Is Landscape Design a Product or a Service?
I cam across this question as a discussion of architecture on a blog, and it first it seemed kind of silly. I mean, this is a service industry, and design is a service. Right? As I thought about it I…
Protecting Trees from Deer
Deer. At times, they can be really cute. They don’t do cute things to plants, though. Deer are a persistent problem in the landscapes and gardens of the DC metro area. I’ve heard from biologists that because this winter was…
Accessibility and Universal Design in the Landscape
When I was studying interior design I was fascinated by universal design. While I don’t trust Wikipedia for everything, their definition nails it: Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products, and environments that are inherently accessible…
The Importance of Compaction for Installing a Paver Driveway
On behalf of a contractor client I’m working with a great couple who are building a new custom home in northern Virginia. As part of the landscape design, they wanted to incorporate a paver front walk and a paver driveway.…
How Do I Address Hillside Erosion?
Water can cause a lot of damage. Any time you have a slope you have the potential for water and erosion issues, and it’s my job as a landscape designer to address identify and address these issues. There is no…
Understanding Flagstone: Sawcut, Thermaled, and Chiseled Edges
You’ve decided to use flagstone in the landscape. Good call! You may not be done making decisions, however. If the stone will be used in an application where you see the edge of the piece (step treads, wall caps, etc)…