Tag Archives: Hardscaping

Hardscaping Your Annapolis Yard is Great Investment

When individuals think about beautifying their outdoor space they typically think about living additions like trees, shrubs and flowers but permanent structures can be an even better investment in the long run.

Flowers, trees and shrubs are classified as landscaping; stone patios, retaining walls and stone steps are called hardscaping. Hardscaping offers a strong focal point for an outdoor area. Adding stone to existing features such as steps and walls is a good alternative when the existing layout of the area should be preserved.

Patios
A traditional patio can be taken to the next level with the addition of stone. Stone patios have a strong Mediterranean and European vibe which instantly beautifies and adds value to the home. A stone patio is stronger than wood and doesn’t require the care and upkeep of wood; stone is water resistant, unlike wood.

Walkways
Having clearly defined walkways makes the outdoors pleasant to roam around in. With stone walkways the elements are not an issue and the stone work retains its beauty for years to come. Stone walkways are weed-proof and waterproof reducing time and maintenance costs.

Stone Water Features
Fountains and ponds are a multi-sensory experience that creates a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere. The air around the pond or fountain is cooled by the water and they attract various species of birds. A water feature is a one time investment that lasts for decades.

Retaining Walls
Instead of having unsightly concrete retaining walls in plain view why not cover it up and make it a focal point by going the stone route instead. The quality stone work is eye catching and attractive.

Hardscaping and Landscaping Combined
Stone features are easily accented with landscaping touches like decorative shrubs, flowers and foliage. The stone work provides the backbone and structure of the exterior space allowing for greater creativity with fewer plants which means that each and every plant in the yard can be a carefully selected favorite.

Stone hardscaping makes a beautiful addition to the exterior of a home that is elegant and maintenance free for years to come.

Visit us at Ecoasis to ‘Make your own Holiday Swag’ this Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 7 pm

Visit us at Ecoasis to Make your own Holiday Swag with all natural plant materials” and make a Pinecone Bird feeder while shopping for your Frasier Fir tree in a variety of sizes from 4’to 10’. Gather around the bonfire for Free Smores and Hot Chocolate. Extended hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 7 pm.

Locally made gifts/crafts -Maryland made chainsaw Bears, Cottage Girl garden signs, garden gift baskets, poinsettias  ,etc….

Add a Firepit or Chimney to your Hardscaping and enjoy many nightsof cozy outdoor gatherings. Contact us for your Free Estimate.

The staff at Ecoasis as well as Ciminelli’s Landscape Services would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Matt and Donna Ciminelli and staff

 

A Diverse Range of Services From An Annapolis Landscaper

Sometimes, to make a house more inviting from the inside, it is important to work on the outside. The yard is easier to navigate, and neighborhood committee members do not have to complain. Ciminellis Landscapers manage many diverse projects at once. The professionals do landscaping work all of the time, so the work is full of expertise and experience. This company provides a wide range of softscape and hardscape options, including patios, pavers, plants, lights, rain gardens, water decks and retaining walls.

Using a Landscape design Annapolis service is recommended because supplies are not always easy to find. Home improvement websites have countless guides and recommended tools for homeowners. Even so, the best results are obtained from professional service providers. Also, some supplies are expensive and not easy to use. It is easy to strain one’s back or experience some other health problem. Some yards are difficult or almost possible to control. The planting process is not always laid out clearly. A professional knows how to choose the most effective and healthiest solutions.

When the colder fall and winter months come, it is time to winterize the place before it turns into a winter wonderland. The flowers may not survive, but some varieties of shrubs and trees will make it. Fragile plants should be brought indoors or placed beneath an overhang. Landscaping Annapolis professionals fertilize the areas properly. The grass and plants are able to tolerate the cold chill better. Lime enhances the soil pH, and mulch provides insulation.

Good timing is a vital part of good landscaping. Property owners must know when to make improvements and protect the area from deterioration. The landscape must be cleaned and maintained to the best abilities. For the cold or warm months, trusted Maryland landscape services are needed for all kinds of tasks.

Hardscaping Explained

Hardscaping is becoming increasingly popular because it is low maintenance and in times of water shortage, it does not require water at all. While most people use a combination of softscaping and hardscaping in their designs, it is not too uncommon, especially in desert areas, to see a landscape entirely made up of hardscaping elements.

A beautiful outdoor space can make all the difference in how a business or home is perceived. It is called curb appeal, and beautiful curb appeal usually means beautiful landscaping. What many people may not realize that landscaping is divided into two categories. Softscaping is all the living elements in the landscape, such as grass, trees, flowers, and other plants. Hardscaping is the other element of landscaping and includes everything that is not alive. Rock, pavers, waterfalls, driveways, walkways, and retaining walls are all hardscaping. Even wood, although it was once alive, is considered an element of hardscaping.

There are several benefits to hardscaping. One is that it is so low maintenance. It requires little time and effort on your part to keep it beautiful. It is not something you have to water every night, and on hot days when softscaping elements wilt, hardscaping features will not. Another benefit is that hardscaping, for the most part, is permanent.

When planning the layout of the area you will be landscaping, it may be easier to plan your hardscape features first, especially if there are things like large boulders or walls that are too big to move. Design your layout around features like these to compliment them. The next step would be planning where other hardscape elements will go, such as walls or pathways, so that you can arrange the softscape elements to compliment the layout.

Finding a balance between hardscaping and landscaping so that they work together and compliment each other is the key to having a beautiful landscape. For more information on hardscaping or if you are interested in an estimate, check out https://www.ciminellislandscape.com/services/hardscaping/.

MATT’S JULY TIP

Have you thrown your hands up to Mother Nature yet? If not, then  you must have had Ciminelli’s Landscape Services renovate your landscaping to include native plantings, properly chosen plants, rain barrels, rain gardens, drainage control and beautiful, low maintenance hardscaping. Most yards will look good in April and May, but the real test of the sustainability of your landscaping starts now. We can help you plan for the tougher times of the year so that your yard looks beautiful in every season.  Consider a hardscaping feature like a patio, walkway or planted retaining wall for a useful area that you can use year-round.  Install rain barrels and rain gardens to capture those flash summer rains.  Renovate your drainage to re-direct damaging water flows and finally, plant choice is critical for reducing maintenance.  Please give our office a call if you would like a free consultation and estimate for changes to your landscaping.

Hardscaping is a Great Investment

When individuals think about beautifying their outdoor space they typically think about living additions like trees, shrubs and flowers but permanent structures can be an even better investment in the long run.

Flowers, trees and shrubs are classified as landscaping; stone patios, retaining walls and stone steps are called hardscaping. Hardscaping offers a strong focal point for an outdoor area. Adding stone to existing features such as steps and walls is a good alternative when the existing layout of the area should be preserved.

Patios
A traditional patio can be taken to the next level with the addition of stone. Stone patios have a strong Mediterranean and European vibe which instantly beautifies and adds value to the home. A stone patio is stronger than wood and doesn’t require the care and upkeep of wood; stone is water resistant, unlike wood.

Walkways
Having clearly defined walkways makes the outdoors pleasant to roam around in. With stone walkways the elements are not an issue and the stone work retains its beauty for years to come. Stone walkways are weed-proof and waterproof reducing time and maintenance costs.

Stone Water Features
Fountains and ponds are a multi-sensory experience that creates a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere. The air around the pond or fountain is cooled by the water and they attract various species of birds. A water feature is a one time investment that lasts for decades.

Retaining Walls
Instead of having unsightly concrete retaining walls in plain view why not cover it up and make it a focal point by going the stone route instead. The quality stone work is eye catching and attractive.

Hardscaping and Landscaping Combined
Stone features are easily accented with landscaping touches like decorative shrubs, flowers and foliage. The stone work provides the backbone and structure of the exterior space allowing for greater creativity with fewer plants which means that each and every plant in the yard can be a carefully selected favorite.

Stone hardscaping makes a beautiful addition to the exterior of a home that is elegant and maintenance free for years to come.

Ciminelli’s Offers A Wide Variety Of Landscape Services

Since 1991, Ciminelli’s Landscape Services in Lothian, Maryland has provided complete landscape, hardscape, and specialized eco-scaping/greenscaping work in and around the Annapolis area, combining professionalism with unmatched customer service that has earned them recognition as a leader in home beautifying.

Ciminelli’s prides itself on the amazing variety of custom landscaping services they are able to provide, not only in designing new garden beds and terraces, but also incorporating water features and drainage solutions. They are also experts in yard maintenance, and provide trimming and pruning, leaf removal, and lawn care.

Hardscaping is one of the company’s specialties. Ciminelli’s is well known in the local area as an innovator in the design of patios, stone walks, retaining walls, and driveways that blend naturally with the overall look of the grounds. Using stone, flagstone, and masonry as well as pervious pavers and segmented blocks, an amazing variety of custom hardscape plans can be created. The professionals at Ciminelli’s are dedicated to combining both the stone and garden aspects of their work into an overall design that makes each job one of a kind.

Another part of the company’s efforts is in the area of eco-scaping, where attention to green roof and green wall technology comes into play. The incorporation of plants as part of vertical walls is an exciting and attractive way to control heat transfer from inside a structure to the surrounding environment, and vice-versa. Special rain garden landscaping allows for slow percolation of water into the soil, greatly reducing runoff into storm drains. These plant beds are typically filled with species that hold water in place, acting as a sponge that further stifles unwanted lateral water movement.

The company website, www.ciminellislandscape.com/services, give prospective customers the opportunity to view picture samples of recent work, as well as offer numerous testimonials from satisfied homeowners. They give online estimates of their service costs based on the details given by the shopper. All of their work is 100% guaranteed, and their company philosophy is simple — providing high quality landscape and maintenance with responsive and friendly customer service. Ciminelli’s has been recognized by various organizations as a leader in eco-friendly technology and implementation.

MATT’S FEBRUARY TIP

What is the best way to handle snow and ice on your walkways, driveways or patios.  How about the snow flattening your beautiful foundation shrubs? If you are snowblowing, plowing or shoveling – be aware of the plants in the area you are moving the snow to.  This “manmade” snow cover is usually the most damaging because it is denser and slower to melt.  Natural snow cover is beneficial and acts as an insulator. If your plants are bending over from the weight of the snow and you are able to gently remove snow before heavy ice buildup – you can do so with a soft broom sweeping upward and allowing the snow to fall off the plants.  Do not attempt to remove ice or try to remove snow from overhead branches which can fall and cause injury or property damage. Prune any cracked or broken branches as soon as possible after the snow melt to prevent additional splintering or disease.

We recommend using ice melt products that are specifically designed for the  surface you are treating.  Concrete pavers and natural stone can be pitted and stained by salt, which can lead to cracking and failure.  (contact us if you have damaged pavers or stone – one of their major benefits is the ability to repair small areas without tearing up the entire surface )  Salt can also harm lawns and plants when it runs off your driveway. If your plants have been exposed to salt water and rinse well as soon as temperatures are above freezing. And don’t forget about all the salt you are bringing home on your car tires and shoes – rinse off your driveway and walkways.

Going Green with Eco Scaping

Whether it be to save water, save the environment or save money, eco-scaping offers a lot of options for garden-lovers. By using new technology as well as reusing resources, it possible to improve the look of a yard and use less tap water without causing detrimental damage to the environment. Think all of those lush lawns and gardens with fountains pay an arm and a leg for that beauty? Think they are all harming the environment? Think again.

Here are some simple ways you can change your garden. Instead of “landscaping,” try some of these suggestions to turn your yard into a beautiful “eco-scaped” scene:

Hard-scaping– Try using detailed tiles and neutral pavers to build beautiful opportunities for patios to rest on, paths to explore and driveways for spacious parking. By changing up your outside utopia to include these features, it not only makes your home more attractive and interesting, it can also save resources and money by reducing the need for expensive landscaping. This means that there is less water, fertilizer, pesticide and other chemical additives being used on those spaces. This keeps money in your wallet as well as reduces the impact of chemicals on the environment.

Retaining Walls– Add soil barriers that keep the ground soil in place as a way to reduce leaching, run-off and erosion. This can create beautiful, intricate scenes built at various levels around your yard as well as reduce the amount of topsoil leaving your yard. This helps reduce erosion, meaning your plants stay healthier and you do not have to replace the nutrient-rich topsoil as often.

Rainwater Collecting – Save the water that naturally comes into your yard during rain. This water can be used to water plants, fill ponds and fountains, wash cars, keep bird baths filled and complete other tasks around the yard without coming from your tap or undergoing expensive water treatment processes.

For a sample of all of these suggestions as well as other ways to work eco-scaping into your landscape, check out: https://www.ciminellislandscape.com/services/ Here, they offer a variety of services and options to increase the appearance and cost-efficiency of your yard while saving the environment.

What is Hardscaping?

A beautiful outdoor space can make all the difference in how a business or home is perceived. It is called curb appeal, and beautiful curb appeal usually means beautiful landscaping. What many people may not realize that landscaping is divided into two categories. Softscaping is all the living elements in the landscape, such as grass, trees, flowers, and other plants. Hardscaping is the other element of landscaping and includes everything that is not alive. Rock, pavers, waterfalls, driveways, walkways, and retaining walls are all hardscaping. Even wood, although it was once alive, is considered an element of hardscaping.

 Hardscaping is becoming increasingly popular because it is low maintenance and in times of water shortage, it does not require water at all. While most people use a combination of softscaping and hardscaping in their designs, it is not too uncommon, especially in desert areas, to see a landscape entirely made up of hardscaping elements. There are several benefits to hardscaping. One is that it is so low maintenance. It requires little time and effort on your part to keep it beautiful. It is not something you have to water every night, and on hot days when softscaping elements wilt, hardscaping features will not. Another benefit is that hardscaping, for the most part, is permanent.

When planning the layout of the area you will be landscaping, it may be easier to plan your hardscape features first, especially if there are things like large boulders or walls that are too big to move. Design your layout around features like these to compliment them. The next step would be planning where other hardscape elements will go, such as walls or pathways, so that you can arrange the softscape elements to compliment the layout. Finding a balance between hardscaping and landscaping so that they work together and compliment each other is the key to having a beautiful landscape. For more information on hardscaping or if you are interested in an estimate, check out https://www.ciminellislandscape.com/services/hardscaping/.