Category: Bethesda MD

Landscape Contractor in Bethesda MD: Improve the Curb Appeal of your Home

The premier landscape contractor in Bethesda MD, East Coast Landscape Design, wants homeowners to understand that there are ways to improve the curb appeal of your landscaping.

Invest in your landscaping as you would any other aspect of your home. Your landscaping is the first thing you, your visitors, and neighbors see of your home. Any money spent on quality landscaping is money well-spent.

Think about all fours seasons, when you plan for landscaping. You want your landscaping to look great all year round, so you need to plan for that. Planting for four seasons, changes in outdoor lighting, and maintenance are key.

You also want to make sure that irrigation and drainage are well-managed all year round. Your goals here are to preserve your landscape investment, and save money and water with an irrigation and drainage system. Since we don’t have the same temps or water needs all year round,  these will have to be adjusted season to season.

You need to remember that your hardscapes are part of your landscaping. You could have gorgeous plants and lighting, but  a cracked driveway, sidewalk, or patio will make your home look unkempt.

For more information on the planning and maintenance of your Bethesda MD landscaping, please contact your premier landscape contractor, East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Bethesda MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor.

Posted on Author adminCategories Bethesda MD, landscape contractor, landscapers, landscaping

Healthy Irrigation Systems in Gaithersburg MD

If you’ve invested in an irrigation system at your Gaithersburg MD home, you want to keep it healthy. Failing to do so will have consequences. Expensive consequences.

Ignoring the health of your irrigation system puts you at risk for losing the entire system, the loss of landscaping, and flooding that could do great deal of damage to your home. Here are areas where irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD could malfunction:

  • Piping – could be broken, clogged, or (depending on age) corroding
  • Pumps – running continually, not running, or running for a while, then shutting off before the watering program is complete
  • Heads – could be clogged by dirt, grass clippings, thatch, or damaged by lawn maintenance tools (mower, weed-whacker, etc.). Also, sprinkler heads may need to be repositioned to best serve your landscaping needs.
  • System components – valves, wiring, the sprinkler control box

The bottom line is this: lots of things could go wrong with irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD, and it’s important to ensure that your sprinkler system is in top condition when you need it.

For more information on keeping irrigation systems healthy in Gaithersburg MD, please the experts at East Coast Landscape Design. These qualified professionals understand hydraulic pressure, sprinkler system layout, soil concerns, and the watering requirements of your home’s landscape. They can assess and repair old irrigations systems, and if needed, design and install irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, irrigation systems

Hedges Add Privacy and Beauty to Landscape Design in Bethesda MD

While fences can provide instant privacy to your yard, hedges add privacy and beauty to your landscape design in Bethesda MD. Here are some types of easy growing shrubs that work well in hedges for our gardening zones (6B, 7A).

  • Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
  • Columnar juniper (Juniperus scopulorum’Skyrocket’)
  • Columnar white pine (Pinus strobus’Fastigiata’)
  • English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
  • Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
  • Yew (Taxus x media)

For additional height, plant your hedge shrubs on berms (small hills or mounds). If you already have a fence, a hedge of shrubs can soften the look of the fence and give additional depth to your landscaping. To keep your shrubs looking their best, time their pruning (which is different depending on which shrub you choose) and make sure the bottom of the shrub is wider than the top.

For more information on hedges for your landscape design in Bethesda MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Bethesda MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor; we’ve created many landscape designs that include hedges for privacy and beauty for homes in Bethesda MD. Please contact us today.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscape design, Uncategorized

Landscaping in Bethesda MD: Frost Cracks in Trees

During and after a long harsh winter – extreme temps, ice, and snow – you may see what’s known as “frost cracks” in the trees in the landscaping at your Bethesda MD home.

Frost cracks happen when water in the cells of the tree trunk freezes and moves out of the cells, causing the wood to shrink. Tension forms between the frozen and unfrozen layers of wood, which causes the wood to separate, causing a crack. The crack can form suddenly – you may even hear a loud cracking sound. When temperatures warm, the wood absorbs moisture and the crack closes. Frost cracks can reopen and enlarge in subsequent winters and may extend to the center of the tree. Damage is most often seen on the south and west sides of the tree, where the sun is strongest.

The following species are more likely to develop frost cracks: apple, beech, crabapple, elm, goldenrain tree, horse chestnut, linden, London plane, maple, oak, walnut, and willow.

Frost cracks may be somewhat avoided with proper pruning of your landscaping in Bethesda MD. Some tree trunks can be wrapped for the winter, which will need to be removed when the weather warms up. A tree can also be protected by planting evergreen shrubs around the trunk. Shrubs can insulate the trunk from extremes in temperatures and shield it from direct afternoon sunlight.

Frost cracks can’t be fixed; however, they should be kept clean to prevent infection, and be left open. A healthy tree will try to heal itself, and may form a callus along the crack.

Once a crack occurs, another crack will probably form in the same area of the tree. You can help prevent a reoccurrence by wrapping the trunk of the tree in tree wrap for the winter. (You’ll want to remove the wrap as soon as temperatures warm in late winter or spring. Leaving the wrap on too long provides a secure hiding place for insects and disease organisms.)

For more information about frost cracks and your landscaping in Bethesda MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. East Coast Landscape Design is head and shoulders above other landscaping companies in Bethesda MD. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed beautiful landscape and hardscape projects around Bethesda MD and surrounding communities.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscaping

Make the Most Out Of Your Landscape Design in Bethesda MD

When you think of your dream home – doesn’t it always include beautiful landscaping? Here are some ways to make the most of your landscape design in Bethesda MD.

  • Don’t settle for a cheap patio or a deck or deck design. These are two cases where you get what you pay for. It’s definitely worth it to pay a professional designer to help you create the kind of space and design you will use and enjoy throughout different seasons.
  • Always go for quality over cheap products. It is easy to find products in many home improvement stores that are reduced cost but low quality. Shop at specialty stores to find the best equipment and advice from qualified professionals. Paying extra money will be worth it due to the fact that you’ll get better products as well as great advice.
  • Be wary of how new plants and trees will affect your home. There are a lot of things to consider such as pipes, gutters, and roofing materials that you have to worry about whenever you are landscaping. Make sure you are prepared to deal with these things – now, and in the future.
  • Regular maintenance is the easiest way to keep your landscaping looking great. Trim your bushes and hedges regularly. If you trim a hedge, or a bush when it is just starting to become over grown, it will be a quick and easy process. If you wait until the bush is completely over grown, you can expect the project to take all day.
  • When planning a landscaping project for your house, consider breaking your entire project down into much smaller jobs. This is important if you are not able to afford the entire project at one time. Doing so will let you tackle your project bit by bit, and not have your yard look like a mess in the meantime.

For more information on landscape design in Bethesda MD, please contact the expert landscapers at East Coast Landscape Design. We understand that a professionally designed, properly installed and maintained landscape adds beauty and function to your home. It also adds immense value and curb appeal to your Bethesda MD home.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscape design

Landscaping in Bethesda MD: Trees You Should Avoid

They may look beautiful and provide a lot of shade, but there are certain trees that you should avoid in the landscaping of your Bethesda MD home. These are:

  • Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) – these trees have weak, brittle wood, that may break during bog storms. Their roots are shallow and invade sewage and sprinkler pipes. They are also known for cracking driveways and walkways.
  • Ash (Fraxinus) – These are sturdy and tough trees; unfortunately, they won’t be around long term. They are vulnerable to the emerald ash borer, and that little beetle is going to be wiping out this species of trees. So, if you’re looking for a long-term tree for the landscaping at your Bethesda MD home, you should look elsewhere.
  • Hybrid Poplars (Populus) – These grow fast and look good, but don’t last long-term. These Poplars are susceptible to diseases, and most won’t last more than 15 years.
  • Willow (Salix) – Beautiful but have water-hungry root systems that invade and clog drain fields, sewer lines, and irrigation pipes. The wood is weak and prone to cracking, and the tree is relatively short-lived, lasting only about 30 years.
  • Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) – These became a suburban favorite, until everyone realized that they are highly prone to splitting and cracking when it reached maturity.
  • Mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) – For anyone that is allergy prone, these trees release massive amounts of pollen in the late winter, and can cause severe reactions.
  • Black walnut (Juglans nigra) – These trees produce a significant amount of pollen and nuts you will have to clean up in the fall. Worst of all, these trees secrete growth-inhibiting toxins that kill nearby plants, wreaking havoc on flower beds and vegetable gardens.

For more information on trees you should avoid in the landscaping of your Bethesda MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Successful landscaping begins with a solid design that includes a balanced choice of plants, shrubs, and trees for your Bethesda MD property. Every East Coast landscaping installation is completed with the utmost care and attention that you expect from a professional landscape company like East Coast Landscape Design.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscaping

Landscape Design to Prevent Flooding at Bethesda MD Homes

Flooding – it’s a huge problem for many homeowners – but did you know that great landscape design can prevent flooding in Bethesda MD?

Flooding in your home happens when your landscape can’t handle the water through proper drainage. This occurs due to having the wrong soil, soil erosion, a yard that slopes toward the home, plants that don’t capture the water, and a lack of water drainage through hardscaping.

If at all possible, flood prevention systems should be installed during the construction process. Unfortunately, water drainage is often overlooked, because many drainage problems don’t present themselves until after the home is built. So what landscape design changes can be done after construction in Bethesda MD?

  • Plants: plant flower beds in areas where the water tends to collect.
  • Catch basins: a drainage system that collects the water runoff at the edge of the landscape feature, such as the patio, driveway, or lawn and brings the water to a collection point through the use of underground drain pipe.
  • Dry streambeds: create a path for the water, directing it away from your house.
  • Retention ponds: this drainage system is located at the lowest point of the property to collect the storm water runoff.
  • Regular inspections: it’s important to have your landscape inspected by a qualified landscaper, such as East Coast Landscape Design, anytime you see a pattern of flooding.

For more information on landscape design in Bethesda, MD, that prevents home flooding, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Our consultation will outline how to protect your home and create lasting beauty and value. We use erosion control applications to Maryland state specifications.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscape design

Landscape Design for Bethesda, MD Winters

Great landscape design in Bethesda, MD should allow you to keep your landscape safe and usable during the winter. With careful planning, you will be able to enjoy the view and wildlife while you use the hot tub, barbecue, patio, and walkways around your home. Here are some upgrades to consider:

  • Covered structures: A covered deck keeps the snow off of the hot tub, and allows you to grill out of the snow, sleet, and rain. A heated all season room allows you to enjoy the outside and wildlife, while staying comfy inside.
  • Heated patios and walkways:  Heating elements installed under new patios and walkways keep them clear of snow and ice, and safe for your family and friends.
  • Low-voltage lighting: Uplighting or downlighting adds beauty to winter landscape, and allows you to see winter wildlife.
  • Create interest: When annuals have died off and perennials are dormant, landscape design should consider the placement of evergreens and ornamental grasses. Include trees and shrubs that have berries they hold onto during fall and winter, and those can provide food for birds overwintering in your area.

For more information on landscape design for your Bethesda, MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. A successful landscape installation begins with a solid all-season design. Every East Coast installation in Bethesda, MD is completed with the utmost care and attention that you expect from a professional landscape company like East Coast Landscape Design.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscape design

What to Expect from Landscapers in Bethesda, MD in the Fall

In the fall, landscapers in Bethesda, MD need to put your yard to bed for the winter. Here are the fall activities you may expect from quality landscapers, like East Coast Landscapers, at your home in Bethesda, MD.

  • They will cut perennials back to soil level and remove debris to the compost pile.
  • Split perennials that have begun to overgrow their placement.
  • Remove annual plantings in the landscape.
  • Plant trees and shrubs.
  • Add a layer of mulch or organic matter to plantings to help conserve moisture and protect the root systems, especially for new plantings.
  • Overseed the lawn.
  • Cut lawn to about 2.5”.
  • Remove debris such as leaves and other dead plant material from the landscape will prevent the spread of certain fungi that can infect new leaf tissue during the following spring.
  • Remove the unwanted debris will also eliminate nesting areas for critters.
  • Adjust the watering schedule for the irrigation system.

For information on what to expect from landscapers in Bethesda, MD, please contact the expert landscapers at East coast Landscape Design. We understand that a professionally designed, properly installed and maintained landscape adds beauty and function to your home. It also adds immense value and curb appeal to your Bethesda, MD home.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscapers

Arbor Day – Add a Tree (or Two or Three) to Your Landscaping in Bethesda, MD

Whether your plant a tree on Arbor Day – or select another beautiful day – you won’t regret adding a gorgeous tree (or two or three) to your landscaping in Landscaping in Bethesda, MD.

Trees Add Beauty and More
Besides adding to the beauty to your landscaping in Bethesda, MD, a tree also adds value to your home, filters pollutants, and adds clean oxygen.  Trees regulate the air temperature around them, through the evaporation of the water in leaves, and provide homes for song birds and other woodland creatures.

Shade trees can offer a comfortable and cool place to sit or play, and can part of a passive solar heating  and cooling plan. Deciduous trees help shade the yard and house during the hot summer months, and let the warm sunlight through when they lose their beautiful leaves in the fall and winter.  And who can beat the calming sound of the wind rustling through the trees?

Trees Help Mental and Physical Health
Speaking of a calming influence of trees, a recent study found that children who view nature from their window feel more patient and less frustrated about tasks. These children also have more enthusiasm for their school work, and feel more satisfaction with life.  A different study from the International Society of Arboriculture revealed that hospital patients recover faster when their room has a tree view.  Surgery patients who can see nature from their hospital rooms recover 10% faster and need less pain medicine than those patients who view brick walls.

Want to explore adding a tree (or two or three) to your landscaping in Bethesda, MD?  Please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Whether you want to create a sophisticated backyard landscape, a peaceful outdoor room, an English rose garden, or you want to update your existing landscaping in Bethesda, MD, the trained professional landscapers of the East Coast Landscape Design team and owner, Mark Simpson, are here to make your dreams a reality.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscaping