Author: mdlandscaper

Signs That Retaining Walls in Silver Spring MD Are Failing

Winter time weather can cause some serious problems with retaining walls in Silver Spring MD.  The main culprits are the freeze-thaw cycle, and rain/snow on top of ground that is already saturated. So what are the signs that retaining walls in Silver Spring MD are failing?

  • Retaining walls separating from adjacent walls;
  • Tilting or forward movement of sections of retaining walls;
  • Partial to total collapse of retaining walls;
  • Buckling, cracked, or crumbling Walls; and
  • Wood rot or deterioration

If you notice any of the above signs with your retaining walls in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design, the Washington D.C. area’s leading licensed landscape design company. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed retaining walls and other landscape projects, including patios, outdoor kitchens, and driveways in Silver Spring MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories retaining walls, Silver Spring MD

Using Your North Potomac MD Patio During the Winter

When you think of the patio at your North Potomac Maryland home, you probably never consider the potential for storage space it holds. Often homeowners across the Potomac MD area consider a patio as a flat surface used for sitting or entertaining but that underutilize the patio’s capabilities.

The temperature may be colder than you’d like, but the wind is actually the problem in this situation. The elimination of wind is key to making your winter patio visits as pleasant as possible. Install shades or blinds around your patio to block the winds from entering your Potomac MD patio. A natural material such as wood or bamboo blocks the wind and works with the exterior of your home in a complementary way.

Consider what you and your guests will be seated on when choosing chairs. Materials like metal or plastic fare well in the elements of winter, but they lack basic comfort. Choose patio furniture with a padded, waterproof seat for extra softness and warmth. The material will absorb and retain your body heat giving you warmth.

Be sure your patio is well-lit in the winter months to avoid slip-and-fall accidents in the snow or on the ice. Rather than hanging a single light above the patio, consider installing smaller lights throughout the area to create warmth in the environment.

Find a heat source for your winter patio. Whether you invest in a small wood-burning stove to place in the center of your patio, or would rather invest in a permanent heat source, you do not have to be cold when you enjoy the outdoors. Some Maryland homeowners opt for a masonry built fireplace to add a permanent elegance to the patio.

For more information on how you can design your patio for winter use in Potomac MD contact the professional patio contractors at East Coast Landscape Design.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories North Potomac MD, patio

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

Keep Your Flagstone Patio in Rockville, MD Looking Great All Year Long

Want your flagstone patio in Rockville, MD to look great in the spring and summer? You’ll need to do some fall maintenance on your flagstone patio to save yourself a great deal of time and money once spring rolls around in Rockville, MD.  Here are five things to do:

  1. Store all furniture, and any garden pots or implements away from the patio.
  2. Clean the flagstone patio thoroughly.
  3. Strip away any unwanted sealant (carefully!)
  4. Repair/replace damage stones.
  5. Re-seal the flagstone (allow time to dry before rain/ice/snow occurs).

For more information on caring for your flagstone patios in Rockville, 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 patios, walkways, and driveways in Rockville, MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories flagstone patio, Rockville Md

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

Keep Your Flagstone Patio in Rockville, MD Looking Great All Year Long

Want your flagstone patio in Rockville, MD to look great in the spring and summer? You’ll need to do some fall maintenance on your flagstone patio to save yourself a great deal of time and money once spring rolls around in Rockville, MD.  Here are five things you can do:

  1. Store all furniture, and any garden pots or implements away from the patio.
  2. Clean the flagstone patio thoroughly.
  3. Strip away any unwanted sealant (carefully!)
  4. Repair/replace damage stones.
  5. Re-seal the flagstone (allow time to dry before rain/ice/snow occurs).

For more information on caring for your flagstone patios in Rockville, 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 patios, walkways, and driveways in Rockville, MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories flagstone patio, Rockville Md

Driveway Design Tips for North Potomac, MD Winters

In considering a driveway design for your North Potomac, MD home, most homeowners tend to think about how the driveway will look during the spring and summer. However, the best driveway design compensates for North Potomac, MD winters – and snow and ice removal.

Here are some ways great driveway design can save money and time on winter maintenance:

  • A wide driveway is easiest for a snow plow to navigate, and will save you money every year on snow management.
  • Leave a place to put the snow – either on the sides of the driveway, or a large area off the end of the driveway.
  • Keep landscaping highly visible, well back from the driveway and in highly visible for your snow maintenance folks.
  • Driveway should have an even surface, so as not to catch and be damaged by snow-removal equipment.
  • Avoid lighting or gates right next to the driveway where they could be damaged by a plow.

For more information on driveway design for homes in North Potomac, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Accurate engineering and planning are essential for any well-constructed driveway, and at East Coast Landscape Design, we have skilled, trained engineers to assist in the design of your North Potomac, MD driveway.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories driveway design, North Potomac MD

Landscape Design in Gaithersburg, MD: Fall is a Great Time for Planting Trees and Shrubs

Fall is an ideal season for planting trees, shrubs and other assorted plants as a part of the landscape design for your Gaithersburg, MD home. Why?

The cooler, wetter weather is the perfect time for tree planting.  This is because the soil stays warm even after the air temperature cools, and that encourages root growth. During shoot dormancy, trees grow to establish roots in new locations before warm weather stimulates top growth.

Therefore, planting trees and shrubs in fall enables the root systems to grow before the hot summer returns. Trees planted in the fall are better equipped to deal with heat and drought in the following season. Your smaller plants will be established before winter sets in, and get a head start over shrubs in the spring. Larger plants will also get a head start since a general rule of thumb is one year per one inch of trunk diameter.

Another great reason to plant in the fall is because you can pick your trees and shrubs by the fall color they produce. Some tree species that are recommended for fall planting include the maple, buckeye, horse chestnut, alder, catalpa, hackberry, hawthorn, ash, honey locust, crabapple, spruce, pine, sycamore, linden and elm.

Planting can begin in September through November, but should not go too late into the fall, since the shrubs and trees won’t have as long to grow their root systems before the first hard freeze.

For more information on adding trees and shrubs to your landscape design in Gaithersburg, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. A successful landscape installation begins with a solid design that includes a balanced choice of plants, shrubs, and trees for your Gaithersburg, MD property. Every East Coast 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 Gaithersburg MD, landscape design

Maryland Landscaping Water Features: Cleaning Water Fountains

Maryland water features, like water fountains, need to be cleaned to enhance the appearance of any fountain and keep fountain waters sparkling. Water fountains come in many different materials, which require different cleaning solutions. Here are some tips:

  • Ceramic fountains may be cleaned with warm soapy water and a cloth or sponge, and a thorough rinse. Slime or mineral deposits may require a light scrubbing with a non-abrasive pad.
  • Resin and fiberglass fountains require careful cleaning, because they scratch easily. Use a soft cloth and warm soapy water or with special fiberglass cleaning products.
  • Copper fountains have a protective powder coast or clear finish coat to retard tarnish/greening; others are natural copper. Clean copper fountains with Pledge or another good quality furniture cleaner and a soft cloth. Apply a light coat of car wax/turtle wax and buff every few months to maintain the gleam. Never use a strong commercial copper cleaner on natural or powder copper fountains. Copper cleaners actually damage copper finishes by removing the coating and natural patina.
  • Stainless steel fountains should be cleaned with a wet or dry cloth and stainless steel cleaner. Never use abrasive cleaners or pads that scratch the shiny surface. Avoid bleaches and chemicals that discolor or damage the finish.
  • Always follow explicit manufacturer’s recommendations on how to clean a fountain.

Installing a water feature, like a fountain, can add so much to a Maryland landscape. Adding a water feature to your Maryland yard, large or small, is easier than you think. For more information on Maryland water features, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The East Coast Landscape Design team utilizes 3 decades of experience along with safety- tested protocols to create natural water features in various types of Maryland landscapes.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscaping, Maryland, water features

Walkway Design Materials for Your Maryland Home

The walkway design for your Maryland home will depend upon which materials you want to use for your walkway.

Here are some options for the walkway design for your Maryland home:

  • Brick is a popular choice in Maryland 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.
  • Stone is a great option for the walkway design at your Maryland 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 Maryland home pretty affordable.
  • Concrete is another option for the walkway design for your Maryland 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 Maryland home.

For more information on walkway design for your Maryland 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 Maryland 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.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Maryland, walkway design