Permeable pavements are on the rise and for a good reason.
- Runoff of storm water and melting snow containing sediments and pollutants flows across parking lots, sidewalks, streets and driveways and deposits into storm sewers and then into lakes and streams causing problems for the lakes and streams by damaging water quality and habitats.
- Permeable pavements allow water to flow through the surface collecting in a matrix of graded stone. The water is then recharged into the ground or captured and delivered to sediment ponds or other means of filtration. Other options are holding tanks with overflows; this water can be used to supply irrigation systems for residential and commercial sites.
- Types of permeable pavements include permeable asphalt, concrete, vegetative plastic grid systems, and pavers.
- Finally, design and installation of materials is crucial for performance.
Landscape maintenance is not just cutting the lawn once a week!
As a landscape installer, I have seen some expensive projects out of control 5 to 10 years after installation. People need to maintain their perennials, shrubs,trees, mulch, edger, water features etc. to protect their investment.
Once a garden or complete landscape project is installed, either the homeowner or a landscape contractor specializing in maintaining landscapes should be utilized.
If maintenance is done on a yearly basis, the landscape will be healthy and attractive those 5 to 10 yearsa later and a complete renovation can be avoided.
Starting a maintenance program right away limits labor invested because a snip here and there, two or three times a year is generally all that’s needed.
Starting to reclaim a landscape 5 to 10 years after installation – well that’s another story.
Self education, training and contractor servivces are money and time well spent.
By the way, we are one of those contractors who can help educate or provide those services!
When building a retaining wall, there’s a simple thought that goes through everyone’s head. “Hey, I need a retaining wall. I’ll just go over to the lumberyard and pick up some of those retaining wall blocks, stack them up and bingo, instant retaining wall. After all, they’re called retaining wall blocks, aren’t they?”
In theory, this is true. But there is so much more that goes into building a wall that will last a lifetime. Retaining walls are made up of many different components which all need to work together as one for the wall to last.
Here is a quick list of components you may need to consider:
- Dimensions
- Drainage
- Soil reinforcement
- Compaction
- Slope of the terrain behind (or in front) of the wall
- And of course, the most important part, aesthetics
With a little homework before building your retaining wall, you can create something that will last for years to come.
Every now and then, we all come across this problem. Many people choose to make it their weekend project, and spend their time reseeding and fertilizing. Sometimes this works. Other times, the problem is more complex and a few months later your lawn is right back where it started.
If you find yourself running into this problem over and over again, maybe it’s time to get advice from a lawn care professional. There are numerous problems that could be affecting your lawn—from insect infestations to disease to soil compaction and many more. A landscaper can help you diagnose and solve the problem.
Your time is valuable, so make sure you’re getting results for your efforts.
A successful landscape bed, like just about everything else in life, takes a plan. Many times, I see landscape beds over planted, with beds planted too close to houses, sidewalks, decks and so on.
It’s important to remember that plants are a lot like people. Sure, they start out small and cute, but eventually they grow up to be, well, bigger. This can be a “big” problem down the road, when people end up pruning or trying to rejuvenate plantings that are out of control.
Before you plant, remember to plan ahead. Do a little research about what you’re planting. Find out more about what size the plant will be at maturity, how much sun or shade it needs and other important information about your chosen vegetation. This should help you avoid a “growing” problem down the road.
