Design for Large, Mature Lots
On a bigger lot, the design question is less about fitting everything in and more about how the pieces connect: how you get from the drive to the front door, from the back door to the patio, and from the patio out into the yard. Paths, bed lines and a few well placed trees do most of that work. We start with how you use the property, then draw the hardscape and planting around it.
Under a mature canopy, plant choice matters more than anywhere else. Lawn struggles in deep shade, and the fix is often to stop fighting it: widen the beds under the trees, plant shade tolerant groundcovers and shrubs, and keep turf where it gets the sun it needs. It also means working carefully around roots. Trenching for a wall or a lighting line through the root zone of a big tree can do damage that shows up a few years later.
Trees, Fences and Township Rules
Bloomfield Township enforces a tree preservation ordinance, and the township is direct about it: violations can be costly, so contact the Ordinance Division before any cutting. If a remodel, a new patio or a drainage line would take out or damage a tree, that call comes first.
Fences are regulated too. The township allows fences up to 4 feet high in side and rear yards with a permit from the Building Division. Anything taller than 4 feet, or any fence in a front yard, also needs approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and so does any fence meant to contain a dog. If a project includes a fence or screen wall, that approval time belongs in the schedule.
Outdoor Lighting Under Big Trees
Large trees are the best thing to light on a property like this. A couple of fixtures aimed up into a mature oak or maple give the whole yard depth at night, and path lights along a long front walk make it safe to use after dark. Low voltage lines are shallow, which helps around roots, but they still get routed to avoid cutting through the big ones.
A Long Leaf Season
More trees means more leaves over a longer stretch, and the big oaks tend to drop last, into November. One cleanup rarely clears a Bloomfield Township lot for the winter. Plan on a pass when the bulk comes down and a final pass once the oaks are done, before the leaves mat down on the lawn and smother it.
The township’s yard waste pickup helps, because it runs longer than most. In 2026 it started the week of March 16 and runs into December. Priority Waste collects on your regular trash day. Use large brown paper yard waste bags, or put a compost sticker on your can, and keep each bag or can under 50 pounds. Plastic bags are prohibited, and yard waste cannot be mixed with regular trash.
