The roots of Dropseed Design developed in 2004 when I began landscaping to pay tuition at Northern Illinois University.  While studying prairie ecology during the weekdays, I spent evenings and weekends consulting with homeowners on issues ranging from poor soil to plant care.  During this time, I noticed that many of my clients were experiencing the same result from similar issues with their landscaping:  plants weren’t surviving. Concerns such as, “I don’t have the time to water,” or “nothing grows well in this soil” were all too common.  In fact, “professionally-landscaped” gardens were no exception, and usually only redirected the client’s blame from themselves to the vagaries of nature. 

When my knowledge of plant and soil science increased, I realized that the problem was not harsh winters or dry summers, poor soil or homeowner neglect.  The problem was that many people were entrusting their landscaping to companies performing bad site-assessment; or, homeowners were buying from nurseries and big-box stores that sold plants without integrity.  It was no surprise people were frustrated.  A drive down any street would show the same plants in the same combinations when landscaped professionally, and a different set of plants when landscaped by the homeowner.  The result was monotony.

The solution:  design an aesthetic that

1. Is inexpensive to install and maintain
2. Acclimates properly to the site
3. Embodies Midwestern beauty with four-season interest
4. Is distinctive, yet traditional.

I began implementing these ideas with much success until my graduation and employment with a local prairie restoration company.  While learning about standard practices in prairie restoration, I met several homeowners with naturalized gardens who weren’t receiving the attention to detail that a smaller, high-quality property required.  This time, a different group of frustrated homeowners were questioning the expense of making an environmentally responsible decision.  I knew that naturalized properties were vital to the community and, if mismanaged, would continue to amplify misconceptions about the necessity of expensive, habitual landscape practices.

I returned to landscaping with a new challenge.  Using my background in science and a passion for the Midwestern landscape, I formally launched Dropseed Design the following spring to make the prairie home.


Dave Roesner
Owner/Operator

B.S. Biology; B.A. Geography
Northern Illinois University
Certified Pesticide Operator/Applicator