Backyard Landscaping Trend for 2013: Outdoor Living

As our everyday life grows ever more dependent on technology, many people are longing for the simplicity of nature. Whether you’re hiking in the woods or just relaxing and admiring your own backyard landscaping, spending time outdoors surrounded by plants and fresh air is good for your physical and mental health. 

This year’s Garden Trends Report from Garden Media Group reveals a major societal trend of slowing down and redefining happiness. In general, people are starting to recognize that outdoor activities like gardening can bring them great satisfaction.

According to this article, the hottest landscaping trend of the upcoming year is creating scenic outdoor living spaces. Outdoor home decoration will become more sophisticated, with the goal of creating a desirable retreat from daily life. Instead of spending money and time traveling, more and more people would rather have a “vacation spot” right in their own back yard that they can use any time throughout the year. 

From small patios to sprawling gardens, outdoor living spaces can be customized to fit the space available, while creating the desired effect, whether that is a cozy retreat or a gathering space for entertaining friends.

Now is the time to start dreaming and planning for your 2013 landscaping projects. What does your ideal outdoor living space look like? How could you turn your backyard into an urban retreat for soaking in all the positive effects nature has to offer?  

Spending time in a scenic outdoor living space can boost your health and happiness. Check out our photo gallery for ideas and inspiration, then contact us to get started.

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Best Patio Designs for 2013

As we say goodbye to 2012 and make way for 2013, most people are thinking about new beginnings and fresh ideas for their homes. What are your landscape and design goals for the upcoming year?

A popular trend from the last couple of years that is sure to carry over into 2013 is an emphasis on outdoor living. In many areas, as winter turns to spring, homeowners are integrating their indoor and outdoor living spaces in order to take advantage of the nice weather and to save money. One way to do this is by creating a new patio or expanding your existing one.

Some great examples of popular deck and patio designs incorporate elements such as:

·  Outdoor kitchens

·  Formal dining and seating areas

·  Retractable doors between the house and the patio or deck

·  Patio covers or enclosed patios

What are some benefits of these types of patio designs? They offer comfort and privacy, first and foremost. There are several other advantages, as well:

1) They save you money. With versatile kitchen and dining options, more people are cooking and eating their meals at home, which is usually cheaper than dining out.

2) Increasingly, people are discovering the joys of “staycations” and relaxing at home. Rather than traveling long distances for vacations, staying home helps you avoid travel costs and the general hassles of planning a trip.

3) When you integrate your indoor and outdoor living areas, you have more usable space. Multi-generational families, for example, can benefit from having more breathing room and living space that they can enjoy together.

4) Your options are limited only by your imagination! For instance, your outdoor kitchen and dining space could range from a simple grilling area to a more elaborate, gourmet set-up, according to your preferences. You might prefer a small and intimate space, or a patio large enough to entertain large groups.

Designing and landscaping outdoor patios is one of our specialties. If you live in Washington, DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Silver Spring, or Potomac, contact us today, and we’ll help you create a unique and beautiful outdoor living space.

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Expert Stone Wall Construction

Stone wall construction makes good use of naturally occurring materials that exist across the state of Maryland and the surrounding areas. When properly engineered, stone retaining walls can last literally for a lifetime. Install one and you may make a contribution to those that tend to the property far into the future -- perhaps even your own grandchildren or great-grandchildren. 
Originally, stone walls and retaining walls were a natural outgrowth of freeze-thaw cycles slowly heaving large rocks toward the surface of area farm fields. Such stones were habitually cleared from the fields after the spring plowing. Today, other rocks may be quarried. This adds the potential for more angular rocks that will interlock well. It also offers the potential for more monochromatic designs where rocks will be consistently brown, gray, black, etc. 

Smaller Walls 

Lesser size retaining walls can be constructed of a single layer of interlocking stones or rocks. Proper backfilling techniques are a key to durable, stable walls. 

Tilted Walls 
Walls higher than about three feet are typically tilted into the hill for added stability. 

Wider Base
Multiple layers of interlocking stones can further stabilize such retaining walls. Adding layers at the bottom of the wall further strengthens the base. Larger stones are often used in lower sections of the wall. They better resist freeze-thaw cycles and better handle the weight of the wall above. 
More than meets the eye -- higher walls still only show that outer course of rock. That outer layer of material may mask the fact that the base of taller walls may be as much as three or even four feet wide. 

Safety
Leaving the construction of retaining walls to the pros can be better than risking serious injury working with heavy stones without the right hydraulic and other equipment. Also, mishaps due to improper construction techniques have resulted in partial wall collapses that cause injury.
Design
Long straight walls and those that flow along the natural lines of the property are possibilities. Professional landscape designers can work with you to create the aesthetics that you want. 
If you live in Washington, DC or the Maryland suburbs, we can offer creative and contemporary landscape solutions. Contact us so that we might get acquainted with your plans and ideas.

 

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Increase Your Curb Appeal with Creative Landscaping Designs

Good landscaping can be a pleasure for homeowners. It makes your home more attractive and can solve problems like drainage and soil erosion to boot. But perhaps the biggest boon of good landscaping is the financial one - Angie's List estimates that good landscaping can boost your home's value by 7 to 14 percent.

So if you're looking to sell your home, you might want to think about how the outside of your house reflects on your home's condition. But how do you know if your yard is adding to your house's value, or taking away from it? And how can you tell what you should try to do yourself, and when to hire a pro?

The first thing to consider is when you're looking to sell. If you want to be out by next month, now is not the time to start a huge project. You should focus on cutting back shrubs and trees, properly applying mulch, and maybe adding some blooming flowers to your garden spaces. Don't go overboard, and don't spend too much. Just make sure your lawn looks cared-for and loved, not neglected.

If you have time, though, a good landscaping project can return most or all of its investment. Additions like patios, decks, fences and firepits can create an "outdoor room" for your house that is both appealing and valuable. Remember that if you're planting, the vegetation will need time to grow and space to flourish in. Don't think this is going to be instant gratification.

And if you're wondering whether to go DIY or to hire a service, again, consider your time and your goals. You can probably handle some trimming and minor planting yourself. But if you're doing a major project, pro landscapers can help create landscaping designs that are engaging and that feel like a natural extension of your home.

If you live in Chevy Chase, Bethesda, or Northwest DC, and you want to know more about how landscaping projects can increase your home's value, contact us and let us help you.

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Backyard Design Ideas for Your Home

The backyard of your home is a sanctuary to be enjoyed by you, your family and any friends that come over to visit. If you are considering a landscape project or a new backyard design, then we can work with you to develop a plan to meet any need.

Replace Old with New

Features and previous design elements can easily be replaced in a new landscape design. This allows you to incorporate new options or variations of a theme into your backyard. Concrete comes in a standard form or it can be colored to match the style of your home. 

Make Your Patio Space Bigger

If you have been stuck with a backyard patio that is too small, then a new landscape design can enlarge the size. A larger patio space can accommodate bigger or additional furniture pieces and the addition of a new grill. A 10ft by 10ft size patio can easily be enlarged to 12ft by 12ft or larger. Ask about enlarging your patio during your design consultation.

Consider the Use of Pavers

A backyard patio that is a standard gray and drab concrete can be updated to a new look. You can also have your existing patio or sidewalk completely torn out and replaced with concrete pavers. 

Utilize All of Your Space

Backyard spaces that are small will need a design that takes advantage of all available areas. When you work with our landscape team, then you will end up with a space that will meet your needs. A backyard layout will need to incorporate space-saving ideas and techniques with features that will fit into your backyard area.

Additional Information

If you live in Washington, DC or Maryland suburbs and have any questions about backyard design ideas, then contact us for more information. You may also get a bit of inspiration from backyard designs in our photo gallery.  

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Early winter's a great time for new landscaping design ideas

The colors of fall are quickly giving way to the browns and grays of a Mid-Atlantic winter. Whether your home is a quiet, traditional property in Chevy Chase, or an edgy bungalow in Takoma Park, the arrival of the 'dormant' season might make you — along with many other homeowners in the greater Washington DC area — downright blue.

But take heart! This is really a season of opportunity, a time to see your home freed from the distractions that abound during warmer months. Now, as you walk up your driveway or peer out a back window, you can see your landscape and hardscape as a blank canvas — and you as a creative painter with total freedom.

Those neutral grays and earthy browns allow you to experiment with landscaping design ideas without feeling rushed to prepare the soil, purchase plants, or haul bags of top soil around your yard. Imagine what your place would look like if you changed your walkway, your patio, your garden furnishings. Imagine a new mix of hues and colors, a new sense of depth or openness using different bushes or brighter perennials.

Here is a three-step process for putting winter to work for you:

·  Peruse our photo galleries to open up your thinking and see what others have done. You don't need to worry about being a 'copy cat' — remember, you're just looking at some of the endless possibilities available. To do so, visit http://www.jlsinc.net/photo-gallery.html.

·  Grab your digital camera and walk around the outside of your home. Snap a handful of pictures from different vantage points so you have a collection of shots showing your existing landscape and hardscape. Now, take those images with you (keep them on your camera or upload them to a mobile device) while you go get coffee or a relaxing lunch. Stare at them. Mull over them. Remember, you're a painter and those pictures show your home as an open canvas.

·  Finally, after you've spent some quality time in the confines of your own (and maybe your family's) creative perspective, contact us. We can visit your home and offer advice and professional guidance that allows you to transform those imagined possibilities into practical plans.

See, winter is not so long and bleak after all. It can be a time of renewal and preparation for a whole new look.

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Garden walkways provide defining details

One of the often under-appreciated aspects of a landscape design are the garden walkways that tie the elements of the space together and make the space more accessible.

Garden paths are part of the basic infrastructure of a garden. They help define and shape a garden’s structure, provide sight lines and allow easier access for maintenance.

Walkways can be simple or complex. They can formal or informal. They can be constructed from a variety of materials, including pavers, flagstones, gravel or even grasses.

A well-designed garden walkway can unify a garden, provide easy transition from one focal element to the next and help define and emphasize focal points.

They also provide a great place for a stroll when you want to unwind. 

The walkway’s edges also provide a great place for additional plantings.

One of the primary roles walkways serve in a garden is to provide easy access under a variety of conditions. A walkway can make the garden accessible even in inclement weather or, with lighting, at night.

Walkways can also be used to provide easy access to garden features such as gazebos, seating areas, and views.

A garden with walkways invites visitors to take a move about, to meander through the flower beds, water features, and plantings. They encourage a more personal interaction with the garden.

The functional versatility of walkways make them an element that should not be overlooked when designing and constructing a garden. Putting a little extra effort into getting the walkways just right will make your final product much more satisfying.

If you live in Montgomery County, MD or Northwest, Washington, DC, and would like to learn more about how to incorporate walkways into your garden, contact us.

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The Beauty of Stone Wall Landscaping

Before you decide on any landscaping design, take a good look at the areas you want to improve, highlight or just make more visually appealing.  Take note of natural slopes and dips in the landscape. A great way to take advantage of these features is to employ stone wall landscaping.

Stone walls can be constructed of many types of stone, both cut and in their natural shapes. There are many uses for stone walls which will add beauty to your yard and even increase the value of your home.

Retaining walls

A retaining wall can solve gardening problems on properties where the land slopes. Use a retaining wall to create garden or flower beds.  A retaining wall adds interest to the vista by accentuating the levels while setting carefully designed garden beds apart from other areas, such as patios or walkways.

Enclose a patio

A low stone wall that runs the perimeter of a patio creates an area that feels private and cozy, setting it apart from the rest of the yard.  Whether you use the patio for barbecues, outdoor dining or just sitting with friends around a fire pit, your patio should be your own private world. A stone wall enclosure to your patio will create that private area for relaxing and socializing.

Establish a barrier

A stone wall to demarcate a property line makes a statement that is very different from wood fencing. The stone wall won’t block the view while creating a barrier that is visually appealing and full of possibilities. Explore the varied shapes, textures and color when choosing the right stone for your barrier wall and find the right combination that makes the statement you want your home to make. 

After you’ve decided what type of stone walls you want to use in landscaping your yard, contact us for a free site visit by a professional and experienced member of our Design Team for a consultation.

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Choosing the Right Patio Lighting to Enhance Your Landscaping

No landscaping job is complete without patio lighting to enhance the view. Not only is patio lighting important in making your yard look elegant, it helps keep your yard safer as well. It is important to choose the right type of patio lighting.

Low Voltage Landscape Lighting - Low voltage landscape lighting has many benefits like solar lighting; they are simply powered in a different way.  With low voltage landscape lighting you do have the benefit of them always lighting up since they do not depend on an outside source such as sunlight. This ensures that they are always working at night time. You may want to consider that they will have cords that have to be hidden. These can be buried or covered depending on your preference and landscaping area. These do use electricity so depending on how many you have and what type, you will see a bit of usage on your power bill.

Each type of patio lighting can have many styles and types of lighting to choose from. There are lights that enhance the look of your walkway, trees, gardens and more. All you have to decide is the look that fits your lifestyle best. Whether you want your beautiful flower garden on display or you want a walkway that is safe to use at night; patio lighting will enhance the view and ensure that your landscaping is seen in a whole new light.

If you live in Montgomery County, Maryland or Northwest, Washington, DC, when you are ready to plan your landscaping design and want to add patio lighting to make it really stand out, just contact us and let us help you beautify your yard.

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Mailing Address: 7201 Brookville Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; Business Address: 5011 S. Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, MD 20832

 

301-740-8850; F(301)740-8853; www.JohnsonsLandscaping.com

Designing and Building Outdoor Entertainment for Your Home

Prior to designing and building an outdoor living environment, spend some quality time considering how you will use your outdoor space. When you entertain, how many people usually attend? What time of day or evening do you usually entertain? Will you need night lighting? Do you or your guests have children, and does your entertainment space allow for kids to run and play?

In this photo in taken in a Montgomery County, MD residence, the design included two outdoor pergolas covering the deck and the barbecue grill. Other than aesthetics, the pergolas’ purpose included providing shade from the sun because the homeowner’s back yard included a lot of sun in the early evening.

During ConstructionNew

 

New, Outdoor Living Space

In this Northwest, Washington residence is designed to give the outdoors a sense of space and fun, while simultaneously giving the perception of privacy. This is accomplished through the tiered retaining walls and plant beds outlining the pool deck.

 

Northwest, Washington, DC Residence - Pool Deck and Landscape

Other things to consider include the location of your grill, and how to incorporate the grill into the rest of the design. Many clients desire a “built-in” grill like the one below, which allows ample space for food preparation using custom cut stone which beautifully integrates into the rest of the patio and walls.

 

 Montgomery County, Maryland Residence

Finally, some folks forego the custom built grill and prefer the simple beauty of a patio, retaining wall, and plantings next to an outdoor fire, like the one in the back of this Bethesda, Maryland home.

 

 Bethesda, Maryland Residence

Whatever your outdoor entertainment needs or preferences, with careful forethought, guidance, and planning, you can design a space to be used how you intend to enjoy your free time. Your investing a lot in this outdoor space….isn’t it worth it to take a little time to ensure you will use your investment to the fullest?

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View the work of our experience and skilled masons.  From traditional steps and walkways, to elegant patios and stone walls, our masons pride themselves on implementing your design to perfection. Contact us today, and begin enjoying a new outdoor living experience!

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For a better landscape……
                   And lifestyle...
                                    Consider….

A Full Maintenance Program with Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc.

Are you able to spend enough time with your family? Can you pursue your weekend hobbies? Play a little more golf?  Are you out there pulling the weeds yourself? Not sure if you’re pruning the right branches at the right time of year? Are you doing more damage than good to your plants, trees, and shrubs? Do you sometimes wonder if your home’s appearance could be enhanced? Is the value of your home what it could be with a fully manicured look?

Did you know that your landscape…. Enhances the first impression received by your friends and neighbors when they visit your home? Represents a financial asset and increases property value as much as 15%?


Is an extension of your living space that should be a source of enjoyment for you and your family?

Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. has been caring for properties in the Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Northwest Washington, DC area for over 50 years. To meet the needs of our most particular clients, our program includes complete care for your yard. Our maintenance staff will care for your property from Spring through the Fall. In the Spring, we will begin with a complete clean up of your yard.

We will:
1) Rake up all the winter’s debris from under the shrubs and trees and off the lawn.
2) Edge and prepare all the planting beds and cover them with a 2—3 inch layer of double shredded hardwood mulch.
3) Dethatch, rake, fertilize, and seed your lawn.
4) Prune your shrubs and trees as needed for the time of year.

After the initial clean up, we will next visit your property on a regular basis. Our crews cut the grass, edge the curbs, walks, and driveway. We weed the plant beds weekly, and we do regular fine pruning of shrubs. This gives your home a noteworthy appearance throughout the year.

In addition to the regular maintenance, we will fertilize at scheduled intervals and seed at the optimum times of the year. All you have to do is water the lawn and plantings as needed.

For those clients interested in adding a more aggressive, organic, and “green” approach to lawn care, we do offer an ad-ditional organic lawn care package. For more information about our organic lawn care package, click here.

In the Fall, we clear the leaves off the lawn in order to protect the newly seeded grass. In late November and early December, the whole property is cleaned and mulched so your home looks its best for the holidays. To meet with one of our landscape professionals about our Full Maintenance packages, please contact us today!

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The recent record setting snowfall in the DC and Montgomery County, Maryland area this year has done a number on many plants, shrubs, and trees.  Homeowners are wondering, “Will my plant survive?”  “What steps can I take to restore this shrub?” and “Is this tree beyond repair?”

Before throwing in the towel and removing and replacing all damaged plants, trees, and shrubs, there are some steps homeowners can take.  First, where possible, prune snapped branches.  With a pair of loppers, a hand saw, or pruners (or a chain saw in the case of large branches), make a clean cut below where the branch was initially broken.  It’s best to cut close to the base of the branch, and to cut at an angle.

 

 

For large shrubs (5’ and above) that have “fallen over”, use wire and pieces of garden hose to stake the tree to the upright position.  Be sure to use galvanized wire and oak hardwood stakes.  You may need someone to assist you in pushing the shrub to the upright position while you pull the wire and hose into place.

After taking these initial steps, you may still be unsure about the overall health of your plants.  Before despairing about your shrub’s future prospects, wait until that time in the Spring when your particular variety “leaf’s out” or blooms.  You may be pleasantly surprised that your plant, though once down, may not be totally “out”.  In particular, mature plants and shrubs with established root systems have the best chance for overall survival.

Even still, there will be plants and trees that, despite our best efforts, will not survive the effects of snow damage.  In those cases, it’s best to remove and replace them.  Think of it as an opportunity for you to “upgrade” the curb appeal of your property, and to enhance your outdoor living experience.

In any case, if you still have doubts as to the health of your plant, it’s always best to get a professional assessment.  The landscape designers at Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. (www.JohnsonsLandscaping.com) are prepared to assist you in this process.

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By Ryan Sarvis, Landscape Designer
Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc.
www.JohnsonsLandscaping.com

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By Ryan Sarvis, Landscape Designer
Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc.
www.JohnsonsLandscaping.com

With record setting rain fall in May, June, and now December of 2009, many of our clients now realize that their landscapes have low areas with “standing” water.   Some clients also live on the bottom of a hill and receive their neighbor’s storm water run-off.  This water can be damaging to lawns, trees, and shrubs.  In addition, standing water provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes. To keep our basements and low lying areas dry and to maintain a healthy landscape that is bug free, we must address these issues as soon as possible.

There are several “green” solutions that may be implemented to solve these issues. These solutions include dry wells, Flo-Wells, piping the water to the street, and water gardens.  
                                   
A drywell is a gravel pit below ground where the water enters the pit and leaches into the subsoil.  Allowing storm water from your property to run on to the street is damaging to our environment because of the fertilizer, animal feces, silt, and other things that mix with water runoff that enter the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.   A word of caution:  dry wells can become clogged with silt, sediment and gutter debris that will cut the life of the dry well to 5-6 years, so you will need to clear it from time to time.

Johnson's Landscaping Service, Inc. (www.JohnsonsLandscaping.com) recently has used a new product named the Flo Well, which is a storm water leaching system. This is a 49 gallon container with perforated holes throughout, and it is installed below ground with one foot of drainage gravel surrounding the unit. This can be used in a variety of ways, including collecting water from low areas, downspouts, catch basins, and French drains. The top has an optional drain grate to capture surface water in low areas. The system allows the water in the Flo-Well to leach into the soil and prevents harmful contaminants from entering local creeks and streams.
Drywells and Flo-Wells work well for water in your yard.  Water in your basement may need a different solution.  Many times, water in your basement can be solved by grading and drainage work along your foundation.

Finally, the Landscape Designers of Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. can design and install a water garden for the space where your yard currently has standing water.  For more information on water gardens, link to the following blog on gardens that support the Chesapeake Bay, http://www.jlsinc.net/view-by-tag/bayscaping/.
Johnson's Landscaping Service, Inc. has years of experience in diagnosing, correcting, and solving drainage problems faced by our clients.  Contact us today so we can implement cost effective and permanent solutions for your water woes!

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