Lighting is an important element in the functional landscape. It can be used to highlight a focal point, extend the use of the landscape, and increase safety and security. Including lighting in your landscape allows you to highlight important aspects in your design. Incorporating up lighting will give your landscape a more defined look while angling the light downward creates a more relaxing atmosphere. Read more »
Author: Chapel Valley
St. Michaels Estate
Check out a great article from Chesapeake home+living about a St. Michaels Estate. We designed and installed the landscape on the property!
The property is also a 2010 Landscape Award Winner receiving a Grand Award from Landscape Contractors Association, LCA for Total Residential Contracting and a Merit Award from the Professional Landcare Network, PLANET for Residential Design/Build.
Incorporating Annuals In the Landscape
Annual plants are an excellent way to add color and accent to your landscape. Annuals can be used to add variety and add an additional element of color to landscapes that focus largely on trees and shrubs.
Annuals have many different uses and the colors, whether they are a brighter shade or lighter shade, can be used as focal points in a landscape on both commercial and residential sites. The focal points are generally used to designate entry and add a welcoming atmosphere to a space or building on residential, commercial, or retail sites. Read more »
Examining Your Site Conditions
Examining your site conditions should be done before any planting or hardscaping projects are started. When checking your site conditions you should make sure to look at your soil properties as well as your drainage patterns.
You should start with a soil test at your commercial property. This test will help indicate appropriate plants for your specific site as well as what amendments need to be made in order to promote healthy plant growth. Read more »
Working with Water Features
When working with a Landscape Company or Landscape Architect to develop a master plan for your commercial space you may want to discuss the option of a water feature. Water features make the landscape more inviting and their sound and beauty create a calming and serene effect. Read more »
Incorporating Stone In Your Landscape Design
There are many different types of stones that are available for hardscaping projects in the landscape. The most common stones that are incorporated into landscape designs include limestone, granite, sandstone, marble, and flagstone.
When it comes to durability you will want to use the harder stones such as flagstone and granite which will last the longest with the least amount of wear. Read more »
Working with a Master Plan
A comprehensive master plan can be an excellent investment before starting any landscape project. The cost of a master plan is relatively low compared to construction costs. “Utilizing a master plan through the planning process, you can be sure that all of your landscape investments will be geared towards your family’s long-term goals for the property.”-Tom Nugent, ASLA, Residential Sales Consultant, Chapel Valley Landscape. Read more »
Pruning In the Landscape
Pruning is important for plant health. It removes dead and diseased branches, crossing branches, allows you to maintain the desired size of the plant, and promotes and increases flowering.
There are general rules that you should follow when you prune your landscape plants. Summer flowering shrubs should be pruned before new growth in the spring, typically in early spring or late winter, and spring flowering shrubs should be pruned after flowering. Read more »
Mulching Your Landscape Plants
“Mulching is important for your landscape, it helps retain moisture, control weeds, reduce soil erosion and is aesthetically pleasing.” Anne Lieb, Property Manager, Chapel Valley Landscape Company.
Mulching should be done once per year, typically in the spring, after the area has been edged. Edging the landscape bed or around the plant to be mulched, will greatly assist in the mulching process. A clean edge will help to hold the mulch in place, keep grass out of the area, and define the landscape bed making it more aesthetically pleasing. Read more »
Spring Clean Up
A spring clean up should be done every year in order to keep your landscape looking fresh. “The clean up should include removing leaves and debris, edging beds, fertilizing plants, applying pre-emergent herbicides, pruning, and removal of old mulch if it is piled over 2” high.” Anne Lieb, Property Manager, Chapel Valley Landscape Company.
A clean up allows you to spruce up your landscape before the growing season and cutback ornamental grasses to rejuvenate them for new growth. Edging will define your landscape beds, help to keep grass out, and hold mulch in place. Read more »