# McDermott Landscape Design

**Trade:** Landscaping · **Phone:** (603) 531-8001 · **Website:** http://www.mcdermottlandscapedesign.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.7/5** (medium confidence) — from 5 reviews across 5 sources.
100% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative.

## The honest read

Search "landscape design" in the Portsmouth, NH area long enough and Scott McDermott and Jessica Engle's name keeps turning up next to an award — their Coastal Pollinator Garden took New Hampshire Home magazine's 2026 Outdoor Garden Design prize, and in December 2025 the APLD Virtual Chapter named the firm among its International Landscape Design Awards bronze winners.

McDermott Landscape Design describes itself as a boutique studio, founded by Scott McDermott with his wife and business partner, Jessica Engle, built around personalized residential garden design using natural materials and flowering perennials. Scott has worked as a professional gardener since 2008, according to a 2026 New Hampshire Home profile of him; Jessica also co-founded Fleurish, a separate garden consulting practice, alongside running the design studio with Scott. Scott is a professional member of APLD, the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

The reviews back up the recognition. Google shows a 5-star average across 11 ratings and Houzz a perfect 5.0 across 3, and the written accounts are specific rather than generic. In a 2024 review, a client called Jess "incredibly responsive" by email "any day of the week" and noted she came back on-site just to map out the landscape beds for the planting crew. An earlier 2022 review described Scott and Jess hand-selecting plant species together at the nursery, showing up for delivery, and replacing anything that didn't meet their standards — then following up multiple times to check on how the plantings took.

There's nothing in the written record here to flag before calling — every review on file, from 2022 through 2024, is five stars and describes the same pattern: attentive communication and hands-on follow-through on the actual planting, not just the design on paper.

McDermott Landscape Design looks like the right call for a homeowner planning a serious garden or landscape design project — new construction, a multi-phase property overhaul, or a design that leans on natural materials and native planting — rather than routine lawn maintenance. Given the award recognition and the studio's own emphasis on being hands-on, it's worth asking directly about current project timelines and whether a given job fits their scale of work.

**Strengths:**
- Award-winning design — 2026 NH Home and 2025 APLD landscape design awards
- Hands-on follow-through — reviewers cite on-site nursery picks and bed mapping
- Highly responsive — a 2024 review called communication constant, any day

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- Based in Portsmouth, NH, McDermott Landscape Design is a boutique studio founded by Scott McDermott with his wife and business partner, Jessica Engle, built around personalized residential garden design with natural materials and flowering perennials. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.mcdermottlandscapedesign.com) — “McDermott Landscape Design is a boutique landscape design studio in Portsmouth, NH, founded by Scott McDermott and Jessica Engle, focused on…”
  - [Official Website](http://www.mcdermottlandscapedesign.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Founded by Scott McDermott with his wife and business partner, Jessica Engle”
- Scott McDermott has worked as a professional gardener since 2008. _(confidence: high)_
  - [nhhomemagazine.com](https://www.nhhomemagazine.com/2026-up-coming-talent-under-40-winner-scott-mcdermott/) — “nhhomemagazine.com — Scott McDermott has worked as a professional gardener since 2008. His work reflects a deep commitment to horticulture, …”
- Scott McDermott is a professional member of APLD, the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.mcdermottlandscapedesign.com) — “Stated certification/affiliation: APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) professional member”
- Jessica Engle also co-founded Fleurish, a separate garden consulting practice, alongside running McDermott Landscape Design. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [fleurishmygarden.com](https://www.fleurishmygarden.com/ourexperts) — “fleurishmygarden.com — Jessica is founder of Fleurish and co-owner of McDermott Landscape Design based in Portsmouth, NH.”
- The firm's Coastal Pollinator Garden won New Hampshire Home magazine's 2026 Outdoor Garden Design award. _(confidence: high)_
  - [nhhomemagazine.com](https://www.nhhomemagazine.com/2026-outdoor-design-garden-design-winner-coastal-pollinator-garden/) — “nhhomemagazine.com — 2026 Outdoor Design (Garden Design) Winner: Coastal Pollinator Garden”
- In December 2025, the APLD Virtual Chapter named the firm among its International Landscape Design Awards bronze winners. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/apld-virtual-chapter_apld-gardendesign-landscapearchitects-activity-7409344660617240576-iDyE) — “linkedin.com — ✨ Scott McDermott — McDermott Landscape Design (@mcdermottlandscapedesign) ... • Residential #2”
- Google reviewers rate the studio 5 stars across 11 ratings, and Houzz reviewers give it a perfect 5.0 across 3 reviews. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/mcdermott-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~816236311) — “Houzz: 5.0★ from 3 ratings”
  - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=McDermott%20Landscape%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJH7ZJhJi_4okRRSr07KvBkrM) — “Google: 5★ from 11 ratings”
- In a 2024 review, a client called Jess incredibly responsive by email any day of the week and said she came back on-site to map out the landscape beds for the planting crew. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNIcUpMSWNnEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xb392c1abecf42a45!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICHqJLIcg%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ I’m thrilled with the landscape design! Jess effortlessly captured my vision and was incredibly responsive to all my emails, any day of t…”
- In a 2022 review, a homeowner described Scott and Jess hand-selecting plant species at the nursery, being present for delivery, and replacing anything that did not meet their standards. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNPNnJIRlRBEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xb392c1abecf42a45!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICO6rHFTA%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Easy choice … the duo of Jess and Scott McDermott delivers double value - two sets of eyes/ears and perspectives. They really listened to…”
- Specializes in Landscaping _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/mcdermott-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~816236311) — “Services offered (Houzz): Custom Fire Pits, Design Consultation, Drafting, Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Edible Gardens, Garden Design, Hard…”
  - [Official Website](http://www.mcdermottlandscapedesign.com) — “McDermott Landscape Design is a boutique landscape design studio in Portsmouth, NH, founded by Scott McDermott and Jessica Engle, focused on…”

## Ownership

- Identifies as family-owned — the business's own statement, not independently verified.

## License

No license record has been checked yet for this contractor.

## Sources

- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/mcdermott-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~816236311): 5.0★ from 3 ratings
- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=McDermott%20Landscape%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJH7ZJhJi_4okRRSr07KvBkrM): 5.0★ from 11 ratings
- [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=McDermott%20Landscape%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJH7ZJhJi_4okRRSr07KvBkrM): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](http://www.mcdermottlandscapedesign.com): Self-reported profile and service details
- [Exa](https://www.nhhomemagazine.com/2026-outdoor-design-garden-design-winner-coastal-pollinator-garden/): 4 web mentions across the open web (each linked to its source)

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “2026 Outdoor Design (Garden Design) Winner: Coastal Pollinator Garden” — nhhomemagazine.com (2026-05-11) — https://www.nhhomemagazine.com/2026-outdoor-design-garden-design-winner-coastal-pollinator-garden/
- “Scott McDermott has worked as a professional gardener since 2008. His work reflects a deep commitment to horticulture, craftsmanship and place-based design.” — nhhomemagazine.com (2026-05-11) — https://www.nhhomemagazine.com/2026-up-coming-talent-under-40-winner-scott-mcdermott/
- “Jessica is founder of Fleurish and co-owner of McDermott Landscape Design based in Portsmouth, NH.” — fleurishmygarden.com (2026-03-11) — https://www.fleurishmygarden.com/ourexperts
- “✨ Scott McDermott — McDermott Landscape Design (@mcdermottlandscapedesign) ... • Residential #2” — linkedin.com (2025-12-23) — https://www.linkedin.com/posts/apld-virtual-chapter_apld-gardendesign-landscapearchitects-activity-7409344660617240576-iDyE

## Recent reviews

- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Nicholas P · 2024-08-31**: I’m thrilled with the landscape design! Jess effortlessly captured my vision and was incredibly responsive to all my emails, any day of the week. She provided detailed answers to my questions both online and in person, and even came back to map out the landscape beds for my planting crew. Their prof…
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Rebecca Herrington · 2024-07-11**: McDermott Landscape Design is the best company I have ever worked with without exaggeration. Scott and Jess are a perfect tag team. They are attentive, kind, professional, and diligent along each step of the engagement. This was the smoothest, most enjoyable home project I have ever embarked upon. I…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Scott Rome · 2022-10-06**: There are landscaping companies, and then there is McDermott Landscape Design. I have never contracted with a company that is higher quality, more reliable, more responsive, and more pleasant to work with. Scott and his team designed and executed a several phase landscape strategy for my new constru…
- **5/5 · Houzz · plumblush · 2022-09-30**: I reached out to McDermott Landscape Design for help with landscaping and a driveway concept. Jess was quick to respond and it became clear right away that she has deep and impressive expertise in this space. In addition to her professionalism, two things stood out to me throughout the process of wo…
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Christopher Rinko · 2022-06-07**: Easy choice … the duo of Jess and Scott McDermott delivers double value - two sets of eyes/ears and perspectives. They really listened to what we wanted. They offered options, rationale and clear communications- no jargon. They collaborated well with our builder and landscaping install team. They ha…

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-09-11T18:15:57.039Z.
Cite as: McDermott Landscape Design — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/mcdermott-landscape-design)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/mcdermott-landscape-design