mdlandscaper – Page 5 – East Coast Landscape Design

Landscaping in Rockville MD: How to Manage and Use Your Fall Leaves

It is hard to remember that leaves serve an important purpose – especially when you are raking them on a weekend. Leaves are a valuable natural resource because they contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the season – and you don’t want that good stuff to go to waste! Here are some ways in which leaves can be managed and used in the landscaping of your Rockville MD home.

Mowing: if you’ve only got a light covering of leaves and you have a mulching mower, you can leave the shredded leaves on the grass.

Mulching: is simple and effective, using your lawnmower with a bagging attachment to collect and shred the leaves. Take the shredded leaf mulch, and distribute it throughout your landscape. You’ll want to place a 3 to 6 inch layer of shredded leaves around the base of trees and shrubs. With annual and perennial flower beds, a 2 to 3 inch mulch of shredded leaves is best.

Improving soil: using a till, work a 6-8 inch layer of leaves directly into the garden and flower beds. This will improve the aeration and drainage of a clay soil, and will help light sandy soil with retaining water and nutrients.

Composting: with or without a bin, you can create rich composting for your landscape. You’ll need to layer 6-8 inches of leaves, then add an inch layer of soil, and then sprinkle some fertilizer. Repeat these steps and keep the compost moist.

For more information on landscaping in Rockville MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Rockville, MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed, installed, and cared for landscape projects and irrigation systems.

October 14, 2014mdlandscaperlandscaping, Rockville Md

Outdoor Living: Enjoy Year Round Patios in Gaithersburg MD

Outdoor living – enjoying patios year round – is becoming the norm for some Gaithersburg MD families. Year round patios are designed to be suitable and reliable for use during most Gaithersburg MD weather – heat, snow, rain, and wind. Hardscaping, landscaping, and outdoor kitchens all play a role in making patios in Gaithersburg MD enjoyable all through the year.

Hardscaping – Patios designed and built with radiant heating prevent snow and ice, and keep your family comfortable during colder temps; stone fire pits and fireplaces provide extra heat; stone fountains and other water features can help keep your patio cooler in the summer.
Landscaping – in general, the more greenery around your patio, the cooler it will be. Shade trees provide cover and cool things off in the summer; bushes can be a wind breaker; herbal gardens provide seasoning to your food; perennial and annual flowers are a feast for the eyes, and can bloom through most of the year.
Outdoor Kitchens – prepare and enjoy most meals (and drinks) outdoors; covered dining tables and bars protect from the sun and rain.

For more information on year round patios in Gaithersburg MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The experienced professionals at East Coast Landscape Design work with homeowners to design dream patios that can be used year-round Gaithersburg MD.

September 30, 2014mdlandscaperGaithersburg MD, patios

Landscape Design to Prevent Fall Allergies at your Rockville MD Home

Did you know that landscape design can prevent or lessen fall allergies at your Rockville MD home?

Fall allergies occur from mid-August until the first hard frost. These allergies are cause by both pollen and mold spores. The pollen comes from weeds and grasses, and the mold comes from fallen tree leaves.

If you or your family members suffer from fall allergies, you may think there’s nothing you can do – besides take allergy medicine, and invest in a huge Costco-sized pallet of tissues. However, there are changes you can make to your landscape design in Rockville MD to prevent or lessen fall allergies at your home. These changes include:

Weed reduction – mulch often and with hard materials where possible
Grass reduction – hardscape where possible, including patios and walkways
Leaf reduction – replace leafy trees with evergreens

For more information on landscape design to prevent fall allergies at your Rockville MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Rockville MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor, and has designed and installed many allergy-reducing landscapes.

September 14, 2014mdlandscaperlandscape design, Rockville Md

Landscaping in Silver Spring MD: Common Lawn Diseases and Pests that Cause Brown Spots

Those brown spots in the landscaping at your Silver Spring MD home may be caused by common lawn diseases and pests. These include:

Thatch, which is a buildup of decaying grass blades chokes out healthy grass, and prevents water and fertilizer from reaching the ground. More than ½ inch of thatched grass is enough to cause problems.
Grubs cause problems in mid to late summer; you can tell you have grubs when your sod easily pulls back from the ground like a carpet. You need to treat for grubs when you see more than ten per square foot of lawn.
Chinch bugs love warm-season lawns, and are active especially in hot sunny patches beside driveways and sidewalks. When you walk across your lawn, the small adult black and white bugs will stick to your shoes.
Caterpillars and other pests can also chow down on your grass. You will see blades of grass that look like they’ve been munched on and you may see birds and wasps feeding on these pests.
Fungus thrives in moist conditions, and causes brown spots in spring and midsummer. They may show up as circular or irregular brown spots, or you may notice a spotting or infected pattern on the blades or a generally dying/thinning out.

There are other causes of browning in your lawn caused by humans, animals, and poor growing conditions. For help in determining the problems with your landscaping in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Silver Spring, MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed, installed, and cared for landscape projects and irrigation systems.

August 30, 2014mdlandscaperlandscaping, Silver Spring MD

Landscape Contractor in Silver Spring MD: Five Watering Tips to Help Your Landscape in August

We’re deep into the hot dog days of August, and your landscaping in Silver Spring may need some help. Landscape contractor East Coast Landscape Design has five watering tips to help your landscaping survive and thrive in the hot and often dry August weather.

Recognize drought-stress, such as wilting, and/or brown tips or edges of leaves are another.
Water early in the morning or in the evening to reduce water loss to evaporation.
Water deeply, but not often. A thorough soaking will promote deep rooting. Frequent light watering leads to shallow, drought-prone roots.
Add mulch; three inches mulch will help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Prioritize watering needs; vegetable gardens and newly planted trees and shrubs require the more water than your turf.

For more information on caring for your Silver Spring landscaping, please contact your local landscape contractor, East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Silver Spring, MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects.

August 15, 2014mdlandscaperlandscape contractor, Silver Spring MD

Walkway Design in Silver Spring MD: Which Materials Best Suit Your Needs?

Walkway design in Silver Spring MD is dependent on which materials you select for your walkway. When deciding on the materials, you must consider style, cost, and maintenance. Here are some good options for your walkway:

Stone is a great option for the walkway design at your Silver Spring MD home. Stone is durable and versatile. Depending on the stone you choose, your walkway design could be very precise or look more natural when you choose uncut stones. Stone also can make the walkway design for your Silver Spring MD home pretty affordable.
Brick is a safe choice, because it goes well with just about any home architecture. Brick is easily accessible, and it presents a clean looking finish. Bricks are maintenance free, and their uniform allow for precise walkway design for your Maryland home.
Concrete is another option for the walkway design for your Silver Spring MD home. Poured concrete is available in a variety of colors as it can be dyed, textured or tumbled to lend the appearance of natural stone. The size and shape of poured concrete is only limited by the walkway design for your Silver Spring MD home.

For more information on walkway design for your Silver Spring MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The East Coast Landscape Design team has over a quarter century of experience in the design and installation of practical and beautiful walkways and pathways. Our design philosophy incorporates walkways seamlessly into the natural landscape of your Silver Spring MD home. We work with you to select the best materials to meet your needs, and offer an assortment of low-maintenance, recycled and natural stone materials.

July 29, 2014mdlandscaperMaryland, MD, walkway design

Irrigation Systems in MD: Are you Overwatering or Under watering?

During a long, hot summer irrigation systems can overwater or underwater Maryland homes. How do you know when you are overwatering or under watering? While some signs are easy – like dry crunchy brown grass – while with others like wilting plants, it’s hard to tell the difference.

Here are some signs of over or under watering:

Leaves turn brown and wilt: under watering will result in crispy leaves; too much water and the leaves will feel soft and limp in your hand. Overwatering will cause slow growth and yellowing leaves. If you have yellowing leaves, old leaves, and new leaves falling at the same accelerated rate, you are overwatering.
Soil moisture and softness: stick a finger a couple of inches down into the soil – if the soil is moist, and you have some of the conditions above, you will want to reduce your water. Another way to tell soil moisture, and whether it’s uniform throughout your property: press a long screwdriver into the ground. When the soil is moist, the screwdriver should penetrate the soil easily. The depth of penetration will vary by the soil type, size of screwdriver, and your strength. As the soil dries up, the screwdriver will be harder and harder to push into the soil.
Slowed in growth is a sign a plant is not receiving enough water. This can be a temporary or permanent situation. If the plant experiences a temporary decrease in water supply, the growth may just slow for a short period. If the challenge is more permanent you may see new leaf growth being smaller than normal.
Foot prints remain visible on the grass: walk across your lawn late in the day, and look for your footprints. If the grass blades don’t bounce back after walking on them, the grass is being under watered.

For more information on overwatering and under watering using irrigation systems in Maryland, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been a leading licensed landscape design company in Maryland. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects. Please contact East Coast Landscape Design today for a consultation on irrigation systems in suburban Maryland.

July 15, 2014mdlandscaperirrigation systems, Maryland, MD

Custom Designed Flagstone Patios for Silver Spring MD Homes

Flagstone patios can be custom designed and built for your in Silver Spring MD home. There is a great deal of versatility in size, layout, and colors.

The size of flagstone patios in Silver Spring MD can vary greatly – and can be irregular or regular in shape. Flagstone patios can also link with flagstone walkways that will make your patio feel like a destination.

Flagstone patios can be laid out in different patterns – woven, geometrical or completely random. The flagstones can vary greatly in size and shape, and the patio floor can be laid out with large stones surrounding small stones, small stones surrounding large stones. A border can be made using different colored stones as well.

Flagstone patios can also add to or compliment the colors of your Silver Spring MD home. The colors range from blues, browns, tans, grays and reds. You can create any color combination with your patio. The colors can be combined to create a mosaic or you can choose one color and do a monochromatic look. A focal point of color can be placed in the center of the room with other colors radiating from it. The choices and ideas are endless.

Flagstone patios are easy to maintain, requiring minimal upkeep at your Silver Spring MD home. Flagstone is a highly durable material, so you don’t have to worry about damage and wear and tear. However, if one of the stones does happen to crack or chip they are easy to replace. You can just pop out the broken stone, and replace it with another that will fit the space.

For more information on flagstone patios in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The East Coast Landscape Design team has over a quarter century of experience in the design, installation, and care of practical and beautiful flagstone patios, walkways, and driveways in Silver Spring, MD.

June 28, 2014mdlandscaperpatio design, Silver Spring MD

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.

June 16, 2014mdlandscaperBethesda 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.

May 28, 2014mdlandscaperBethesda MD, landscaping