Walkway in Bethesda, Maryland

 

 

The masonry division at Johnson’s Landscaping is dedicated to improving the outdoor living experience for our clients. From traditional steps and walkways, to elegant patios and stone walls, our masons pride themselves on implementing your design to perfection. 

For this particular project, Johnson’s designed a walkway and pond to blend well with the existing stone arbor. 

For more information about a beautiful custom walkway for your home, call Johnson’s Landscaping at 301-740-8850.

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On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, twenty-seven employees and staff of Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. spent the morning clearing out parts of the Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery in Aspen Hill, MD.   After changing ownership hands many times, the historic pet resting place was bequeathed to, and is now owned and operated by, the Montgomery County Humane Society.  The society relies on volunteers and donations to maintain this seven acre property.

For many reasons, prior to the Humane Society running the operation, parts the Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery had become overgrown to the point where clearing out years of growth requires special tools and a lot of sweat and tears.  Volunteers often are unable or do not have the time necessary to uncover the history under all the growth.   

After watching a newscast reporting the needs of the cemetery, the ownership of Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. decided it would be a good opportunity for their company to give back to the local community.  In addition to the service to the humane society, Johnson’s Landscaping also needed a location to conduct its regular safety training for its employees.  “It was great to knock out the proverbial two birds with one stone,” says Matt Johnson, sales manager of the company, who hastily added that these birds were “metaphorical, of course.”

After the training, management, maintenance, landscape, and masonry crews all gathered at various parts of the cemetery to begin the renovation.  The before, during, and after pictures tell the whole story.  By morning’s end, the designated work was done, and crews and management went their separate ways throughout the county.  

However, not before David Poole, a local representative of the Montgomery County Humane Society, returned to inspect the work.  Says Poole, “After spending several weekends at the Aspin Hill Memorial Park working on clearing brush myself with a small group of volunteers it was amazing to see what Johnsons Landscaping Service was able to accomplish in just one days time.  What they have done to honor the memory of these animals goes beyond words.”

Cris Bombaugh , president and CEO of the Montgomery County Humane Society, agrees with Poole.   “We are so fortunate to have the support of Johnson’s Landscaping Service, which pitched in to transform the grounds of the Aspin Hill Memorial Park. We are grateful for their generous help, and were very impressed with their professionalism, efficiency and careful caretaking of this special resting place for beloved pets.”

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By Ryan Sarvis, Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc.

Are you deterred from venturing outside by cold weather and annoying pests?  Do you shy away from inviting friends and family over because the only gathering place is inside your cramped house?  This fall, why not add value to your property and extend your living space with an outdoor fireplace?
With a return to the coolness of Autumn and the decline of the sizzling hot and humid summer evenings, many Washington, DC area residents are now returning to the outdoors from their air conditioned enclaves.   To combat cold temperatures and biting insects well into the Fall season, you can install an outdoor fireplace that will warm and protect you and your family while you gather around the warmth of a glowing fire. 

The options for outdoor fires are numerous, but Johnson's Landscaping Service, Inc. has many years of experience building fire pits, fire rings, fire places with chimneys.  Our experienced stone masons can build any fire place that you may desire with a wide range of material options. We can provide both natural and manufactured stone to build a fireplace.  You have the option of a wood or gas burning fireplace.  Whearas gas is cleaner, no mess, and easier to start, wood has a great smell, prevents pests, and provides a little charm to your patio. Please contact one of our professional designers so we may design a fireplace that will suit your outdoor living needs.

The outdoor fireplace adds a centerpiece to your landscape that will last forever and will bring friends and families together for years to come.   In addition to the outdoor fireplace, there are many other options to enhance our outdoor living spaces, to include landscape lighting, shade structures, patios, and seating walls. 
Interested? Contact us today!

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Want to have a great looking, low maintenance yard, while simultaneously supporting the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
 

Bayscaping is a method to landscape a commercial or residential property that provides habitat for local and migratory animals, improves water quality, and reduces the need for chemical herbicides and pesticides.
 
Bayscaping is valuable to the homeowner because it offers greater visual interest than lawn, reduces time and expense of maintaining a lawn, and addresses problem areas.
 
The principles of bayscaping includes the reduction of watering, chemical use, water runoff, and maintenance. It emphasizes the use of plants that are native to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Native plants are adapted to our soil, temperature, and rainfall conditions. After initial installation, native plants are virtually maintenance free. When a bayscape is designed properly, it can be aesthetically pleasing, drought resistant, and low maintenance.
 
If you are interested in a drought resistant and low maintenance landscape, please contact one of Johnson's Landscaping Service, Inc.'s professionally trained landscape designers to guide you through the design process.

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By Ryan Sarvis

So you want to build a retaining wall in your yard?  There are many things to consider, including the type of stone, size of the wall, size of the footings, drainage, and the need for permitting, to name a few.   Here are the steps homeowners and contractors can take together to build a long lasting, aesthetically pleasing retaining wall.

There are a variety of materials to choose from when deciding to build a retaining wall. We in Maryland have an advantage because some of the best natural stone available is quarried in our own back yard.  Carderock is quarried and processed locally in Potomac, MD near River Road and Seven Locks Road.

                The advantage of using our native stone is that the color, texture, and size vary and no two stones are the same. The blues, grays, browns, and greens in the Carderock ages gracefully in any setting.  The classic appeal of Carderock conveys strength and beauty unmatched by none.

                There are two types of retaining walls that can be built with Carderock, dry stack and veneered walls.  A dry stack wall is one where we do not use mortar to adhere the stones together. The stone used is usually flat so it stacks better.  However, many of our customers' favorite walls are built with veneer stone.

The process for building a veneer wall starts with excavation for a "footing" or base of the wall. The size of the footing will grow depending on the height of the wall; however, it is important to check local building codes and permitting requirements prior to building the footers.   At Johnson's, we always expect our walls to meet or exceed local codes and regulations.  Our footings, for example, typically are reinforced concrete with rebar to tie the wall and footing together.  

Next we build an 8" cinderblock wall on top of the footing. At the time of the block wall's construction we install 1-2" pvc pipe passing through the wall for the drainage system. We then take the veneer stone and our expertly trained stonemasons "work the stone" for the best face and corners of the stone. High strength mortar is used to adhere the stone to the block wall. The purpose of working the stone is to have a final product that has small joints between the stone for a seamless appearance.

The top of the wall can be given a natural cap. A natural cap is a finished cap that matches the face of the wall, only with larger stones. By far our customer's favorite type of cap is flagstone. For the best appearance a thick Pennsylvania Blue Flagstone can be installed.  These caps will hang the wall's face by an inch, and add a great finish to the wall.

                The biggest enemy of retaining walls no matter the material is the natural elements. Water is the most destructive of them all. Hydrostatic pressure is the force exerted by water behind a wall that pushes on it. A properly constructed wall with correct "back filling" is a wall will last many generations. When the construction of the wall is near completion, a drainage system is installed behind it. This system has three main components - a perforated pipe, gravel back fill, and landscaping fabric.

 

The pipe is used to collect and direct water away from the wall. The gravel offers free movement of water behind the wall, therefore reducing the hydrostatic pressure. The landscape fabric is used to isolate the gravel from the existing soil and ensure that the drain pipe runs clear and does not become choked with silt in the future.  Also, any excess water that does not enter the pipe travels down and passes through the pvc weep holes and exits at ground level in the front of the wall.     

 

 

 

 

Through training and experience of our stonemasonry crews bring a passion for the highest quality product to your project. Our crews' produce some of the most enduring and beautiful walls in the area.

 

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Have You Ever Been a Part of Uncovering History?

By Ryan Sarvis

Recently, Johnson's Landscaping Service, Inc. has had the honor of renovating a piece of American history; namely, a crypt used as a hiding spot for escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad.  Nestled in the heart of Georgetown and above Rock Creek is the small, Mt. Zion cemetery, established in 1822 when the Mt. Zion Church acquired several acres from the federal government. The church began to use the property for the final resting place of its congregation members and some of the unclaimed dead from the city morgue.  A simple and basic crypt was built just above the creek made of brick and mortar to be used in the future. 

As a gateway to the North, Washington, D.C. was a vital and important stop for African Americans escaping the oppression of southern slavery via the Underground Railroad. Many white citizens provided escaping slaves shelter in their homes or on their property. Mt. Zion Church and its members, many of whom were freed slaves themselves, provided aid in the form of food, drink, shelter, and directions to the next stop on the Underground Railroad.

The slaves only traveled at night to avoid patrollers looking for blacks on the road without permission.   During the daytime, the Mt. Zion crypt provided shelter for the escaped slaves.  After the Civil War ended, the crypt was no longer used, and after many years of neglect, fell into disrepair.

As the church's budget shrank over the years, the hillside surrounding the crypt became overgrown with polk weed, poison ivy, and other brush. For many years very little maintenance was done to keep the area in good shape. In 2003, the church applied for assistance from the National Park Service to renovate the site and to later become a national historic preservation area. After several years of campaigning, the Church was successful in getting the needed assistance, and was able to move forward with the areas' renovation. 

Several church members were long-time customers of Johnson's Landscaping, and looked to us to help implement the needed changes.   We were very excited about the possibility of uncovering history for all to see.

The church's main purpose was to enable easy visitor access to the site, and to create an area for people to sit and receive information about the site's history.   When we first visited the site, we could barely see the crypt through the thick brush and we had difficulty getting close due to the steep hillside. We could see that they were in need of serious assistance. We set out to design a visitor's path and surrounding landscape that were both scenic and useful. We also had to keep the small budget in mind. Most of all, we wanted to provide a safe as well as scenic setting for visitors. 

After presenting our plan, the church leaders and the landscape designers from Johnson's Landscaping worked together to fine tune the design so that all parties were fully satisfied.  After approval, Johnson's sent out expert construction and landscaping crews. The crews first cleared and hauled all brush and debris from the site. We excavated a path and installed timber steps and leveled areas between steps. We planted several evergreen shrubs and hardy grasses....plant life that would thrive in the conditions surrounding the crypt. For safety, we installed a railing made of 4 inch posts and heavy duty rope. Finally, we put a thick layer of mulch to prevent weeds and unwanted plant material from coming back. The final product was a low maintenance landscape that all visitors could enjoy.

 

 

We at Johnson's Landscaping were proud to share in the work of uncovering an important piece of local history.

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How to Choose a Landscape Contractor
by Jamie Newell

         A landscape company that has a design staff is the best way to approach any landscape project. If you need something small like drainage and grading or a larger project such as an outdoor entertainment area, it is always a good idea to talk to a designer first. By consulting with an experienced designer, you will have the advantage of seeing the big picture. This will ensure that the completed task will fit nicely with the rest of your garden.

         A design/build company will provide strong communication between the designer who made the arrangements and the workers who will install the project. If something unforeseen should arise, the designer can make on site changes to the project without delaying the job. There is nothing more frustrating than having two different companies blaming each other for something that was overlooked.

         The first challenge is to find a good designer with a solid company to back them up. You might start by asking a friend or neighbor with a nice garden whom they would recommend. After you have chosen a well established company, it would be wise to see examples of their work and check their references. Stay away from a salesperson that is high pressure or doesn't spend time exploring different options with you. Choose someone who listens to your needs, asks the right questions, and understands the problem. Look for a designer that can communicate their ideas well.

         The next step depends on the nature of the project. If it's a small or simple job a well written proposal is important to be sure everything discussed is included. If the job is large or complicated have a design prepared. A professional drawing may add cost but it can save a lot of headaches down the road. Whether you get a full scale rendering or a quick sketch, make sure the plan solves the problem and will look nice from season to season.

         Once you have a qualified designer backed up by a reputable company with a good design, make sure the proposal is broken down in a way that you can see how much each task will cost. This will help you decide how to move forward in a budget conscious way and get the most for your investment. Be sure the agreement spells out a timetable for completion, payment schedule, specific walTanties, and the right to cancel.

        Landscaping is a great investment for your property.  When you decide to renovate your garden, make sure you choose the right company.  Make sure the company is licensed, in good standing with the Better Business Bureau, and has good references.  Before the project begins, have a good plan and a clearly written contract.  Make sure the designer will be on the job to supervise the installation team.  Be thorough before the job starts and you will end up with a garden that will grow nicely and stand up to the test of time.

 

Related posts in other blogs:

• Seeking a Landscape Contractor in Orlando? Arm yourself With Information

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These easy tips will help you prepare your landscape for the winter months: 

Pull mulch back from the base of young trees, particularly if mice are a problem in your area; they can chew on the bark.

Mulch after the first freeze to insulate plants against freezing temperatures, especially those that are marginally hardy.

Spray trees that are prone to insect and disease problems with dormant oil, provided temperatures are above 40 degrees F.

Turn the compost pile one last time, and cover with a tarp to preserve heat and keep heavy rain from leaching nutrients.

Remove leaves from water gardens; when they decompose they can release chemicals harmful to fish.

Clean your tools and apply a coat of oil to metal surfaces to prevent rust.

Disconnect and drain hoses to keep freezing water from bursting hoses or pipes.

Remove dead plants and potting soil from clay pots to keep them from cracking. Store the pots in a garage or shed.

 

 

vole damage

 Source: HGtv.com

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Landscape Brighteners In lieu of summer's blazing color, many gardeners brace themselves for a winter of gray and brown, if not flat-out white. No matter if your winter is just a little chilly or bone-freezing cold, try these tips to brighten your landscape:

1. Install trees and shrubs that have beautiful exfoliating bark, vibrant berries, or bright evergreen foliage.
2. Install winter annuals or evergreens in containers near doors or windows, so you can enjoy them from indoors.

Examples:    

Pink Icicle Camellia

Japanese stewartia

Witch Hazel

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 Not Your Average Pansy Every fall and spring all you see are the usual pansies in annual beds and containers. When the temperature drops and precipitation is in the forecast, those pansies look terrible and can develop gray mold. The pansy's cousin, the viola, is stronger and hardier, but has small blooms. Horticulturists have introduced the panola as a cross between the two. The panola has larger blossoms, better performance during inclement weather, and longer lasting blooms. The panola should be your new fall color standard!

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Worried about your home's current value? Visit these links to learn how landscaping can help!

 

Lawn and Garden Equity

While studies show that you'll only recoup 80 to 90 cents on every dollar you spend to upgrade your kitchen or bath, professional landscape designers estimate that improvements to your lawn and garden can boost your home's value by 7 percent to 15 percent. Those findings have been confirmed by survey results from the Gallup Organization and the National Gardening Association, or NGA.

(read more)

 

Adding Value to Your Yard

Value added: Consumers perceive a home with proper landscaping to be worth up to 11.3 percent more than its assessed value, according to 1999 study by Clemson University. The same study found that the return on the landscaping dollar is more than 100 percent.

(read more)

 

It Pays to Clean Up Your Yard

"The whole trend for living outside is enormous right now" says Denis Flanagan, host of HGTV's One Garden, Two Looks and manager of membership services and PR for Landscape Ontario. "The garden has become an extension of the house."

(read more)

 

 Source:  http://www.nbcwashington.com/

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