concrete slab

QuestionI recently purchased a home with a concrete backyard. I have two small children and would like them to have a grass cushion to play on. What is the easiest and least expensive way for me to replace the

Privatizing a corner lot

QuestionWe just bought a house and wanted to privatize it a bit. There is no fence or hedging around it. The lot is 130x107x100x85. Its on the right side entering a cul-de-sac street. Exiting the back of the house y

Yard Grading/Fallen slab

QuestionCharles, We recently purchased a home that has severe grading issues. In removing an old deck, we found that the entire slab underneath has fallen around 6 to 10 toward the house. Digging into th

gravel pathway

QuestionSean, I am planning to build a gravel pathway in our back yard and need help in planning the base. I would like to line the path with bricks (Ive already got a whole lot of these). We live in Eas

yard grade

QuestionQUESTION: I have a very large yard & have drainage problems. I am adding dirt around the house , but my question is how to measure grade. It is almost flat & I need to add dirt here & there to make the water

building a retaining wall on sandy soil

QuestionMy house is built in an old gravel pit that filled will water and they built houses around it. I have top soil 2-3 rest sand. What is the best way to prepare and build my timber wall?  

Steep Slope Landscaping

QuestionQUESTION: I have a hillside that is quite steep. Its about 70 long by 12 deep at the ends and 22 deep in the middle. It slopes down in a CONVEX manner to a flat lawn. I tore out some overgr

Emerald Green Bare Spots

QuestionHello Charles, Firstly I wouldl ike to thankyou for taking the time from your bust schedule to help we plantingly challanged Thanks. I planted a row of 10 Emeralds in the spring of 2006 Plants did well all

Hillside Landscaping

QuestionI have a hillside that is quite steep. Its about 70 long by 12 deep at the ends and 22 deep in the middle. It slopes down in a CONVEX manner to a flat lawn. I tore out some overgrown euony

New rain garden near maple tree

QuestionTo solve a drainage issue, and add a pleasant country cottage sort of feature to the yard, I am planning a dry creek bed terminating in a rain garden. Both features will be dry most of the time, primar

Saltillo tile

QuestionId like to make a rustic looking walkway around my house using saltillo tiles and Im wondering if after sealing the tile I can put the sand down then put dry Sakcrete down and lay the tile down then brush dr

Grading

QuestionWeve been told that one way to alleviate our once a year basement water problem is to fix the grading of our yard. As you know, contractors want $5,000 + to do the work for us. Is this a job that

Sweet Gum Root System

QuestionI have a 30 year old Sweet Gum in my courtyard. The garage and house are 8 and 15 feet away, respectively. Is there any danger that the root system could damage the foundations? AnswerIf the tre

brick patio installation - all steps nessecary?

QuestionHi - I am looking to build two brick paver patios in my backyard. One will be about 6 by 8 and will be used to set an outdoor dinette set on for eating outdoors etc... The other will be about 3 by 4, in a

plants around the pool

QuestionQUESTION: Hello! The pool takes all of my back yard there is only cement around and along the wall/ fence there is a one foot wide one foot deep channel the previous owner filled with dirt and river rock (I

ROCK YARD

QuestionMR. RAY, MY PROPERTY IS 15 MI. INLAND FROM SAN DIEGO, AND I WANT TO REPLACE MY GRASS YARD WITH STONES & ROCK..IF I REMOVE GRASS, SPRAY WITH PLANT KILLER, LAY DOWN BLACK PLASTIC, SHOULD THE STONES OR RO

Pool/yard flooding

QuestionWith all the rain here in florida our yard & pool have flooded twice. The county guys came out, after checking everything they determined it was the lack of curbs & drainage and they would report it but it w

Raise Water Proofing Tar line on foundation exteriour if I add dirt

QuestionI am planning on putting in my landscaping in tomorrow and I just noticed that the tar line is even with my current grade now. I would like to put a couple raised flowerbeds (6-12 inches or so) above the cur

Hibiscus near a foundation

QuestionHi. My neighbors house is about 7ft away from mine. She announced today that she was having 3 hibiscus planted this coming week. I have just completed foundation work including new tuck poi

Approriate plants for north side with overhang

QuestionQUESTION: We have an area on the north side of our house with a 3 to 5 foot overhang/soffett. It gets very little rain. The area is shady for most of the day (we have tall trees to the east but n