design

Question gazebo Hi Marc, last fall you were kind enough to answer a question about how to balance a gazebo on one end of a patio with a flowerbed on the other. I didnt have a picture at that time but now I do.  

gardening

QuestionI would like to put coal over some mulch. I have an area where I am growing holly, forsythia, and french lilac in a row. I have covered the ground with cloth, and then covered that with several inches

oak trees that are over 35 years old

Questionmy neighbor has three large oak tres (not live oak)- two closer to my house and the three canopies have grown together and block the sun from my backyard and pool. also have a terrible time with the leaves b

french drain/ leaning fence

QuestionI had a professional install a wooden fence (2 yrs. old) at the edge of my property line where the hill suddenly slopes downward. After a fairly heavy snow and melt, the fence was leaning greatly towar

Landscaping Problem

QuestionWe have had an animal (who has now moved away) burrow under our outdoor concrete stairs which are attached to our foundation. How can we fix this problem and avoid having another animal move in?

retaining wall perpendicular to slope

QuestionThank you in advance for any guidance you can give us! We have a 50-60 yr old house which is 2-1/2 higher than our western neighbor. Currently this is a east-west sloped area where the grass has

mazus reptans ground cover

QuestionHi - Received as a gift...want to plant. Cannot find any info re whether deer will eat the mazus like a salad. Your answer will affect my planting. Many thx - Julie AnswerHey, Julie. Mazus rep

moss

QuestionI realize i may not be in your area of expertise but they currently dont have a lawn expert.I was wondering if you could help me with lawn moss.It has been getting worse for a couple years.I have clay soil,i

Patio paver details

QuestionWhy do some say compact your sand bed before laying pavers and others say dont even walk on it? What happens if you end up with more than one inch of sand? What if its more in some places and exa

Source for Pecan Shells for landscaping

QuestionI have been looking for a source for pecan shells to create walways and a drive at my home. My son went to college at a small college(Hendrix)in Arkansas and they used pecan hulls for all of the walkways on

gravel yard

QuestionMy backyard is black plastic with gravel ( golf ball size flat rock) instead of a grass lawn.(large area with a lot of traffic) We have had it 10 years, but the plastic is wearing out & weeds are a con

Ornamental cherry trees sprouts/suckers

QuestionHello I have this wonderful ornamental cherry tree in my front yard. I cut them and then paint them with a brush sucker stopper. IS there anyway to lessen the number of them or cause? Some kind o

Rocks, Large and mid-size Lots of them

QuestionWe live in an area of Oregon with LOTS of Stones, Large, and Larger, when we clear a field the small stone above the ground surface, turns into a Very Large stone below the surface, where and how can we sell

rass Free Yard

QuestionAwesome Site... What is the best way to install black matting for a new home as we are away a lot and we want no grass or weeds. Just wood chips and white rock in the fern and evergreen type flower beds. Whe

Plant selection

QuestionBrandon, We have a new house with no landscaping done, have an area in corner of front yard, up next to house that gets very little sun. We are putting a fountain there and need some suggestions or ideas of

mass root removal

QuestionI had 30 year old forsythia removed from an area of about15 feet x60feet. How do I get rid of the mass of fine roots left behind !??? Its almost a solid mass & I want to plant a few shrubs. Can any chemical

Back Yard and two border collies

QuestionDear Marc: We have a backyard that takes a beating from our two border collies. At one time our backyard was landscaped beautifully. We are thinking of just putting down gravel through out

landscaping around septic rings

QuestionI have 3 septic rings that are almost level with the ground and my husband does not want to plant grass around them in case someone mows over them. Currently we have a circle shape of mulch around them

Landscaping under an Overhang

QuestionI have a bi-level home with a 2 foot overhang in the front. Several years ago when the house was brand new, we planted azaleas across the front of the house under the overhang. We do get sun in t

water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

Question photos 3 years ago I relocated to DC from the midwest. For a myriad of reasons, I hate my house and the one redeeming feature was the yard. UNTIL, last year I started having severe draina