Silver Spring MD – Page 3 – East Coast Landscape Design

Outdoor Lighting in Silver Spring MD: Ways to Prevent Fire

If you have outdoor lighting at your Silver Spring MD home, you should understand that there are some ways to prevent those lights from causing a fire around your home.

For example, it’s important to make sure that mulch, leaves, or other yard debris don’t cover up the landscape fixtures. If you use a landscape service, it’s important to make the landscapers aware of the location of every single light. (Some homeowners find that it’s helpful to provide landscapers with a map with the lights clearly marked.)

Another way to prevent fire is to make sure well lights have a lens cover – preferably a tempered glass lens cover. The tempered glass will prevent the outside of the lens from becoming hot enough to cause a fire, and it prevents debris from getting down into the well light catching fire.

If you have an older outdoor lighting system at your Silver Spring MD home, a transition from quartz halogen to LED will greatly reduce the likelihood of fire, because heat does not readily build up. (However, you should still make sure that your lighting fixtures remain free of leaves, mulch and yard debris.)

For more information on outdoor lighting in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. A properly installed low-voltage landscape lighting system also increases can prevent fires, and enhance the security, safety, and market value of your home.

October 30, 2014mdlandscaperoutdoor lighing, Silver Spring 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

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

Landscaping Companies in Silver Spring MD: Know Who You Are Hiring

How do you know which of the landscaping companies in Silver Spring MD do the best work and are reliable? And which of the landscaping companies in Silver Spring MD have great customer service?

Quite frankly, there are some landscaping companies that do business in Silver Spring MD that aren’t licensed and certified. They have bad reputations, and change their names frequently. Here are some ways to determine which of the landscaping companies in Silver Spring MD you should hire.

Licensing – Do they have the proper licenses from the State of MD, such as a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) License
Certifications – Have they gone through training and obtained certifications to complete the work you need?
Years in business – Just started last year? The year before? Have they gone through name changes?
Professional associations – Legitimate landscaping companies in Silver Spring MD participate in professional associations that share information and support best practices in their industry.
Reputation – Recommendations from experts and other consumers, online and off. Remember to ask friends and neighbors who they use, and ask for client referrals.

East Coast Landscape Design is one of a very few landscaping companies in Silver Spring MD that meets and exceeds these requirements. They are licensed through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, are certified interlocking paver installers, certified landscape technicians, and certified pond installers. The folks at East Coast Landscape Design have created amazing beauty in yards and properties dotting the Washington, DC area for over 25 years, and are members of the Landscape Contractors Association. East Coast Landscape Design has a Better Business Bureau A+ Rating, is a Recommended Landscape Contractor from the “Washington Checkbook,” and has received the Angie’s List Super Service Award. For more information on landscaping companies in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design.

May 16, 2014mdlandscaperlandscaping companies, Silver Spring MD

Outdoor lighting in Silver Spring MD: LED VS Halogen

Which is better for outdoor lighting in Silver Spring MD – LED or Halogen?

When done well, both high quality low voltage LED and Halogen lights produce fabulous results in outdoor lighting for homes in Silver Spring MD.

LED lights have some distinct advantages over Halogen for outdoor lighting in Silver Spring MD. LED lights are more energy efficient and last years longer than Halogen lights. For instance, if you are placing a bulb in a hard to reach area, you want to use an LED bulb, so you don’t have to replace it as often.

The initial cost of Halogen bulbs is much less than LEDs. An LED bulb can cost 5-6 times more than a Halogen bulb, and that will be a significant difference in the initial cost of your outdoor lighting in Silver Spring MD. However, unless you have purchased fixtures that are made to take the heat given off from Halogen bulbs, there can be cracking and discoloration of the fixtures.

For more information on outdoor lighting in Silver Spring MD, call the experts at East Coast Landscape Design. East Coast Landscape Design will provide everything to complete your outdoor lighting project, from engineering design to wire and fixtures. We only use the highest quality lighting manufacturers that use brass, copper, stainless steel and aircraft-quality aluminum designed to last a lifetime. Let one of our East Coast Landscape Design specialists show you how a well-designed outdoor lighting system can add to the beauty and safety of your Silver Spring MD home.

April 15, 2014mdlandscaperoutdoor lighing, Silver Spring MD

Spring Tune-Ups of Irrigation Systems in Silver Spring MD

Spring tune-ups of irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD prolong the life of irrigation systems in Silver Spring Maryland and save water, time, and money. Performing a tune-up on irrigation systems in Solver Spring MD are not really a DIY project. There are multiple tasks to undertake – however, if you’re not an expert, a mistake could cost you.

The following steps should be included in a spring tune-up of your irrigation system:

Open the system main water valve slowly to allow pipes to fill with water gradually. (Valves opened under too much pressure could cause sprinkler mainlines to crack.)
Confirm that each station valve is working by manually activating all zones from the controller.
Walk through each station on the controller, checking for proper operation of the zone. Check operating pressure, proper rotation, and ensure sprinkler heads provide adequate watering coverage.
Check and clean filters on poorly performing sprinklers; fix or replace parts as needed. Adjust heads to grade if necessary.
Reprogram the controller for automatic watering.
Replace the controller back-up battery if necessary.
Uncover and clean the system weather sensor, if applicable.

For more information, please contact East Coast Landscape Design, the irrigation systems experts in Silver Spring MD. These qualified professionals understand hydraulic pressure, sprinkler system layout, soil concerns, and the watering requirements of your home’s landscape.

March 30, 2014mdlandscaperirrigation systems, Silver Spring MD

Patio Contractors, Silver Spring MD: What are Face Bricks, and How are they Used?

Patio contractors in Silver Spring MD use face brick for its classic beauty and structural endurance. You may be wondering what face bricks are, and how are they are used.

Face brick is one of the two major types of brick (the other is known as common brick.) The main difference is that face bricks are glazed before being fired, which makes the face bricks slick and hard. Unfortunately, face bricks are usually slippery during wet weather.

There are different types of face bricks, based on uniformity of shape and size. Select brick, known as FBX, is the highest quality of face brick. FBX has sharp edges and a contemporary look.

There are three face brick standards, based on its uniformity of shape and size. Select brick, FBS, or standard is the highest quality. Strict limits are enforced on its size and imperfections. It provides more of a contemporary look with its sharp edges. Standard brick, FBS, allows for slight differences in size. FBA, also known as architectural brick, has no limit on size differences, chips or cracks.

Face brick is also graded by its strength, water absorption and resistance to damage when exposed to freezing and thawing conditions. Grade SW (severe weathering) bricks are exceptional when exposed to saturation leading to freezing. Grade MW (moderate weathering) bricks work well where there is moisture, but no saturation. Grade NW (no weathering) bricks are for indoor use only.

For more information on face brick, contact the best patio contractors in Silver Spring MD, East Coast Landscape Design. The experienced professionals at East Coast Landscape Design will work with you to design your patio and select materials, such as face brick, that compliment your home’s function and style.

January 16, 2014mdlandscaperpatio contractors, Silver Spring MD

Take Steps to Protect Your Landscaping in Silver Spring MD

Deer are a big problem in suburban Maryland; they can cause some considerable damage to landscaping in Silver Spring MD. However, there are some steps you can take to protect your trees and prevent devastating damage.

Deer are famous for devouring summer gardens, and they can also destroy your grass. But the real damage from deer comes in the fall, when deer rub against trees to remove the velvet off of their antlers. And the rubbing continues during the mating season, stripping the bark off of your trees, preventing the trees from getting the right nutrition. Older trees will become susceptible to disease, and young newly planted trees can be destroyed. So what can you do?

Apply deer repellant prevent deer from chewing and eating brush and trees (although it will need to be reapplied after rain or snow).
Add tree fencing around a grove of trees, at 6-8 feet of height.
Place tree guards made of chicken wire or mesh netting to protect individual trees.
Prune lower limbs from trees during the winter to discourage deer from nibbling on fruit trees and rubbing on others.

For more information on landscaping in Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring, MD home.

December 30, 2013mdlandscaperlandscaping, Silver Spring MD

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.

December 15, 2013mdlandscaperretaining walls, Silver Spring MD