Category: landscape design

Landscape Design in Silver Spring, MD: Catch Basins

If you notice sitting water in your landscaping, you may consider adding catch basins to your landscape design in Silver Spring, MD.

Reducing the surface area water in your backyard can minimize plant illness and assist keep your plantings healthy, along with aid avoid leakages and wetness in your house’s structure and walls.

Catch basins gather excess surface area water from grass locations, hardscaped locations, planter beds, and other landscape functions. Excess water streams into a surface area drain system through catch basins, which gather particles and avoid pipeline obstructing.

Catch basins can be found in a variety of various designs to accommodate drain throughout locations in your landscape. For instance, round catch basins and drain gates are set up in grass locations, while square catch basins and grates are utilized around pools and hardscape locations, such as driveways and pathways.

Catch basins need routine upkeep, consisting of frequently cleaning out particles and debris, to keep the drain clear. Every now and then, utilize a trash can and rubber gloves to clear out such particles as leaves, yard, sticks, and mud. It’s a great idea to routinely clear out catch basins in the fall, a time throughout which leaves have the tendency to accumulate rapidly.

For more details on how catch basins can solve water problems with your landscape design in Silver Spring, MD, please contact the experts at East Coast Landscape Design.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape design, Silver Spring MD

Landscape Design in Rockville, MD: Small Yards

Landscape design for small yards in Rockville, MD can be challenging – but the outcome can be amazing.

You may think that small yards are meant to be plain and “open” in order to seem bigger. But here’s the thing – your yard can seem so much bigger if your landscape design is well-planned and makes the most of your small Rockville, MD yard.

Building Up, Not Out
Great small yard landscape design includes horizontal and vertical features. For instance, you can:

  • Use your fencing and home as colorful backdrops for your landscaping
  • Hang plants on the fence, shepherd’s hooks, or a lattice panel
  • Add a water feature – such as a water wall – which takes up little horizontal space, but adds a lot of drama to your small yard’s landscape design.
  • Build a pergola – which is a fantastic design feature for a small space. Adding lights and climbing plants to the pergola can add romantic charm and a feeling of a “get away” to the landscape design of your small yard in Rockville, MD.
  • Integrate raised beds for your plants, and use colors that pop
  • Add a tall focal point to your small yard design – such as a tree or bamboo
  • Install a floating deck in the farthest part of the yard; add a winding pathway to enhance the feeling of a destination

Enhance your Space with Color
Cool colors (like blues and greens) actually make a small space look larger. Therefore, if you would like your yard to feel and look larger, choose the colors that make it look that way.

Plants like silver king and evergreens can give your yard a feeling of largeness. Blue spruce and Alberta pine are good examples of plants that add a decorative touch while helping your property look bigger. In fact, Alberta pines are rather small trees, so they do not take up very much space while at the same time conferring a feeling of maximum space.

Layering in various shades of greens will also give an appearance of depth and richness to the landscape design for your small yard in Rockville, MD.

For more information about landscape design for your small yard in Rockville, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has actually been Rockville, MD’s leading certified landscape specialist.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape design, Rockville Md

Landscape Design: Rockville MD Garden Fountain

Your Rockville MD backyard is a pleasant place. But no oasis is ever complete without a water fountain. Fountains can add beauty and serenity to your Rockville MD landscape design. The sound of the water will offer you much relaxation after a hard days work.

Kinds Of Water Fountains

There are a lot of different garden fountains. You can get them in all kinds of sizes, for instance, you have wall fountains that are installed on the wall and mostly used in small gardens or on patios. You have pond fountains that are used mostly in a bigger garden, but there are pond fountains specially built for smaller gardens.

The materials used to make garden fountains are: stone, ceramic, wood, copper, concrete, and I have also seen some beautiful old bronze garden fountains. The best materials for a Rockville MD landscape fountain would be either concrete or ceramic, those materials are low maintenance and have a long durability.

Garden fountains with sculpted carvings can add to the beauty and serenity of your backyard. Choosing the right kind of garden fountain is an important decision. You need to think of a few things like:

  • your budget
  • where in the landscape design to place the fountain
  • where will the fountain get water and electricity from

Fountain Maintenance

There are some things that you need to think about when maintaining your garden fountain.

  1. When you have a water fountain in the landscape design, you need to make sure that you clean it on a regular basis
  2. You should use an algae treatment that is safe for the environment

If you plan and design your Rockville MD with a fountain, you will find there if no better way to relax – in your own backyard – than listening to your own relaxing, sparkling, landscape fountain. Contact the professionals at East Coast today to discuss your options for a Rockville MD landscape fountain of your very own.

Posted on Author adminCategories landscape design, Rockville, Rockville Md, water feature, water features

Designing Your Rockville MD Rose Garden

The use of landscape roses can make the exterior of any Rockville MD house more graceful, fragrant and inviting. Selecting the right varieties to compliment and accent the home’s style, and your vision, will contribute to the success of your Rockville MD landscape design and rose garden design.

Finding the perfect roses for your rose garden is not hard at all because of all the diverse varieties of roses. The real problem lies in choosing the right ones for your landscape needs and the landscape design you wish to attain.

Roses come in a number of classes. Each class holds characteristics that make them a great choice for use as landscape ornamental flowers. If you’d like to have roses growing up and over a trellis or archway or cascading from window boxes, the tall growing tea roses are a perfect choice. Tea roses are known for their wild growing blooms and all who walk under the archway enjoy a beautiful display of roses.

If a trellis is not available and you’re looking to accent a wall, then choose a true climbing rose. The beauty of a true climbing rose allows you train the plant into many different looks and effects. In essence, you can train it any way you want it to grow.

The Floribunda rose is an excellent landscape design choice when a vibrant splash of background color for your landscape is desired. The popular Floribunda rose varieties give all this color in the landscape with their large and breathtaking blooms.

The versatile rose can also be used as a ground cover or planted in front of other plants to give color and accent. Roses can also be used as stand-alone plant and trained into a small tree or planted as hedges. Rugosa roses are a good choice for this. The goal or impact of the rose is not the varieties or ways it can be grown but the colors they offer in the gardening palette.

What gardeners want are healthy rose plants that deliver impact in many sizes, styles, textures, colors and shapes. When considering your design for your rose garden choose the complimentary colors for your surrounding landscape.

A simple arrangement of pink roses delivers the perfect compliment to a stone or marble entranceway or drive. White tea roses offer a striking contrast against a dark red brick home. Roses come in so many colors it should be easy to find colors which compliment and enhance any decorating or landscape design you come up with. Designing your rose garden will be exciting. Incorporate your own color favorites and mix styles and textures for an interesting appeal.

Roses do well in a variety of temperature zones and climates so make sure you choose the varieties suitable to the area in which you live. This translates into fewer maintenance issues, reduced use of pesticides and less disease issues – promoting overall a healthier rose garden.

If you want to incorporate a rose garden into your Rockville MD Landscape design, contact the landscape professionals at East Coast Landscape Design.

Posted on Author adminCategories landscape design, Rockville, Rockville Md

Landscape Design in Rockville, MD: Five Trees that Bring Curb Appeal

If the landscape design at your Rockville, MD home looks ho-hum, here are five trees that can enhance curb appeal. (All the trees we’ve recommended here grow well within our USDA zone.)

  1. The Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria): A smaller tree (height 10-15 ft., spread 12 ft.) that works well with others in groupings, hedges, or windbreaks. Adds interesting textures and add a punch of color in small spaces. In summer, they sport wispy, pink bloom clusters; in fall, the foliage turns yellow, orange, and red. The rest of the year leaves are purple, gold, or green. This tree is heat and drought tolerant, and do well in a wide range of soils.
  2. The Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana): A medium-sized tree (height 20-30 ft., spread 25 ft.), tolerant of most soil and temperature conditions. This tree puts on a show in March, with beautiful, fragrant white and purple flowers.
  1. The Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum): A large focal-point tree (height 60-75 ft.,
    spread: 40-50 ft.) that is a great replacement for ash or elm trees. Provides great shade, and gorgeous gold and red fall foliage. This tree does well with most soil and temperature conditions. Don’t plant near a road or drive which will be treated with salt.
  2. The Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis): A larger ornamental tree (height 40-50 ft., spread 25-40 ft.) happiest when it has moist and well-draining soil, planted in full or partial sun. Delicate, beautiful flowers make this a stand out tree, which really attracts attention when it’s planted in groups.
  3. The Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens): This majestic evergreen tree attracts birds, and provides shelter for small animals year round. This tree does well wherever they are planted, provided that they have enough room to spread out (height 50-75 ft., spread 10-20 ft.).

For more information on landscape design and curb appeal in Rockville, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. Our landscape design experts can create lasting beauty and value for you Rockville, MD home.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape design, Rockville Md

Manage Erosion with Landscape Design in Silver Spring, MD

There are a few ways to manage erosion with landscape design in Silver Spring, MD.

If the erosion is mild, then adding new plants to the landscape design, will go a long way to stabilizing erosion problems.

Depending on where the erosion is located, various groundcovers or hardy native shrubs should be considered for these erosion-prone areas. Mulch or compost can be used in tree and shrub beds, or in areas where vegetation is difficult to grow.

These new plants should be appropriate for the sunlight, shade, moisture, and soil conditions of the erosion site. The plants should have roots that will hold on to the soil (no shallow-rooted plants).

Before replanting, the fill soil may need to be amended. Amending the soil may consist of mixing in compost to make the soil more fertile. Or soil with high clay content may be mixed into the fill soil to give it more density and weight. In order to protect your new plants and give them time to take root, your landscaper may redirect water runoff from that area.

For places in the landscape with erosion and heavy foot traffic, stepping stones, gravel or mulch path can be used to cover and protect eroded areas. Plants and shrubs lining the pathway can offer additional protection against erosion.

If you have a slope with erosion problems, the slope can be terraced or retaining walls built, to hold back the soil and redirect the flow of water through a drainage system.

For large areas with significant erosion, the landscape design at your Silver Spring, MD home may need to undergo some significant changes. In addition to new sod and other vegetation, your landscape designer will want to divert water from erosion-prone areas, redirecting it to a pond, French drain, or an area that where it will cause no harm to your landscape or your home.

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

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories erosion control, landscape design, Silver Spring MD

Landscape Design in Silver Spring, MD Problem-Free Native Shrubs

As simple as it sounds, the most effective landscape design for your Silver Spring, MD is one that puts the right plants in the best place for them. This prevents disease and plant loss. An additional way to prevent plant loss is to use problem-free native shrubs.

What do we mean by problem-free? Well, these native shrubs are relatively insect and disease free. Put them in the right place in the landscape design, and your Silver Spring, MD yard will look great.

Here are some problem-free native shrubs to consider for your landscape design in Silver Spring, MD

Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush) is a large shrub that produces white flowers in globular heads in June, July, and August. It does best in moist soil and does not tolerate drought.

Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush) grows very slowly, and has very fragrant white flowers that open in July. It is tolerant of wet soils.

Fothergilla gardenii (dwarf fothergilla) is a medium, slow-growing multi-stemmed shrub species. It has beautiful flowers (April) and very showy fall foliage, and best in full sun. Dwarf fothergilla requires a moist, well-drained acid soil and does not tolerate drought.

Hydrangea arborescens (smooth hydrangea) is a medium native shrub that produces pretty white flowers in July. It prefers partial shade, but can be grown in full sun with supplemental water.

Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) is a large shrub or small tree that is known for being “hard to kill” and has very showy fall foliage color. Female plants have persistent, showy, red fruit stalks. Staghorn sumac tolerates dry soil, but does not do well in poorly drained areas.

Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum) is a multi-stemmed, dense, large shrub. It is adapted to a variety of soils and can be grown in sun or partial shade. It’s know for durability and white flowers.

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

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape design, Silver Spring MD

Water Features in Silver Spring MD: Outdoor Fountains

Homeowners are adding water features to their landscaping in Silver Spring MD, and the most popular water features are fountains.

And there’s a few good reasons why: fountains are soothing, block out noise from neighbors and traffic, and add an interesting element to your yard. They also come in all shapes and sizes, and you are only limited in your selection by your available space and budget.

Here are some outdoor fountains for you to consider:

Wall Fountains
Wall fountains come in a number of natural materials, including copper, slate, and bronze. They can be created with one or more panels, and can be scaled to the size of the space available. When using blocks or bricks, these are called sheet fountains.

Freestanding or Floor Fountains
Floor or freestanding fountains come in a variety of materials, such as stone and glass, are self contained, and require no installation.

Pond Fountains
Fountain jets stand in a pond or water feature and spray streams of water in a variety of patterns and strengths, from bubbles to sprays.

Rock Fountains
The smallest rock fountain (aka rock bubbler) is a boulder with a hole or holes drilled into it, creating a bubbling fountain. This natural looking fountain appeals to many homeowners.

On a larger scale of the rock bubbler, there rock column fountains; these are usually installed in sets of 3 nearby to each other. The water circulates amongst the 3 fountains, and they require a lot more space, planning, and budget to execute.

For more information on fountains and other water features for your Silver Spring MD home, please contact the experts at East Coast Landscape Design. The East Coast Landscape Design team utilizes 3 decades of experience along with safety- tested protocols to create create water features in various types of landscapes in Silver Spring Md, and all throughout suburban Maryland.

Posted on Author adminCategories landscape design, Silver Spring MD, water features

Landscaping Design to Preserve Water Pipes in SIlver Spring MD

Proper landscaping design can preserve the water pipes to and from your home in Silver Spring MD.

Tree roots are naturally attracted to water and sewer lines; these pipes are a source of water, nutrients, and oxygen that the trees need. When a root finds a leak in a pipe, it will quickly make its way into the smallest crack, making the crack bigger, and the root will be growing bigger as it goes deeper into the pipe. Eventually, the roots will stop up the pipe, and stop the flow of waste coming from your home.

Ever see those yards around town, with the front yards dug up from the house to the street? You can guess what happened – tree roots broke into and clogged up the pipes. The pipes broke, and thousands of dollars later, the homeowner has root-free pipes.

So what can been done to reduce the likelihood that tree roots will cause that kind of damage to your pipes? The right landscaping design, using slow-growing trees with less aggressive root systems, placed the proper distance away from the pipes at your Silver Spring MD home.

Trees to Avoid If You Want to Protect Your Water Pipes
Certain trees should never be planted near water lines, as they are often fast-growing with particularly aggressive roots.

  • Many species in the Acer (maple) genus
  • Populus species
  • Ashes
  • Sycamore
  • Several oaks
  • Willows, basswood
  • Tuliptree
  • Elms
  • Birches
  • Mulberry
  • Figs
  • Large eucalyptus
  • Beech


Root Barriers
In addition, some homeowners choose to create root barriers around their pipes to slow down or prevent roots from getting too close to pipes. Slow-release chemicals, such as copper sulfate and potassium hydroxide, spread near the sewer line will discourage growth into the area. Metal or wood barriers buried 6 to 12 inches deeper than the pipe and running vertically next to sewer lines can also stop roots from getting at the pipes.

For more information on 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.

 

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape design, landscaping, Silver Spring MD

Hardy Herb Perennials for your Landscape Design in Bethesda MD

Looking to add perennial herbs to your landscape design in Bethesda MD? The following herbs can serve one or more purposes; they can be an aromatic, used for food presentation or cooking (culinary), and/or useful in landscaping.

Aromatic
Lavender, English (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender, Grosso (Lavandula ‘Grosso’)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Mint (multiple)
Sage, Clary (Salvia sclarea)
Thyme (multiple)

Culinary
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Lavender, English (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender, Grosso (Lavandula ‘Grosso’)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
Mint (multiple)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Parsley (Petroselinum)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Tarragon – French (Artemisia dracunculus)
Thyme (multiple)

Landscape
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Thyme (multiple)

Need help with incorporating herbs into your landscape design in Bethesda MD? You’ll want to contact the experts at East Coast Landscape Design. East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed beautiful landscape and hardscape projects around Bethesda MD and surrounding communities for over 30 years.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, landscape design