Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect — Landscape Design in Arlington, MA

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Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 4.0 (1 review)

Arlington, Massachusetts

Landscape Design

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About Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect

Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect is a Landscape Design professional based in Arlington, MA, serving Jamaica Plain, Melrose, Reading, Somerville, Weston, New England, Wellesley, Bos....

Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect is a Boston area design studio specializing in residential landscapes and gardens our clients love. Melissa is a Registered Landscape Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, and as a sole practitioner she appreciates being able to cultivate client contact and quality assurance at all stages of a project. She has established relationships with great contractors in the Boston area. Not only does she have a great instinct regarding grading, drainage, and construction and design — but first and foremost, she is a lover of plants. Using native plant species in her designs, she aims to enhance the existing ecosystem at a site while fulfilling her client's desires and needs. A native of New England, Melissa has a masters in landscape architecture from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She is also a painter, and her art is often inspired by abstract patterns in nature.

Services Provided

Landscape Design Garden Remodeling Patio Design & Installation Outdoor Lighting Installation

Areas We Serve

Jamaica Plain-MA, Melrose-MA, Reading-MA, Somerville-MA, Weston-MA, New England, Wellesley-MA, Boston-MA, Arlington-MA, Lynnfield-MA, Bedford-MA, Winchester-MA, Newtonville, Newton Lower Falls, Charlestown, Quincy-MA, Belmont-MA, Newton-MA, Brookline-MA, Burlington-MA, Lexington-MA, Waban, Cambridge-MA, Greater Boston-MA, Concord-MA, Medford-MA, Natick-MA, Newton Center, Waltham-MA, Needham-MA

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Projects

Newton Center

Newton, MA

Arthur Astor Carey House, Cambridge

Falmouth Road

Arlington, MA

Historic Lexington

Lexington, MA

Appleton Street, Cambridge

Family Home in Wellesley

South Shore Waterfront Landscape

Quincy, MA

Shared Urban Garden

Somerville, MA

Belmont Hill

Somerville Bamboo and Ipe Sanctuary

Somerville, MA

Avon Hill

Lexington Woodside

Lexington, MA

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for responsiveness, work quality, and professionalism.

Excellent 4.0

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

1 review

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Michael T.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Jun 09, 2025

Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect transformed our backyard with a stunning custom fire pit and drought-tolerant plants. Slight delay, but worth it!

Contact

Business Name: Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect
Phone Number: Request a Call
Website: melissamacdonald.com
Typical Job Cost: $50,000 - $500,000
Address: Arlington, MA, 02474
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FAQ

At Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect, we set prices based on an in-depth consultation process. We discuss your goals, preferences, and the scope of the project. The total cost depends on several factors, including the size of the area, the design, materials, and any special features you wish to include. Being a sole practitioner, I give every project personal attention and work with vetted contractors to obtain reliable quotes. Our pricing is based on transparency – you receive a detailed breakdown, so you know exactly what you can expect at each stage of the project.

Absolutely! At Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect, I am passionate about the use of native plant species within my landscape designs. Not only do native plants permanently beautify the landscape, but they are also a crucial component of local ecosystems. Once established, they are drought tolerant and need minimal maintenance, fitting perfectly into the New England climate. When we design your garden, I will collaborate in the design process with you to choose native plants that meet your design wishes as well as promote biodiversity in your garden. Not only does this example dovetail with my long-standing commitment to enhancing existing ecosystems over creating new ones, but it will also help you achieve your landscaping aspirations (making your space visually appealing too!).

To schedule a landscaping project with Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect, the first step is an initial consultation, which can be booked through our website or by contacting us directly. In this meeting we will talk about what you have envisioned and the preferences and individually, what are you expectation. Shortly after this consult I will visit your site to measure the space and take notes that will help me design for you. After this, I will give you an overview of the project time frame, milestones etc. Once we settle on the specifics, I can book the project based on your schedule and the resources available, particularly the contractors I work alongside to facilitate the implementation process.

We offer a variety of landscaping services at Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect, each designed to suit the needs of our clients as needed. We design custom bocce ball courts, fire pits and water features which help define your outdoor space. We also specialize in functional features like dog run building and drought tolerant landscaping; everything to make your yard beautiful and practical! We also offer edible gardens and garden design, so you can indulge in fresh farm produce at your convenience. We are experts in hardscaping and the landscape installation, living walls and natural swimming pools; all designed, developed and installed through a unique plant- and ecosystem- based approach.

The main point of difference that Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect offers from other landscaping companies is our highly individualized approach to each project. As a Washington State Registered Landscape Architect, I work alone so you are guaranteed my full attention from start to finish through design and installation. With a background in landscape architecture, a love for plants and an emphasis on sustainable practices makes it possible for me to develop creative, functional landscapes that capture clients' visions and simultaneously improve the local landscape. I emphasize native plant and sustainable practices to maintain visually appealing landscapes that also contribute to local wildlife and biodiversity.

Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect — Hardscaping services that contribute as complementary elements of a landscape are those that not only enhance your landscape but also your outdoor lifestyle. Patio, walkways, retaining wall, and outdoor kitchen design and installation. We design outdoor spaces that are functional for all types of activities, and blend into the natural environment as well as any other existing features of the landscape. From a quaint patio to accommodate guests to a standout retaining wall to prevent erosion, I will partner with you to create a hardscape that will be both aesthetically pleasing and serving its purpose to beautify your home while increasing your property value.

On the frontline of quality assurance at Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect My small size means the projects we do are overseen by me, from initial consultation to installation. This enables me to ensure that the entire design is production level quality. I have developed good relationships with some great contractors in the Boston area that I can coordinate with and ensure the work fits within my vision. When they are implementing the work, I do regular site visits to check how the work is going and to see how the team are getting on with the work. I have a background in grading, drainage and construction, so you are not only getting a beautiful landscape but one built to last.

Our main focus here at Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect is on design and installation, but landscape maintenance is an important part of keeping your landscape healthy and happy. Fortunately, we provide instructions on how to maintain the plants and elements that we install. Local maintenance service recommendations or customized maintenance schedules that cater to the needs of your landscape. We want your garden to look great and thrive, not just on project completion day, but for years to come; happy to help you with it.

Proudly Serving All of the Greater Boston Area & New England, Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect You need to be careful with unwanted house guests, we service those around Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Concord, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Lynnfield, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Needham, Newton, Newton Center, Newton Lower Falls, Newtonville, Quincy, Reading, Somerville, Waban, Waltham, Wellesley, Weston, Winchester, and Charlestown. With this expansive coverage, we are able to offer our distinct design services to a wide range of clientele so that homeowners in these communities can make use of their outdoor living space with an experience tailored explicitly to them.

Drought-tolerant landscaping is a sustainable option that can provide a visually appealing environment with far less water consumption. Above is another place where we often promote the use of native species that are adapted to the New England climate and will require less water and maintenance once established at Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect Besides saving water, this method also helps the local ecosystem by providing for the local wildlife. Over the long haul, drought-tolerant designs require almost less if not entirely renown, creating these a at some point, deduction selection for householders. As weather patterns become more unpredictable, a drought-tolerant landscape can make your garden resilient even in dry conditions. Together, we will ensure your outdoor space fosters in harmony with the environment by creating a plan tailored to your individual desires and goals.

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Melissa MacDonald, Landscape Architect

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 4.0 · 1 review

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