Tag Archives: Landscape Annapolis

Why Good Drainage is Important for Every Landscape

While it may not be as apparent or beautiful as garden pathways and blooming trees, good drainage is just as important to make any landscape attractive and functional. In fact, without proper drainage, all of the funds spent on beautifying the landscape could be wasted when it erodes or drowns due to improper drainage.

The greatest danger of not having good drainage installed in the landscape is erosion. Throughout the year, rainfall and other precipitation will cause soil runoff in the yard which will literally carry landscaping away with it. Besides wasting money spent on beautiful yards and gardens, erosion can actually decrease the value of the property by lessening yard area and creating sloping ground. Over time, this is especially dangerous near houses or other buildings as it can cause foundations to shift or sink, making the building unsafe to inhabit and leading to expensive home repairs.

If improper drainage is not causing unwanted erosion and runoff, it can still ruin property by collecting in soil and creating standing water puddles. Too much standing water will easily drown grass and other plants, killing vegetation that was intended to make the property more beautiful. Even worse, these puddles of still water can easily become a breeding ground for unwanted insects like mosquitoes. These pests are not only annoying to humans, but they can also transmit harmful diseases to people, pets, and plants nearby. Too much moisture in the soil will cause plant roots to become susceptible to fungus and mold as well.

Good drainage in a landscape will prevent all of these dangers, and also ensure the health and longevity of landscaping. Best of all, professional landscapers have many options for installing drainage solutions that will add to the overall attractiveness of the landscape. Effective drainage is a subtle but crucial way to keep that landscaping looking beautiful for years to come.

Eco Friendly Landscaping

A dirty secret surrounding landscaping is that while the process can make a lawn look stunning, it also has a negative impact on the environment. A lot of landscapers use harsh chemicals and equipment that is anything but energy efficient. If you want to improve the appearance of your yard without harming Mother Nature, you need to find a landscaper that is devoted to minimizing environmental impact. Ciminelli’s Landscape Services uses the following techniques to ensure that all landscaping is eco friendly:

Pervious Surfaces

Although traditional pavement provide a hard surface for cars to drive on, they do not allow rainwater to seep into the ground. Instead, storm water drainage systems must be used to remove surface water. As excess runoff makes its way to the sewer system, it picks up fertilizer, oil, salt and other toxins. These increase pollution and decrease water quality. Pervious surfaces are capable of absorbing several gallons of rainwater every minute. While the concrete of traditional pavement is filled with sand, the space between concrete matter is left open in pervious driveways. This allows rainwater to seep through.

A lot of customers are initially put off by the higher upfront cost required for installing pervious driveways. Although the initial cost is somewhat higher than that of traditional driveways, pervious surfaces can actually save you money in the long run. Pervious driveways last much longer than traditional pavement, meaning that you will not have to have your driveway repaved as often.

Green Roofs and Walls

Not only are green roofs and walls environmentally friendly, they are absolutely stunning. This technique especially looks nice in an urban setting where there is little room for trees and shrubs. These living walls are also quite economical, as they naturally help to cool off the home during the summer months, while increasing a roof life by as much as 50 percent. Green roofs and walls help to filter out pollutants from runoff, while also reducing the overall level of runoff.

Through the use of pervious surfaces and green walls, your home and yard can help keep the environment pristine, while reducing your energy bill and the cost of maintenance.

Beneficial Garden Insects

When planning your eco-friendly garden it is important to consider the essential role insects play in protecting your plants. While all gardens have insects, it is important to remember that not all insects are harmful predators looking to eat your plants and flowers and that many insects serve as garden protectors by feasting on the insects looking to destroy your plants. Gardeners and landscapers who indiscriminately use harmful insecticides will kill both the beneficial insects as well as the harmful ones. A good landscaper or gardner knows how to cultivate and use insects to create a natural environment where helpful insects are fostered and encouraged to take on the job of ridding the garden of harmful insects themselves rather than relying on caustic chemicals to do so. An experienced landscaper knows how to recognize and foster the following beneficial insects in his or her garden.

Green Lacewings. Many gardens have aphid problems. However, a landscaper can fend off a potential aphid infestation by making sure that his or her garden has plenty of these little predators. While the adult Lacewing does not eat aphids the larvae do, and do so voraciously. They are so adept at hunting and eating aphids they have been given the nickname “aphid lions.”

Lady Bugs. This common and beloved insect is quite the predator. It regularly feasts on mites, aphids, mealybugs and more. While Lady Bugs are commonly found in many gardens, if you have recently begun experimenting with eco-friendly landscaping and find your garden lacking then they can easily be purchased through mail-order or through a gardening or landscaping supply store.

Praying Mantis. This unusual looking predator feasts on some of the larger garden pests including caterpillars and beetles, making them a nice garden addition. However, they will also eat helpful insects such as Lady Bugs.

With the addition of these beneficial garden insects and more, soon you will be able to enjoy a garden where those buggy little plant and vegetable garden predators are kept in check without having to resort to toxic chemicals.

Landscaping in Late Summer

If you want to make your home even more beautiful on the outside, you should consider landscaping your home. Landscaping can add a lot of appeal to even the smallest homes and in some cases can even add to the value of the property that your home is on. If you are considering landscaping, there are a few things to keep in mind. One of the most important things is that time of year that you want to do your landscaping in. Some plants can only be planted at certain times of the year and if you plant them at other times they have a less chance of surviving.

Last summer is a great time to landscape because there is a lot of different things that you can do to insure that when next spring comes, your yard will be blooming with beautiful arrangements to make everyone take a long look at your yard. Late August isn’t good for planing, but it is great for the maintenance on your yard so that you can be sure to have a beautiful yard next season.

Use the late summer months to do your weed control and trimming of branches and bushes. You can also use this time to plan out anything you may want to do in September or to start looking at your plans for next year. Don’t over fertilize your plants during this time. Many people think that since some of their plants are not looking very good that they should fertilize more, but this isn’t going to do much good. Make sure that your plants stay watered especially if you live in a place with a hot and dry climate during this time of the year.

It’s also a great time to recondition your yard. You can use a good stiff rake and add a fresh layer of topsoil to make sure that things will be nice and healthy for next season. You can add grass seeds now as well so that your lawn will grown in rich and thick next season. Try to stay away from planting flowers because the heat and upcoming cool weather will just kill them off and not give them a chance to get rooted well.

Native Plantings

For the gardnener who is willing to take a walk on the wild side, landscaping with native plants may be the perfect outlet. With so much emphasis being placed on having manicured lawns and hedges that are neat and well-defined, native plants and trees are often rejected in favor of popular non-natives.

Native Plants Have Staying Power
Indigenous plants adapt to changes in their environment and manage to hang in there from season to season. This means that native require less special treatment to maintain heartiness when used in landscaping and often require less water and fertilizer. Some plants present beautiful flowers in spring to attract pollinating insects then produce fruit in the fall to feed birds and small mammals.

Going Native Benefits The Environment
Because native plantings require less water, gardeners who choose this type of landscaping can expect to reduce water usage significantly. With many municipalities issuing water conservation mandates, using native plants is one way to comply and still enjoy beautiful landscaping.

Native Plantings and Wildlife
Real estate developments often misplace wildlife and when the native plants that they depend upon are destroyed, these animals often relocate. Getting rid of certain critters may be desirable in some ways but such migration often causes an imbalance in the number and type of other pests that are left behind. Birds often use native plants for food and shelter. Eastern Red Cedar trees, for example, are known to attract the Northern Mockingbird, Purple Finch, and the Downy Woodpecker. Many birds feed on specific types of insects which reproduce on certain types of plants. If the plants are destroyed, some insects will go missing and the birds who feed exclusively on them will as well. Also, such a population shift allows harmful insect populations to increase which then require pesticides to control.

Native Planting Adds Biodiversity
There are many native plants to choose from, including trees and flowering plants. Composites, or plants made up of many parts, are excellent for attracting beneficial insects. It is important to research what native plants are preferable before adding native plantings to any landscape.

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.

Landscape Drainage Ideas

Landscape drainage ideas One of the most important decisions when landscaping is regarding drainage. Improper drainage can lead to erosion, puddles of standing water, and even property damage. The last thing you want to do is have your yard ruined by standing water, turning it into a muddy mess! Here are some ideas on choosing the right drainage system for you. One of the best times to see how your yard drains is after a heavy rainstorm. If you find standing water and drenched beds, it is recommended that you install a drain line or two.

One option is called a channel drain. These drains are ideal for keeping runoff from your patio from flooding the nearby landscaping. They are installed into the concrete to guide water away from the house and into a pipe which sits below the concrete level. Yard debris is kept out of the pipe by a protective grate that sits along the channel. The channel drain is connected to another pipe, which guides water away from the house. Channel drains are also reccomened for pool owners to help keep chlorinated water away from the house foundation and off of the lawn. French drains are another popular option. Although it sounds fancy, French drains are simply trenches lined with pipes or gravel. French drains are best for sloping yards, or for yards that have excess water runoff from neighboring properties. The ideal location for such a drain would be an out-of-the-way area with sandy soil where the water could collect harmlessly. If you have a downspout tie-in on your roof gutter system, you may want to consider a catch drain. This type of drain is usually connected to a catch basin, which is a concrete or plastic drain that is tied into a larger, underground drainage system. The advantage to this system is that excess water doesn’t build up around your home’s foundation.

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.

Customer Testimonials

Thank you very much for all your help with the driveway project. It came out great and we are very pleased with it! 
– Brian and Sue

Everything looks beautiful! Matt really understood our needs and gave us a great design. We will definitely recommend your company to our friends. 
– The Lehman’s

Thank you very much to Ciminelli’s Landscape Services for repairing our fire pit; what a fabulous job. The fire pit has brought our family much enjoyment with many evenings fires. It’s so pleasing to receive a compliment on our retaining wall and to know that I can confidently refer my family and friends to Ciminelli’s Landscape Services for an exceptional product with service and support after the purchase.
– Dave and Kathie

Just a short note to tell you how happy we are with our new front yard. Your crew were courteous and excellent workers. I was so impressed by their initiative. They all took pride in their work. Thank you so much!
– Carol and Arnie

Put Those April Showers to Good Use

Spring is the time for showers and it is also the time to consider catching and storing water for summer. Gardens, flowers and lawns often suffer during the hot months and are vulnerable to perishing without a sufficient water supply. Extra water can also come in handy for chores such as car washing. Now is the time to consider a rain barrel or garden.

A rain barrel is basically a tank that catches rainfall and runoff from roofs and gutters. It can be as small as 30 gallons or as large as 300 and comes with a screen that filters out undesirable debris such as insects, leaves and dirt. The stored water can be obtained through a tap, hose or spigot and directed right to the garden or lawn. Using a rainwater yield table can be helpful in determining what size barrel is needed. One good rainy day may produce many gallons of usable water.

An alternative to the collection barrel is a rain garden. These gardens are constructed in low areas, which then collect natural runoff from roadways and rooftops and other sources. While this water is not collected and saved as with a rain barrel, it is a quick and simple way to keep a garden properly watered.

When deciding between a rain garden or barrel, it can be useful to consult with a landscaper. The landscaper will assess the garden and determine what method will best suit its water needs and then install or create it. Rain gardens are complex in design and climate dependent regarding the types of plants and rainfall per season so its best to ask a professional’s advice before starting out to get the best results.

Rain barrels and gardens are also a great way to help the environment by not depleting municipal water supplies that are already too low in many areas. It’s easy to go green.