South Whidbey · Locally owned since 1994
Landscaping Company in Langley, WA
Garden design, stonework and garden art for bluff, view and village homes.
Who provides landscaping in Langley, WA?
- Founded
- 1994, by Robert Rochholz
- Credentials
- Licensed, bonded and insured
- Serving
- Langley, Clinton and Freeland
Creative Gardens, Inc. designs, builds and cares for Langley landscapes, from village gardens near First Street to bluff-top view properties above Saratoga Passage. Robert Rochholz founded the company on Whidbey Island in 1994, and we are licensed in Washington ( License #: CREATGI015O8 ), bonded and insured.
Langley calls itself the Village by the Sea. The town was platted in 1891, incorporated in 1913, and sits on a bluff with views across the water to the Cascades. It is also one of the island’s arts towns, and many gardens here are personal: custom planting, sculpture, stonework and places to sit and take in the view.
South Whidbey is wetter than the north end. Langley averages about 30 inches of rain a year, close to 50 percent more than the rain-shadow towns up island, yet July and August still bring less than an inch each. Good Langley gardens handle both: drainage for the wet season and drought-tolerant planting for summer.
The Village by the Sea
View Gardens Above Saratoga Passage
Water and mountain views are a big reason people live in Langley, so we plan every garden around them. We keep plantings low where you look out and save taller trees and screens for the sides you want private. When trees block a view, the city can require two replacement trees planted outside the view line, so we plan view work with that in mind.
Langley is also an arts town, and Robert builds garden pieces by hand, including kinetic panels of rock, steel and glass. We design planting and stonework to frame new pieces or art you already own.
Our Landscaping Services in Langley
Most Langley projects combine several of these, planned as one design.
Custom Garden Design
For view lots, cottage gardens and wooded South Whidbey parcels.
Garden Art
Custom pieces and placement that turn a garden into a gallery.
Patios & Driveways
Flagstone and paver patios, walkways and driveways.
Rockeries
Boulder walls that turn steep yards into usable terraces.
Water Features
Streams, ponds and waterfalls built with natural rock.
Garden Maintenance
Pruning, seasonal cleanups and ongoing care.
What Makes Langley Landscapes Different
Langley has its own tree rules, steep bluffs and more rain than the rest of the island. This is how we plan around them.
Significant tree rules
Langley’s code requires the city planning official’s approval before a significant tree is removed, even on a single-family lot, and removed trees must be replaced. We design around the trees you have and flag any that may need approval.
Bluff stability
The city’s landscaping standards aim to keep bluffs stable by catching runoff and groundwater before it reaches the slope. We route downspouts and surface water away from the edge and keep deep-rooted natives where the ground drops off.
Fence and hedge heights
City code generally caps fences and hedges at 72 inches, with 42 inches in the street setback and 30 inches at corners. We size screening to stay within those limits.
Wet winters, dry summers
With about 30 inches of rain a year, drainage matters more here than up island. We grade for runoff, add drains where water collects and still plan drip irrigation for the dry months.
Native planting
The city favors native and climate-adapted, drought-tolerant plants, and so do we. They cope with deer, wind and summer drought better than most ornamentals.
Shaded, wooded lots
Many South Whidbey parcels sit under tall conifers. We use shade-tolerant natives such as sword fern, salal and evergreen huckleberry where lawns struggle.
Landscaping Project Gallery
See more stonework and gardens in our stone and boulder work, flowers and gardens and landscape makeover galleries.
Creative. Trusted.
Timeless. Local.
Planning a Langley Landscape Project
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Site visit
We look at the slope, drainage, existing trees and views, and talk about how you want to use the space.
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Design and tree check
You receive a plan and written price, and we note any significant trees or bluff areas that may need city review.
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Installation
Our crew builds the project and keeps the site tidy throughout.
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Ongoing care
Seasonal maintenance keeps the garden healthy as it grows in.
What Whidbey Island Clients Say
“Robert showed up days later with a fully detailed plan for landscaping which included a dry stream bed, significant elevation changes, new trees, dish rocks, and a winding cement sidewalk, all of which was priced where we thought it should be.”
“I believe in the philosophy that you get what you pay for… we found the pricing to be fair and accurate.”
“The new garden is just beautiful. I just sit and look out the window all the time.”
Why Langley Homeowners Choose Creative Gardens
Robert Rochholz started in the green industry working alongside his family, launched his first landscaping business in 1988 and founded Creative Gardens, Inc. after moving to Whidbey Island in 1994. He still designs each project himself and builds garden art by hand, which suits a town that values craft as much as Langley does.
- Over three decades of landscaping on Whidbey Island
- Designs that work around protected trees and bluff edges
- Natural stonework and garden art made by the owner
- Organic soil care, including compost tea
- Written estimates before any work begins
- One team from design through maintenance
Serving Langley and South Whidbey
We work in downtown Langley and the neighborhoods around it, including Edgecliff, Sandy Point, Saratoga, Brooks Hill and Bayview, as well as nearby Clinton, Maxwelton and Freeland.
Farther north, we serve Greenbank, Coupeville and Oak Harbor. You can also explore our landscape design, hardscaping, rockeries and water features pages, read client testimonials, or meet Robert.
Frequently Asked Questions about Langley Landscaping
Who provides landscaping in Langley, WA?
Creative Gardens, Inc. designs, builds and maintains landscapes in Langley and across South Whidbey. Robert Rochholz founded the company on Whidbey Island in 1994. It is licensed, bonded and insured.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Langley?
Often, yes. City code says no significant tree may be removed without approval from the city planning official, and that applies to single-family lots too. Approval usually depends on the tree being hazardous, dead or dying, blocking solar access, or needed for approved construction, and removed trees must be replaced. Check with the city before any tree work, and we can plan the design around trees you want to keep.
How tall can a fence or hedge be?
Under city code, fences and hedges can generally be up to 72 inches tall, 42 inches within the street setback, and 30 inches in the sight triangle at a corner. We design screening to fit those limits.
How do you protect a bluff-top yard?
We keep runoff away from the bluff edge, direct downspouts and drains to a safe outlet, keep deep-rooted native plants on the slope and avoid heavy watering near the top. Work in a mapped critical area or buffer may need city review first.
What plants do well on South Whidbey?
Native and climate-adapted plants such as vine maple, red-flowering currant, Oregon grape, sword fern, salal, evergreen huckleberry and kinnikinnick hold up well and handle the dry summer months. Many are also less tempting to deer.
Can you add garden art or sculpture to a landscape?
Yes. Robert Rochholz builds custom garden pieces, including kinetic panels of rock, steel and glass, and we design planting and stonework to frame art you already own.
What does a landscaping project cost?
It depends on the size of the area, slope, access and materials. We start with a site visit and then give you a written estimate, so the scope and price are clear before anything is built.