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 …
dc landscape design
Why I Don’t Use Sweetgum Trees
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 …
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 …
Dry Streambeds for Drainage in the Landscape
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 …
Deer-Resistant Shade Perennials for Northern Virginia
When I design a landscape for a brand new home in a subdivision that was until recently a hay field, I rarely get to use shade plants. Then …
What is a Concrete Turndown Edge on a Patio, Anyhow?
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 …
7 Tips For Getting Through The Landscape Construction Process
A few weeks ago I was talking shop with my good friend, architect Francisca Alonso of AV Architects. No matter what projects we're …