... how do you turn that idea into a landscape you'll love for years to come?

That's where professional landscape design makes all the difference.

We'll help you visualize your project before installation begins, ensuring every tree, shrub, perennial, and hardscape element has a purpose. You'll know how your landscape will look, how it will grow, and how each piece works together to create a cohesive outdoor living space that complements your home.

Summer is the perfect time to begin the design process. Starting now gives us time to refine your plan so you're ready for fall installation—one of the best planting seasons in Northern Illinois. Trees and shrubs establish strong root systems in the warm soil and cooler temperatures, setting the stage for a beautiful landscape next spring.

Don't leave your biggest outdoor investment to guesswork.

Bring your vision to life. Schedule your landscape design consultation today.

Landscapes by Michelle
4472 S. Mulford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61109
📞 (815) 443-5106
🌐 www.LandscapesByMichelle.com

Address

4472 S. Mulford Road
Rockford, IL
61109

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+18154435106

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