East Coast Landscape Design – Page 43

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.

November 16, 2014mdlandscaperlandscaping, Silver Spring MD

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 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.

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.

October 14, 2014mdlandscaperlandscaping, Rockville Md

Outdoor Living: Enjoy Year Round Patios in Gaithersburg MD

Outdoor living – enjoying patios year round – is becoming the norm for some Gaithersburg MD families. Year round patios are designed to be suitable and reliable for use during most Gaithersburg MD weather – heat, snow, rain, and wind. Hardscaping, landscaping, and outdoor kitchens all play a role in making patios in Gaithersburg MD enjoyable all through the year.

Hardscaping – Patios designed and built with radiant heating prevent snow and ice, and keep your family comfortable during colder temps; stone fire pits and fireplaces provide extra heat; stone fountains and other water features can help keep your patio cooler in the summer.
Landscaping – in general, the more greenery around your patio, the cooler it will be. Shade trees provide cover and cool things off in the summer; bushes can be a wind breaker; herbal gardens provide seasoning to your food; perennial and annual flowers are a feast for the eyes, and can bloom through most of the year.
Outdoor Kitchens – prepare and enjoy most meals (and drinks) outdoors; covered dining tables and bars protect from the sun and rain.

For more information on year round patios in Gaithersburg MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The experienced professionals at East Coast Landscape Design work with homeowners to design dream patios that can be used year-round Gaithersburg MD.

September 30, 2014mdlandscaperGaithersburg MD, patios

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

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

Walkway Design in Silver Spring MD: Which Materials Best Suit Your Needs?

Walkway design in Silver Spring MD is dependent on which materials you select for your walkway. When deciding on the materials, you must consider style, cost, and maintenance. Here are some good options for your walkway:

Stone is a great option for the walkway design at your Silver Spring MD 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 Silver Spring MD home pretty affordable.
Brick is a safe choice, 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.
Concrete is another option for the walkway design for your Silver Spring MD 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 Silver Spring MD home.

For more information on walkway design for your Silver Spring MD 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 Silver Spring MD 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.

July 29, 2014mdlandscaperMaryland, MD, walkway design

Irrigation Systems in MD: Are you Overwatering or Under watering?

During a long, hot summer irrigation systems can overwater or underwater Maryland homes. How do you know when you are overwatering or under watering? While some signs are easy – like dry crunchy brown grass – while with others like wilting plants, it’s hard to tell the difference.

Here are some signs of over or under watering:

Leaves turn brown and wilt: under watering will result in crispy leaves; too much water and the leaves will feel soft and limp in your hand. Overwatering will cause slow growth and yellowing leaves. If you have yellowing leaves, old leaves, and new leaves falling at the same accelerated rate, you are overwatering.
Soil moisture and softness: stick a finger a couple of inches down into the soil – if the soil is moist, and you have some of the conditions above, you will want to reduce your water. Another way to tell soil moisture, and whether it’s uniform throughout your property: press a long screwdriver into the ground. When the soil is moist, the screwdriver should penetrate the soil easily. The depth of penetration will vary by the soil type, size of screwdriver, and your strength. As the soil dries up, the screwdriver will be harder and harder to push into the soil.
Slowed in growth is a sign a plant is not receiving enough water. This can be a temporary or permanent situation. If the plant experiences a temporary decrease in water supply, the growth may just slow for a short period. If the challenge is more permanent you may see new leaf growth being smaller than normal.
Foot prints remain visible on the grass: walk across your lawn late in the day, and look for your footprints. If the grass blades don’t bounce back after walking on them, the grass is being under watered.

For more information on overwatering and under watering using irrigation systems in Maryland, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been a leading licensed landscape design company in Maryland. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects. Please contact East Coast Landscape Design today for a consultation on irrigation systems in suburban Maryland.

July 15, 2014mdlandscaperirrigation systems, Maryland, 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