Learn

Dive Into Landscaping & Hardscaping Know-How

Welcome to our LEARN section, a helpful resource for navigating the intricacies of landscaping, hardscaping and outdoor design. Whether you’re looking to create a serene garden, a lively entertainment area, or simply aiming to enhance your outdoor space, our FAQs are designed to provide invaluable insights and guidance.

General Terms

What does “landscaping” entail?
- Landscaping involves installing and maintaining the “soft” or living aspects of your outdoor space, including plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers, ensuring a healthy yard or planter bed.
What is “hardscape” and what does it include?
- Hardscape refers to the non-living elements of an outdoor area, such as patios, walls, and outdoor kitchens, involving materials like stone, concrete, and lumber.
How do Landscape Architects and Designers differ?
- Landscape Architects possess a bachelor’s degree and usually work on commercial projects, while Landscape Designers often focus on residential projects, with or without a formal degree.

Landscape Plantings

What’s the difference between annuals and perennials?
- Annuals complete their life cycle in one year, while perennials return year after year.
How often should I water new plants?
- For shrubs and flowers: water 3 times per week for the first 3 weeks, and twice a week after that.
- For trees: water 30-60 minutes at a slow trickle, three times per week for the first 3 weeks, and twice a week thereafter.
- For all new plantings, if the temperature is over 90 degrees, water plants twice as often as mentioned above.
Which plants are deer resistant?
- Deer tend to avoid poisonous and prickly plants, or those with strong scents. Some examples include Red Chestnut trees, Boxwoods, Pieris Japonica, and Lavender plants.
What are some low maintenance plants?
- Consider ground covers, Nandina, Laurels, and Hydrangeas for low maintenance landscaping.
How late in the year can landscaping be planted?
- In Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia, you can plant up until the ground freezes, usually around December or January.
What plants are native to the Maryland, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area?
- Here are some links for native plants:
  - Source 1
  - Source 2

Hardscapes

What is the whitish residue (efflorescence) on bricks and pavers?
- Efflorescence is a common, non-harmful residue of mineral salts from cement and will eventually wash away over time.
What is thermal flagstone?
- Thermal flagstone has straight edges created by applying heat to sawcut stone, resulting in a smooth, uniform surface.
What are the types and costs of retaining walls?
- Costs vary by material, with options including dry stacked stone, lumber walls, segmented walls, and mortared stone walls, ranging from $45 to $115 per square foot.

Permeable Pavers

What are permeable pavers?
- Permeable pavers are a type of hardscape material that allows water to flow in between and around the joints of the pavers.
Cost comparison: Permeable vs. Non-permeable pavers?
- Permeable pavers cost $40 to $45 per square foot.
- Non-permeable pavers cost $35 to $40 per square foot.
What are the benefits of permeable pavers?
- Permeable pavers (1) enhance the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor spaces, (2) mitigate pooling water and soil erosion and (3) contribute to environmental sustainability by filtering out and reducing the pollution reaching streams and other waterways.

Outdoor Lighting

Can existing lighting fixtures be serviced?
- Yes, both new installations and service to existing fixtures are available.
Integration of lights in steps and walls?
- Lights can be integrated into the steps or retaining walls during construction to navigate or accentuate the area.

Drainage & Erosion Control

Importance of functioning gutters?
- Properly maintained gutters are crucial to prevent water damage to the property by ensuring water flows away effectively.
What are the drainage solutions offered?
- Solutions range from natural to artificial means and may include:
  - Soil grading & regrading
  - Catch basins and underground drainage pipes
  - French drains & channel drains
  - Swales & rock-lined channels
  - Dry wells & Rain gardens
  - Foundation waterproofing & window well reinforcement
  - Sump pump drainage
  - Retaining walls & Gabion basket walls
  - Permeable pavers
What is a French Drain?
- A gently sloping trench with a buried perforated pipe, wrapped with a lightweight filter fabric, which allows water in but keeps soil out. The pipe is covered with drainage stone and water percolates through the stones, into the pipe, and then toward a safe exit point. The French Drain was invented by an American farmer named Henry French. He hit on the idea when trying to fix swampy areas on his property.
What is a Dry Well?
- A large hole dug in the ground at a low spot on the property that is lined with filter fabric and filled with drainage stone. It is then covered with soil and topped with grass seed, sod or other plant material. The dry well allows excess water to slowly soak into the ground, dissipating the excess runoff into the groundwater.

Fire Pits, Fireplaces, and Outdoor Kitchens

Difference between a fire pit and a fireplace?
- Fire pits allow for open, campfire-like experiences, while fireplaces contain the fire and smoke, directing it away through a chimney.
Cost of outdoor fire features and kitchens?
- Fire pit installations start around $2,500-3,000, fireplaces at $10,000-20,000, and outdoor kitchens can range from $8,000-15,000, depending on complexity and appliances.

Warranties

What warranties are offered for hardscape and landscape work?
- A 10-year warranty is provided for hardscape work, while plants come with a 1-year warranty, excluding issues from insufficient watering or damage from Mother Nature (severe weather, animal damage, etc.).