Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [landscaping]

For larger scale 'landscape' questions.

Landscape questions tend to be "big picture" planning questions and might include (but are not limited to):

  • Garden planning - where to put beds, lawns, bog gardens, etc
  • Choosing and positioning trees
  • Design of terraces, walls, etc.
235 questions
6
votes
3 answers

Is this a good plan to turn my lawn into a garden?

I have a lawn, your standard regular lawn. I eventually want to turn it into a series of plant areas with some kind of mulch or gravel in between, like you see sometimes. I want to start by planting a garden area with native pollinators and then add…
Yamikuronue
  • 605
  • 1
  • 6
  • 14
6
votes
3 answers

Controlling leaf litter in a pond

I’m thinking of constructing a small pond with a simulated waterfall or cascade - maybe more of a large water feature than a pond - near my house in the woods. I’m surrounded by large hardwood trees. I’m worried that leaf litter will mean unending…
Michael Gaspari
  • 61
  • 2
6
votes
1 answer

Is it a good idea to make a brick patio on my septic tank?

I have a pile of bricks and pavers (left behind from the previous owner). My septic tank is exposed a little in one corner, right at the base of my porch steps. I was thinking of scraping the tank clean then throw the bricks right on that, and then…
David Lozzi
  • 265
  • 1
  • 3
  • 6
6
votes
2 answers

French Drain Below or Above Retaining Wall?

I have water running into my crawl space and part of the reason I believe is from hill run-off above my house. I have 3.5ft high retaining wall all around the uphill side and water comes up underneath and thru it like little fountains and / or over…
maplemale
  • 245
  • 2
  • 7
6
votes
3 answers

How to protect against my neighbour's trees

My neighbor has planted a row of pine trees along our boundary. The trees (perhaps 10 of them) will grow to 14m tall, yet are barely 4m from my house (and 2.5m from his). The ground is heavy with clay so I'm guessing the roots will spread a…
dave
6
votes
2 answers

Do Landscape Designer/Architects require a license or permits in Canada?

I reside in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and wish to start out on minor landscaping projects, and continue to work my way up. Do I need formal certification that is required by law to operate? I realize that there are courses available, but is a…
Jake
  • 163
  • 4
6
votes
1 answer

Should I start digging out a hill in the backyard in preparation for a retaining wall/patio?

I've got a pretty steep backyard hill that slopes down to a fence that I'd like to dig out and make into a sort of fire pit area with a patio. I can't afford to do the entire project right away, but I wondered if I could start digging out the hill…
Caveatrob
6
votes
1 answer

Tree roots in storm drain

A 12" square catch basin collects water from my driveway and transports it under the lawn to adjacent stream about 150 ft away via 4" corrugated buried pipe. They used corrugated covered w/stone (vs pvc) (20 yrs ago) so as to also collect surface…
Extonite
  • 61
  • 2
6
votes
2 answers

Soil Depth for Bougainvillea

I am an architect working on a project in Malibu, California. This is new construction of a single-family residence. The house features a green roof and the client is convinced that it must be planted with Bougainvillea. Aesthetically it will be…
newellt
  • 63
  • 1
  • 3
6
votes
7 answers

What is the best method/saw to cut through tough palm tree fronds with? (30-foot Queen Palms)

I have a pole saw with a typical pruning saw blade and it works great on fresh green palm fronds (which I really shouldn't be cutting, but I don't want them touching my roof line) but the ones that I just can't manage to cut are the tougher, older…
PJS1987
  • 279
  • 1
  • 4
  • 9
6
votes
5 answers

Measuring height difference over 200 meters without clear line of sight?

I recently got access to a piece of land including a spring and a pond. Since the terrain is slightly sloping after the pond´s drain, I thought on using the water flow to power a small hydro station. Without having to consult some people from…
pat3d3r
  • 163
  • 1
  • 4
6
votes
3 answers

Ground cover for 2000 sq.ft (half full sun / half partial shade) with 60º slope

I am at Southern California. I need ground cover for 2000 sq.ft. with 60º slope and help for choosing the right flowering low ground cover. There are 30 rose plants at present, so prefer ground cover which does not compete with roses.
sue ham
  • 61
  • 1
5
votes
1 answer

Planting shrubs on a gently sloped landscape.

I have a couple shrubs I want to plant on a slanted landscape; nothing severe, maybe 10 degrees. Should I plant perpendicular to the ground, or perpendicular to an imaginary level surface? If it makes a difference, if I plant it perpendicular to…
coburne
  • 237
  • 2
  • 4
5
votes
1 answer

Keeping mulch from washing off of banks and steep inclines

I have mulched multiple hills and am always looking for ways to keep mulch 'glued' to hillsides. Switching to decorative shale is unfortunately not an option. I have tried three things: Ground covers (Junipers etc.) Chicken wire (Looks horrible…
Jeff
  • 264
  • 2
  • 7
5
votes
1 answer

How can I control growth on a steep hill?

I have a steep hill on one side of my home (20' down x 100' across) that is a pain and unsafe to mow. The top of the hill flattens about 10' from my home and the bottom is an unfinished lot that isn't maintained. The problem is that anyone turning…
Andy Levesque
  • 153
  • 4
1 2 3
…
15 16