Every once in a while I'll look over a drawing from another designer and see sweetgum trees in the plant legend. If they're near the house …
arlington landscape design
Virginia Deck Design Explained, Part 1: Footers and Ledger Attachment
My name is Dave Marciniak, landscape designer and owner of Revolutionary Gardens, and I use jargon. I'm deeply sorry. However, the …
Drainage and Infrastructure Are Not Like Milk Duds
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 …
Winterberry Holly | Ilex verticillata
With fall comes an initial blaze of color as the trees turn, followed by a whole lot of brown and gray. Luckily we have a gorgeous plant for …
Design Considerations For Outdoor Kitchens
I have a photo of an outdoor kitchen I designed that's in my presentation portfolio. Outdoor kitchens are funny. They appear to be one of …
Fredericksburg Pool, Patio & Pergola Design
This week I stopped off to check in with a landscape design client in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This is probably one of my favorite projects …
Why Is This Retaining Wall Failing?
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 …
10 Tips for Landscaping with Kids
With the end of another winter upon us, I’m reminded of my mom’s summertime refrain: “David, go outside and play!” Here’s a list of ten …
Elements of Design: Texture
Texture deals with how smooth or rough a surface is. When talking about elements of structures, smooth surfaces can often seem more modern …