Category: Silver Spring MD

Get Irrigation Systems in Silver Spring MD Ready for Winter

Homeowners with irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD need to get them ready for winter.

You may think that the irrigation system pipes are immune from freezing because they are underground. The truth is that pipes within irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD can freeze and crack or burst when water is left in them.

Every year, we hear about pipes bursting due to a hard freeze. Those homeowners who fail to winterize their irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD are in for hefty water bills, replacement costs – and in some cases, a yard that is dug up to replace an irrigation system.

So what’s involved with winterizing irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD?

— An inspection of your irrigation system

— A sprinkler blow out, where water is blown out of your sprinkler piping and heads, using commercial equipment

— Parts are replaced where necessary

Please note: antifreeze should never be used to winterize irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD. Antifreeze won’t do the job, and it is unsafe for use around animals.

For more information on winterizing irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects.

 

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories irrigation systems, Silver Spring MD

Fall Lawn Care Recommendations from Your Landscape Contractor in Silver Spring MD

When most people think about fall lawn care, they usually just think about ranking leaves. However, your landscape contractor, East Coast Landscape Design, knows that there is so much more to fall lawn care in Silver Spring MD.  Here are 5 recommended lawn care activities that should be done, in addition to raking leaves:

Aerating: aerating your lawn allows air, water, and fertilizer to reach the roots of your grass. Unless you own or can rent an aerating machine, best to leave this to your landscape contractor in Silver Spring MD.

Filling in the bare spots: if the know the type of grass you have, you can easily buy an all-in-one lawn repair mixture. Follow the directions, and come spring time, you will see that those bare areas have filled in.

Fertilizing: while your grass grows more slowly during the fall, grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow quickly, and they need to be fed. Mid-to-late fall is the optimum time to fertilize.

Removing weeds: like most plants, weeds are in energy absorbing mode in the fall. Early-to-mid fall is usually the time to put down some weed killers, when daytime temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. (Read and carefully follow the directions that come with the weed killer.)

Mowing: your lawn may be growing slower, but it still needs to be tended to. Water and mow as needed. For the last two cuttings of the fall, drop the mower’s blade to its lowest setting. That will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass, and there will be less leaf to turn brown during the winter.

For information from your landscape contractor about fall lawn care in Silver Spring MD, please contact the experts at East Coast Landscape Design. We understand that a professionally designed, properly installed and maintained landscape adds beauty, value, and curb appeal to your Silver Spring MD home.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape contractor, Silver Spring MD

What Should I Do When I Landscape My Silver Spring MD Home?

Proper landscaping can add tremendous value and beauty to your Silver Spring MD home. The key to proper landscaping is education. If you ever feel that you need help, give us a call. We are here to help.

Choosing Plants in Silver Spring MD

Be careful when it comes to selecting your plants, this can have a huge effect on the success of your landscaping. Avoid placing plants in shady areas if they require a great deal of sunlight. Don’t plant a tree in an area where it can’t grow to its full capacity. A little extra effort means that you will have beautiful, healthy plants and an easily maintainable landscape.

Consider the Design

Think about whether or not you need to have a design for your Silver Spring MD project. You might save money in the long run by buying only the plants and materials you really need to achieve the landscaping you want – as specified by a good design.

Add Some Needed Silver Spring MD Walkways

If you are tired of seeing your beloved plants trampled by visitors, consider adding a footpath. Use brick, stone or wood to create a path that extends well beyond the boundaries of the area you wish to protect. A well-defined, wide path makes it clear which areas are safe as well as, which should not be trodden upon.

Maintain, Maintain, Maintain

Try to make sure that the height of your Silver Spring MD lawn is always between 2 and a half to 3 inches. Having your grass at this height will help protect it from sun and heat damage. Also, at this height, moisture will not evaporate as much as it would if it were taller.

For more information on landscaping 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 landscape projects, including patios, outdoor kitchens, and driveways in Silver Spring MD.

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

Expert Landscapers Can Make the Most of Your Side Yard in Silver Spring MD

Expert landscapers can help you make the most of your side yard in Silver Spring MD. Often forgotten or just used as place to park your trashcans and recycling bins, your side yard (or yards) can be made into something wonderful, with the help of professional landscapers, How?

  • Giving your side yard an entrance, using an arbor, trellis, or pergola
  • Adding hanging plants and artwork to your fencing to make interesting “walls”
  • Placing stepping stones or brickwork to create a beautiful, sturdy, and safe walkway from your front yard to your backyard
  • Planting perennials that add color and interest to your walk through the side yard
  • Attracting birds and a sense of serenity with a fountain or a birdbath
  • Creating an area for seating (as space allows) making your side yard a destination to relax and rejuvenate.

Want to learn more about making the most of your side yard from expert landscapers in Silver Spring, MD? Please contact the award-winning landscapers serving Silver Spring MD, East Coast Landscape Design.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscapers, Silver Spring MD

Patio Contractors Silver Spring MD: Basic or the Best

Most licensed patio contractors in Silver Spring MD would do an “ok” job on a “basic” patio. But, do you want a just “ok” or “basic” patio? For the money you are going to spend, don’t you want a patio designed for your home, with your wants and needs in mind?

You deserve better than “basic” – you deserve the best. The experienced professionals at East Coast Landscape Design are the go-to patio contractors for homeowners in Silver Spring MD who want the best. The East Coast Landscape Design experts have designed and built patios with both natural and man-made materials, as well as tiered patios and those that include built-in seating and retaining walls. They’ve also designed and built heated patios, and patios with outdoor kitchen appliances, fireplaces, and/ovens.

With East Coast Landscape Design, you aren’t limited by the “basic” skills of some patio contractors in Silver Spring MD. East Coast Landscape Design can build you the patio that you want and need, with what your budget allows. And East Coast Landscape Design is not your fly-by-night “basic” patio contractor; East Coast Landscape Design has been in business for many years, and many happy clients in Silver Spring MD.

For more information on patio contractors in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The experienced professionals at East Coast Landscape Design will work with you to design the best patio for your home and lifestyle.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories patio contractors, Silver Spring MD

Landscape Design in Silver Spring MD is Key to Flood Prevention

The right landscape design plays an important role in flood prevention at your Silver Spring MD home. Why?
Yards flood when the rain water doesn’t drain properly, this is due to:

  • The wrong soil has been used in the yard
  • Soil is eroding
  • Slopes that drain water towards the home
  • Plants that don’t capture the water
  • A lack of water drainage through hardscaping
  • Water draining from a neighbor’s yard

The best time to install the right landscape design is during new home construction. However, if you’ve bought a home in Silver Spring MD that you’ve discovered is flood-prone, there are changes to your landscape design that can help.

For instance, a new landscape design would include thirsty flowers and other vegetation beds installed where water tends to pool. A new drainage system can collect water, and use gravity to drain it out to the street through underground pipes. Dry streambeds can create a path for the water, directing it away from your house. Retention ponds placed at the lowest part of your property can collect storm water runoff. Retaining walls can also be used to battle flooding in parts of your yard, or if the water is coming from a neighbor’s yard.
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

Retaining Walls: Practical Beauty for Your Silver Spring MD Landscape

Retaining walls can be beautiful – and help solve a myriad of landscaping issues at your Silver Spring MD home.

In the simplest of terms, retaining walls hold back earth; retaining wall design, expert engineering, and materials can add a practical beauty to your Silver Spring MD landscape.

A severe backyard slope can be made into a useful area for play, gardening, and entertaining, with the addition of a stone retaining wall or walls that cut into the slope.

Retaining walls can also be used to battle flooding from a neighbor’s yard – or from another part of your yard. Retaining walls can be used to make way for an expanded driveway, or just to add interest to a flat area of your lawn. A series of low retaining walls make useful terraces for growing flowers and vegetables.

For more information on 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

Latest Trends in Landscape Design in Silver Spring MD

Thinking about a new landscape design for your Silver Spring MD home? Here are some of the latest trends for you to consider:

  • Your landscape design in Silver Spring MD should be a positive reflection of you and your health. This means incorporating plants that resonate with you, and enhance your mental and physical health. Think about how tastes, smells, textures, colors, and health benefits of plants affect you and your family.
  • Your landscape design can be both beautiful and good for the environment. For instance, you can have attractive native species plants that will thrive in specific areas around your Silver Spring MD home and conserve water. There are also organic methods for managing weeds, grass clippings, leaves, and feeding plants that will also benefit the environment.
  • Your landscape design should enhance your lifestyle and enjoyment of your Silver Spring MD home. A delightful path through wildflowers with a place to sit and read, a beautiful wood deck with planters full of herbs and edible flowers for dining, and outdoor mood lighting can really enhance the enjoyment of your Silver Spring MD home.

For more information on the latest trends in landscape design, and how they can benefit you and your Silver Spring MD home, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Silver Spring MD’s leading licensed landscape contractor, and has designed and installed landscapes that both enhance our clients’ lifestyles and the beauty of their homes.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape design, Silver Spring MD

Landscape Contractor Silver Spring MD: Top 5 New Year’s Landscaping Resolutions

Most New Year’s resolutions involve improving one’s appearance – but how about the appearance of your home? According to landscape contractor, East Coast Landscape Design, here are the Top 5 best resolutions that Silver Spring MD homeowners should keep, if they want to improve the appearance of their homes. (Click here to set up an estimate.)

  1. I will add interest to my home’s landscape, through intentional design.
  2. I will give attention to both landscaping and hardscaping (driveways, patios, arbors, decks, etc.)
  3. I will add a water feature, such as a fountain, water garden, or pond.
  4. I will have any needed tree limb removal work completed before big summer storms hit.
  5. I will conserve water, and save money and my landscaping through proper irrigation.

All of these resolutions are attainable with the help of your landscape contractor in Silver Spring MD, East Coast Landscape Design. A good way to get started is to contact East Coast Landscape Design for an estimate on your landscape design. The experts at East Coast Landscape Design will work with you to ensure that your new landscaping and hardscaping adds beauty, function, and value to your home.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscape contractor, Silver Spring MD

Landscaping in Silver Spring MD: Evergreen Care in Winter

In winter weather, evergreens need special landscaping care in Silver Spring MD. You may think that summer time is the only time that you really need to think about watering. But winter can also cause desiccation of your evergreens.

Even though the temps are cold, evergreen plants continue to lose water by transpiration. They lose the most water during periods of strong winds and on bright, sunny days. Just like people can still get sunburned in the winter, the brighter the sun, the higher the rate of water loss in your evergreen leaves. When water leaves the plant foliage faster than the roots can replace the moisture, desiccation occurs. Roots have rough time absorbing water when the soil is cold or frozen.

Here’s how you can protect your evergreens during winter:

  • Add a 3-inch layer of mulch around evergreens to reduce water loss and help maintain uniform soil moisture and temperatures around roots.
  • Water plants several hours before a freeze can provide some protection. Well-watered soil will absorb more heat than dry soil, and will re-radiate the heat during the night.
  • Cover plants with burlap, sheets, plastic, or blankets. Don’t let the covering tough the plants, and be sure the covering goes all the way to the ground.
  • Place a light bulb placed under the cover for additional heat; however, remove the covering during the day, or too much heat will build up, and new foliage could emerge. (To prevent fire, clear all dry brush and needles away first.)

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, and has the knowledge and experience to help your landscaping in Silver Spring MD survive and thrive.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories landscaping, Silver Spring MD