Ever since starting my landscape design firm I’ve had an opportunity to meet with a lot of people, look at a lot of yards, and have a lot of conversations about how they want to get more enjoyment from their landscapes. There are recurring themes, … Continue readingDoes great landscape design make us happier?
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) you’ll have to think about … Continue readingUnderstanding Flagstone: Sawcut, Thermaled, and Chiseled Edges
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 or in a commercial setting, I usually recommend a substitution. Sweetgums (Liquidambar styraciflua) are quick growing shade trees that … Continue readingWhy I Don’t Use Sweetgum Trees
I like my big projects, but there’s also something really rewarding about taking a “normal” sized yard and making it something special. I just stopped in at a year-old landscape install in Fredericksburg, and I think it’s a good example of what can be done … Continue readingLandscape Design for Small Yards
If you’re like everyone else, you want to improve your home and garden, but you also want to get the most value for your dollar. That’s something I help my clients with, so I put together some recommendations: Work from a master plan– This may … Continue readingGetting the Most Value for your Landscape Dollar
Landscaping, gardening, whatever you want to call it- it’s pretty forgiving. I’m of the school of thought that you can’t actually have flowers that clash with one another, and if you don’t have a perfect blend of textural variations in a mass planting, it probably … Continue readingAll-Too-Common Gardening Mistakes
Concrete pavers have come a long way in the last decade. Back then, they were essentially a compromise product: if the client wanted a patio and didn’t want a concrete slab, but couldn’t afford stone, pavers were almost as good. Now, however, the manufacturers have … Continue readingProper Paver Patio Construction
I’ve been conversing with a new landscape designer in Ohio, and sharing with him some of my thoughts and work processes. He asked me how to determine when a retaining wall is necessary and when it’s not, and I kind of ran with it. I … Continue readingRetaining Walls- Always Needed?