This is one of the great questions we get on a fairly regular basis from clients we work with. It’s not at all hard to understand where the question comes from. After all, well done landscaping is pretty, which naturally leads to the conclusion that it’s all about the artistry.

While there’s a lot of truth in that—after all, nobody would spend money on landscaping that didn’t look good—the reality is that underneath all the pretty, there’s actually a lot of science and engineering involved.

For example, while you might undertake a landscaping project to beautify your property, there are almost always a number of practical considerations involved too. Drainage issues are a common problem on most properties and there are few things more damaging to hearth and home than water.

If you’ve got standing water pooling near your home after a hard rain, that water can do tremendous damage to the foundation of your home, and if you have a basement, then without a properly designed drainage system, the problems can magnify tremendously.

There’s a lot of science that goes into designing a proper drainage system, which may or may not incorporate a retaining wall somewhere on your property.

If you decide you want or need a retaining wall, there’s also a lot of science and engineering that goes into that. The type of soil you have matters in terms of what type of wall works best. The topography of your land also plays a major role. Underlying the gorgeous finished product, science has a major role to play.

There’s also the matter of selecting the right kinds of ground cover that mesh with your overall vision and what you’re trying to achieve, while simultaneously minimizing the effects of erosion and placing flora and fauna to ensure that the root systems of whatever you decide to plant don’t interfere with the pipes that bring water into your home, or your septic system and drain field if you have a septic tank on your property.

The best way to approach landscaping on your property is to map out exactly what you want to do well in advance. This is most commonly done via a Master Design Document that clearly defines the scope and scale of your ambitions. If you take the time to do that, you’ll begin to see clearly where science and art intersect.

So is Potomac Md landscaping an art or a science? The best answer, honestly the only answer is that it’s both. It has to be. Landscaping without a nod to science is mere decoration that won’t last.

When you’re ready to begin your landscaping project, give our office a call. You’ll be very glad you did.