Rockville Md – Page 2 – East Coast Landscape Design

Landscaping in Rockville, MD: Small Trees and Shrubs, Less Aggressive Root Systems

If you’re looking to add small trees or shrubs to you landscaping in Rockville, MD – choose those with less aggressive root systems. That’s because aggressive root systems can cause some severe damage to your hardscapes.

The bottom line is that choosing slow-growing small trees or bushes with less aggressive root systems species for your landscaping in Rockville MD – along with properly preparing the planting site – helps to protect your hardscapes.

Site Preparation
You should plant your small trees or shrubs at least 10 feet away from your hardscapes. If you decide that you’d like to install a root barrier around your tree, the barrier should extend at least 2 feet below the soil surface. It should be at least 5 feet away from both the hardscaping and the tree’s planting hole and should extend along the entire length of the hardscaping near the tree.

Slow-Growing Deciduous Trees with Less Aggressive Root Systems
The following can be usually be planted 10 feet away from your hardscaping, without causing problems:

Japanese maple cultivars
Ilex species
Several types of magnolias
Carolina buckthorn
Quince
Wintersweet
Acoma crape myrtle
Certain crabapples
Hoptree
Stewartia
Weeping Higan and Hally Jolivette cherries

Slow-Growing Evergreen Trees with Maximum Height Under 20 Feet
Certain slow-growing trees with a maximum height under 20 feet are unlikely to damage hardscaping and offer year-round foliage.

Boxwood tree
Dr. Hurd manzanita
Tea-oil
Yennan camelia
Mediterranean fan palm
Akapuka, variegatum Japanese privet
Evergreen magnolias
Some omanthus and photinia species or varieties
Cabbage palm
Awabuki sweet viburnum
Weeping blue atlas cedar
Chinese and Japanese plum yews
Fernspray cypress
Slender hinoki cypress.

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.

May 15, 2016June 6, 2016mdlandscaperlandscaping, Rockville Md

Hardy Shrubs Important to Landscape Design in Rockville MD

Hardy shrubs are an important addition to landscape design for your Rockville MD home.

There are at least 3 things you will want some hardy shrubs to do for your landscaping: provide visual depth, seasonal interest, and increased visits from wildlife (butterflies, birds, and other small animals)

You’ll want to stay away from high maintenance shrubs, and look for shrubs which are low maintenance, hardy for our zone, and can provide color and interest for 3- 4 seasons of the year.

Two Spring Starters
The Red Chokeberry is an easy to grow gorgeous shrub that attracts early butterflies and pollinators to the nectar of the white to light pink flower clusters that appear along the branches. The flowers are followed in late summer by abundant clusters of red berries that last through the fall and well into winter (these berries can be made into jams and jellies.) The glossy dark green leaves turn a brilliant red in fall.

The ‘Midwinter Fire’ Dogwood also has fragrant tiny white flowers appear in late spring that will attract butterflies. These flowers transform into clusters of dark purple berries in summer that are very attractive to birds. By the fall, there’s a golden foliage followed by branches and stems that start out yellow at the base of the plant and gradually turn bright orange, then to crimson red towards the tip of the plant.

An Early to Mid-Summer Starter
The Bottlebrush Buckeye is a great shade area shrub, and it blooms from early to mid-summer. This shrub white flowers with pink filaments that attract the attention of hummingbirds and butterflies. The leaves change from bronze to dark green to shades of yellow in fall.

A Midsummer Starter
The Smooth Hydrangea thrives in shady areas, and produces large pom-poms (up to 12 inches across). Blooming from midsummer to early fall, the pom-poms start out lime-green, change to cream, then to a brilliant white for weeks, then back to pale green in late summer before switching to a tan shade in fall. The pom-poms look great in dried flower arrangements.

For more information on including these and other gorgeous shrubs in the landscape design for your Rockville MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed landscapes in Rockville MD and the rest of suburban Maryland that enhance our clients’ lifestyles and the beauty of their homes.

February 28, 2016April 19, 2016mdlandscaperlandscape design, Rockville Md

Great Rockville MD Landscaping Tips For Your Home!

Landscaping a home has become one of the biggest desires that people have in today’s world. With all of the new techniques and progression over the past decade, some homes need a new look. If you are one of those people who feels like they could use some help landscaping their home, then you’re in luck. This article has a lot of advice that you can apply towards changing your Rockville MD landscaping.

Landscaping is more than just planting grasses and trees. To add texture and substance, look for opportunities to include wood, cement or iron structures. Elements like pergolas, retaining walls, fountains, and trellises are an easy way to add instant dimension to your Rockville MD landscaping. You can purchase these in many different price ranges to accommodate your budget.

You can save money by timing your purchases. Wait until winter to buy lumber and wait until later in the season to buy shrubs, mulch, or trees if possible. As new plants become available, wait a couple of years before purchasing them, so the prices will be lower.

Landscape according to how much time you can commit. While an elaborate landscape might look good on paper, remember that it requires constant upkeep. When designing your Rockville MD landscape think about your available time, your physical condition, and your budget. Only take on the responsibilities of a landscape that you can easily cope with.

Find alternative ways to get your materials. You can simply pick up stones on natural sites or purchase bricks from demolition sites. Some cities give out free mulch or lumber.

Now that you have a good idea of where to begin with your Rockville MD landscape or where you can improve on it, you should start writing what changes you want to make down. You want to have a clear understanding of what you want to change and then, gradually change your home’s landscape, until you’re pleased with your home’s appearance.

For more information on landscaping in Rockville MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed landscape projects.

October 31, 2015November 9, 2015adminlandscape contractor, landscape design, landscaping, Rockville Md

New Trends for Water Features in Rockville MD

Considering water features in Rockville MD? That’s no surprise – water features are becoming more popular with Rockville MD homeowners. Here are some new trends to think about:

Ponds and water gardens: deep enough for koi and goldfish to over-winter, and an increase in the number and types of aquatic plants that are used.
Bubbling fountains: a boulder with a hole or holes drilled through it can produce a cost-effective bubbling fountain. In the past, ceramic vases have also been popular due to the variety of designs and colors.
Rock column fountains: a larger version of the boulder bubbling fountain, rock column fountains are usually installed in sets of 3 near each other. The water disappears into a bed of gravel where it is re-circulated back to the columns. Placement of these fountains require more planning, as their size is a consideration.
Sheet waterfalls: are the most popular water features lately, due to the trend in outdoor living spaces that incorporate blocks and bricks. Adding led lights makes for beautiful water feature you that can enjoy at night.

Whichever you choose, water features are beautiful and relaxing focal points for landscaping in Rockville MD. For more information on water features in Rockville, MD, 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 landscape in Rockville, and throughout Maryland.

April 15, 2015June 1, 2015mdlandscaperRockville Md, water feature, water features

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.

October 14, 2014mdlandscaperlandscaping, Rockville Md

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

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:

Store all furniture, and any garden pots or implements away from the patio.
Clean the flagstone patio thoroughly.
Strip away any unwanted sealant (carefully!)
Repair/replace damage stones.
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.

October 31, 2013mdlandscaperflagstone patio, Rockville Md

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

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

September 28, 2013mdlandscaperflagstone patio, Rockville Md