Paradise Landscape and Hardscape is a premier landscaping company in Annapolis, Maryland. We are dedicated to providing the best landscape design services at affordable rates. Team Paradise specializes in creating beautiful outdoor spaces for residential and commercial properties. Call us today at (443) 458-5588 to schedule your consultation!

Benefits of Retaining Walls

,

The benefits of retaining walls are both functional and beautiful. What are some of the benefits of retaining walls? What is a retaining wall? This article will help to answer those questions. If you live in Annapolis, or the surrounding areas, fill out our estimate form at the end of this article to get your retaining wall project started!

A retaining wall is a solid, permanent barrier that prevents soil or rock from washing away. Our team’s distinctive retaining wall adds value and beauty to your home. They provide vertical support for terracing to assist with erosion control. For a lovely, long-lasting retaining wall, rely on our staff’s experience and knowledge.

Custom Retaining Walls in Annapolis, MD

Paradise Landscaping installs creative landscaping designs to turn your home into your sanctuary. We have decades of experience building custom retaining walls in Annapolis & surrounding areas in Maryland. Team Paradise is the #1 company in Annapolis to design, create and install any retaining wall system.

Do you need to extend your outdoor living space? Hardscapes are the perfect method to do that. In fact, they are designed to interact with each other. Visit our gallery to see some of our home projects and retaining wall paver patios.

A retaining wall can be a real game-changer when it comes to landscaping. It provides essential support to large masses of soil, but it can also be an attractive focal point for your backyard. Retaining walls have several additional advantages that might help you turn your landscape into a practical and stunning work of art.

Preventing Soil Erosion and Controlling Floods

Erosion is a constant danger in any environment, whether induced by the wind or water. This makes retaining walls even more essential, especially if your landscape does not include a lot of trees and bushes to keep the dirt in place. In addition, retaining walls support the soil and provide stability, reducing surface runoff by lowering steeper slopes. This lowers the speed at which water travels over the surface, resulting in less erosion.

Retaining walls also perform all of these functions while providing flood control via water drainage, which prevents flooding. Water channels and drainage pipes may be incorporated into the design to give more water management options. Lastly, retaining walls also help to decrease the gradient, allowing water to seep into the earth rather than run off the top.

Structural Support

Retaining walls keep the dirt in place. These walls are primarily used in gardens or backyards with little hills, where they serve as an important barrier to prevent soil from sliding downhill during a landslide. A retaining wall may be used to structure a landscape and protect your health and the health of your house and yard features. There are various choices to select from depending on the amount of support required.

Curb Appeal

Depending on their height and material, retaining walls may be bold and beautiful. A natural landscape with a concrete or stone building can make a big difference. The right size for a retaining wall may also serve as a sitting wall, making it even more helpful. Your retention wall can complement other elements in your yard for a stunning conclusion if you use the many different kinds of materials available.

We also believe the hardscapes are incomplete without the softscapes to finish the zen effect. The correct choice of plants and trees and their placement is vital to hardscape design. This layout determines the rest of the landscape design.

We service the Annapolis, Maryland area with exceptional hardscaping work and extraordinary water features to add beauty and functionality to your property. Additionally, a few of our hardscape and water feature services are listed below. Keep in mind that the only limit is your imagination!

Maryland Hardscaping Contractor Services:

  • Paver Patios – dine al fresco or relax surrounded by greenery
  • Wood & Stone Retaining Walls, Block Walls – for privacy or structural improvement
  • Ponds – bring nature to your backyard with water plants or koi fish
  • Paver Driveways – durable and create a great first impression
  • Outdoor Living Spaces – hardscaping allows you to extend your home outside
  • Paver Walkways – complementing your professional landscape design
  • Paver Pool Decks – the ultimate decking for your luxury pool

  • Stone Veneer (Chimneys, Foundations, Fire Places, Retaining Walls) – the mark of a superior home is a quality veneer
  • Pondless Waterfalls – enjoy the low maintenance sound of water
  • Pool Waterfalls – a stunning addition to your pool design
  • Cut Bluestone Patios & Walkways – a specialty hardscaping for the most elegant homes
  • We also repair sagging or uneven patios and driveways

Paver Patios in Annapolis

  • Rock Gardens
  • Natural Stone, Flagstone Patios
  • Firepits and Outdoor Stone Fireplaces
  • Interlocking Concrete Paver Patio Construction
  • Stack Stone Walls
  • Boulder Installation

At Paradise Landscape and Hardscapes, we believe the details are what makes or breaks a job. That’s why we’ll spend the time necessary to perfect every last construction detail. To schedule a consultation about your next yard project, call us at (443) 458-5588 or click the button below to receive a free estimate.

REQUEST ESTIMATE
/by

Hardscaping Services in Annapolis

, , ,

Paradise Landscape and Hardscapes is a unique full-service landscaping company. We provide residential and commercial services in and around Annapolis, Harwood, Edgewater, Arnold, Severna Park, Bowie, Baltimore, Crofton, Glen Burnie, Arnold, Pasadena and Kent Island. Our superior landscape maintenance services are a class apart from the rest. In fact, we have significant experience with paver patios, walkways and pool decks! We are the pros for hardscaping services in Annapolis and the surrounding areas. We design and install a variety of projects both big and small.  Do you have an idea that you would like to bring to life? Great! Let’s get started building something awesome.

You’ll need to choose between different patio construction materials.

We create durable and long-lasting landscapes and outdoor living spaces. Our experienced team is ready to assist you with all your patio installation needs. That said, did you know that there are tons of paver materials and types to choose from?

The type of stone or material you decide on has a pretty big impact on how your project looks and feels. We can help you through this design process to help you achieve the perfect look you’re going for.

Customized Patio and Walkway Designs

Matching the type of stone product to your needs is our priority. We can select and install a wide range of natural and man-made stone products. For decades we have been installing stone products that have met the test of time. In fact, we have a great portfolio of our hardscaping services in Annapolis that you can see by visiting our gallery or following us on Instagram.

Ideas and Layouts for Patios and Walkways

When it comes to residential patio and walkway projects, we recognize that they must work well with the rest of the landscape. This is especially true when they are part of a larger landscaping makeover project.

We take great care in our approach to our work and we make sure that the plans and ideas we provide meet your needs.

We will show you a variety of material samples as well as explain their benefits and drawbacks. This will assist you in making an educated decision about the sort of natural stone patios you want. We can also get materials comparable to those used on your present patio to enhance continuity in your landscape.

Paver Patio Installations That Are Cost-Effective

We use only top-of-the-line outdoor-grade materials in our work. Our skilled workers execute the building of your new paver patio and pathways. You can feel confident that this will contribute to the appeal and curb appeal of your property.

Looking to install or repair a Pool Deck?

We can help you with this too! Pools in the backyard are exposed to the elements and the sun’s rays can quickly heat up the pool deck surfaces. While splashing around in the water is great during summer, walking barefoot on a stone deck may be painful to your feet. When it comes to pool decks, this necessitates making correct material selections.

We have delicate feet! Everyone is scurrying about in search of a little shade on a hot paver or flagstone pool deck, desperate to avoid the scorching surfaces. We offer poolscapes that are robust and easy on the feet! Our team is here to help with all your pool deck design and installation needs. We go the extra mile to ensure that you are delighted with the solutions we provide.

For more information about our expert paver patio design services, please contact us at 443-808-0885. You can also use our quick form below to send us your details. We will schedule a free consultation for you as soon as possible.

REQUEST ESTIMATE FOR A YARD PROJECT
/by

Maryland Lawn Care in Annapolis

, ,

Maryland Lawn Care in Annapolis is a seasonal job. It doesn’t take long for your lawn to need a little green thumb love. Maintaining a yard is not always simple. This is especially true if you live in a seasonal area, like Annapolis, with harsh winters and hot summers.

Lawn care can be a tough job. It may seem like it is never ending and that there is always more to do than time to do it in. Luckily, we have the perfect solution for you. Paradise Landscape and Hardscapes lawn care services is ready to tackle all of your property landscape projects! We offer seasonal lawn care maintenance so that your yard will look its best all year round.

Don’t forget… your lawn is visible to everyone who passes by your Maryland home. So you can’t hide the flaws when it’s not mowing well.

We hear you. Life happens. This guide will give you the basics for what you need to do to your lawn season-by-season.

Your Complete Lawn Care Schedule for Maryland

While you might think lawn care is a one time thing, there is actually something important to do during each season. We want to help you understand what’s involved and why it helps your lawn thrive.

Winter Lawn Care

It’s winter… you don’t need to do anything to your lawn, right? Wrong. There are a few things you can do to your lawn care schedule as long as the ground isn’t frozen in January and February. For example, you may give your grass a root growth stimulant, which is sort of like a vitamin for your lawn. While it can be done at any time of year, it’s best to do so during the colder months because the roots are expanding and developing at that time.

Many homeowners have been using them on their own lawns for a long period of time. These applications are ideal for lawns planted in poor soil, such as those established after a home remodeling project. When your lawn soil is too acidic, lime can assist to balance it out after a soil test.

Maryland has blackout dates when you can’t put down any fertilizer, whether the weather is nice or not. This period begins on December 1 and ends on March 1. These state regulations are to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay.

Early Spring Lawn Care

Once we’ve made it through the ice and the cold, we are ready to roll into spring. This is a great season to get things going for the busy spring season ahead. Paradise Landscape and Hardscapes will get your Annapolis lawn care schedule moving in the right direction.

We start by cleaning up your yard. One of the first things we suggest is to grab a rake. This removes dead leaves and debris. You don’t want to pull out too much grass, but you do want to clear the lawn. This helps prep your yard for growth. We want your yard to receive the sunshine, air, water, and other nutrients it needs.

Finally, prepare your mower for the coming busy period. This includes sharpening the mower’s blades, filling the tires with air, changing the oil, and ensuring that everything is in order. You might need to check your mower on a regular basis during growing season.

Before you know it, March is here! Then you can fertilize. The first step towards achieving constant grass is to have adequate nitrogen in the soil. The higher your lawn’s vitality and density, the better it looks. While fertilizing, this is an excellent time of year to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds from developing. Keep an eye out for bare spots or areas on your lawn where snow mold, salt, or snow plow damage has been a problem. Later, you may want to seed and repair these spots.

Late Spring Lawn Care

Continue mowing your grass about once a week as you enter into spring. After you mow it, it should be 3 to 4 inches tall, and you should never remove more than one-third of the lawn at any one time. A second application of fertilizer and a second pre-emergent herbicide treatment will be done at this time on your lawn maintenance calendar, as well as a follow-up post-emergence weed treatment.

Pre-emergent herbicides are generally applied half early in the spring and half late, to assist manage those pesky weeds that don’t fall into place on your timetable. It acts as a kind of safety blanket since it provides a longer duration of action.

Early Summer Lawn Care

You should have an excellent yard by summer. After all the effort you’ve put into maintaining your Maryland lawn care plan throughout the year it’s sure to be rewarding. Mowing usually peaks in spring and summer, then again in fall. Mulching your lawn can lead to a decrease in mowing speed during the hotter summer months.

You’ll then apply a third fertilizer treatment, which is a slow-release combination. If weeds persisted after your pre-emergent treatment or broke through on bare lawn areas that are less healthy, you’ll need to use a post-emergent herbicide. Now, you’ll want to start keeping an eye out for insect pests or diseases, as well as any other lawn care problems that might develop. Chinch bugs, cutworms, and sod webworms are a few of the surface and subsurface insects that may emerge. If you notice that grubs are present in your lawn, it’s critical to get rid of them immediately. Grubs can cause significant damage to your grass if left unchecked.

Late Summer Lawn Care
Don’t forget to mow as well. As summer temperatures cool, growth may begin to rebound. In the spring and fall, you should mow every five days; in early spring, summer, and late fall, you should mow every ten days.Have you been watering your grass? You may have gotten a ton of water from the weather in the spring and early summer.

After all, Annapolis yard drainage solutions are big yard problem for Maryland residents. But when summer arrives, you should be irrigating at least once a week for about 45 to 60 minutes. Consider watering your lawn less if it’s an extra rainy season in Maryland. This is another part of your lawn maintenance plan to prepare your grass for winter.

Fall Lawn Care

See ya’ around summer. So long Ocean City, Maryland and Thrashers Fries. It’s fall! Now it’s time for fall fertilization on your Maryland lawn care schedule. To reach your goal of thicker, greener grass, all these substances must reach your lawn roots. Lawns, on average, keep less nutrients than vegetables. This is the ideal time of year to aerate your lawn and allow it to breathe. Traffic and normal compaction reduce the amount of nutrients absorbed.

If you detect any barren spots or areas, aeration allows for excellent conditions for overseeding. The temperatures are also ideal for lawn development this time of year. The fall is also the ideal moment to finish an intensive weed control with a post-emergent herbicide for cool-season weeds.

We hope we were able to shed some light on what it takes for a great lawn in Annapolis.  It takes time and patience and a genuine love to care for your lawn. Following our lawn care plan will help you stay on top of the workload. If you are sitting here thinking it’s too stressful or that you don’t have the time, we get it. Want your freedom back? We’re happy to take this job off of your hands. You can choose from a variety of our different lawn care programs. We will come out to see your yard and get you the best estimate based on budget and needs.

Want to learn more about how to get a great lawn in Anne Arundel County Maryland? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice. Then you can just sit back and enjoy your lawn.

Contact us today at 410-808-0885or visit our website https://paradisescapes.com/ for more information!

/by

Tree Care In the Winter

, ,

As we roll into the fall, we start to ponder tree care in the winter. During the winter, it’s critical to pay attention to your trees and shrubs in Maryland, especially if you live in a rural area. With most woody plants dormant during this time of year, pruning back dying or intrusive branches is more viable. Pruning trees is crucial since well-pruned plants produce greater fruit and flowers. It also helps your plants defend against pesky insects and diseases. Team Paradise is here with helpful advice on why, where, and when you should start pruning your trees.

The tree is a symbol of life – it’s green, full of leaves and provides shade. When winter comes around, the tree sheds its foliage to protect itself from the cold. This makes tree care in the winter different than tree care at other times of year. Let’s discuss these factors in detail so you know if now is a good time to plant a tree in your yard.

Decide On Tree Type – Evergreen or Deciduous

Consider the kind of tree you want to plant before deciding whether to undertake it in the winter. Spruce and pine trees, for example, never shed their needles. Evergreens have a smaller planting window than deciduous trees. This is because they need the nutrients they can absorb before the ground freezes. The key is to plant evergreens when the soil is no lower than 60 degrees.
 
Deciduous trees, which go dormant in the winter and shed their leaves, need less energy to grow in the winter months. This implies that when you seed them, the temperature may be cooler. Plant deciduous trees in the fall or early spring before they begin to bud, when the soil is 50 degrees or higher.

Climate Zone

The climate has a big influence on when you may plant a tree in your yard. Throughout Annapolis and most of northern United States, fall is the best time to plant trees. The heat of summer has passed, but the searing frosts of winter have yet to appear.
 
But, in more southern regions, you have more time to plant trees. These states tend to include In Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Upcoming Weather Forecast

Seasonal and short-term weather can all have an impact on your ability to plant a tree, as well as your climate. Even if you live in a northern location, a particularly harsh winter may be ideal for planting trees. Yet, owing to an early September snowstorm, you must wait until later to plant new trees.

Early, Mid, or Late Winter

The winter season is three phases. The early part of the winter season is like fall. This makes it ideal for tree relocation. When the ground freezes or snow falls, though, it’s best to wait until late winter or early spring. New saplings are more vulnerable to frost damage. Their roots can also dry out if planted midwinter.

Special Considerations

Here are some pointers to help your sapling survive the winter. This is good information for any type of tree you want to grow:
 
  • Keep watering: Every few days, water the earth surrounding the young tree until it is frozen. Give it a bigger watering than usual before a major freeze.
  • Mulch: Roots in particular are harmed by the freeze-thaw cycle. Mulch might insulate the surface and maintain a more constant temperature. It also inhibits evaporation, allowing the roots to receive water a little easier.
  • Stake the tree: Windy conditions during the early spring might impede a sapling’s growth. To assist the tree grow straight and true, bind it to three or four supports.
  • Consider applying anti-desiccant: Evergreens that include broadleaf are protected from desiccation (drying out) during the winter with anti-desiccants, which give a waxy covering.

A Few More Tips for Tree Care in The Winter

  • Don’t fertilize: You don’t want a sapling to sprout new limbs right after being planted. Compost and bone meal are both acceptable, but wait until the soil is fertilized in the spring.
  • Don’t prune: Transplanting is tough enough for a sapling without you taking any of its branches away. This occurs if a limb is damaged while being carried and must be cut off.
  • Protect from deer: Deer repellents are one of the most efficient deer deterrents available. To keep your young tree protected from deer browsing, apply a deer repellent to it. Install a protective tube over the trunk to prevent deer rubbing their antlers on it to avoid damage.
Trees and shrubs are susceptible to harsh winters. Cold weather can desiccate leaves, bark, and branches, as well as flower buds and roots.Humans and animals contribute to winter tree maintenance issues in their own way; salt on the road and sidewalk destroyed soil health, and animals generally eat tree bark and twigs as a result of winter food shortages. These threats, especially when combined, can damage your trees and plants if you aren’t prepared!
Thanks to this guide, you should now know whether you can plant a tree this time of year. Feel free to contact our amazing team at Paradise Landscape and Hardscape! We are happy to answer any questions you might have. Spring will be here before you know it, so it’s wise to start planning. Contact us by clicking the button below to request a FREE JOB ESTIMATE today!
REQUEST FREE ESTIMATE
/by

The Benefits of a Healthy Landscape

,

A healthy landscape is more than grass. It is a space that gives you peace. It also provides an aesthetic environment and can even make your home more valuable. Are you looking to improve the health of your lawn? There are many benefits of a healthy landscape. This article will give you some tips on how to create a beautiful healthy landscape in your yard!

The Environmental Benefits of Healthy a Landscape

  • Natural Air Conditioning – Grass is cooler than asphalt and cement. It serves as a “air conditioner” for the surroundings by lowering air temperatures. Lawns can be 31 degrees colder than asphalt and 20 degrees colder than bare soil. But there’s more: trees that shade houses may lower attic temperatures by up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Sound Barriers – Lawns and plants are effective in reducing noise pollution. In fact, they can reduce noise levels by 20% to 30% over hard surfaces like concrete and pavement.
  • Turfgrass is another solution. It prevents runoff from reaching bodies of water. It does this by slowing and absorbing it into its root system.
  • Air Purifiers – Grasses take up carbon dioxide and break it down into oxygen and carbon. A 50’x50′ lawn, for example, is capable of producing enough oxygen for a family of four.
  • Water Protectors – Healthy lawns remove noxious runoff before it has a chance to filter into bodies of water.
  • Environmental Cleaners – Grasses serve as a filter for dust, smoke particles, and other pollutants while also producing oxygen.

Even in areas where water restrictions are in place and drought is present, grasses and gardens must be maintained as a viable component of healthy communities. There are several sustainable techniques for cultivated lawns and gardens that help to reduce water consumption while also providing important environmental benefits.

The Many Benefits of Commercial Landscapes

Humans’ interactions with plants, trees, and grass have also been researched and documented. People experience stress relief and healing when interacting with nature or watching it from a window, according to research. When children with ADHD are outside, they appear to concentrate better (Harvard Health Publications). Workers become more efficient when working in areas with plants.

However, what people intuitively feel about the plants and green spaces in their lives–that they improve their lives and that they wish to make an effort to include it into their routines–goes beyond what science has to say.

“63 percent of respondents reported being willing to pay more for an apartment or home in a neighborhood with great green spaces, compared to 34% who were willing to pay more for a place with good shopping and 33% who were ready to pay more for a location with nice cultural attractions,” according to the Husqvarna Global Garden Report 2012.

According to Love Your Landscape, there are many organizations researching and documenting the affect of plants and green spaces on the environment and on our lives including:

  • University of Washington, Center for Urban Forestry
  • Nature Sacred
  • Project Evergreen
  • Green Plants for Green Buildings
  • American Society of Landscape Architects
  • The Lawn Institute
  • Nebraska Agricultural Extension Station Research Bulletin
  • Department of Interior
  • National Park Service

For more information or to schedule and appointment, contact Paradise Landscape and Hardscape today. We have decades of experience discuss the benefits of a healthy landscape.

REQUEST FREE ESTIMATE
/by

Creative Yard Drainage Solutions

,

The first step to successful landscape design starts with the right drainage system. As we all know, water is heavy and gravity pulls it down to the lowest point. This means that if water pools on your property, it ends up seeping into the ground and draining into your neighbor’s yard. The result? Your lawn becomes soggy and unusable while their driveway looks like a lake Every yard has drainage problems. It can be as simple as a small puddle or it could result in an ugly pond that never seems to go away. The yard is the most vulnerable because water flows downhill and collects on your property, taking up valuable space for kids or pets to play and turning your yard into a boggy mess! Team Paradise offers creative yard drainage solutions in Annapolis and the surrounding areas.

We are a leader in yard drainage solutions in Annapolis, Maryland. Our experienced team of professionals can handle any project, large or small. Is it your home or property that all the other people’s water drains to? Do you believe you must have a pond in your garden whenever it rains? Paradise Landscape and Hardscape can assist. On-site storm water collection, retention, and discharge through gravel-free dry wells are possible with us.

After rain, standing pools of water are one of the earliest indicators of a drainage problem in your yard. The soil should absorb as much water as it needs before the natural slopes of your yard redirect excess rainfall away from your home. When water accumulates in your yard, it’s usually due to low spots that collect water, compaction of the soil.

We Provide Yard Drainage Systems in Annapolis

A few tips and ideas for standing water in your yard:

  • Determine where the water congregates, then divert it away from those locations with a French drain, a catch basin, or a swale. A swale is a shallow channel that collects and redirects runoff water. Direct runoff water away from your property and toward an appropriate location such as a street drain or a natural body of water.
  • If you live in a region with thick, clay-like soil or recently completed a large construction project like an in-ground pool, your soil might be compacted. Using a cultivator to loosen the dirt and mix in high-quality topsoil will help remedy this condition. If the grass is washing away the topsoil and can take several months to a year.
  • If your yard is still damp after the rain, you may have underground springs that are flooding it. In this situation, use the water by growing a rain garden in the affected area. Excavate and fill the problem region with a blend of soil and gravel. To create a low-maintenance self-watering garden, put water-loving plants around.

Team Paradise Provides Expert Hardscaping Services

Flooding might not be the only consequence of yard drainage issues. Erosion of soil can also be a serious problem. If runoff water is hurting your landscape, consider these options:

  • Consider adding more hardscaping features to your yard, especially in problem areas, such as driveways and sidewalks.
  • Make a dry creek bed by digging a trench and covering it with landscape fabric before filling it with gravel. Large stones and rocks are placed along the border of the filled-in trench to keep the soil on either side in place as water travels through and over top of the dry creek bed.
  • To keep mulch in place, line the perimeter of garden beds with pebbles and pretty rocks.

To level your yard for you, you don’t always need a professional. You can usually fix it yourself with one of the techniques we’ve described above if you know what’s causing the problem but, Paradise Landscape and Hardscape has a team of experts ready to help fix all your yard drainage problems! Walkways, patios and paths can collect water and flood when not graded. This problem is most common for cement or sealed brick pathways that don’t allow water to flow through them.

To prevent pooling on your paths and patios, our experts can any of these solutions:

  • • To allow rainwater to flow, we can install or replace existing pathways with gravel or stepping stones. Or, we use gravel or segmented pieces to repair only the section with the most severe flooding problem.
  • We can also Install a catch basin. Water will flow through the catch basin’s grate, then carried away via an underground drain. Installing a catch basin is time-consuming work.
  • To install a pipe or a drain that allows water to flow under so that it does not pool between the edge of the walkway and home foundation, dig beneath the path.
  • Because of the location of your gutter downspouts, your pathways and patio may be inundated. Change the downspouts so that the water goes somewhere else.

No matter what your problems are, Paradise Landscape and Hardscape will come out to asses your yard drainage problems to come up with the best most affordable custom solution for you.
Call us today or fill out our FREE ESTIMATE form to get scheduled.

REQUEST A FREE ESTIMATE
/by

An Illuminating Look at Landscape Lighting

, ,

If you love your landscaping, then you spend a lot on it. That likely happens in many different ways, too. The article below explains an illuminating look at landscape lighting.

You might spend a lot of time maintaining your landscape design. If you’re going to spend money on hiring a crew of professionals to create ambiance in your yard, you need to hire Paradise Lawn and Landscape.

The biggest thing you do spending time in your yard and lot is relaxing and enjoying it. Whether it’s relaxing by yourself, playing with your kids and pets, or throwing parties for family and friends, you should enjoy your space all you can, that is until it gets dark outside!

Well-Designed Landscape Lighting Brings You Out of the Dark

Landscape lighting is a great property enhancement for you and your home if:

  • You want to be able to see what’s moving in your yard during the night.
  • Driving up to a well-lit home if you arrive after dusk is something you desire.
  • The holiday festivities beckon your name to show neighborhood cheer!
  • It’s a pain to move parties inside once the sunsets.
  • Accidents can happen when you walk around in the dark outside.

Outdoor Lighting or Landscape Lighting?

In past projects, we’ve heard it called both ways. We’re happy to install what works for your yard without being picky about what you call it.

Show Off Your Green

In today’s modern society, options are endless for outdoor lighting and include many different products… including various lighting fixtures and even transformers when necessary. They all work together to light up your exterior spaces when it is dark outside. This also helps to make your home safer and more personal.

They don’t let you show off your green space though. You can also use them to be green and save green. Halogen fixtures and LED lighting shine light for hundreds to tens of thousands of hours, depending on the technology and bulb.

That means you use a lot less electricity! This helps SAVE YOU MONEY! It also helps to preserve the planet’s resources. In certain lights, we can even use solar.

What Should My Landscaping Lighting Illuminate?

You might not like the idea of making your entire yard bright enough to read a book. That’s not the point, because your neighbors might not like that.

What you should be looking to do is highlight specific features in your landscape design:

  • Your home
  • Your garden
  • Water features
  • Landscaping
  • Walkways
  • Certain architectural elements

You Don’t Have to Plan Alone

If you are uncomfortable planning your lighting project, you aren’t alone. Let the pros handle it! We’ve got plenty of experience in creating beautiful landscapes… especially ones that you can show off in the dark.

Contact us for a free consultation. We can go over your options with you and help you plan out a lighting scheme that:

  • Helps you see your way from your car to your front door when you’re tired and it’s dark outside.
  • Lets people coming over know which home is yours and how to get to the doorbell.
  • Create curb appeal on your street and have your neighbors notice.
  • Gives unwanted visitors second thoughts about trespassing in your yard.

Where to Put Lights

What are you looking to achieve with lights? This answer will help us determine a custom plan for your yard. Anything is possible! We are no longer restricted to putting lights near power sources. And, we don’t need a lot of messy wires to get the job done either. Consider these possibilities:

  • Home-mounted lamps shining on your driveway closest to the house
  • Rows of small lamps at ground level lighting up your front walk
  • Ground-level lamps shining upward to show off your magnificent trees
  • A moonlighting effect by hanging lamps in your trees to shine on anything below

Cohesive Living

Your whole property is yours. Think about it. Do you treat your yard as a physical space between your home and the street or your neighbors?

You own the entire space, so own it in spirit too. Landscape lighting lets you merge your interior living space with your exterior one.

Use outdoor lighting to connect your indoor and outdoor spaces and pathways. With the right lighting, guests parked out on the street can find their way from their car to your door. Likewise, in the backyard, people can make it into your home when lightning and thunder interrupt your swim party or BBQ. We love taking An Illuminating Look at Landscape Lighting.

From Curbed Appeal to Curb Appeal

If curb appeal matters to you, then landscaping lighting is essential. An illuminating look into landscape lighting is what Team Paradise is all about. It’s okay by us if you want to make your home look as good as or better than your neighbors up and down the street. This is the kind of friendly competition that makes the community more beautiful for everyone.

But, if you are looking for an investment that gets more value out of selling your home, then outdoor lighting is a definite win. Selling your home is much easier with the right lighting than it is without.

There are a ton of homes for sale… potential buyers drive by homes before they decide to walk in for showings. Adding a little light creates an intimate feeling with the curbside appeal. Make the right first impression.

Ward Off the Holiday Blues

Not every piece of landscaping lighting has to be a permanent fixture. If you want your home to shine on the street… consider holiday lighting for Halloween, Christmas, and social gatherings! We know it’s been a while since anything felt normal since the pandemic. During this time we saw many homes and commercial properties add lights for a variety of reasons.

Are you feeling fancy? Yeah! We have fun options such as color-changing bulbs controlled through smartphone apps! These are sure to suit the festivities of the season or add color to your yard when your plants aren’t blooming.

Key Takeaways

Count on Team Paradise for your landscape lighting in the Annapolis, MD market for:

  • Enhanced property value
  • Safe passage across your property
  • Security that deters thieves and trespassing
  • Improved visual aesthetics
  • Energy-efficient technology and options

Contact us right away to find out what Paradise Landscape and Hardscape can do for you.

Request A Free Estimate
/by

The Best Low Maintenance Plants

, ,
Is your green thumb not so green? Are you looking for the best the best low maintenance plants to plant in your yard? This is a great way to add both interest, appeal, and functional use to your garden. If you have plants that need a lot of attention, this can become a hassle. Most likely you are busy and don’t have time to be trimming, fertilizing, pruning or cutting the grass. We can help you with your landscape gardening efforts in Annapolis. We can also help guide you on purchasing the best low maintenance plants for your yard.
 
So we decided to put together a list of the best low maintenance plants in Annapolis. If you want to dive right in, these plants and shrubs make great choices for your landscape.
 
It’s important to keep in mind that the proper installation of these plants is key. Some plants are shade lovers while other like hanging out in the sun. We have decades of experience and knowledge with plants and gardens in Annapolis. If you need a hand, fill out our quick estimate form by clicking the button at the end of this post.
 

12 of the Best of Low Maintenance Plants in Annapolis

 

Low Maintenance Trees

 
Low maintenance trees to be relatively disease and pest-resistant. They also don’t need lots of care, such as regular pruning, to fall under the category of low maintenance trees. While there is no such thing as a tree that needs zero care, these 4 won’t give you lots of extra work:
 

Japanese Maple Trees in Annapolis

 
Japanese Maple trees are famous for their bright fall foliage. They come in many varieties. Some of which are airy and upright and others that are compact and domed. On the whole, most all Japanese Maple make low maintenance trees for your yard.
 

Serviceberry Trees in Annapolis

 
Serviceberry trees are deciduous members of the Rosaceae family. The bloom in all four seasons. Spring produces beautiful blooms. Winter produces fruit. In the fall they have gorgeous fall color foliage. Growing and caring for a Serviceberry tree does not take a lot of work. It is a very cold-hardy tree. It handles the winter well and brings an interesting unique design to your landscape.
 

Crape Myrtle Trees in Annapolis

 
The Crape Myrtle is one of the best known low maintenance trees in Annapolis. Natives Annapolitans know the Crape Myrtle as the “lilac of the South.” It’s flowers are striking and creates a stunning addition to a landscape. It is also low maintenance as far as flowering trees go. It only needs approximately 30 to 60 minutes of pruning each year and it will look and perform well for you. Crape Myrtles come in a variety of colors and will grow to vary in size when they mature.
 

Magnolia Trees in Annapolis

 
Hello sweet Magnolia. How do we love you? Magnolia trees can be evergreen or deciduous. Both types of these trees have large and striking blossoms. These trees are hardy and adaptable. Though they prefer slightly acidic soil, they will adapt to your natural soil, even if it’s sandy or heavy in clay. These trees often serve as small ornamental accent plants. But they have varieties that will grow into medium-sized trees.
 

Low Maintenance Shrubs

 
When looking at low maintenance shrubs, we’re looking at varieties that don’t need a lot of tending to. These are some of the best low maintenance plants and shrubs for the Annapolis region. They are drought-tolerant and generally resistant to problems with disease or pests. Here are 4 that are adaptable to most landscapes:
 

The Burning Bush

 
This shrub is a bright crimson color in the fall. Native to Asia, this large bush will adapt well to almost any site or soil condition. It also requires minimal care. While it’s almost wholly hands-off, occasional pruning will help keep its size down if you have a tight space. This medium to large-sized shrub has many uses. As a result, it can even create excellent privacy screens during spring through fall.
 

The Nandina

 
This hardy is nicknamed “heavenly bamboo” for its ability to thrive almost anywhere. It also resembles bamboo. Nandina has evergreen tendencies. It also has a unique color combination and leaves that change from green to reddish purple. Different cultivars will grow as small or medium-sized shrubs.
 

The Azalea

 
The Azalea is a member of the Rhododendron family. Azaleas produce showy and fragrant blooms in the spring. Additionally, they have many different color blooms such as white, lavender, orange, gold, red, and purple. They are easy to care for and need very little attention. Plant them in the right area of your yard! They need moist, but well-drained soil. Azaleas are slow growers so these are ideal choices for tighter spots. With regular pruning, it’s easy to keep them confined within most spaces.
 

The Hydrangea

 
Generally speaking, hydrangeas are versatile and easy to grow. There are many varieties of this flowering shrub. Oakleaf is one of the easiest to care for and can tolerate cold weather. They can also tolerate the sun and withstand drought. But all varieties of hydrangea are low maintenance and produce stunning blooms. These shrubs vary in size from 3-8 ft.
 

Low Maintenance Flowers

 
Choosing low-maintenance perennials will help color to your landscape. They will also provide a little curb appeal without adding a bunch of extra work. Perennials will re-grow each season. Annual flowers last one growing season and need to be replanted.
Here are 4 that you might want to consider if you’re looking for low-maintenance flowers:
 

Daylilies in Annapolis

 
Daylilies bloom quickly and are easy to grow. They are incredibly drought-tolerant and need minimal (if any) watering. Color variations include yellow, gold, orange, red, and purple.
 

Salvia flowers in Annapolis

 
Salvia is of the largest genus in the Mint family. It is also one of the best low maintenance plants in Annapolis. Perennial Salvias are easy to grow and perform well in our local climate. We love the Russian Sage. It’s a low maintenance perennial that produces tall spires of bluish flowers.

 

Lavender plants for your Garden in Annapolis

 
Lavender is an attractive flower and smells so good. It has a muted purple color. It also has a distinct scent, which used as a calming essential oil! Lavender is not fussy to grow. It’s a tough woody perennial that requires very little care. Lavender only needs well-drained soil and some room to grow and it will thrive.
 

Coreopsis flowers in Annapolis

 
Known as “Tickseed,” Coreopsis is a bright and showy flower. It can surive in almost any soil. There are more than 100 species. Most all are low maintenance and drought-tolerant.
 
Knowing which plants to incorporate is one important piece of the puzzle—but it’s not everything. It’s also a matter of incorporating them in a way that makes sense.
 
We hope this article has shed some light on the best low maintenance plants in the Annapolis, MD region. It’s important to understand that while these plants low maintenance, they might not thrive on your property.
 
There are tons of other options to consider! A beautiful, low maintenance landscape can add tremendous value to your home.
 
If you need a hand, we’d love to help. Fill out our quick estimate form by clicking the button below to get started! You can also view our YouTube channel for updates!

 

Request An Estimate
/by

Tree Care in Hot Summer Months

, ,

Tree care in Annapolis, MD during the hot and wet summer months is a year-round responsibility.  As a result different trees need different requirements. Every tree and growing location is different. It’s important to be flexible and tailor your approach to suit your specific trees. The following tips should help you with tree card in hot summer months in Annapolis.

Apply a fresh layer of mulch over the roots.

Mulch helps to keep your trees – especially their roots – healthy in a variety of ways. However, mulch’s ability to shield the roots from high temperatures and to retain soil moisture are the two most important ways it can help in the summertime.

There are a variety of different mulches you can use, but organic, bark- or wood-based mulches are generally the best choices. Just make sure that you spread a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer around as much of the root zone as possible, and avoid piling mulch up against the tree trunk, as this can encourage fungal and bacterial growth.

Develop an irrigation plan.

Annapolis summers are notoriously wet. Big thunderstorms, called Boomers, just pound our area with rain. Man trees can withstand these wet conditions without any supplemental irrigation. But, others will need a helping hand if they’re to survive.

Research the water needs of your trees if you aren’t already familiar with them and devise a plan to suit their needs. There are a number of highly efficient ways to remove water around trees. Why waste all of the free water from your landscape, rooftop, driveways, patios, and grass area. Re-use it! This new technology will collect and retain groundwater and rainwater underground and be able for you use at your own convenience. Are you tired of having ugly rain barrels under your gutter downspouts? We can install a retention basin underground, collect and retain all rainwater, and then hook this new water source to a hose or your irrigation system.

Paradise Landscape & Hardscape designs and installs yard drainage solution

Catch basins, channel drains, & French drains to move water away from home. These are different types of yard drainage solutions in Annapolis.

  • Connect gutter downspouts and run them underground to the location you want
  • Dry creek bed with hidden drainage pipes to channel water and improve the aesthetic properties
  • Change the grading on your property to divert water in a different direction
  • Innovative Dry-wells

Protect tree roots and trunks.

It’s summer. Kids are out of school and the tourist season is in full swing. Unfortunately, all your trees and shrubs are getting trampled. They may even fall victim to vandalism or deliberate damage. As a result, while you can’t completely protect your trees from these threats, you’ll want to do everything you can to shield them from harm. Mulch will help protect a tree’s roots from minor foot traffic, but you may want to install fences or other types of barriers if your tree lies along a well-trodden path.

You may even be able to install other plants to help keep people away from the trunks and roots of your trees – a couple of prickly holly shrubs can convince most casual passersby from getting too close. If you see big roots exposed, curling or snaking on the soil’s surface around a tree, it can be a sign of trouble. Tree roots normally grow just below ground, in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil.

Therefore when roots are above the soil, they’re easily damaged. They can be sliced by lawnmowers or string trimmers, or worn and torn by foot traffic. Damaged roots can’t do their job of collecting water and nutrients to support the tree.

Try these tips.

Don’t try to rebury the roots by piling on more soil. Ideally, soil may end up too deep or tightly packed, so the fine feeder roots can’t absorb oxygen.
Do spread mulch over the roots. This will: Cushion the roots, Insulate them, Discourage foot traffic, Keep lawnmowers away (there’s no need to mow mulch)

Do use an organic material such as wood chips or shredded wood. Spread it in an even layer 3 to 4 inches deep over the surface of the soil.
Do make the area of mulch as large as it needs to be to completely cover the exposed roots, even if that means covering an area of lawn. It’s healthier for a tree to be surrounded by mulch than by grass.

Exposed roots aren’t just a dangerous tripping hazard; they can spell danger for the trees they support.

Inspect the tree’s health while the canopy is full.

Crown dieback – characterized by dead or dying branches in the canopy — is one of the most common signs of failing health or stress, and it is important to regularly inspect your trees for it. However, it can be difficult to do so for deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in the winter.
However, the summer provides the perfect time to take a look at the canopies of your trees, as the tree should be exhibiting the greatest leaf density at this time. If you note any dead branches, be sure to have a landscaper inspect the tree at once.

Do you know what the Maryland State Tree is?

The White Oak. Handsome and sturdy, the white oak is named for its whitish bark and grey twigs. White Oaks are large, long-lived, and slow-growing trees, reaching heights of 60 to 150 feet, with diameters between 3 to 4 feet. Their glossy, bright green leaves have rounded lobes, five to seven per leaf. The species is found commonly throughout Maryland. Sometime around its fiftieth year, a white oak begins to produce acorns and may produce 10,000 annually. Crowned with shallow caps that are smooth underneath, these acorns sprout soon after falling from the tree. Sweet to the taste, they are a dietary mainstay for over 80 species of birds and mammals. Native Americans ground acorns into flour, a technique they shared with early European settlers. White oaks produce prime hardwood lumber with a fine, almost watertight grain, excellent for barrel staves.

***
If you are concerned that your trees won’t take this summer in stride, give Paradise a call or fill out our FREE ESTIMATE form below. We’ll come out to inspect your trees and recommend the best strategies for keeping them healthy throughout the hot, humid, wet weather. We may even notice subtle signs that indicate imminent problems, thereby allowing you to treat them proactively and avoid headaches down the line.

Request Free Estimate
/by

Drainage and Irrigation Solutions

, ,

The historic town of Annapolis sits close to the edge of the coastal waters. It receives medium to heavy rainfall, with a lot of it pooling in low areas. If this is the case, Team Paradise is to the rescue. We provide expert drainage and irrigation solutions in Annapolis, MD, and surrounding areas. In fact, our Annapolis drainage and irrigation solutions focus on some of the most common standing water and pooling water problems that residential and commercial properties experience here in Anne Arundel County.

The following examples are just some of the many yard drainage and irrigations solutions that Team Paradise provides.

Landscape Drainage

Landscape drainage differs from our other service, hardscaping. Both can help you remove excess water from your property, but actual drainage solutions address the problem by removing the water in multiple ways. You may decide that you need more than just one type of yard drainage, depending on how the water collects and stays in different areas of your yard.

Drainage Ditches

Properties close to a road and far from the city’s main sewer lines can benefit from drainage ditches. These are generally constructed by grading and sloping your yard downward toward the street while excavating three- or four-foot deep trenches on either side of your driveway. A culvert pipe may be used to keep the overflow of higher water accumulation from coming up onto the driveway. Sometimes a drainage pipe is connected to the culvert underneath the road so that water can flow down into the ground.

Channel Drains

Think of channel drains like the eavestroughs on your house. Water flows into the channels and runs along until it can empty somewhere else. These are not to be confused with French drains, which are a different product altogether. Channel drains are also called trench drains because you dig a trench to collect the pooling water and move water into the trenched area.

Channels are dug into the soil. The yard is graded so that the water rolls down into the metal or plastic channel placed into the soil channel to collect the water. Then it all rolls through this channel to a location that disperses the water from your yard.

French Drains

Property owners love French drains for yard drainage because you don’t see these drains after the soil covers them and landscaping is done around them.

Like trench drains, a channel a few inches wide and several inches deep is dug into the ground. A perforated pipe is placed in the bottom. A filtering mechanism goes over the top of the tube to prevent soil and rocks from getting into the line. Then you add a layer of gravel over top of that before the soil is replaced to make a nice yard.

As water seeps through this mostly invisible drain, it sinks down through the gravel, down through the filter, and into the perforated pipe. The water collects here, and either is released into the soil underneath or allowed to flow through the pipe and out into the street or into city sewer systems. Our team of drain experts can discuss with you how your location and drainage needs affect the way in which your French drain will flow and empty.

Yard Drains

If you live within the city limits of Annapolis and your home or commercial property is connected to city sewer lines, you can opt for yard drains. These are underground pipes that feed into the local sewers or empty into the bay or ocean via a concrete and metal drain. The drain opening is placed into the most troublesome pooling and standing water spots. Grates cover the round drain holes so that no one can get stuck or lose a pet down the drain.

Draining to Irrigation

Eco-minded people love yard drainage solutions over-irrigation solutions. Drainage solutions move it into a system of pipes and spray heads for recycling. This type of system is great if you live in an area that has droughts. Irrigation systems have to be custom-designed to fit your property. They are a great solution but can be a little more expensive and trickier.

Changing Downspouts

A significant cause of pooling water is downspouts. Usually, this is due to the downspouts not extending long enough past your property. Adding longer downspouts resolves this problem. Drain spouts also irrigate the landscape by collecting water.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are a nice segue into hardscaping as a form of drainage control. These walls prevent water from collecting and pooling, pushing the water away from areas where it might ordinarily pool. We build all types of retaining walls in Annapolis.

Hardscapes

Annapolis hardscaping contractors like Paradise Landscape and Hardscape, LLC, know how to use stone and brick structures to keep water away. Team Paradise constructs patios, retaining walls, and other stone and brick structures that not only deal with your water problems but also serve different functions and look beautiful. Our team of hardscape design professionals can assess the water problems in your yard and then look at ways in which hardscape design can solve two problems with a single, functional, aesthetically pleasing solution.

Hardscapes increase your home value because people love patios and built-in walls to protect their homes and yards. Check out all the examples of Annapolis hardscaping just by taking a walk around town or in your neighborhood. Most likely you’ll see a little of our yard drainage and irrigation solutions projects. The prettier, neater, and drier the yard, the more home value your property will have.

Contact Us Today for Your Drainage and Irrigating Solutions

We would love to hear from you! Our experienced and dedicated team of expert landscapers can handle any size job. We will provide recommendations and an estimate for cost-effective yard drainage solutions. The best time to call us out is just after a storm. As a result, we can see where water is pooling on your property. Then we can provide the best solution possible

FREE ESTIMATE
/by