White House Rose Garden Transformation Nearly Complete
The makeover builds on the work done in 2020 under First Lady Melania Trump.
Work on the newly installed pavers over the formerly grassy White House Rose Garden is winding down.
Images this week showed the remaining rows of pavers near completion with the last rows of pavers put in place as workers taped off their edges on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
The makeover, expected to be completed in August, was a vision of President Trump’s who had previously commented that the lawn was sometimes wet and difficult for women in high-heeled shoes to walk on.
The work began in June when officials said the renovation is an extension of the work that First Lady Melania Trump began during the administration’s first term.
“The president and first lady have deep respect for the history of the White House and for the Rose Garden,” Nicholas Clemens, director of communications for the Office of the First Lady, told East Wing Magazine in an email in June. “This restoration to the Rose Garden preserves the beauty of the space and builds on the work done in 2020 with a focus on enhancing practical use and guest experience for those attending special events.”
The Rose Garden “hardscape upgrade” began on June 9, 2025, Clemens added, and the project is expected to be completed by mid-August of this year.
“As with previous projects, consideration is given to balance the historical background of each space with esthetic beauty and practicality,” Clemens said.
The Rose Garden is located along the West Terrace and West Wing near the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. The original design of the current plan with the large central grass panel was created by Rachel Lambert Mellon in 1962 at the request of President John F. Kennedy. Three of the four original saucer magnolias planted in the corners commemorate President Kennedy, according to the National Park Service website.
The Rose Garden or West Garden area was first created in 1903 as a colonial-style garden by First Lady Edith Roosevelt, at the same time she created a similar garden design in the East Garden known today as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. First Lady Ellen Wilson with the assistance of George Burnap created the first Rose Garden at this location in 1913, according to the National Park Service’s website.
Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower used the Rose Garden for small press conferences and receptions, according to the National Park Service. The more open design requested by President Kennedy provided for larger gatherings and a variety of events.
In 2020, Mrs. Trump’s renovation of the White House Rose Garden included removing almost all of the garden’s foliage, replacing the irrigation system and nearly completely replanting it. To date, the garden has been used for press conferences, award presentations, formal dinners, weddings and most recently, the bill signing ceremony of Mrs. Trump’s Take It Down Act in May.
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