Dealing with water where it leaves the property In Virginia, I’ve seen a few different scenarios for how water exits a property. In a lot of subdivisions, everyone’s backyard pitches into a swale that carries stormwater into a storm drain.…
Dealing with water in the landscape: So, we’ve successfully moved the water away from the house and into the landscape. Now what? To figure out the best course of action, we need to answer some questions. Is my soil sandy,…
Ah, water. We cry out for you when you’re in short supply, and curse you when you won’t go away. But without you we’re nothing. Water’s a huge issue in the landscape as well. Traditional stormwater management, at least in…
In working with a client on a recent project, I specified crushed oyster shells as the path material. It gives the paths the same look as Colonial Williamsburg, it reuses waste materials, and the light color of the shells reflect…
Although to be honest, the bins are only 90% done. I still need to pick up a bit more lumber- 5/4 x 4 to finish off the side slats, and probably two more pieces of 5/4×6 to rip down into…
There’s not a lot going on in the garden today, so I figured I’d snap a picture of my cryptomeria, aka Japaenese Cedar. It’s a fantastic tree: quick-growing, sturdy, and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. This one sits…