Get Landscape Design Help!

If you need landscape design help and have questions, just ask your question here!.

I will personally answer your questions, but I do need lots of information and also your email address, which is requested strictly to email you directly about your issue, and only for that reason. If you don't provide your email address you will not be notified of my answers. I try to answer most questions and sometimes I will email you directly about what you ask.

Any photos are MORE than welcomed!

Whether it be about landscape plants and design, paving materials, hardscape design, drainage, swimming pools, or anything else, I can help.

Here are just a few of the Question and Answer pages featuring visitors' questions and my responses.


Paving Materials


Should I use concrete pavers or bluestone for my patio?

What should I expect to pay for a 1200 sq ft of Bluestone or Pavers?

Can I use concrete and pavers together?

Is it ok to use bluestone treads for steps in colder climates such as the northeast?

Planting Design

How can I create a level area in my yard?

How can I create a nice planting design around my patio?

What should I plant in front of my fence?

Various Q&A on privacy plantings.

Can you give me some design help with front foundation planting ideas?

Drainage Issues

How can I solve this terrible drainage problem?

How do I prevent water from going into my garage?

Please help with drainage issues!

Planting on a Slope

How can I create safety for a raised patio and sloping garden?


Ask Your Question

Do you have a Landscape Design question or a situation that you would like some help with? Patio design questions? Paving material confusion? Planting design advice? Drainage issues? This is the place to ask! I only ask that questions be design related...thanks! Pictures are very helpful along with what State you live in (so that I know your plant zone and/or general weather conditions). Please provide enough information so that I can answer your question appropriately.. The more the better.

You must provide your email address in case I want to contact you directly regarding your question. It is used for no other purpose...promise!

I decided to create this section due to the many questions people have regarding Landscape Design. I do my best to answer most questions. You may ask a question yourself or comment on/answer questions of others. All helpful comments will be greatly appreciated!

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Questions of Other Visitors

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Negative slope but no issues 
I bought a house last year with a negative slope back yard going to a positive slope in the front yard. House inspection showed no leakage stains in foundation …

Gravel vs sand base for bluestone patio 
Hello! I live in a brick row house in Pittsburgh, PA that has a narrow but deep back yard with multiple levels (the first level is just behind the house …

revert water from house 
We purchased our home 3 years ago. Unknown to use, there are several areas in the landscape that flow water to the house, instead of away. This has caused …

landscape with river stone 
We currently have black rubber tire mulch in all of our gardens. I have been the person in charge of keeping the mulch clean and after 8 years, I'm over …

I want to do seeding 
I hired a professional to clear my lot in my backyard, put fence up, irrigation and sod. He rough grated the lot as you see in the picture and put the …

North Jersey Foundation Question 
Hi Susan, Can you recommend specific shrubs and perennials for my foundation? Specifically the area along the house, under the triple window. We …

Landscaping a Shady Corner 
Hello, I have a photo of the corner of our home that is a mess. We used to park a fold-out camper there and it had stones covering the area but due …

Patio Pave Choices - Bluestone? 
I purchased the home I grew up in in 2009 after my Mom passed. We have been in non- stop renovation since becuase little was done since president Johnson …

Best Ideas For an Inexpensive Driveway 
We need inexpensive ideas for our driveway. Thanks for your interesting and informative website. I, too, love surrounding myself with nature and beauty. …

Tree for mixed privacy screening 
Hello Susan:we recently lost a twenty foot hemlock to drought that has left a gap in the screening between us and hospital parking lot. the gap has another …

Thickness of Dry Laid Bluestone
Stone Quarried from China
 
What thickness would you consider a minimum for dry laid bluestone that are regular in shape? Are you familiar with a stone that is being quarried in …

Tumbled Limestone pavers for patio and around a swimming pool in the Northeast 
Hi Susan - can you give me your thoughts on using tumbled limestone pavers around a swimming pool vs. pavers? My area is about 1,300 sq ft and will include …

Paver Colors for White Brick House 
I live in Jacksonville Florida. I have a traditional ranch house on the river. The house is painted brick-white with black shutters. The roof is shingles- …

small condo backyard courtyard 
I'm looking for ideas for a small, 12 X 16, western facing,condo yard. The area is one street from the Gulf of Mexico and partially shaded by numerous …

Edible Landscape Design Software  
We want to design an edible landscape on our acreage and would like your suggestion for a good software to use. Carole in Zone 4 ANSWER Hi …

Siting a Red Sunset Maple 
This is a pic of BEFORE I replaced the porch landing; it now extends out around 10' total. I had the Sweet Gum tree pictured removed. The stump was ground …

Removing Trees in a Tree Line 
My house has several trees, about 40 evergreen type pine trees on the south side of the house and they are about 10 to 15 feet away from house. We have …

Pavers and lansdscaping for '50s rancher home 
Here is a question on what type of pavers to use. My answers are in bold. We have a yellow single story ranch-style home with a cement walk and driveway. …

Drainage problem on a slope 
Hi Susan, I'm a long way from your homeland (Australia) but my issue is pretty generic. I bought a house that is lower than the road and my front grass …

Blue Stone Patio Thickness and Installation 
Susan: I just came across your web-site. I am glad that I did. The Site is put together wonderfully, and you do excellent work. I have a question …

Quality of travertine pavers 
I bought travertine pavers from what I believe is a reputable business for I researched and found no complaints. The product I bought is called Roma, …

tall wall in front of home 
Front of my house has a very tall wall to the roof peak, window on each side. What can I do in front of that wall to make it more appealing? Right now …

Travertine pavers over concrete slab with covering 
I have a 800 sq ft (16x50) slab that is in excellent condition. The original plan was to apply a membrane over the slab and then gauged blue stone on a …

Landscape design plan costs 
Typically , how much does a comprehensive landscape architectures plan cost. We recently purchased new construction home and need a design for driveway, …

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Front Yard Patio 
Here is a question about adding a front yard patio in conjunction with a walkway design. We are having our front steps and sidewalk redone. My daughter …

Rose Colors For A Slope 
I would like to plant drift roses on a bank that runs in front of my home. The bank is 86 feet long and 3 feet high and the slope is at about a 70 degree …

Trees For Privacy 
Here is a question about trees for privacy Hello, I would like to plant four trees next to a fence to block my view of a traffic light. I was …

Hardscape materials for shady and moist areas 
Hello! Our backyard receives about four hours of shade per day as the sun moves side to side over house rather than front to back. The back of our …

bluestone walkway design and installation 
Hi, I love your website. I hope I'm posting these questions in the correct place. I have a small ranch in ct. I'm redoing my front walkway-s …

Tumbled Bluestone Walkway 
I have a nice rustic tumbled bluestone walkway that is dry set in about 2 inches of sand. Everything is great except the sand gets everywhere. The dogs …

Landscape Design For Noise Reduction | Evergreen Trees 
I live on a busy route. I love my house but the noise of the traffic(tires hitting road) is ongoing. I am wondering if a hill or banking between the …

Landscaping Question On Prices 
A landscaping question on prices from a landscaper. I can't even recall how I found your site, but I really like it. I am a landscaper who was curious …

Using a variety of fencing styles..... 
Can different styles of fencing be used throughout a yard's landscaping? I currently have a short picket fence surrounding a cottage garden in front …

Lawn slopes towards house 
The question: Will drainage pipes near my house still cause foundation problems? Our lawn slopes towards our house, which has a 1.5 metre brick paved …

Travertine Pavers on front stoop (Chicago) 
Here are some questions regarding placing travertine pavers over a concrete porch, and my answers. Hello, I have 1 1/4" thick travertine pavers (versailles …

Travertine - dry set or on concrete in California 
We are redoing our 50-year + pool and have decided on travertine for around the pool and the patio. We are located in Los Angeles, CA and are trying to …

Land FX and Vectorworks Comparison 
Hi, I am a landscape designer and I just read your software reviews and would love to know more. Specifically I am looking at Vectorworks and Land FX …

Pet friendly backyard landscaping 
We are going to be building our home on a our 2 acre property. I am very neat/clean freak. We have 2 pups (min pin & rat terrier), who now use the …

matching up patio design & color to brick home 
Planning to build dark stained pergola over back patio against a dark red brick home (mixed with darker browns to blacks similar to your basket weave pic …

travertine pavers over concrete kool decking around pool 
I'm considering installing travertine pavers over my existing kool-deck concrete patio. I know your not a fan of that concept but three different companies …

Planting ideas for subdivision entry islands 
Hi- I have been asked to revamp 3 subdivision entry islands with new perennials. You can see from the attached photos that the islands are full of …

Front Walkway and Foundation Plant Ideas 
I need some front walkway and foundation plant ideas. My 1960's colonial-style house sits on top of a small hill. My driveway cuts through the front …

How durable is scored concrete - Creating a concrete patio or pavers 
Should scored concrete or pavers be used for this patio? We are working on a backyard landscape plan with an experienced professional landscape architect …

Travertine Pool Deck Installation on Concrete and Sealing 
This homeowner has problems with her travertine installation on concrete decking and questions on sealing the stone. We had a complete pool remodel …

Circular garden around a flag pole 
I'm trying to design a perennial garden around a flag pole that is viewed from all sides. The garden size is 20' diameter. The flag pole is in the center …

landscaping for a townhouse wall 
I have a new townhouse that is an end unit. It is a two story unit with light cream colored siding, no windows, no break in color, only a huge two story …

Church needs street view facelift 
Dear Susan, We would appreciate your suggestions for a street view face life for our church. The large fir tree has died and will be removed in a month. …

Steep Driveway Drainage 
Two questions regarding steep driveway drainage: My existing driveway has a fairly steep incline for about 20 to 25 ft. upward, then levels off for …

Height and landscape design ideas for my front landscaping  
Please, Please, Please help me with my front landscaping against the west side of my house (lots of afternoon sun). It definitely needs some inspiration …

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Plants In Front of Fencing 
I have a two foot wide 100 foot long space between my and my neighbors cyclone fence and the concrete of my driveway. We had originally used landscape …

Travertine Pavers Settle 
I have been having trouble with travertine pavers settling and the polymeric sand washing out. Is there something i can do different to eliminate my call …

Dog Yard Design 
I live in NM so when I moved in, my small yard was mostly rocks, dirt and sand. The yard is only used for my 2 Rottie mixes. I'm tired of them bringing …

Material to use for a front walkway 
Hello, I own a brick Queen Ann Victorian House with aluminum shingles in the roof. I want to know what kind of material i should use to build the front …

Front Yard Privacy Plants 
Should front yard privacy plants be used here? I bought a tract home in a subdivision in 1973 and after years of planting trees shrubs etc decided …

Expansive soil issues 
Hi Susan- I want to build a 42" high, curved, patio wall (35' long-achieving an approximate 90 degrees), to enclose a front yard Patio. And I'd like …

Garage Driveway Backout Distances 
To be able to enter the garage from the side how, much room do I need to the boundary for practical reasons? ANSWER Hi Peter, If I understand …

Concrete Bluestone Patio Installation - Mortar or Polymeric Sand 
I AM HAVING A BLUESTONE PATIO INSTALLED ON A CONCRETE FOUNDATION THAT IS ALREADY POURED. THE CONTRACTOR THAT I AM USING IS BUSY AND IS TRYING TO CONTRACT …

paver stone border around concrete patio 
I have a 12' x 10' cement patio, and I want to put a paver stone border around this concrete patio to add sq footage. My siding is off white (almost …

My New Backyard Landscape - Google Sketchup 
Hello I recently purchased a home is Southern California. I have used your advice and tried that free landscape design software that Google offers and …

Bluestone Quality - Striation - Quarried and Formed Bluestone 
Some of my wet-installed bluestone is peeling. If replaced, should I expect this condition to occur. Is it the stone selection, or is this unavoidable? …

soil around house foundation 
We had our foundation leveled about 4 years ago raising our house up about 4-1/2 inches. The area I live in has been in drought ever since. The soil all …

Travertine Pavers and Freezing in Cold Weather 
Would you install travertine pavers in Cleveland, Ohio around a pool deck? I'm worried about them freezing and popping. ANSWER I think they would …

Patio Location - Where to Place a Patio and Keep Lawn Area 
Hi I have a walkout basement with sloped backyard. I had some filling done so around 18-20 ft of the backyard is relatively flat and then the steep slope …

Landscape Design Software Suggestions 
Hi, been in the business for 30 years, I still love the warmth of hand drawings, what if any landscape design software do you think best keeps the look …

Outside dog area 
We have a small area in our back yard that is fenced in so that our dog may be let out. We have never been able to grow grass so when he went out he would …

3D Landscape Design Patio - Square Footage 
Could you please tell me the square footage for the 3D brick patio design with the title "A lovely two level patio" ? I am very interested in this design …

Dry Laid Bluestone and Installation Methods 
Here is a questions about dry laid bluestone and installations methods. I have a 12' x 16' front yard and a 12' x 18' backyard. I'm planning to …

Landscape Design - Plants for Front and Backyards 
Hello, My name is Richard from Tacoma, WA. We bought a cookie cutter house in a new development 5 yrs ago and it came with a small front and backyard …

Landscape Garden Wall And Travertine Pavers 
Using travertine with a landscape garden wall. Hi Susan, You have a very nice site here. I found it while looking for something besides concrete …

pavers over concrete patio 
We have a 15 X 18 patio (6 years old), no settling or cracks but is starting to flake on top...have had contractors look at it and they all say "it's …

Front Patio - Brick Stoop - Concrete Pavers or Bluestone 
We have a front stoop that we are going to have repaired or replaced. It's a brick stoop with limestone steps and a concrete top. We are debating …

Travertine Paver Durability - Sealers-Mold-Installation 
Hello Susan, First, let me say that your site deserves an award, if it hasn't received one already, for the outstanding public service that it provides! …

Bluestone over concrete patio 
Question about laying bluestone over a concrete patio ....We are having a stone fireplace and pergola built, and are trying to decide what to use to …

Front Yard Planting Design 
Front Yard Planting Design I just bought a 1930's bungalow that I love, but the front yard has problems! I just can not figure out how to fix …

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Blue colored landscape lights - providing enough light 
I live in a community in Florida. http://tivolilakesboyntonbeach.com/ Our HOA is considering changing our white landscaping lights (which also …

Designing a Short Sidewalk For a Front Yard 
Here's a question about designing a short front walkway and if adding a curve is advisable...and a few more things! Hi Susan, I'm the teacher who …

Water coming over property line 
My neighbor's rain runoff goes down the side of the house and under the fence and onto my property. I was wondering if there is something I can put along …

Can bluestone or pavers be laid over concrete? 
I have a 15' x 20' concrete patio that is cracked and unsightly. I would like to replace it with a paver or ideally a bluestone patio. I have had landscapers …

Back door to patio clearance  
We have a back patio that needs to be replaced. My husband installed the back patio at the same level as the door and without the proper slope away from …

grass and weeds on my decomposed granite 
I live in LA and put in decomposed granite as part of my garden. I love it, but I'm finding that grasses and weeds manage to take root?when I had …

Kitchen garden at front entry 
My front yard is the only place where I have enough sun for a kitchen garden, and I'm wondering if I can mix edibles like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, …

Concrete or Dry Laid for Travertine Paver 
Should you use concrete or dry laid for travertine pavers? Dry-laid!!! My contractor is pushing me to use concrete for my travertine paver (3cm thick) …

inorganic (man-made) polymeric sand 
Can I fill joints that are 1 1/2 inch wide by many feet long on a concrete patio in New Jersey (freeze thaw) where the concrete squares are appox. …

Landscaping a Sloped Area - What To Plant 
This area is very shady and when it rains water runs down the middle of it. We've seeded and seeded it over the years but it just will not take. …

Ranch Style Home in Desperate Need of a Facelift in Landscaping 
I have a Ranch style home on 2 acres of basically flat land with absolutely no landscaping whatsoever. The front of the house is flat, drab and very …

Travetine Pavers and Installation - Sand, Polymeric Sand, Concrete 
How should travertine pavers be installed and are they a good choice around a pool area? Should the joints be sand, polymeric sand or concrete? I …

Pavers Over Concrete --In The Dusty Desert 
Here is a question regarding laying pavers over concrete where the area is very dusty. We have a concrete patio slab and would like to put pavers …

pavers vs bluestone for a patio 
Which is better for a patio? Is there a big price difference? Which is cheaper. I am putting a patio in on Cape Cod appr 16 x 20. ANSWER Hi …

Adding On To Cement Patios - Pavers-Bluestone-Concrete 
Here is a question regarding a patio design and extending a concrete patio. Hi. We have an existing concrete patio and want to enlarge it, but we …

Which Concrete Pavers Are Less Expensive? 
I am in the process of having a new patio and pool deck done w/ concrete pavers. Could you give me information on the quality and price difference between …

Landscaping a Driveway  
I would like to get your thoughts on possibly adding plants along the driveway and walkway to create a more inviting appearance. What are your thoughts …

Shade Plants or Groundcover For a Shady Yard Area 
I have too much shade in my back yard, so grass doesn't grow on one side of the yard. I would like to fill it with shade plants and mulch or ground cover. …

Landscaping in front of house 
Hello. We are going to re-do the landscaping in the front of our house and need some help. We are taking out what is there now and have figured maybe …

Foundation Plants For a Church 
For more detailed, professional help with designing your front foundation planting, take a look at my ebook Designing With Evergeen Shrubs . There's …

Help For Front Yard Which Is Eroding 
We have a sloping front yard that has no plants (mostly dirt and trees). rain is causing erosion. do you have any advice to slow the run off? Thanks. …

How much to charge for a 20x30 foot paving stone driveway? 
I have a 20x30 driveway and would like to know how much I should charge for the job? It's just basic three size stone, but I'm not sure how much to estimate …

Water Feature - How To Design With Plants 
I'm doing a design at a water feature. This is at the main entrance at a college. It is a pre-existing feature. I believe the liner has holes but fixing …

Walnut Travertine Tile 
Will a travertine walkway in the walnut travertine tile or beige color look good in the front of my house? The front of my house has stucco and deep …

Brick, pavers or bluestone? 
Hi, We live in a beautiful Victorian home, it is white with black trim. Currently the main staircase from the back of the home is brick & concrete (built …

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Decomposed Granite Driveways | Tar and Chip Driveway Paving Materials 
I am looking for a product to mix into the decomposed granite to assist with preventing a sloping driveway from continually eroding every time we get an …

Driveway and Walkway 
We are updating our driveway and walkway which are next to each other. We are looking to have a concrete driveway with paver border and paver walkway. …

Landscaping Steps Outdoor Stairs Bluestone 
I am considering a bluestone porch and walkway. We are looking at cultured stones for the risers and there are many choices. I have a clapboard house …

Landscaping For The Front of House 
Here is a question about landscaping for the front of a house. Hi, my name is Gilbert Taylor and I am a beginner in yard landscaping. I have been …

travertine pavers look milky after sealing 
I had travertine pavers installed around my pool area and had the installer seal them with a water based sealer. I don't know what sealer was used as …

Pavers with concrete base 
Should pavers have a concrete base? I received an estimate for my pool area which is around 1200 sq feet. I'm getting pavers put down & they want …

shaded back yard with dogs | should we use decomposed granite? 
Here's a question about a shaded backyard for dogs and if decomposed granite is a good solution. Hello, We have three large breed dogs who have their …

Concrete Pavers - Changing the Color of Existing Patio Pavers 
Is it possible to add some sort of colorant to a sealer to slightly change the color of a concrete paver? We chose CST Vienna Classic pavers in Antique …

Backyard and Front Yard Privacy 
We bought a big house, quite plain on the outside and very close to neighbors, which i am not accustomed to. The people across the street watch us all …

Backyard Privacy - Creating Screening in Dry Soil 
I have been struggling for several years to decide what to plant for privacy in our backyard. I'm open to having Evergreens or non-evergreens. We …

Brick Patio Costs With Retaining Walls 
I live in Central Jersey and want to built a 25 foot x 25 foot brick patio with retaining walls . What is the typical price range to have this done? …

travertine pavers and concrete pavers | combining materials 
I've been given some VERY nice travertine pavers for use in a new front porch and steps project I'm about to start. I also have left over concrete pavers …

garage back out area - backout driveway ideas 
Could you please define this term for me...people keep taking about it but I have not idea what it means. ANSWER A garage back out area is the …

Travertine Pavers and Freeze Thaw Conditions 
Can you install tavertine pavers over concrete in a freeze/thaw climate. If so how? ANSWER Ric, The beauty of travertine pavers is that they …

Cobblestone Courtyard Ideas old world look with new world budget 
Here'a a question regarding cobblestone courtyard ideas when granite is just too much money! We are building a house and wanted to do something nice …

Combine pavers and asphalt 
Here's a question about combining asphalt and pavers. My driveway extends into a backyard/courtyard that is fully covered in asphalt (about 20' x 30') …

Redirect water flow from the house 
What can I do to redirect the flow of rain water from my house? I have included a picture to show you my problem. The majority of the water flows from …

Raised patio 
I have a large bay window with sliding glass doors out to the backyard and want to make a raised patio down to the yard from that. I wondering if it …

Travertine Filler and Travertine Maintenance 
Here's a question regarding travertine filler and travertine maintenance. We had a travertine courtyard patio installed this past April. It looked …

Deck Design, Patio Design or Both 
This is a question about whether to create a deck design, patio design or both . Susan, Our house is a 2 story on 2 acres with a very undersized …

Bluestone Patio Filler In Joints | Sand and Polymeric Sand 
This is a question regarding bluestone patio filler in joints and what to use other than sand. I recommend polymeric sand. I have customer with a …

Patio on Sloping yard | Walkout Basement | Landscape Retaining Walls 
Here's a question about creating a patio on a sloping yard with a walkout basement. I have a walk out basement to our backyard. The yard slopes off …

Landscape Bricks | Laying Them and Patio Designs 
Here's a question about landscape bricks and laying them against the house as part of a patio design. Is it okay to put brick right up next to the …

Patio design and construction-installation-concrete 
Hi Susan, Thank you for providing the opportunity to ask a question on your site. We are considering adding patio to our yard and already have some …

Travertine Paving | How To Install 
What would be your suggested way of laying Travertine 25mm paving my client has bought? We are putting down a 100mm scaslping base, but I have been …

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driveway design - re-designing driveway shape - ideas 
Here's a question for a driveway design and ideas...a re-design of an existing drive. Is this a good idea or will it look odd? We'd like to reclaim …

Concrete Pavers - Painting -Staining- or PaverArt 
Here's a question regarding painting or staining concrete pavers...and the option of PaverArt . I have built a patio extension out of 12" pewter …

Wildlife and Gardening | Xeriscape Plants | Drought Tolerant Landscape 
Here is a question about xeriscape plants and creating color in a landscape design. We live on 2 1/2 acres in San Antonio Texas, we are in middle …

Curved Brick Walkway 
Hello, I am interested in using dry laid bricks in a walkway around my house. This walkway will be curved around my front garden bed, connecting my straight …

Fast Growing Shade Trees 
We recently completed a large project that included building a retaining wall to level our yard. We had to remove several large trees and now the …

Front House Landscaping 
Here's a question about how to landscape a small front yard . We recently bought a house to flip. The front needs major help and we aren't sure what …

Foundation Drainange | Landscaping Against House 
Here's a question about foundation drainage against the house and how to prevent water getting into a basement. Hi... Our house is built in very …

Cambridge Pavers For Driveway & Patio  
Hi Susan, Our patio dimension is approx. 12X18. We have sandstone (Beige) vinyl siding with deep reddish brown shutters. You can say the shutters …

How To Install a Patio | Using Old Brick As Foundation 
How To Install a Patio I am planning to do a bi-level patio in my backyard. I have a split level house and the top level of the patio will come out …

Garden Pergola | Paint Color Fro Garden Pergola Designs 
Hi Susan......Probably over a year ago I asked for your help in regards to hot tub placement ideas....well proud to say that the job is now complete with …

Drainage Systems For Yards | Landscape Lawn drainage 
This is a question regarding yard drainage . I am having a series of four seepage drains installed at strategic points along two walls of my basement …

Tree Roots 
This is a question about tree roots. We currently have a Tulip tree in our front yard, 8 feet from the home. The roots are now impacting our basement …

Swlimming Pool Ideas 
This is a question about pool fence ideas and fencing around a swimming pool, ie., various options. We just put in a free form pool and my husband …

Privacy Trees, Plants And Fence 
I dislike using wood fences,besides Cedars, what types of privacy trees are best? Thanks Donovan ANSWER Here are some privacy trees you can …

Brick Driveways 
Here's a question about brick driveways and using them on an area that is steep. I was thinking of redoing my driveway in a tight brick design. But …

Foundation Water and Decomposed Granite Path 
A question about foundation water, grading and using a decomposed granite path. My husband and I want to create a path down the side of our house …

Driveway Edging | Pavers | Belgian Block 
How To Approach Driveway Edging Regarding Pavers and Belgian Block We are having an asphalt driveway put in. I had originally chosen to have a 7ft …

Suggestions for a backyard slope with partial sun 
Very pleased to have found your site. Hoping you have some suggestions for a sloped portion of my backyard that faces west and gets little sun after …

stone wall bordering driveway - what are the best hardscape materials? 
We are thinking of building a long natural stone wall along the curve of our property. Our concern is that with 80 inches of rain in this part of the …

pavers over a raised concrete porch? 
Can I use pavers over a concrete porch? Okay I have a very small long but narrow concrete front porch that has one very steep down that actually needs …

Landscaping and Planting Ideas For Walkout Basement  
What are some basic landscaping and planting ideas for a walkout basement? Our daughter lives in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula. She has a 100 …

Bluestone Installation - paving joints - dry laid stone or mortared  
I have an existing (13 year old) concrete patio. Can I put bluestone right on top, by adhering the bluestone with mortar, of the existing concrete? …

new plantings for RI beach house 
Hi there! I'm enjoying your website. Last fall my husband and i took out all the OLD shrubs from the front of our house in RI{House is 24' across}. …

Creating a play yard for our daughter 
Hello! My husband and I are trying to determine the best way to "block off" an area for our daughter's play set. We bought her a rainbow swing set …

Patio Materials 
We are trying to decide whether to build a deck or install a patio with pavers off the back of our house. What are the price and long-term maintenance …

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Exposed aggregate - can I cover 
My pool deck and patio is covered with exposed aggregate. I want to remodel the whole area. Most contractors have said removed the exposed aggregate, …

landscaping a window well 
I put a window in my basement this winter. My backyard looks like a disaster area. I did it myself and tore out all the landscaping and patio I originally …

Decomposed Granite - Walkways and Patios | Sand 
What makes up decomposed granite? We have a job that calls for it, and we don't know what it is. Also, do you have a dealer in Ft Myers, Florida? Thanks …

landscape lighting in Texas 
The pic I have sent does not capture the whole area, but will give some idea of what pool shape is. I am looking for good quality walkway lights that …

Laying Bluestone Over Concrete 
Is it ok to lay a blue stone patio on an existing concrete pad? If so what is the proper technique. Should i place a mortar bed and set or is there an …

Professional Landscape Design AND Costs 
Here's a great question about professional landscape design and the costs of both the design and the project itself. Hello there, I am planing …

Front Yard Landscaping 
Our front yard has 2 big oak trees, weeds, moss, and overgrown plants. We do not know if we need to cut the trees down because we want to put new …

planting in a small space next to a garage 
We are building a garage with a covered walkway to the house. There is a space between the sidewalk and the garage wall that is 15 inches wide and …

Walkout basement landscaping...what to do?? 
We have a walkout basement. It has a 10ft wide concrete patio that runs most of the length of the house. I would love to do some landscaping out back …

Installation Of Travertine Pavers | Laying Over Existing Concrete 
Using Travertine on Existing Concrete If you were going to mud lay a stone surface on an existing concrete pool deck, would there be any advantage …

Cost Of Sitting Walls 
I am trying to build a patio. However, I would like to know how much a sitting wall could cost. These walls are on the side of the patio, and their dimensions …

Travertine Installation and Sealing | How To 
These 12x12 Tumbled Travertine pieces are going into my 8x7 Utility Room...they have many 'b-u-t-ful' holes in them and I would like to keep them that …

Sod Replacement Estimate 
I need a new 10ft tall deck and cement patio (20x16) underneath. The rest of my yard is nice lawn. How much of my nice lawn do think will be destroyed …

Butterfly Landscape Project 
I am looking for a foundation plant, that attracts butterflies and has winter attraction as well. My soil is moderately heavy clay loam with moderately …

Extending Patio With Stone or Pavers 
Do you have any pictures of a patio project that extends an existing 10x10 concrete slab using stone and or pavers? ANSWER I don't think I have …

Plants For Under a Deck 
Laura wants to know what to plant under her deck. What do you suggest to do with dead grass area under new deck? The ground is very level and we …

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