I talk to a lot of people. It’s part of my job. And a topic that comes up all the time is drainage. I’ve seen bad advice given at parties, online, and even by well-intentioned but uninformed contractors. So that being said, here’s my list … Continue readingThree of Virginia’s Most Pervasive Drainage Myths
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 one size fits all solution … Continue readingHow Do I Address Hillside Erosion?
I’m still recovering from Halloween – 538 trick-or-treaters is a LOT Of kids – and it’s still framing how I look at things. Of the nearly $200 we spent on candy we have a bowlful left, and as I was pawing through the bowl for … Continue readingDrainage and Infrastructure Are Not Like Milk Duds
Often when I’m meeting with a landscape design client in the DC metro area, drainage comes up as a concern. Sometimes the client knows he or she has an existing problem while other times I can look at what they want to do and see … Continue readingDry Streambeds for Drainage in the Landscape
Sounds so fancypants, doesn’t it? I have a few projects underway that need one, and it’s a simple concept that sounds more involved than it is. When installing a patio, you want it to have a slight pitch so water doesn’t pool on the surface. … Continue readingWhat is a Concrete Turndown Edge on a Patio, Anyhow?
Here in Virginia we have clay soils that don’t drain particularly well. We also get a fair bit of rainfall. When new subdivisions are built, especially in northern Virginia, the county-mandated drainage plan often moves water through everyone’s backyards towards a county storm drain. If … Continue readingUsing Dry Stream Beds for Drainage
Last night I signed contracts with some great folks, and they asked me to add some drainage work while the crews are out there. We walked out to look at what was going on, and as usual I was appalled. When their patio was installed, … Continue readingSimple Factoids About Landscape Drainage
I walk by this wall whenever I walk to the post office in downtown Culpeper. Walls like this are pretty common in older neighborhoods like mine. Leaning and generally unhappy walls are, sadly, pretty common as well. So what gives? Why do these walls look … Continue readingWhy Is This Retaining Wall Failing?
I get this question a lot this time of year. I get my fall rush once the kids are back in school, it takes a few weeks to get through the design process, and suddenly we’re just past Halloween. Is it too late? It depends … Continue readingWhat Landscape Work Can Be Done in Fall and Winter?
Permeable pavers are becoming a popular choice, especially in Northern Virginia. As local governments have become more concerned about stormwater management, they’ve clamped down on the amount of runoff that leaves your property. If your total square footage of impervious surfaces exceeds the percentage allowed … Continue readingHow Do Permeable Pavers Work?