Raised Bed against a cyclone fence

QuestionI plan on building a raised garden bed 2-3 high and 2-3 wide against a chain linked/cyclone fence. I am going to use stones for the front part of it. What can I use for the back part of the bed t

landscaping design

QuestionIm working on my landscaping around my front yard and side. I had a difficulty to choose the perennials at both side. My house face southwest, so one side has sun from morning to almost 3:00pm, t

laying bricks for patio

QuestionHi Kevin, I am not sure this question is in your area but I am giving it a try. I have a section outside that is currently just dirt. I had intended to have a small garden there but things didnt go as plann

Sedum

QuestionWe have an area in front yard close to the sidewalk where there is a large utility box. We have rocked the area rocked with landscaping rocks but want to add color, etc to the area. We picked up 4 plants and

driveway drainage

QuestionQUESTION: Hello Mark. I have drainage from one side of the house running down my 100 foot asphalt driveway that slopes downward and slightly away from the house. On the slightly higher right side is gr

Retaining Wall in Sand

QuestionHi, I am installing a ~6ft tall retaining wall in my backyard. The area where my house was built used to be sand dunes so my backyard (except for the first 1-2) is all sand. Im having difficulty

Raised veggie gardens

QuestionWould you know if it is safe to use treated timber to build raised veggie gardens, will the timber contaminate the soil & veggies, Thanks, Roy. AnswerRoy: Great question. I have done a good bit of research

Garden steps

QuestionHi I want to build some steps into my grass and was wondering If you could give me some advice on the best durable way of doing this. The height is approx 2ft and the length is approx 20ft with a depth of

Post and board/rail

QuestionQUESTION: Recently had a post & board fence installed. I am not happy with the results, but I am aware that this is a rough type of fencing, so I dont want to be unreasonable. Issues I am dealing with

Passive Solar, Windbreaks, and so on

QuestionHi, Mark, 1. I would like to know if there are formula to calculate how far deceduous trees need to be planted on the south (controversial....??), east, or north side away from a house in order to gain the

Designing around a catch basin

Question Backyard1 Our backyard was designed to catch rainwater in order to prevent flooding on the farm behind us. We cant put flower beds, etc... in because when it does rain hard, the back yard literally b

raised flower bed

QuestionI had two raised flowerbeds against exterior wall without weep holes which the previous owner built. I have a landscape company installed a weep hole (3/4?recommended) for each flower bed. The water/rain dra

front yard/porch

QuestionQUESTION: I am having a hard time landscaping the front of my home. There is a bay window in place with a tall Pieris on the far right. A large Rhodo is in the center. All other plants are gone. How do I fil

swampy area

QuestionI would like to make my swampy back area a yard again like it used to be. It is very wet during the winter and damp during the summer. what would be a good way to do this? Do I put in some kind of drainage?

Walkway woes

Question Bluestone Walkway Hello, I just had my side entrance walway done in bluestone, I am stuck on how to design the planting. Im sending you a picture. On the picture to left we will pave our driveway up

patio-maple tree roots

QuestionHi, Id like to put a small patio into an area that is adjacent to a huge maple. Some of the roots are visible and grass doesnt grow very well in this area. I dont know what kind of material to us

fencing

QuestionI am installing some wrought iron fence. What is the difference between galvanized posts verus zinc coated posts? AnswerWhile this is really not my area of expertise I will try and tell you want I kno

raised garden bed

QuestionI have been given a raised modular veggie bed for Xmas and now we are trying to work out where to put it. Should it go on concrete (slab) or on top of grass? Or would it be better on soil? Could you give me

privacy decking

Questionlooking to add potted silk palm trees to put on and around deck to give privacy will entertaining. any suggestions where to purchase both the pots and the silk palm trees at a HUGE discount????? need them to

Live Oak Roots at Surface

QuestionGood Evening. We have a 6 year old Live Oak Tree out our front door. Its trunk is approximate 8 feet away from house wall. Thats where the contractor planted it. We have notice this y