Don't put off 'til Spring what you can do today!

We've had many people ask if it would be best to hold off on starting their new outdoor project until spring. Our answer: No way!   As a full-service landscape design build company, we work year-round regardless of the temperature outside. Contrary to what many think, winter is a great time to contract a landscape company to begin the process of design and installation whether you are dealing with new property void of any plantings, or renovating an older landscape. And here are a few reasons why:    The landscape design process begins with site analysis. This includes visually inspecting your property to verify that existing site conditions are accurately depicted on the property plats/plans that you provide us. We also take this time to evaluate the space and begin formulating ideas about how to create the desired space--since many plants will be leafless and neighboring views stand out more. Our design team can get a clear understanding of the space which will smooth out the rest of the design and installation process.    After the initial site visit, most of the design work happens right here in the office. Preparation of base maps, conceptual drawings and the final plan happen at the designers' desks, and in the off-season, our designers are in the office much more often. This means the design of your landscape project is done with fewer interruptions and with increased ease of communication among our staff. Getting started during the winter can ensure that your landscape design is on our schedule and at the forefront of our minds...from concept through completion!    Once a signed proposal is submitted with full deposit, our production team will begin to schedule your project, obtain any necessary permits, and order materials. These steps can be done with ease during the winter due to the industry wide slow-down. There is decreased demand on the permit office as well as any suppliers we work with, which means less wait time for your project!    If you plan early enough, we can start work on parts of the landscape as winter weather allows. With plans and permits in hand, we will be able to complete the installation of your hardscape and landscape with enough time left in the growing season next year for you to enjoy it! So, don't let the winter get to you...just because the weather is dreary doesn't mean you have to put a hold on designing the landscape and outdoor living space of your dreams!

Call one of our designers at 301-607-4480 to get started today! Read more about our design | build process >>

A Day in the Life of a Landscape Designer

So, for the past week to week-and-a-half I have noticed that every time I am in our nursery or I walk by a window that faces the nursery I take time to look for our 1 remaining Gingko tree in the yard.  Weird. Ginkgo’s are nice…they have fan-shaped leaves that are pretty cool…but other than that it’s a tree that I tend to just pass by. Until now!  It is my new favorite fall tree. The leaves are bright yellow and stand out amongst all of the reds, burgundies and oranges of the season. Another cool fact….the leaves tend to fall all at one time. Not fun if the tree is in your yard but a lot of fun if you pass by a few that are planted all together. The leaves form a thick yellow carpet on the street that makes you want to stop and do ‘leaf angels’.  Anyway, just a fun fact…my favorite fall tree…if anybody cares :)

--Abbey.

P.S. The best spot that I have found to take a gander at a few of these autumn beauties is on the corner of 4th St. & Bentz St. in Frederick. They are still pretty green but keep your eye out…they should be changing (and falling!!!!) soon.

Outdoor Lighting: A Beautiful & Practical Enhancement

Outdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your home and landscape — highlighting key features like trees, planting beds, and intricate stone or architectural work. Aside from this, a lighting system is a practical solution for many of your outdoor living needs since one can be implemented in any size lot for safety and security or purely aesthetic reasons, and requires limited maintenance. Whereas high energy usage was an issue before, with low-voltage options, outdoor lighting is now more economically and energy friendly than ever!

  

Regardless of season or weather, landscape lighting addresses the matter of safety while enhancing your outdoor space. Outdoor lighting allows homeowners to prolong their outdoor enjoyment late into the evening, whether it be relaxing alone or entertaining guests, by extending the useable hours of your outdoor living area. You will be able to take spend time outdoors without the hassle of applying sunscreen or frequent air-conditioning breaks! There is no need to worry about your guests or children as they navigate the deck or patio at night. If correctly placed and installed, path lights, directional lights & flood lights will light the way and increase the ease of navigation as well as your ease of mind.

  

Even when the temperature dips below your comfort level, as it soon will be, outdoor lighting is still a practical investment. After Daylight Savings Time ends in a few short weeks, you will be leaving for work in the dark and arriving back home in the dark. Imagine driving up to a lit and welcoming home after a long day of work. Outdoor lighting will ensure safe foot travel by providing ample light for you to walk to and from your front door without slipping and tripping. Our designers will visit your site and discuss your needs with you to ensure safe navigation through your outdoor space.

  

Those homeowners that are concerned with resale value will be happy to learn that outdoor lighting is an excellent way to set your house apart in this tough real estate market. You hear from every direction the important role that curb appeal plays in selling your home, but without properly lighting your front space, you could lose the interest of potential buyers that pass by in waning daylight.

  

Having a functional and safe “night-scape” does not have to interfere with the function and beauty of your landscape. If planned correctly, your outdoor lighting system will blend seamlessly into your yard so you only see it when you need it. Don’t let your plans be dictated by daylight, give us a call to discuss your needs and we can design an outdoor lighting solution to suit them!

Call one of our designers to get started today!

Read More about types of outdoor lighting fixtures… >>

Winterize your Pool!

Cooler days are here!  And now is the time to winterize your swimming pool. Here are some tips for you do-it-yourself-ers:

Make sure water chemistry is balanced to protect the surface from staining and etching.

Keep your water clear and blue for next season with a winterizing chemical kit.

Protect your pool from damage caused by freezing! Lower the wate rlevel  to below the skimmer, blow out the water from plumbing lines and plug the end of each line.

Fill the skimmer line with antifreeze and place a skimmer guard in the skimmer to prevent costly damage from ice forming

Use a cover to keep debris out of your pool. Research pool covers to determine which is best suited to your pool type & shape.

Drain all water from your filter equipment. After draining, turn it on briefly to ensure all water is out of the veins of the impeller. Do not run for more than a second or two to avoid burning out the seal.

Ensure that all chemicals have run out of your feeder—leaving chemicals for the winter can cause damage. Drain your chemical feeder, automatic cleaner pump and any other equipment that has water in it.

We recommend closing your swimming pool BEFORE the leaves start blowing around! But even though that’s already started to happen, it’s not too late to protect your pool. Generally, plan to close your pool when the night time temperatures start to dip reliably into the 40's and the daytime temperatures range in the 60's to low 70's. Much sooner than that and you risk an algea bloom (don’t worry, I think we are out of that danger by now). Much later and you could be fishing out a ton of leaves, but if you don’t do it at all, or do it incorrectly, you could risk not having a working pool system next spring.

Fall Clean-up for your Landscape: Part 2

Fall is finally here! Cooler temperatures and bright autumn foliage are hopefully in the process of conquering your end of summer blues. Below you will find the second installment of our fall landscaping tips...which will keep your yard healthy and looking good until the spring!

·   Mulch your beds in the fall to protect the roots of your plants from winter frost and help retain moisture during a dry winter. Spread 2-3” around shrubs and trees. The best practice is to avoid using free mulch found in municipal piles which often contain disease spores.

·   Early in the fall, or up until the ground freezes, is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. The cooler temperatures and autumn rain put less stress on the young landscaping plants.

·   Remove dead landscaping! Deadhead expired blooms, and cut back dead perennials and ornamental grasses. If you do this now rather than wait until spring, you’ll avoid having to look at an untidy and depressing landscape all winter long as well as having to complete this chore when spring comes.

By creating small holes in your turf,
water, nutrients & oxygen are circulated
through the root system of the grass.



·   Aerate your lawn! By creating small holes in your lawn, aeration helps loosen compacted soil and helps water, nutrients and oxygen to permeate to the roots of the grass.



·   Fall can be a great time to over-seed your lawn since the stresses of heat, dry soil and weeds are likely to be lower. The process involves sowing seed over existing grass, in order to fill in the bare patches. Therefore, over-seeding lawns makes sense only if the existing grass is healthy enough and abundant enough to be worth keeping. To give the new seed a better chance of sprouting, mow the existing grass shorter than you normally would so that it won’t rob the seed of much needed sunlight. Make sure your lawn has been aerated prior to over-seeding.

·   Keep raking! Regularly removing fallen leaves from your lawn will help avoid smothering the grass. As the season draws to a close and most of the leaves have been raked, the final scattered leaves can be shredded with a mulching mower and left on the lawn with finely chopped grass clippings. The leaves and clippings will decompose and add organic matter to the soil.

·   Call Clearwater to schedule a fall clean-up today! We can take care of the pruning, mulching, over-seeding and aeration you need to keep your landscaped yard healthy and looking good until spring! Call 301-607-4480 (toll free 800-944-7227) or contact us through email!

Fall Clean-up for your Landscape: Part 1 (let's ease into it...)

Labor Day weekend is here! As the unofficial end to summer and a three day weekend for most of us, Labor Day is an excellent opportunity to say goodbye to summer, enjoy the outdoors and maybe even get some of your fall landscape clean-up done before the big barbeque on Monday! You will enjoy the party even more knowing that you have already taken steps to make next spring and summer as enjoyable or even more than this year.

1.       Clean out your gutters before the leaves start falling so that you don’t have an even messier problem later! Once they are debris free, take a hose and pour some water into them and watch where it goes. Do you need extensions to direct the water away from your foundation and prevent leaks? When diverting water, be sure to avoid your driveway and any walkways, which could ice over and become hazardous in the winter.

2.       Start a compost pile! Put those falling leaves to good use this fall by adding them to your compost pile along with your organic kitchen waste. Not only will raking the leaves off the grass and adding them to the compost bin be healthy for your lawn, but you will be increasing your chances of having rich, fertile soil by spring planting time!

3.      Change your lawn mowing routine! Mowing to a height of 2.5-3” during the fall provides more surface area to absorb sunlight and water during this last growth spurt.

Check back for part 2 in the next few weeks…there are multiple tasks that must be done to prepare your landscape for the colder months, but we don’t want to dishearten you even more than the coming of Labor Day itself has already done. Combat the end-of-summer blues and make sure you check out our guide to autumn outdoor living. But for now, go and enjoy the last days of summer!

Fall: the best time to plan next Summer's outdoor living!

Well, it’s that time of year. The time when you start wondering where your summer went, and whether or not you accomplished everything you wanted to get done. Well, why not avoid that end-of-summer sinking feeling next year, and use the fall months to prepare your yard so that next summer you can get to enjoying it right away?

Think about the time you spent in your yard these past few months and assess your needs and wants when it comes to landscaping your space. Did the soil erosion get out of hand when it rained? Maybe a retaining wall is needed. Or, did your lawn dry out in the excessive heat no matter how much you watered? Maybe you should look into an irrigation system. Would you have liked to entertain more and just didn’t have the space for it? Whatever it is you need or want, autumn is the ideal time to start planning for the next year because all of these considerations are still fresh in your mind.

If you want to upgrade your outdoor living experience, consider your budget and space. Thinking too large can waste both your own time and the designers’ time and lead to frustration. We can more effectively help you realize your goals if they are communicated clearly which is why fall is such a great time to start working with a landscape contractor. You have a better idea of what you want after the summer.

Even if your yard was perfect just the way it was this summer, you can still save yourself some time and hassle in the spring. Pruning in the fall can eliminate the need to cut back drooping branches that are usually heavy with flowers in the spring. You will be able to enjoy the flowers that have bloomed on the new growth right away! Planting shrubs, trees and perennials in the fall months allows the plants to focus on growing their root system rather than expending their energy producing flowers and leaves. Less planting in the spring is always a plus, as well as the added benefit of having healthier and stronger plants that mean less work throughout the summer!

Help your Garden Beat the Heat!

This heat wave (although "wave" implies that it comes and goes, whereas this heat doesn't seem to be going anywhere) may have you thinking that your plants are doomed. However, have no fear. There are some ways you can help your plants get through it.

• Water your plants every day.
• Don't water all day.
• Water in the morning! Mornings tend to be cooler and less breezy so the amount of water lost to evaporation is much less than during the middle of the day. Yes, evenings are similar, but plants kept damp overnight are more susceptible fungal and bacterial disease.
• Water long enough to allow complete permeation through the rooting area, but no more often than necessary to prevent foliage wilt. 
• Don't water from above! Water droplets left on leaves may magnify the sun's intensity and result in burning.
• Water at the base of the plant.

Certain plants may require special watering care. Conduct a google search or contact a trusted horticulturist if you have any questions.

Landscaping Small Spaces

Some of you may think that we couldn’t possibly transform a small space into one just as inviting as those we create for homes with a large area to work with. However, it’s not about the amount of space, but what you do with it.

Yes, larger landscape designs may incorporate a pool, fireplace and outdoor kitchen, but you need to keep in mind the space you have when setting a realistic plan into action. Your space will be more inviting and comfortable if you limit the number of features to fit your space. Trying to incorporate too many things will only create a cluttered space and actually make the space feel even smaller—not quite the relaxing environment you are looking for. Maybe instead of trying to squeeze a pond and seating area into the plan, nix the pond and opt for a freestanding fountain. You will have more space to lounge and entertain without feeling cramped, yet also have the desired effect of water. In this example, you could use the funds originally allocated for the pond to upgrade your seating area or buy a nice fountain. In smaller spaces the details are more apparent, so quality really does matter.



A freestanding fountain and versatile planters create a
dynamic dining area using minimal space.



No space for large planting beds? Don’t fret—you don’t have to sacrifice precious space to dedicate to permanent beds.  Perfect for small spaces, pots, urns and planters are the solution. Bring color and life into your outdoor space while being space efficient and versatile. Oftentimes, small city yards do not get the amount of sunlight that your plant needs. However, with the convenience of portable planters, you can move your plant to the sunniest corner and then back again when entertaining. If you’re thinking that planters can’t possibly be that attractive, keep in mind they have come a long way. Planters are now available in many different shapes, sizes and designs, that we are sure you will be able to find one to suit your space and taste. Another alternative to bulky beds is to incorporate a trellis into the design. Ivy, climbing roses or other support based growing plants can soften a fence or a wall with luscious green leaves or pops of color. Planting vertically using a trellis also pulls the eye upward—altering the scale of the space and creating a dynamic look.

In small spaces, entertaining can be tricky. If the ability to accommodate large numbers of guests is essential for the space, planning is crucial. The design of some elements can be modified to be double duty. For example, hardscape features such as planters or risers can be scaled to the same height as a chair (18”) so as to provide extra seating if necessary. Make sure to communicate your needs to the landscape designer so as to maximize space and comfort in your new outdoor living area.



We've undertaken a landscape design and installation for a row home in downtown Frederick...check back soon to see pictures of the transformation!

Downtown Frederick row home pre-construction

Landscape as an Investment

Not only will a personalized landscape design or polished lawn allow you and your family to enjoy the outdoors in the ways you would like to, but can also be a good investment in both the short term and the long term. Benefits derived can far outweigh the cost of investment if planned properly. Actually, research shows that the money you spend on your landscape will have you reaping the rewards from the day you first use the space until the day you give it up. Plants are not only are pretty to look at, but can also be put to work for you! Here is a list of 10 reasons why investing in your outdoor space is a great idea:
1.	A landscape designed around your needs and preferences can optimize space and act as an extension of the live-able area of your home. This can be very valuable to you and your family for recreational purposes.
2.	Spending time in nature has been proven to lift spirits and naturally reduce stress. With a pleasant and accessible environment to spend time in right outside of your home, you will be able to take advantage of these benefits. Also, build stronger relationships and bonds with your neighbors in a soothing outdoor environment.
3.	A properly selected, placed, and maintained tree can significantly diminish unwanted noise by absorbing sound waves. The same effect can be achieved with berms and hardscape features such as walls. Another option is to mask the noise of the street or neighborhood with the calming sound produced by a water feature. Noisy neighbors no more!
4.	Block unpleasant views by placing shrubs or trees to create a solid barrier or a light screen depending on your needs. However, it is important to think about how the shade they create will affect other plants nearby.
5.	Trees provide wind breaks that reduce energy demand during the winter and provide shade during hot summer months.  This in turn will lower heating & cooling costs when plants are properly selected & placed.