Tag Archives: Landscape Annapolis

Landscape Lighting

Homes on spacious lots in Lothian give home owners the perfect opportunity to incorporate landscape lighting. Ciminelli Landscape designs ways to light neighborhood yards with an accent on safety as well as on aesthetic appeal. The transformation that is possible with innovative lighting can change an ordinary landscape into one that is truly dramatic. The beauty of a home and its landscape features are revealed when they are properly illuminated.

Lights alongside a walkway or at the front entry are appreciated by guests who have sure footing when entering a home. Access to the garage is facilitated by lighting that reveals objects that can cause a fall. A practical approach to landscape lighting includes the installation of illumination where it is needed; accent or indirect lighting adds a dimension that enhances the beauty of a home. Some popular design ideas include these:

• along the walkway to the front door
• spotlighting a tree
• up lighting behind flower beds
• welcoming lights in the front entry
• decks and patios
• steps
• garage
• down lights on walls
• submerged lights in a water garden
• motion sensors
• solar lights for street side house number

The beauty of Maryland homes that is visible during the day is often obscured at night. With the use of lights that are directed upward on trees or downward to light paths and walkways, a warm glow can envelope an entire yard. The appearance of a home at night is entirely different from the way it looks at night, and it is often even more attractive.

Outdoor lighting encourages residents to enjoy the evening air by having friends over for dinner or giving the family an informal place to gather. Entertaining in the soft glow of moonlight aided by a proper landscape design adds a new dimension to family life. Landscape designers help home owners make the best use of outdoor spaces, increasing a home’s functionality and adding to living space. The practical and aesthetic benefits of landscape lighting greatly add to the enjoyment of a home.

Ecoscaping: What are Green Walls?

rain-gardenGreen walls have nothing to do with paint, but are living structures composed of green plants. Ciminelli’s Landscape Services in Lothian, Maryland, are experts in the art of ecoscaping and the utilization of living plants on roofs and wall structures. Not only lush and beautiful, green roofs and walls add to the natural feeling and design. They can be part of an existing structure, such as a tool shed or patio as well as used in a retaining wall.

The benefits of ecoscaping are numerous, both to the environment and to your home. Strength is added to the structure of the wall, and insulation is provided. As far as the environment, green roofs lesson water run-off and act as a filter to pollutants. Moreover, they increase the life of the roofing system by 50% or greater.Green Roofs and Walls
The enjoyment of gazing upon a green roof or wall is enhanced by knowing you are doing something for the environment. Although taking a bit more care in the nurturing of the plants, the result is well worth it. The charm and enchantment of a roof of plants makes one think of a storybook home, set amidst the tranquility of nature. Edible walls can also be of a gardening solution; restaurants and pubs can benefit from having their garden as part of the decor of their business. What cook or chef can’t be delighted to go outside and pick a handful of spices and herbs from the wall?Rain Gardens
Allowing for the rain to slowly permeate the soil, instead of running off, puts less pollutants in bays, rivers and nearby creeks. Installed at an existing low spot, native plants as well as those that tolerate both wet and dry conditions are used.

Pervious Pavers
Providing a hard surface for walking as well as driving, pervious pavers allow storm water to drain into the ground, a feature not intended by traditional paving.

Ciminelli’s can help you help the environment, while creating lasting beauty for your home or business. Now is the time for Ecoscaping.

Go Green in Annapolis 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.” href=”https://www.ciminellislandscape.com/services/ecoscaping/” target=”_blank”>eco-scaping in Annapolis 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 in Annapolis. 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.

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.

Going Green in Annapolis is Easy with Rain Gardens

Rain gardens in Annapolis area are landscaping setups that allow for a “greener” outcome for the homeowner and for the surrounding area than traditional gardens. These gardens are set up to let rain gradually be absorbed by the soil instead of running off the soil into the drainage system. When rain is allowed to run off in such a manner, it carries pollutants with it into the water supply. This can be a problem for the surrounding area, which will find an increase in toxic materials being found in the water.

Rain gardens can be a perfect way to use a spot in the landscape that may be lower than the rest of the surrounding grounds. This is because the depression in the ground can be used to collect the rainwater. Rain gardens are one way to reduce the amount of pollutants in the local water supply. Ciminelli’s, a long-standing provider of Maryland landscape services, is proud to help customers create one for their own home for landscape design Annapolis.

Rain gardens are vital to the local economy because they can help retain a greater quantity of water, which helps to keep the aquifers replenished. There are also draining and flooding problems that can be headed off by rain gardens. Many people in need of landscaping Annapolis who have a rain garden created find that they increase the beauty in their yard through their use of this kind of garden.

Rain gardens are good for eco-landscaping. They are excellent habitats for many different kinds of animal life. Birds and other kinds of animals may be drawn to the rain garden. Butterflies and other kinds of insects that benefit the health of the yard will be attracted by this eco-friendly installment.

It is important that rain gardens that are installed have the correct distance from the septic system of the house, in addition to being able to receive adequate light from the sun. Ciminelli’s also enhances all of their rain gardens in Annapolis with local plants. For the very best rain gardens in Annapolis, choose Ciminelli’s, a landscaper that has made mastering the creation of these landscapes a priority.

Looking for Fresh Landscaping Ideas in Annapolis? Look No Further Than Ciminelli’s Landscape

Ciminelli’s Landscape Services is a company that has been in business for more than two decades performing landscape design Annapolis and has a number of different services to offer to people who would like their outdoor areas transformed. General landscaping is offered by this company, as is hardscaping, which improves upon the features of the landscape such as the concrete or brick pavers that are found there. Patios and retaining walls frequently receive hardscaping treatment. They also work on eco-scaping, which uses green materials, walkways and drainage services.

Some of the important tasks involved in securing landscaping during the winter months include pruning shrubs and trees, mowing the grass, raking up the leaves and other debris, and fertilizing and watering the lawn. Ciminelli’s can help with all of these tasks, especially with their lawn service and lawn service contracts. For those who are in need of landscaping Annapolis, it is important to be aware of the services your lawn needs, but seeking help from the right professionals will make it easier, because they can often tell you what your lawn will need to remain healthy.

It is important to prune shrubs and trees so that you know which branches of the trees are damaged. If they are damaged, they may break when heavy snow falls on them, and because of this possibility, they need to be removed before the weather turns cold.

Mowing of the grass should be continued until the grass stops growing for the season. It is also important to remove the dead leaves that accumulate because they can damage the grass. In order to keep the lawn healthy, it is vital to continue fertilizing it. And watering the lawn is very important, too, if you want it to ward off excess dryness during the fall season. For the best in Maryland landscape services including winterizing your lawn, Ciminelli’s is a great choice.

Preparing Your Annapolis Lawns for Beautiful, Spring Landscaping

Emerging from the shadow of winter’s gloom, spring is the ideal time for taking stock of a home’s landscaping and flower beds. A homeowner or a professional landscaper should first walk around the garden and check for signs of winter damage, and decide what needs to be repaired, extended or created to neaten or improve the landscaping. It is also the time to plan for the planting of trees, shrubs and perennials.

Timely preparation and planning is vital for successful spring planting and a beautiful summer show. A reliable landscaping company can work with homeowners to provide advice, make suggestions and undertake the necessary work. Preparations might include:

– Soil Analysis: This will determine if soil amendments are needed to provide optimal growing conditions for perennials and annuals. Compost may need to be added to enrich the existing soil.

– Mulching: Early mulching conserves the moisture in the ground and suppresses weed growth. Depriving weed seeds of light inhibits their germination.

– Plant Division: Some plants may have reached a size that warrants division. This prevents overcrowding and opens up space for adding annual plants for summer-long color. Some plants may need to be removed altogether.

– Trimming Trees and Shrubs: Some trees and shrubs may need to be trimmed and to have dead wood removed. Providing structure to the garden, they should accentuate the flowers – not detract from them with untidy appearances.

– Landscaping Lights: A special tree or shrub could be up-lighted for a spectacular effect.

– Retaining Walls: Old walls might need replacing. Signs of soil erosion or water run-off could indicate the need for new retaining walls, some of which could be created to provide raised flower beds.

– Edgings: Flower beds are the canvasses upon which the garden will be painted with flowers, and edgings are the frames. undefined edgings will take away from the most-lovingly tended plants.

– Lawns: These should not be overlooked. Repairs and pest control should be undertaken before problems become worse.

For  beautiful landscaping services in Annapolis and successful gardening, a trusted landscaper is a gardener’s best friend.

How to Landscape without Harming the Chesapeake Bay

From the Maryland Cooperative Extension:

1. Take a soil test every 3 to 4 years. Fertilize according to soil test recommendations. Use less than the recommended amounts listed on fertilizer packages.

2. Leave grass clippings on your lawn (grasscycling.) They are a source of nitrogen for your lawn and will not contribute to thatch build-up in fescue or bluegrass lawns.

3. Home gardeners tend to over-fertilize flower and vegetable gardens. Reduce or eliminate fertilizer applications in well-established beds if organic matter is being added each year.

4. Don’t fertilize trees and shrubs if they appear healthy and are making adequate shoot and leaf growth.

5. Compost plant residues or incorporate them directly into soil. Discard plants with serious disease problems.

6. When appropriate, substitute slow-release fertilizers for those that are highly soluble and substitute locally available organic fertilizers (well-decomposed farmyard manure, backyard compost and municipal leaf compost) for manufactured chemical fertilizers.

7. Keep fertilizers off hard surfaces. Rain water will carry fertilizer salts into storm drains and surface waters and contribute to nutrient pollution of our waterways.

8. Over time, rainfall causes bare soil to erode and become compacted. Keep bare soil covered with a mulch and plant ground covers in areas where turf won’t grow. Plant winter cover crops in vegetable gardens – like oats, winter rye and crimson clover.

9. Avoid excessive foot or equipment traffic to prevent soil compaction, especially when the soil is wet. Construct terraces for beds on sloped ground. Keep soil in raised beds framed with solid sides.

10. To melt winter ice, use calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride (KCl), sodium chloride (NaCl) or calcium chloride (CaCl2). Do not use urea, potassium nitrate, or other chemical fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorous. The salts in these fertilizers may burn the foliage and roots of adjacent plants and wash into and pollute waterways.

Authors : Jon Traunfeld, Regional Specialist, Home and Garden Information Center, Maryland Cooperative Extension

Reviewers: Patricia Steinhilber, Ph.D., Nutrient Management Coordinator, Maryland Cooperative Extension and Judy McGowan, Nutrient Management Specialist, Maryland Department of Agriculture
12/03; revised 9/05; 2/09

Ciminelli’s Landscape Services Can Transform your Lawn and Garden with Beautiful Annapolis Landscaping

A well landscaped garden is the pride of the neighborhood. Maryland landscaper, Ciminelli’s Landscape Services provides a wide selection of landscaping services for both new installations and existing gardens. They can completely make over a garden or, with their passion and creativity for landscaping, upgrade a garden to its full potential.

Ciminelli’s Landscaping Services in Annapolis listens to the owner’s ideas of their dream garden. They have the knowledge and experience to transform dreams into reality. They know exactly which native plants will thrive in the environment and can create rain gardens for the soothing and cooling ambience of running water. For difficult areas where drainage is a problem, they have the expertise to solve drainage issues.

Ciminelli’s Landscaping Services will also take on the difficult, time consuming tasks such as mulching, lawn care, pruning, leaf removal and winter cleanup. Their customers can enjoy their gardens and be proud of them without the extra work and the time taken from their busy schedules.

For those very fond of their gardens, landscaping services can also upgrade the plants for different seasons, so the yard looks beautiful even if it is covered with snow. Ciminelli’s Landscape Service professionals can add winter-appropriate plants as well as install a greenhouse where spring and summer plants can thrive until it is time to put them in the garden. There are also ways to attract birds to the garden in any season.

Ciminelli’s Landscape Services is one of the premier Annapolis Landscape Design companies for hardscaping services. This includes the permanent, non-living structures of the garden such as paver or flagstone patios, fire pits, retaining walls, walkways and paths, driveways, pool decks, stone steps, fountains, waterfalls and ponds. These features are often difficult to maintain looking fresh and clean and are important for a comfortable outdoor living space. They may become weather stained and crooked and need a professional to make them look good as new.

It is a good idea to combine landscaping and hardscaping services to maintain an attractive garden as well as some of the permanent features of the home. This will not only give pleasure to the residents, but also add value to the property.

Ciminelli’s Landscaping in Winter

Winter is no excuse for an Annapolis landscape and garden to not be tended to. Indeed, in some cases they may need more tending to than during the growing season,especially in climates that are cold in the winter. Left to the elements, some plants might freeze or be so damaged that it will be difficult for them to return to health, furniture that’s left outside might deteriorate, irrigation pipes may burst and expensive and prized garden tools can rust.

The professionals at Ciminelli’s Landscape Services know that snow can be a great insulator and even a great mulch, as it protects plants from freezing winds. However, snow that’s shoveled onto a plant can be damaging. Also, some evergreen trees should have snow gently brushed off of their boughs lest the weight of the snow cause the bughs to break. Rose bushes should be mulched up to their stems and if necessary protected by burlap. Salt de-icers should also be used judiciously or avoided all together. Ciminelli’s offers nonsalt de-icers for their customers.

The bulbs of canna lilies and gladiola should be taken up, stored in paper bags and brought indoors before the frost, but daffodils can be planted during the late fall and early winter to blossom in the spring and summer.

Lawns also need care during the winter. Winterizing the lawn in Annapolis should ideally begin in the late summer or fall. Thatch should be removed and the lawn should be aerated. During the fall, the lawn should have its last application of fertilizer for the year so it will have nutrients before the law goes dormant. The customer should take care not to allow salt to fall on the grass.

Tools, also should be put up for the winter. They should be cleaned and some, like pruners, should be oiled to stay sharp. Gas should be drained from lawn mowers and the blades should also be cleared of dead grass and debris. Ciminelli’s can see to all of their customer’s winterizing needs.

Residential or commercial customers who need their landscapes winterized shouldn’t hesitate to call Ciminelli’s Landscape Services, Inc. New customers call 410 734-2493, while current customers should call 410 741-9683.