Landscape Design

Courtesy of Coy’s Brook Landscaping

Started in 1981 by Gary Murphy, Coy’s Brook Landscaping in Yarmouthport grew from the seeds of a smaller landscaping company. Today, Coy’s Brook specializes in residential and commercial landscape design, construction, installation, and maintenance services Cape wide.

Celebrating 35 years in 2016, Murphy says he has seen some significant changes—not only in the industry, but also in Cape’s housing and landscape environment.

“When I first started Coy’s Brook, there was much less of a year-round population on the Cape. Summer homes were smaller and landscape designs were created and installed with a much smaller scope,” Murphy says.

In those days, he says, customers were looking for standard designs, such as lawns with a few shrubs, perhaps with retaining walls made from railroad ties. Technology, as well as a change in the perception of outdoor spaces as entertaining areas with lots of amenities, has changed all of that. “We are seeing many more hardscape designs, less decks, and more patios,” Murphy says.

Courtesy of Coy’s Brook Landscaping

 Due to improvements in hardscape materials such as concrete pavers—especially in terms of durability, color, and style—there has been a significant increase in the popularity of patios and outdoor living areas in general. Where ponds were once the rage of the 1990s, outdoor kitchens and conversational spaces that include fire pits and outdoor chimneys are now the outdoor living amenities of choice. Murphy does not see this trend changing any time soon.

“We are doing a ton of fire pits, some with built-in gas start-ups, and outdoor fireplaces—some with free-standing chimneys. These units extend the season for outdoor living. Since they throw out a lot of heat, people can start entertaining in these outdoor spaces early in the spring and enjoy the fire pit all the way into the fall season,” Murphy says, noting that this hot trend will continue in 2016.

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