Commercial Landscape Planting Transformation | St. John’s Cemetery, Monroe, CT

Project Overview

Shannon Lawn & Landscaping completed a commercial landscape planting transformation at St. John’s Cemetery in Monroe, CT, turning overgrown and underutilized planting areas around the maintenance building into clean, colorful and professionally landscaped beds.

Our team completely prepared the existing areas, installed a carefully selected mix of evergreen shrubs, flowering plants, ornamental grasses and groundcovers, and finished the new beds with premium dark brown mulch.

The Challenge

The existing landscape beds surrounding the building had become overgrown with weeds and lacked established plant material, definition and visual interest.

With the large masonry building serving as the backdrop, the property needed landscaping that would soften the structure while complementing its architecture—including the prominent cross incorporated into the masonry.

The goal was to create attractive, manageable planting beds with a combination of year-round structure, seasonal color and contrasting textures.

Our Solution

Rather than simply adding plants to the existing beds, our team started by properly preparing the site.

Existing weeds and unwanted growth were sprayed, grubbed and removed. The beds were then prepared and leveled with planting mix before the new landscape was installed.

We selected a varied plant palette to provide different heights, textures and colors throughout the beds. Boxwoods and hollies provide evergreen structure, while hydrangeas and catmint introduce seasonal blooms. Ninebark adds rich foliage contrast, and yucca and ornamental grasses bring additional texture and architectural interest.

A soaker-hose watering system with timers was also installed to provide consistent watering while the new plants become established.

Plants & Materials Used

• Green Mountain Boxwoods – evergreen structure and year-round greenery
• Let’s Dance Sky View Hydrangeas – colorful flowering focal points
• Cat’s Pajamas Catmint – compact flowering perennials
• Little Devil Ninebark – deep foliage for contrast
• Color Guard Yucca – variegated foliage and architectural texture
• Little Bunny Fountain Grass – soft ornamental texture and movement
• Red Beauty Holly – evergreen structure and seasonal interest
• Black Scallop Ajuga – low-growing groundcover with contrasting foliage
• Premium dark brown mulch
• Planting mix
• Root-stimulating fertilizer
• Soaker hose and timers

The Result

The before-and-after difference is dramatic.

Previously sparse and weed-filled areas are now defined, professionally landscaped planting beds that complement the building and create a much more welcoming appearance.

One of the most impactful areas is beneath the building's masonry cross, where colorful hydrangeas, structured evergreens, ornamental grasses and contrasting foliage now create a natural focal point without competing with the architecture.

Fresh dark brown mulch ties the entire installation together, provides a crisp finished appearance and helps retain soil moisture as the new landscape becomes established.

As the shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses mature, the beds will continue to fill in and provide even greater color, texture and visual impact.

Commercial Planting & Landscape Installation in Monroe, CT

This St. John’s Cemetery project demonstrates how professional landscape installation can completely change the appearance of a commercial property—even without changing the building itself.

From site preparation and plant selection to installation, fertilization, mulching and establishment watering, Shannon Lawn & Landscaping handled the transformation from start to finish.