Retaining wall replacement surrounding driveway

QuestionSean, The railroad tie retaining wall holding up the asphalt driveway have rotted and collapsed. Height from base to top of the driveway ranges from 4-6 feet. I have removed the ties and want to construct a

planting around a well head

QuestionHello, I have a small tree planted right next to my well head. Id actually like to replace it with something else, but not sure if ANY tree should be planted there. Any thoughts? thanks! AnswerD

Grass under retaining wall

QuestionI have just built a retining wall at the front of the yard where there was a small hill and wonder if I need to remove the grass that existed or let it die under the new soil Im dumping tomorrow. AnswerJohn

Lawn care

QuestionHi Jonathan! Thank you for your insightful information. I tried to get a potassium based fertilizer as well as soil, sand, and peat mixture from OSH yesterday to give to the gardener (he also seemed dumbfoun

Concrete Patio Problem

QuestionI have 8 large (8x10) concrete slabs for a patio at my back door. The slab that is right at my back door, is slanted in towards the door and the retaining wall to the basement stairs. When I bought my house,

Exo Scaping

QuestionWhat is the definition and difference in ExoScape and Zeroscape. Thank you. AnswerJames, Both exoscape and zeroscape refer to the same practice. The actual reference should be Xeriscape. This t

plants for patio porch

QuestionDear Jonathan, Can you recommend low maintenance plants for apartment porches? I have a sunny and a shaded side, the west side is sunny most of the day while the east side has a wall that blocks direc

Sloped Lake Lot

QuestionMark, We live in central Alabama and bought a lake cabin for summer fun. The lot was overgrown when we purchased and does not have water access at the moment. The backyard to the lake is b

Installing PVC fencing in front of hedges

QuestionHello, We will be installing an inground pool in the spring and are having a pvc fence installed this fall at the back of our property. There is a 15 foot hedge back there and we would like to set the

design issue

Questionhi Jonathan, a small dilemma with the rear of my house. Outside my kitchen door, there is two steps down to an area that is currently slabbed with paving (about 40 sq. metres). Beyond that there

Bedding sand type for patio pavers

QuestionWe are DIY homeowners installing a paver patio using manufactured stone pavers ranging from 12x12 to 24x24. We already have 1/4 of them down using masonry sand (fine grains) as the bedding sand. Just realize

Miscanthus Sinensis Huron Sunrise

QuestionI live in Southern Connecticut, Zone 6a, and would like to use Miscanthus Sinensis Huron Sunrise as a foundation plant. I love the color and the height. My only concern is will this variety of Mi

large stream fed pond

QuestionI live in NJ and I have a large stream fed pond. Its approx. 300 ft. long by 75 ft. wide. The water is fed into the pond by a 12 pipe and the water spills out through a sluice. The original owner of my prope

decomposed granite pathways for urban cparks

QuestionI am a public artist creating a path for Arizona project i I need a pervious path surface for a project in phoenix AZ for a walking path?but i am bored with decomposed granite Would you have any other

How to design /build a garden from scratch

QuestionHello Brandon, We just bought a lot in western New York. Our house will be done at the end of this year, and we want to design and build our garden by ourselves. I am totally new to this field. I am reading

Used rail road ties

QuestionI am looking for used railroad ties to build a retaining wall. I know Home Depot and some others sell them, but they are all gouged and cracked and only stock about half a dozen or so. (I know th

patio flooring

QuestionI have a small cement patio and would like to tile it with terracotta tiles. My problem is i have 2 dogs who are in the yard all the time as well.They have no grassy or dirt area to do their business. Are ti

landscaping a hiiside

Question I want to know if there is a landscaping fabric that will help keep mulch on the hillside. &nbs

A good partner for Asiatic lilies

QuestionHi Jonathan! Not sure if this question is in your area of expertise, but I was wondering if you could help me. I am a new gardener, and had my first year of bloom from Asiatic lilies. Probl

Pruning old Spruce Trees

QuestionWe have row of spruce trees growing on an slope Many of these trees have two major off shoot branches near the base ( that have thickness similar to the main trunk). If you look at the tops of the tree