Fern Fest, Native Plants, & Ecological Restoration
What exactly is “Fern Fest?” Fern fest is an annual Earth Week celebration and gardening event at Drew. Students gather each spring to replace a section of campus lawn with diverse native ferns and wildflowers, helping to restore the forest ecosystem that once thrived here. Small shrubs and trees are also planted. The Fern Fest event also includes other activities, depending on interests of the organizing students: tie-dying, craft and food booths, and bands playing into the evening. The end results: enhanced biodiversity on campus, a fun community celebration, and some good environmental education for all.
How did the Fern Fest restoration project start? In 1998, graduate student Nicole Roskos circulated a petition calling for the reforestation of the Drew campus – not just the tree layer but other layers of the forest ecosystem that were present 200 years ago. Large numbers of students, staff, and faculty members signed the petition, and a pilot project was funded by the administration. The native ferns and wildflowers of this first area impressed all with their beauty, and students then established a fund-raising tradition for expanding the restoration area each year.
Why “native” plants? By planting native species we restore at least some elements of the natural forest ecosystem, which will then bring back other components such as birds, butterflies, and soil fauna. Instead of a “dead zone” of exotic ornamental plants from distant continents, we create an approximation of the natural forest. Moreover, many native wildflowers are imperiled by suburban development, and by establishing new populations we hope to help stave off local extinction.
Does Fern Fest increase diversity? Yes. Where only a few species of scrawny grasses and weeds once grew, some 70 native species have been planted, including 40 types of wildflowers, a dozen species of small shrubs, and a large proportion – 15 species – of the region’s non-swamp ferns. Fern Fest fundraising has also planted a dozen sizable native trees. As of 2009, over 5000 ferns, wildflowers, and low shrubs have been planted to form a lush, natural ground layer beneath our ancient trees.
Who does fundraising and organizing for Fern Fest? Two student organizations work together to make Fern Fest happen: the Drew Environmental Action League and the Earth House. In addition, Sara Webb (Environmental Studies Program Director) and Mike Kopas (Special Projects Director) are knowledgeable about native plants and work together to choose species that will thrive in each year’s Fern Fest location.
What’s wrong with just planting grass and having a lawn? The center of Drew’s campus is deeply shaded by ancient white oaks and beech trees, and none of several concerted efforts to grow turf there has succeeded. The resulting bare ground was vulnerable to soil erosion and surrounding walkways filled with mud after every storm. More generally, lawns demand maintenance and are environmentally costly. Native plants, once established for a few years, will normally thrive with minimal attention.
Where else on campus have plantings focused on restoring nature? Drew University has a native plant policy. This means that only native species of trees, shrubs, ferns, and perennials are planted on campus. Extensive native plantings adorn several areas of campus in addition to the ever-expanding “Fern Fest” lands: along campus roadways from the Forum to the Back Gate, throughout the President’s House area, within the Brothers College courtyard, and all around Seminary Hall, Sitterly House, McLendon Hall, the Townhouses, and the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts. In addition, a wide diversity of native trees have been planted throughout the campus. Meanwhile, in the Drew Forest Preserve, we are removing invasive plants and working to restore lost biota of native ecosystems.


Parks are a welcome green oasis for anyone anywhere, but they’re possibly most appreciated in concrete jungles where space and nature are at a premium.
New parks are popping up across the country on top of highways. They’re called deck parks, highway cap parks or land bridges — and they’re a huge hit.
You’ll find deck parks in Boston, Dallas, New York City and San Francisco. Parks are underway in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Denver. Other cities, such as Atlanta and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, are considering it. (See below.)
Parks built over highways aren’t brand new. Seattle has had one over Interstate 5 since 1976 and Phoenix over I-100 since 1990. But such parks have become increasingly popular as a way to find space in teeming cities, add greenery to downtowns, encourage more outdoor activity, rejuvenate blighted areas and rejoin urban neighborhoods split by road construction decades earlier.
I’m all for more parks. Having grown up near a city park, I spent a lot of time there — as a child and as a teenager. I recently visited the new deck park in San Francisco. I’ve also been to the deck parks in Boston, Chicago and Dallas.
Parks can make a difference. Trees and plants take carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen. Studies shows that plants can help humans fight depression. A recent U.S. Department of Transportation case study found that most visitors (91 percent) to Dallas’ new deck park said it “significantly improved” their quality of life. That park also spurred economic, environmental and other benefits, including new tax revenue, a big jump in adjacent commercial rents and increased streetcar ridership in Dallas.
Here’s your guide to finding a deck park — or plans for one — near you:
5 new(ish) deck parks
San Francisco: Salesforce Park in the South of Market area is one of the latest deck parks. It opened in August 2018 as part of larger project, including a new transit center and office tower for software company Salesforce. Not long after, the 5.4-acre rooftop park closed when two cracked steel beams were found. It re-opened last summer. The narrow park includes a walking loop, a small amphitheater, a playground and a fountain. The $2.2 billion park is public, but Salesforce bought sponsorship, giving it naming rights for 25 years. It’s open through April 30 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dallas: I was living here in 2012, when the city opened the 5-acre, $110 million Klyde Warren Park above a freeway that separates two neighborhoods: the downtown Dallas Arts District and Uptown. People flock to the park, which offers many activities (ping-pong to yoga), a water feature, a restaurant, a dog park and free wi-fi. The foundation that runs the park plans to add 1.2 acres for a pavilion and more parking. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (See the featured photo I took of the park at top and below.)
Dallas plans to build another deck park near the Dallas Zoo as part of a project to widen I-35E. The 5-plus-acre Southern Gateway Deck Park will reconnect and revitalize parts of the Oak Cliff neighborhood south of downtown. Park construction could begin by 2022.
New York City: The High Line park built on a 1.45-mile, elevated rail line on the West Side opened in 2009. The High Line app lets visitors digitally explore the park’s features, such as overlooks, art, performances, food venues and programs like summer dancing. The narrow, serpentine park, which runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through March 31 (it closes later in spring, summer and fall).
The High Line deck park in New York City meanders through different neighborhoods. (Photo by Alex Simpson on Unsplash)
Boston: The Rose Kennedy Greenway opened in 2008 at a cost $40 million. The 1.5-mile park sits above the city’s Central Artery, which was moved underground during what’s called the “Big Dig.” The long and narrow park offers food trucks, planted paths, events (such as movies, music and fitness classes), a carousel, fountains, art and free wi-fi. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Chicago: While Millennium Park isn’t elevated and doesn’t cover a highway, it is on a deck built over railroad tracks. Since opening in 2004, the park has become a huge tourist attraction and a focal point of the city. Some highlights include: a 2.5-acre garden; Cloud Gate, a sculpture that resembles a giant shiny, stainless-steel bean; a 925-foot-long footbridge; two performance venues; Crown Fountain, which consists of a reflecting pool bookended by two 50-foot glass towers on which video images of residents are projected.
5 possible parks on the horizon
Pittsburgh: The city began working on the I-579 Cap Park in June 2019 to cover part of I-579 and reconnect downtown with its historically black neighborhood called the Hill District. The 3-acre park will include a garden, a watercourse, art and an amphitheater. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2021.
Denver: The city’s $1.3 billion highway project will tear down an elevated portion of I-70 through a low-income neighborhood in the northeast, bury the new road and build a 5-acre deck park on top. The Central 70 project may be completed around 2022.
Philadelphia: The city is going big, with plans for a 12-acre, $220-million park over I-95. The Park at Penn’s Landing withe views of the Delaware River. The park, which is scheduled to open in 2024, will include performance space, food and drink venues, a play area, a water feature and an ice-skating rink (in winter).
Atlanta: Three groups propose deck parks over parts of busy downtown highways. The Central Atlanta Progress business coalition and Chik-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy tout separate plans for a park covering the I-75 and I-85 Downtown Connector. The Buckhead Community Improvement District proposes a park over Georgia State Route 400.
St. Paul, Minn.: A nonprofit called ReConnect Rondo advocates building a “land bridge” over part of I-94. It would reconnect the city’s Rondo neighborhood, which was divided by the highway’s construction, and provide land for a park and other development.


Two bare areas at the Tarxien Prehistoric Complex are to be transformed into a garden and a space for relaxation, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Heritage Malta and The Alfred Mizzi Foundation.
The areas comprise a large field immediately behind the prehistoric complex and a smaller stretch of land close to the visitor centre.
The field is set to become a green space with trees and shrubs for family enjoyment. The choice of indigenous and endemic trees has been carefully made in order not to disturb any archaeological remains in the area. Some of the species planted will be similar to ones growing on the Maltese Islands in the Neolithic, providing the ideal opportunity for visitors to discover ecological aspects of that period.
The smaller area lends itself beautifully to become the second Ġnien Dinja Waħda garden at a Heritage Malta site, following the success of the first one located at Għar Dalam. Ġnien Dinja Waħda is meant as an educational area for children and follows in the footsteps of similar spaces that have been created in several educational institutions with the help of BirdLife Malta. Such spaces provide children with the opportunity to feel at one with nature and to learn in an applied, rather than abstract, way. As in Għar Dalam, Tarxien’s Ġnien Dinja Waħda will be planted with indigenous and endemic trees and shrubs, will have a seating area, and will feature a freshwater pond, thus giving children the opportunity to observe various land and water species in their natural habitat.
Through the MOU, The Alfred Mizzi Foundation shall be financing the supply of all trees and shrubs to be planted in both areas, as well as an irrigation system and other ancillary needs. Heritage Malta shall be fully responsible for maintaining both areas upon completion.
The MOU was signed by Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, and by Julian Sammut, Chairman of The Alfred Mizzi Foundation.
Mr Zammit expressed his gratitude towards The Alfred Mizzi Foundation and said that through such financial aid, Heritage Malta is in a better position to embark on initiatives that do not only provide alternative learning means for children but also relaxation areas for families at its own sites. Such initiatives also highlight Heritage Malta’s commitment towards the environment.
Mr Sammut mentioned that over the last couple of years The Alfred Mizzi Foundation stepped up its commitment to conserving and embellishing the local environment with special emphasis on tree planting. This first planting project with Heritage Malta may soon be followed with a far larger and more ambitious one in the area around Borġ in-Nadur in Birżebbuġa. Ambjent Malta’s enthusiatic support has been of great help. Earlier this year, the Foundation embarked on a three-year, 2,000 tree planting exercise with the Majjistral National Park. “We are happy that this project in Tarxien will not solely serve our aim of increasing the tree population on the Maltese Islands, but also embellish this magnificent prehistoric complex whilst ‘protecting’ it from the hectic modern day life outside its boundary,” said Mr Sammut.
Press Releases | 27th October 2023
FARE CONVITO! Exhibition Explores the Rituals of Baroque Banqueting
25th October 2023
Proposals for a monument to Dr. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici


Are you tired of mowing your lawn every weekend? Do you struggle to cut the grass evenly while edging your lawn to keep its borders clean and clearly defined? Mowing a lawn may not be complicated, but mowing it at a professional level is. There's so much more to mowing a lawn that just pushing a mower up and down your lawn. Anyone can mow a lawn, but not everyone can create the professionally manicured look that most homeowners want. We don't think of ourselves as landscapers, we think of ourselves as professionals that combine elements of landscaping with artistry to create amazing looking lawns. We speak with our clients to figure out what they want out of their lawn, then we develop a plan to achieve their vision.
The Height Your Grass Is Cut at Matters
Did you know that different varieties of grass thrive when they are cut at different heights? We're willing to bet that you didn't know that. Why are we so confident that you didn't know about how important the height of the grass is when it's cut? Because almost nobody knows this. Most people just mow their lawn once a week in the summer and don't give a second thought to how tall the grass should be. If that's what you've been doing, it's okay. There's no way that you could have known that you could have been damaging your grass, or impeding its growth. This is yet another example of why hiring a professional, like us, is so important when it comes to lawn care.
When you hire us to take care of your lawn, the first thing that we'll do is come out and inspect it. We need to see what kind of condition it's in, and just as importantly we need to see what type of grass you have. We understand how different varieties of grass grow at different rates, so once we inspect your lawn, we can set up a schedule to cut your grass regularly while keeping it at the ideal height.
Edging and Attention to Detail Is What Sets Us Apart
When it comes to mowing and edging a lawn, it's the attention to detail that sets apart a professionally manicured lawn from one that isn't. We pride ourselves on paying attention to the little things. When we create any type of pattern in your grass when we cut it, we are precise. If the pattern has straight lines, then we make sure that they are straight. If it's a grid, we make sure that the grid is evenly spaced. It's surprisingly difficult to create a tight pattern when mowing a yard, and it's something that we've perfected after many years of practice. Our experience sets us apart, giving us the knowledge, training, and techniques necessary to cut your lawn leaving it looking immaculate.
Another area where attention to detail is incredibly important is when edging your lawn. Missing out on a few blades of grass can turn a lawn that would look neat and well-maintained into one that looks a bit messy. That's how small the margin for error is when edging a lawn. It may not be rocket science, but it's a lot more challenging than the average person realizes. When we edge a lawn we are precise, ensuring that your lawn will have clean, tight, and flawless borders.
We can Use Your Lawn Clippings to Fertilize Your Lawn
Most people that cut their grass will spend a lot of time afterward raking it up, bagging it, then throwing it out. When we see this happening, we can't help but think about what a waste this is. Cut grass is full of nutrients that can keep your lawn healthy and strong. After we cut your grass, we'll spread it out across your lawn effectively turning it into a highly nutritious mulch. Why spend extra money on fertilizer when you can use your grass clippings to nourish your lawn. No, this doesn't mean that you can skip fertilizing your lawn. What it does mean is that using your grass clipping as a type of mulch will provide extra nourishment to your lawn, helping it to remain healthy.
Now, just because we don't rake up and throw out your grass clippings doesn't mean that your sidewalks will be covered in them. We would never leave anyone's home in this kind of condition, so while we leave your clippings in your lawn, we also carefully clean them off of your sidewalk and driveway.
We Can Schedule Regular Lawn Care to Ensure Your Lawn Always Looks Immaculate
If you'd like the set it and forget it option when it comes to your lawn care, then let us know. We'd be happy to have a set schedule where we come out and cut and edge your lawn bi-weekly, weekly, or even twice a week if you need us to. We're here to help, so if a set schedule works best for you, then just let us know.


A paving slab suppliers can provide any contractor with the materials and equipment they need to complete a project. These products include a wide range of asphalt and concrete construction equipment that can be used for road and highway paving, parking lot construction, and residential paving. They also have a variety of work zone traffic control items to help ensure the safety of all workers and drivers on site.
Paving materials come in a wide variety of colors and styles, from concrete pavers to natural stone cobblestones. Each of these types of paving stones has its own unique look and characteristics. It’s important to work out for yourself, or with a client, exactly which paving material will be the best for their project.
Quality Underfoot: Unveiling the Importance of Selecting the Right Paving Supplier
Concrete pavers are made with a mix of cement, sand and water that is fired at high temperatures to make it very hard-wearing. They are available in a huge variety of colors and are easy to maintain. Brick pavers are a bit more durable than concrete, but they are not as hard-wearing. Granite pavers are highly resistant to salt and other chemicals, but they can be quite expensive.
Natural stone paving is beautiful, and it will add a touch of elegance to any property. It is also very hard-wearing, and it will age over time to become part of a garden landscape’s aesthetic. However, it is more susceptible to staining than other types of paving materials. It is a good idea to treat all paving materials with a protective sealer to reduce the risk of damage.


Landscaping includes any activity that modifies the visible features of an area. It can include use of living elements like flora and fauna. It also uses natural elements such as landforms and water bodies. Adding a water pond to your home garden is a way of landscaping, to make your garden look attractive. Various features of water elements like fountains and waterfalls can be added further to the pond to make it look more beautiful. You can consider the suggestions of an expert when you plan to have a water pond. It is very much beneficial to add a pond to your garden.
- Water ponds offer you landscape improvement. They add a level of complexity thus giving a new dimension to the landscaping design. If you have larger space in your yard or garden, you can arrange a perfect pond in it.
- They are environmental friendly. They provide a way to increase the biodiversity of your landscape. The plants, flowers, and shrubs near the ponds are made more healthier. A constant evaporated water from the pond filters the air chemically thus improving the air quality.
- A well-maintained water pond increases the resale value of your property. You can also use the pond water to maintain your landscape till the lifetime of the pond. This helps you in avoiding the costs associated with water supply.


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- New lawn and garden class — Fall Chores
New lawn and garden class — Fall Chores
NEW LAWN & GARDEN CLASS!
“FALL CHORES IN THE LAWN & GARDEN”
DATE: Wed., Oct. 18th, 2017
PLACE: Oak Island Recreation
Center- 3003 E. Oak Island Dr.
TIME: 5:30 – 6:30 pm
As the growing season comes to a close in the Cape Fear Region, continued maintenance of your lawn and garden is critical to help ensure a successful spring and summer growing season next year. Instructor Sam Marshall of the NC Cooperative Extension of Brunswick County will cover several topics including mowing & fertilization of lawns, planting of trees and shrubs and maintenance of tools & equipment.
To sign up for this FREE class, please call Sherry Ratliffe in Public Works @ 910.201.8083 or email @email@example.com.
(Seating is limited, so sign up soon!!)


The Biolytix® Septic Retrofit
Product: The Biolytix® Septic Retrofit
Innovator: Dean Cameron
Company: Biolytix® Water Pty Ltd (Qld)
The Biolytix® Septic Retrofit is a living filter that is built inside a (failing) septic tank. The Biolytix filter uses biological (non-chemical) processes to treat blackwater and greywater and converts them into clean irrigation water for the garden and lawn.
It is the only system able to be built entirely inside an existing (failing) septic tank to provide quality irrigation water.


Gibbs Gardens’ Daffodil Gardens feature more than 20 million daffodil blossoms—representing 60 varieties—covering 50 acres of hillsides and valley. The annual Daffodil Festival begins in March and runs through April 15 as early, mid and late season varieties bloom, showcasing unique daffodil varieties every two weeks.
Jim Gibbs began planting daffodils in 1987 and continues to plant thousands more bulbs each year. To date more than four million daffodils have been planted and millions more have grown from natural division. To create this one-of-a-kind daffodil garden, land was cleared and terraces created with lush green grass, providing open spaces contrasting with natural woodland.
Terraces have long curves with walks on level areas to view the early-, mid- and late-blooming daffodils, during the six-week season. Forsythia and spirea plantings compliment wide sweeping curves of daffodils as far as the eye can see. Colors range from primrose-yellow, yellow, gold, saffron, orange, shades of yellow and orange, and finally blush pinks, creamy whites and white.
Canopied by stands of cherry and flowering dogwood, millions of daffodil blossoms create great waves of color that ebb and tide as they flow toward adjoining hills. Gentle walks traverse two of the hillsides and climb 150 feet to spectacular views of the North Georgia mountains in the near distance with millions of daffodils below. Late blooming fragrant daffodils along borders and paths sweeten the spring air with nature’s gentle scents. Panoramic views of hillsides and valleys carpeted by myriad shades of silver and gold offer garden visitors a most spectacular garden experience.
“The largest display of daffodils this side of Holland.”
Southern Living Magazine


Tree pruning is an essential practice that involves selectively removing specific branches or parts of a tree. It is a vital aspect of tree care and maintenance, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. In this article, we will explore the importance of tree pruning and how it contributes to enhancing tree health, safety, and overall aesthetics.
Promotes Tree Health
One of the primary reasons for tree pruning is to promote tree health. Regular pruning helps to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches, which can be a breeding ground for pests and diseases. By removing these compromised branches, the overall health of the tree is improved, as it can allocate its resources more effectively to healthy growth and development. Pruning also allows for better airflow and sunlight penetration, reducing the risk of fungal infections and promoting overall tree vitality.
Mitigates Safety Hazards
Tree pruning plays a crucial role in mitigating safety hazards associated with trees. Overgrown or weak branches pose a risk of falling, especially during storms or high winds, endangering people and property. Pruning helps to eliminate these hazardous branches, reducing the risk of accidents and property damage. Regular inspections and pruning of trees near buildings, power lines, and roadways are essential for maintaining a safe environment for both residents and passersby.
Increases Sunlight and Air Circulation
Proper pruning allows for increased sunlight penetration and improved air circulation within the tree canopy. This is particularly important for dense or overcrowded trees that may have limited exposure to sunlight and airflow. Sunlight is vital for photosynthesis, the process by which trees convert sunlight into energy, promoting healthy growth and overall vigor. Improved air circulation helps reduce moisture buildup and the risk of fungal infections, allowing the tree to thrive in a more optimal environment.
Aesthetics and Landscape Appeal
Tree pruning plays a significant role in enhancing the aesthetics of trees and the overall landscape. Well-pruned trees have an attractive and well-maintained appearance, contributing to the overall beauty and appeal of the surrounding area. Pruning helps create a visually pleasing shape, accentuates the tree’s natural form, and allows for better integration into the overall landscape design. Well-maintained trees can significantly enhance property value and curb appeal.
Encourages Fruit Production
For fruit-bearing trees, proper pruning techniques are crucial for promoting optimal fruit production. Pruning helps remove excess branches, allowing the tree to direct its energy into producing high-quality fruits. It also enhances sunlight exposure to the fruit-bearing parts, improving ripening and flavor development. Regular pruning of fruit trees is essential to maintain their health, productivity, and the overall quality of the harvest.
Preserves Historic or Significant Trees
In some cases, tree pruning is necessary to preserve and protect historic or significant trees. Old trees with historical, cultural, or environmental significance may require specialized pruning techniques to ensure their longevity. Pruning helps manage the tree’s health, structure, and growth while respecting its historical or ecological value. Proper pruning can extend the lifespan of these remarkable trees, allowing future generations to appreciate their beauty and significance.
In conclusion, tree pruning is a crucial practice for maintaining tree health, promoting safety, enhancing aesthetics, and encouraging proper growth and development. Whether it’s for residential properties, public spaces, or historical landmarks, regular tree pruning should be a part of comprehensive tree care and maintenance plans. By investing in professional tree pruning services, property owners can enjoy the numerous benefits of healthy, safe, and visually appealing trees.


The Portland Japanese Garden, celebrated for more than 50 years as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside that island nation, has opened its Cultural Village expansion to the public.
Designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma – who also is spearheading the National Stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the Garden’s new Cultural Village aims to provide additional space to accommodate its rapid visitor growth. It also seeks to enhance its ability to immerse visitors in traditional Japanese arts and culture.
“In this increasingly connected, distracted world, we find many of our guests seek out the peace and respite they find within the Garden,” says Steve Bloom, chief executive officer for the Portland Japanese Garden. “With this new Cultural Village, we will extend the Garden’s legacy and purpose, providing a heightened sense of tranquility, a more robust educational experience and preservation of significant cultural traditions and art forms.”
Kuma’s appreciation for Japanese design principles – and how they remain relevant in today’s modern world – made him an ideal choice to design the Garden. Together with the Portland Japanese Garden’s curator, third-generation master garden craftsman Sadafumi Uchiyama, Kuma designed the new Cultural Village. It marks his first public commission in the U.S.
“Given its proximity to nature, Portland is unlike any place in the world," Kuma said. "This new Cultural Village serves as a connector of the stunning Oregon landscape, Japanese arts and a subtle gradation to architecture.
“Working with the Garden has influenced my approach to future projects, especially integrating green and wood. For example, the National Stadium in Tokyo will be rich in vegetation, evoking a feeling of forest in the city.”
A major attraction
Now a top tourist destination in Oregon, the Portland Japanese Garden drew just 30,000 visitors annually when it opened in 1967. Fifty years later, it now welcomes more than 350,000 guests per year, and that figure continues to grow.
With this expansion, Kuma and Uchiyama reused and optimized existing land – adding 3.4 acres of usable space to the 9.1-acre property – to create an immersive, fluid journey from start to finish. To better welcome visitors, the entrance to the Garden at Washington Park features a water garden with cascading ponds, transitioning from city bustle to tranquility. The Village emulates Japan’s monzenmachi, the gate-front towns that surround sacred shrines and temples.
Using a combination of locally sourced materials and Japanese craftsmanship, the Village’s design is informed by a cross-cultural exchange of expertise. The Tateuchi Courtyard is a gathering space for seasonal activities, performances and demonstrations to educate and enrich the visitor experience. Each new LEED-certified structure exists harmoniously with nature.:
● The Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center is home to new gallery spaces, a multipurpose classroom, the Garden gift store and the Vollum Library, a comprehensive resource on Japanese gardening and related arts.
● A new Garden House, where an expanded offering of horticulture workshops will take place.
● At the heart of the village, visitors will find an authentic, intimate Umami Café, features teas and products from Jugetsudo, whose flagship tea cafés in Tokyo and Paris were also designed by Kuma.
“The café sits perched up on a hill like a ‘tea temple’ with glass walls that slide open to the gorgeous view,” says Dana Hush, who works at Umami. “Everyone has been super-excited about the expansion as a whole, but the garden was really missing a chance for our guests to really make a cultural connection to tea.
“Although the garden had a traditional tea hut used for Japanese tea ceremonies, there is finally space for guests to actually drink tea and see it served in the traditional Japanese way,” Hush said.
Kuma designed living roofs atop the structures, which absorbs rainwater and prevents water run-off. From a design perspective, the living roofs are likened to the thatched roofs of fishing huts from centuries ago in Japan.
One of the expansion’s standout structures is the authentic, medieval Castle Wall found at the west end of the Portland Japanese Garden's new Cultural Village. The building process was led by Suminori Awata, a 15th-generation Japanese master stonemason. The wall measures 185 feet long and 18.5 feet high and was built using traditional hand tools and techniques. In total, the wall has 800 tons of Baker Blue granite from a quarry outside Baker City, Ore.
Building on a treasure
While the existing Garden has stayed intact and unchanged, the Cultural Village expansion introduces three new gardens designed to demonstrate a wider array of Japanese garden styles and techniques.
With demonstrations taking place weekly, guests will be able to partake firsthand in Japanese culture upon their visit to the Garden. The new gallery space will allow for year-round exhibitions and expanded cultural programming. In celebration of the Cultural Village’s opening, the Portland Japanese Garden will host three major "Art in the Garden" exhibitions this year, each featuring related lectures, demonstrations and activities.
The project also includes the development of the International Institute for Japanese Garden Arts & Culture, which will merge traditional apprentice-based learning with current, academic-based study. The curriculum will be focused on learning techniques of Japanese gardening while including lessons in Japanese culture via traditional garden arts, such as tea ceremony and calligraphy. The Institute will open in 2018.


Monroe Concrete has an extensive inventory of coarse and fine aggregates, screenings and local recycled materials. Most of the following aggregates are in stock and can be delivered to your door.
Used in the production ready-mix, this industrial sand is the primary structural component in a wide variety of building and construction products. Whole grain silica is put to use in flooring compounds, mortars, specialty cements, stucco, roofing shingles, skid resistant surfaces, and asphalt mixtures to provide packing density and flexural strength without adversely affecting the chemical properties of the binding system.
Mason Sand is often referred to as an all-purpose sand, as it has many different functions and capabilities. Mason sand is a fine graded sand that can be used as a fill material, paver base, beach sand, sandbox material and leveling agent. Shoreline’s mason sand is clean washed and free of any debris or contamination.
50/50 Blended Mix
We offer a blend of topsoil and sand that is great for a base for laying sod and other plantings.
Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5 inches to 10 inches. It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms. Topsoil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air.
Local sand is a byproduct of Charley Toppino & Sons recycling concrete, rock and dirt. Local sand has a many diverse uses and is an affordable alternative to other types of sand.
Crushed Concrete Fill
Crushed concrete is ideal for construction projects or a gravel alternative solution. Also now approved by the FDOT for subbase.
Blended Asphalt Fill
Blended Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement is sometimes mixed with conventional earth fill materials or crushed aggregates and used in embankment construction.
Recycled Fill is a recycled by-product of crushed bricks, tiles, concrete, etc. It is suitable for use as a base for concrete, paving and paths as it compacts down solid.
Asphalt millings are ground-up recycled asphalt. After asphalt’s useful life is over, the product is removed, crushed, and redistributed to millings. Though they’re recycled chunks of asphalt, millings have many of the same characteristics as other paving materials like gravel but with different advantages.
This stone measures 1/2" or less in diameter. Contains limestone, dolomite and sandstone. Commonly used as a base material for driveways, roadways, and foundations.
Rip Rap & Limestone Boulders
Ranging in size from 1-3 feet, rip rap is used for erosion control along sea walls, bridge abutments, pilings and many other low-lying shoreline structures. Rip Rap and Limestone boulders are also used in many landscaping applications.
Monroe Concrete also sells recycled versions of #89, #57 and #4 rock. It is comprised gravel, crushed concrete, limestone and sandstone. It may contain small amounts of asphalt as it is a recycled material.
#4 stone is a sound, hard naturally occurring material. #4 stone aggregates may contain, gravel, limestone and sandstone. #4 stone is 1 1/2 inch to 2 inches in size. Commonly used as erosion control, as a heavy drainage material, as a stabilizer or for landscaping.
#89 stone is a sound, hard naturally occurring material. #89 stone aggregates may contain, gravel, limestone and sandstone. #89 is 3/8 inch or less in size. Also commonly referred to as “Pea Rock”.
#57 stone is a sound, hard naturally occurring material. #57 stone aggregates may contain, gravel, limestone and sandstone. #57s stone 3/4 inch to 1 ½ inches in size. Commonly used as a base for driveways, walls, pipe bedding, and concrete.


|Drought tolerant plants, gravel mulch, and walls were used to create this water conserving landscape. Photo credit: teofilo Flickr CC BY 2.0|
|Even a cactus garden can seem lush.
Photo credit: bloomnfool Flikcr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Xeric gardening has increased in popularity as growing urban populations coupled with drought take their toll on water supplies nationwide.
The term xeric (pronounced zerik) simply means 'dry' in Greek. Xeric plants are adapted to dry conditions and require little to no water during the growing season depending on conditions.
Planting a xeric garden does not mean zeroscape! Many beautiful drought tolerant plants are available to meet the needs of your landscape.
Use plants adapted to the natural rainfall patterns of the local area. Native plants may be the best choice as they tend to be adapted to naturally occurring periodic drought cycles and help blend the garden into the local landscape.
Seven basic principles were developed to guide the creation of xeric gardens in order to reduce water use in the landscape.
- Planning and design
- Soil analysis
- Practical turf areas
- Appropriate plant selection
- Efficient irrigation
- Use of mulches
- Appropriate maintenance


FAQ – Artificial Grass
Is artificial grass suitable for small children?
Yes our grass is nice and soft. Small children will enjoy playing and crawling on it. And after a downpour, it will not remain wet for long. Also artificial grass isn’t slippery when wet. After a short time, the kids can go out again and play, and you won’t have to worry about them getting muddy or wet.
Should I allow dogs on my artificial grass lawn?
Your pets will love our artificial grass as well. You will find that your dogs really appreciate the clean and dry lawn when they stretch out on it. Dogs can play on artificial grass without a problem. Just make sure the grass cover is securely attached, so that it does not move, and that it has a durable supporting surface.
HOW ABOUT DOG URINE OR DOG POOP?
Royal Grass is dog-friendly and perfectly dog-proof, even if they accidentally answer nature’s call. The grass will not be discoloured by it. However, to maintain proper hygiene and prevent urine smell, you should rinse with water and remove any droppings before they are trodden into the lawn. After removal, rinse with clean water. Always remove hard dog droppings and make sure they are not pushed down into the artificial grass lawn. Obviously, the lawn should not be used as a dog walking area.
HOW ABOUT DIGGING IN MY LAWN?
Does your dog often dig holes in your existing lawn? Make sure to keep a close eye on your dog for a while after installing the artificial grass lawn. Most dogs will stop digging since they no longer can smell the soil. Acquired behaviour is sometimes difficult to unlearn, but it is better for the life span of the turf not allow your dog to continue this behaviour.
Can I play sports on my artificial grass lawn?
Artificial grass sports fields were specially designed for that purpose. Football, for instance, requires a different type of grass than tennis. Sports grass does not necessarily have to look natural and can even be blue or orange in colour. Royal Grass artificial grass was developed for decorative purposes. Of course, you can play ball games on it if you like, or have your children romp around on it, but Royal Grass is not suitable for official sports purposes. This has to do with the requirements that playing fields have to meet.
I HEARD ABOUT FALL-SAFE PLAYING TURF. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
A fall-safe artificial surface is artificial grass that is installed on top of a shock-absorbing foundation; artificial grass critical fall height. This is a requirement for playing equipment in public spaces, but more and more private individuals are also choosing to have a shock-absorbing mat installed under playing or climbing equipment.
IS ARTIFICIAL GRASS SLIDING FRIENDLY? I DO NOT LIKE HAVING BURNS!
Artificial turf comes in numerous types. The chemical composition of the synthetic materials used determines its level of skin friendliness and so if you will get burns of artificial grass. This is something we have learned from the sports industry (artificial turf for football). The synthetic material we use is the most sliding-friendly available and is pleasant to the touch, but naturally is not entirely comparable to the characteristics of natural grass.
How can I get my artificial grass standing straight again?
The difference in resilience is how you can tell if your artificial grass is of high quality or of lesser quality. Grass of good quality will simply recover after intensive use, for instance when you had a swimming pool on your lawn. Grass of lesser quality, however, usually becomes flat and remains flat; no matter what you try to do about it.
Yes, it certainly is. When you have put a heavy load on your lawn for a period of time, the grass fibers will lie flat. You can fix this by simply brushing the grass with a regular broom.
WHAT IF THERE WAS A POOL ON MY ARTIFICIAL LAWN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER?
That should not be a problem for quality grass. However, you should keep in mind that the longer the pool was on your artificial lawn, the more difficult it will be for the grass to recover completely. In these cases, it is recommended to brush the grass a second or even third time.
Of course, the size of the pool matters too. If you only have a small inflatable kids’ pool, your artificial lawn will not be affected that much.
The resilience of your artificial grass can be affected irreversibly when there is a heavy load on it for several years. Getting the fibers standing straight again will become more and more difficult.
Not at all. Just remember:
- The fibers of grass of lesser quality will lie flat and remain flat even when the heavy load has been removed.
- On the other hand, if your grass is of high quality, you can simply brush the fibers to get them standing straight again. Please note that there is a limit to this as well. Even grass of the highest quality will be affected by intensive use.
Why spread sand on artificial grass?
Decorative artificial grass has long blades ranging in height from 25mm to 45mm. Such blades of grass need support in order to stand up straight. In products without a thatch (synthetic moss or rootzone), this is achieved with the help of a layer of sand approx. 2cm deep. The photo is a close-up shot of Royal Grass Exclusive. You can see a layer of white sand with on top of it a layer of special brown sand to create the visual effect. There’s a big difference!
- One of the sand’s functions is to weigh down the artificial grass. The extra weight means that the grass stays in place and doesn’t need to be fixed in any other way.
- The sand provides stability and protects the turf. As a result, no wrinkles or folds develop through use.
- The sand also surrounds the long blades of artificial grass and ensures that they remain erect.
- An additional benefit of filling with sand is that it helps make the grass more fire resistant, for example in case the barbecue is knocked over onto the grass.
Whichever type of artificial grass you choose, we would advise you always to use sand fill (except for indoor use). Ultimately, it increases the lifespan of the artificial grass.
ARTIFICIAL GRASS WITH THATCH
FACTS ABOUT SAND FILL
- The sand fill is clean and is not a nourishing substrate for weeds.
- The sand fill doesn’t absorb water, so your lawn drains perfectly and dries quickly after a rain shower. It doesn’t turn to mud!
- The sand is heavy. It doesn’t blow out of the grass. You can also simply use a leaf blower to remove leaves from the lawn.
- You won’t have any problem with sand being walked out of the grass. It’s covered by the fibres.
- Children can happily crawl on the grass without being bothered by the sand.
TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL GRASS
In the grass type with moss, you can see how the moss supports the grass fibres. You can also appreciate that every time the fibres are walked on, they’re ‘trodden flat’. A thin layer of sand prevents this to a great extent.
- Royal Grass Exclusive 3.0, Urban and Velvet: ca. 20 kilo per m2
- Royal Grass Silk25, Seda, Deluxe, Satin, Silk35, EcoSense, XL: ca. 5-10 kilo per m2.
Is artificial grass fire proof?
Fire and hot objects should be kept away from Royal Grass (or any other artificial grass brand). Royal Grass is made of a high-quality synthetic material that does not burn, but will melt when it comes into contact with fire and hot objects. With sand-filled artificial turf, the sand has an extinguishing effect and is fireproof.
Open fire and hot objects must be avoided on artificial grass. Royal Grass is made of high-grade synthetic fibers that do not catch fire but that will melt when coming into contact with hot objects. With normal use you don’t have to worry about your artificial lawn catching fire.
Open fire is dangerous when the artificial grass is exposed to it for a longer time.
As long as the grass is filled in with a layer of sand, the sand infill will prevent the fire from spreading and it actually will extinguish a fire. Only artificial grass with sand infill is tested to be fireproof!
How does an official grass lawn stand up against moles?
Do moles ever dig under artificial grass?
Moles do not like an artificial lawn and will not normally dig under it. Moles are attracted by food that they would normally find in top soil, the base of an artificial lawn isn’t the ideal environment for these food sources and so moles are rarely a problem.
However, if there was a mole in the old natural grass and that mole is not removed before the artificial turf is installed, it can cause a great deal of damage. The mole will ultimately surface above ground and dig under the artificial grass, causing it to collapse.
Are you installing artificial grass to an area known to have a mole problem, use a hard core/aggregate base that prevents the moles from tunnelling. Or use a ‘mole barrier’ (hardware cloth).
How should artificial grass be maintained?
Cleaning: It is important to keep artificial turf clean. Remove any leaves, weeds and other debris immediately.
Brushing: The grass fibres tend to lay flat after usage. Periodically raking or brushing the fibres will remedy this.
Blowing away leaves: Keep the artificial turf clean using a normal leaf blower or vacuum cleaner blower. But make sure the sand in sand-filled artificial turf does not blow away.
Weed control: Keeping the artificial turf clean will prevent weed growth. Weeds can be easily removed by plucking, brushing or raking the grass. Make sure weeds are removed before they can take root, especially along the edges of the turf. A number of environmentally friendly products can be purchased at home improvement centres and garden centres that kill algae, moss and weeds directly. If the instructions are followed carefully, the artificial turf will not suffer any damage.
Chlorine: Artificial turf made with polyamide fibres (PA) may not come into contact with chlorine products, as this can discolour the fibres.
Can artificial grass be repaired?
Suppose something happens accidentally with my artificial grass, is repair possible? Such as replacing a melted patch?
Fortunately it is not common, but the greatest risk of damage is related to heat, causing melting spots on the grass.
Any damage to artificial grass can be repaired. The damaged piece of artificial turf is cut out and replaced by a new piece. It is therefore advisable to save any remnants of Royal Grass® left over after installation. These can be used for any repairs.
You must be aware of the fact that used artificial grass will look differently than new turf, even when it is the same product. You can compare this with normal carpet. A repair usually remains visible. Over time, this difference will be less and less visible.
Why buy artificial grass at an authorised dealer?
We advise you to buy artificial grass at an authorized Royal Grass dealer for the following reasons.
- This is the only way we can assure you that you will get Royal Grass in your garden and not another inferior fake grass product. For an unexperienced person it very difficult to see the difference between artificial grass products when they are brand-new from the factory. After a while you will know, then you will see the difference between superior and inferior quality. Advice: If you prefer your own landscaping company to do the job, and it is not an authorized dealer, ask for confirmation of origin of the artificial grass. Make sure you get the quality in your garden you have paid for.
- Royal Grass comes with an average of 8 year UV-warranty. Authorized dealers keep a track record of the artificial grass they sell and install. The sales figures are put down in our system and will be stored for at least 10 years.
- When you choose for an artificial lawn, you are choosing for a complete package. Not just the top layer, but all the necessary materials have been developed and tested especially for Royal Grass. Our authorized dealers know that it is not advisable to use other glues, seam tape and filler material as advised by Royal Grass.
- Installing artificial grass is a specialist job, a precise task, to be performed by an experienced installer. After all, you will be looking at your artificial lawn for many years. In choosing Royal Grass, you are choosing impeccable quality. But what’s the point of impeccable quality if it isn’t expertly laid? Precisely. Our dealers have the training, experience and tools to do a professional job.
Can I place a swimming pool on my artificial grass lawn?
Yes, you can place an inflatable pool on your artificial lawn without worry. After all, the grass will not discolour or die. However, the fibres will be flattened after having a heavy weight press down on them all summer. Brushing the fibres afterwards will return them to their upright position. When placing an inflatable pool, make sure that the foundation is strong enough to hold the extra weight!
How can I clean my artificial grass?
There is no such thing as a artificial grass cleaning guide because it is very easy. Melted ice cream, soft drinks and other sweet beverages can be easily cleaned off. Rinse with clean water afterwards. Remove any spilled food, clean and rinse with water. Chewing gum is a little trickier. Carefully remove the chewing gum with a spoon. This will be easier if you put some ice cubes on the spot first. This hardens the gum, making it easier to remove. Take care not to use just solvents, as these substances may harm your artificial grass.
Does artificial grass heat up in the sun?
Artificial grass has many benefits but indeed one drawback. It does heat up in the sun. Natural grass has a cooling effect, artificial grass does not. Again the comparison with pavement applies, as this also retains the sun’s heat.
However, artificial grass is very populair in countries with hot climates. The advantages of artificial grass – like water saving – does make up for the disadvantage of the higher temperature of the lawn.
What is the effect of artificial lawns for the environment?
Environmental considerations play an important role in the decision to use artificial grass. Artificial turf is kind on the environment. Installing artificial turf means no more mowing, fertilising, watering and, equally as important, no more chemicals for lawn upkeep. In the United States, a number of subsidy schemes are available to promote the use of artificial turf, largely due to the water savings achieved. The ban on plasticizers and heavy metals in the production of artificial grass is safeguarded by strict environmental standards (DIN 18035-7 concerning the leaching of heavy metals). Low maintenance: artificial grass does not grow and therefore does not need to be mowed with an electric mower. This results in zero energy costs and zero harmful emissions. Water savings: artificial grass does not need valuable drinking water. Sustainability: artificial grass has a long life span – depending, of course, on the quality chosen. Choosing a durable artificial grass product ultimately means less wastage and a reduced need for recycling. You may think if everybody has an artificial lawn, this may have a negative effect on the environment. Lucky for us, this is not true!
REDUCED WATER USE
From an environmental perspective, the potential for water savings is probably the most significant benefit of artificial turf. Royal Grass needs no irrigation to stay green. The only water used on artificial lawn is to clean it, if necessary.
REDUCES PESTICIDE AND FERTILIZER
Since Royal Grass needs no regular chemical treatment, it eliminates a major source of groundwater pollution and human exposure to chemicals. For residential applications, an artificial lawn also offers the benefit of reducing the amount of chemicals (and dirt) tracked into homes.
Royal Grass’ chemical-free care may make it especially appropriate for children, because children spend more time than adults in close contact with grass, and they are affected more severely by contact with pesticides.
SAFE FOR PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
Royal Grass fibres do not contain any plasticizers or heavy metals, making this turf entirely safe for both people and the environment. We guarantee that the fibres comply with the strictest standards. There are no dangers known by having artificial grass in your garden.
Green stains? Tips from granny
Does this sound familiar? Your kids are wearing their brand new clothes or something straight from the washer. You’re ready to go to a party, but first your kids can play outside as long as they’ll be careful…
They slipped and fell on the grass. Nothing serious, they’re not hurt. But then you see the green spots on the knees.
Of course, you understand. They’re young and you feel they should be able to play outside. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t rather annoying.
Don’t you agree?
With an artificial lawn there’s no risk of grass stains on the knees anymore. Your kids can wear their new outfits and you can let them can still play on the lawn, make slides, romp around or annoy the dog. Afterwards, your kids will still be able to go that party stain free!
Can I install artificial grass myself?
IS IT DIFFICULT TO INSTALL ARTIFICIAL GRASS OR DO YOU ADVISE TO HAVE IT DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL?
In certain applications it is possible to install artificial grass yourself; it cuts down on cost by installing the turf yourself but in this case you are also responsible for the quality of the installation.
The difficulty of the installation of artificial grass depends on the location and size of the surface. The first step is to prepare the supporting surface. The surface must be flat, stable and permeable to water.
It is often extremely easy to install artificial grass on a balcony because it is a small surface area and the grass can be cut from a single piece. Also, it has a flat surface onto which the artificial grass can be simply rolled out. In this case, you can easily have the artificial grass delivered to your home and do the installation yourself. All you need is a sharp Stanley knife.
Installing artificial turf yourself in your garden is slightly more complicated because the surface area can easily be very large. This means that seams will be required. Making seams is often tricky. It needs to be done carefully or the seams will show. Whether or not you can do this yourself depends on your skills.
If it is a larger installation you need to make seams; there is specialised glue and jointing tape required. To install yourself you will need to follow certain guidelines which vary depending upon the surface you are covering and planned use. View our videos about how to install artificial grass or download our DIY manual.
In choosing Royal Grass, you are choosing impeccable quality. But what’s the point of impeccable quality if it isn’t expertly installed? We recommend have a professional install your artificial grass. This way, you can be sure of the best possible results and that you will be able to enjoy a beautifully laid green lawn for many years to come.


It’s well established that suburbs with lots of trees are much cooler that those without. This image is a thermal imaging map showing the average temperature across Fremantle in January 2015. Obviously places next to the coast are the coolest. But some areas with very few street trees are nearly 5° hotter than greener areas nearby. If you want a verge tree in front of your place then get in touch. While it’s free, new trees must be planted during the winter rains.


Hydrolume water-submersible LED lighting
Waterproof LED lighting that can be used inside water features is a revolutionary new product by Elemental LED, Inc.
Before Hydrolume, outdoor-rated lighting inevitably became compromised by sunlight, saltwater, chlorine, full submersion and physical abuse. This new maintenance-free LED lighting has been tested to perform under extreme conditions without cracking, discoloring or shorting out due to faulty connections and seals.
Designers, architects, landscape designers, commercial property owners and homeowners are using Hydrolume for landscape and architectural highlights. With outdoor living spaces becoming a significant feature in homes today, this product is giving property owners more flexibility to light and protect landscaping in a water surround. Hydrolume introduces durable, long-term lighting for swimming pools to water features as well as saltwater environments, coastal regions and marinas.
The Hydrolume LED striplight resists the elements and more including:
- UV-resistant: No degradation or discoloration in direct sunlight
- Saltwater-safe: Increased longevity in coastal and marine environments
- Chlorine-resistant: Enhanced performance in treated water
- Submersible: Waterproof, fully submersible, and weatherproof
- Impact-resistant: Durable and resilient.
Elemental LED is the recognized U.S.-based leader in innovative LED solutions, and manufactures the Diode LED brand of products. Learn more at elementalled.com.
Contact Allstar Electrical to install Hydrolume at your home or business.


Kungsträdgården is the deepest lying metro station in Stockholm, about 40 meters underground. The name “Kungsträdgården” (means Kings Garden in English) derives from the park located just above the station – one of the oldest public parks in Stockholm.
Many visitors seem to agree that this station is the most beautiful of all the metro stations. It is spectacularly designed and it’s also the only one with a completely naked and entirely untouched mountain wall.
The station was inaugurated in 1977, two years after the blue line opened. The exit towards Arsenalsgatan, with its accompanying design, was opened in 1987.
The artist behind Kungsträdgården station is Ulrik Samuelson (born 1935). He created a subterranean garden with traces and history of the park above.
The colors of the station – green, red and white – are meant to remind the observer of the baroque garden that Kungsträdgården once was. A baroque garden commonly had red gravel paths, white marble sculptures and green parterres with low-growing shrubs and fountains.
Ulrik Samuelson was also inspired by the palace Makalös, a palace formerly located in the park.
Image text 1: “Cherry Blossom Day” at Kungsträdgården
Image text 2: Ulrik Samuelson


Bulk Soils, Hereís the Scoop
Echterís offers Planting Mix, Black Tea Compost and Top Soil Blend sold by the scoop with our skid steer loader. These soil products are of the highest quality to ensure your plants the healthiest start possible. Each scoop is 1/2 cubic yard (or 13.5 cubic feet).
We can deliver up to 10 scoops or 5 cubic yards of
any of our bulk soils per trip. Each trip is a separate delivery charge. Only one product per delivery, no split
loads are possible.
Black Tea Compost
should be mixed at the rate of 1 part compost to 2 parts native soil. You can spread it out two inches deep and then till it in to a depth of six inches.
One scoop will cover 80 sq. ft. of area.
Top Soil Blend can be used for filling in low spots in unamended soil or for building a berm.
For shallow raised beds or in the top layer of a deep raised bed, use Echter's Raised Bed Mix available in 60 qt. (2.33 cu. ft.) bags.
For outdoor planter boxes, containers, and hanging baskets use Echter's Outdoor Container Mix available in 30 qt. bags and 60 qt. (2.33 cu. ft.) bags.


Lee -J Studio
Landscape Architecture & Planning
Lee J Studio is a hands-on planning and landscape design studio that focuses on creating unique environments to make ‘real-time and timeless impressions’. Our creative and innovative design statements create experiential memories that make our designs a ‘must return’ destination.
Lee-J Studio is a boutique planning and landscape design studio that focuses on creating unique environments to make ‘real-time and timeless impressions’. Our creative and innovative design statements create experiential memories that make our destinations a ‘must return’ location for all. We understand how today’s guests think; their wants and ways they choose to engage in the environment. Through a time-tested design process, we can ensure that our clients and their projects will be a success as we relate and foster today’s trends, cultural relevance, and promote deep appreciation for the location.
Every project begins with an intense design workshop to establish the client’s goals and objectives. Understanding the land, the client’s needs and desires, and the current local market is essential in developing a great design solution.
Innovative design starts with location and understanding its natural resources, culture and traditions. Every design project should have its own distinctive identity throughout the entire property. The character should not only be noticeable, but it should be experienced in a variety of unique ways.
Our concept generation phase is the most critical. A great deal of our time is allocated to fine details to ensure design accuracy that guarantees our client’s satisfaction in later developmental stages.
From the early conceptual design development stage, we involve local designers as consultants to infuse our team with local knowledge of materials and construction techniques. This is a fundamental part of developing the design into a practical project that can be eloquently implemented on location.
The practicality and constructibility of our concepts are explored and refined in the design development stage. It is in this stage where our team will ensure that ideas can seamlessly fit the site and desires of stakeholders. Utilizing the skill set of our engineers, landscape architects, and masterplanners, in conjunction with local design institutes, we ensure our design can be implemented to fit our client’s budget demands.
Simply put, although a beautiful design can be created on paper, if the project is not built in an eloquent way, then the design is mediocre.
Implementing the Design
Every project is handcrafted, as if it is our personal oasis. Working diligently, paying attention to the finest detail is an art form that brings exclusivity to the destination.
Our team has extensive experience in working with construction teams to ensure our concepts and ideas are created.
Our Founder, with over 25 years of experience in the field of Planning & Landscape Architecture, Randy Hoffacker brings innovation and sustainability to his designs. From theme parks to high-end golf facilities; Ski resorts to large-scale residential spaces; he has partnered with top developers on some of the most successful new real estate destinations, including “Forbes List, Asia’s top Resort Destination.”
Embracing the importance of being connected to one’s natural surroundings when designing memorable spaces, he conserves natural elements to enhance one’s experience. With 14 years of construction and project management experience, he is actively involved in the creation process. Known for his ‘hands-on’ and passionate approach, it is normal to see him on earth moving equipment, personally sculpting important features of the landscape. Crossing cultural boundaries to transform design concepts, he sees these creations through to completion.
He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) from the University of Kentucky, and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Golf Course Builders Association of America and Audubon Society Association of America and Audubon Society.
Starting a new project?
Get in touch
Lee J Studio is a hands-on planning and landscape design studio that focuses on creating unique environments to make ‘real-time and timeless impressions’. Our creative and innovative design statements create experiential memories that make our destinations a ‘must return’ location for all.


The Church Commissioners for England has signed a tenancy agreement to promote nature alongside sustainable agriculture on Hereford’s Bartonsham Meadows. This agreement will help restore the land to a more natural state and create a wildlife haven for nature and people alike.
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust will take over the management of the 100-acre site on the banks of the river Wye. Plans are in place to plant grass and wildflowers, restore ancient hedgerows, reintroduce cattle grazing, and allow for seasonal flooding.
Once established, the new floodplain meadows will help protect the city of Hereford from flooding, improve soil and water quality, and become rich new habitats for plants and wildlife. The Trust also plans to improve public access by restoring existing footpaths, offering local people beautiful new spaces to explore just outside the city.
The site has been owned by the Church Commissioners for England since the 1850s and had previously been used for cattle grazing. Restoration and improvements to the site are already underway.
Guy Webb, Senior Asset Manager at the Church Commissioners for England, commented:
“The restoration project for Bartonsham Meadows provides a unique opportunity to work with the local community, improve biodiversity, and help meet our net zero aspirations in a way that suits this particular property perfectly. We look forward to working closely with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust to help deliver significant real-world change.”


Resident and Town employee, Corrie Burr, recently used High Country Compost from the Summit County Resource Allocation Park as a lawn treatment in Breckenridge. Breckenridge has notoriously rocky soil devoid of nutrients and organic matter. Adding locally produced compost as a soil amendment can help introduce much needed organic matter, nutrients, and help to retain moisture. The results after one year were amazing.
Here's what Corrie had to say. "We have struggled with our grass in Breckenridge for five years. Our side yard was difficult to get grass to grow or stay green. We tried everything [...] water schedules, grass seed and even adding sod to the brown, dead areas. After speaking with my co-worker Jessie Burley at the Town of Breckenridge, she recommended we put topdress compost from the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) after seeding the area to help with growth and green, lush grass. Well, fortunately, we listened to her recommendation and in June of 2020, we put down seed and topdress from the SCRAP and the photos say it all.
The green photo was taken in August of 2020 and the brown photo was taken in June when we first put the topdress down. The change is unbelievable! We also ...put more topdress down before it started snowing for the winter. Now it is the middle of May 2021, and our yard is already starting to turn green and healthy. We can’t wait to see how it grows in this year...The best part of the whole thing was the cost….we filled 4 large bins, covered our entire yard and it was less than $8!"
Spring is the perfect time to improve your soil's health and help your grass, native plants, and trees go to their full potential - all while saving on water use and fertilization. Check out the locally made High Country Compost at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park and get your truck full of compost today!


Perched on a stool at the kitchen counter of her 1947 Edgewood bungalow, with a full moon casting light on the courtyard just outside, Jane Reed Ross watches her husband, Neil, cook. It’s one of her favorite things to do here at the cottage they’ve owned for nearly 30 years, where they’ve raised two sons now in their 20s. Tonight, as he shepherds andouille sausages and root vegetables in a sizzling pan along with herbs from their garden, Jane talks about dieting—but not the usual kind.
“We’re putting 18th Street on a road diet,” she says, referring to the stretch between Rosedale Drive and 28th Avenue South in downtown Homewood. “You know how wide, wide, wide the street is there. We’re going to slim it up, add trees, parking and a sidewalk. It’s going to be more intimate, a nice, safe, pedestrian-friendly feel.”
Jane is the right person for the reimagining.
As lead landscape architect of Goodwyn Mills Cawood’s Birmingham office, and as owner of her own landscape architecture firm in past years, she has designed some of the most beloved public and private outdoor spaces in Homewood and beyond. She sees past what’s worn and dysfunctional and transforms it for the greener. If you’ve ever enjoyed Homewood’s Shades Creek Greenway, Homewood Central Park, the Red Rock Trail System and the Rotary Trail, or Birmingham Children’s Zoo (just a partial list), you’ve experienced Jane’s metamorphic design vision.
Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer was a city council member in 2003 when the Shades Creek Greenway opened and began enchanting walkers, runners, roller bladers, bicyclists and birdwatchers alike. “Jane really educated us and did an excellent job convincing Homewood that it would be good for the city,” he says of the 3-mile paved trail that winds along Shades Creek and Lakeshore Drive between Columbiana Road and Brookwood Village. “Jane is a joy to work with and so creative,” he says, “letting you see the possibilities of a project before you get started. She can take a blank canvas, paint the whole picture, and say, ‘If we do this, this, and this, here’s what it’ll look like in the end.’”
Jane has learned reaching that end result in the public sector calls for time and patience. “These kinds of projects take years to develop,” she says, having first started concepts and funding attempts for a Shades Creek trail in the early 1990s. “You have to gain consensus and keep pushing it along for it to weather. Things that are worthy, people will come back to them.”
There are plans to extend the trail to West Homewood Park in one direction and Mountain Brook’s Jemison Park in the other. The combined 6 miles will connect three major neighborhoods, two high schools, one university, two parks and three shopping districts, with the potential to expand even further to Red Mountain Park and beyond, as part of the Red Rock Ridge Trail System that Jane’s GMC team designed along with the Fresh Water Land Trust. “That’s what I love, connecting the dots, creating spaces where people can enjoy active lifestyles,” she says.
The Huntsville native grew up helping tend her family’s huge vegetable garden, but it was the trails and parks of Washington, D.C., that sparked her passion for connected public spaces. While pursuing her landscape architecture degree from Auburn, she spent five summers interning in D.C. “I rode my bike everywhere—taking the Rock Creek Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway from Maryland, where I lived, to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s house in Virginia. For a landscape architect to experience all those public spaces, trails and parks was great for my design vocabulary, and it was wonderful to see how they improved people’s quality of life. So to venture with the Shades Creek Greenway and create something like that here—that was big, that was fun.”
And fun seems to be the common denominator between Jane’s creative process and the experience people have in the spaces she designs. Ashley Groves, who works near the greenway, runs on it regularly. “I’m always happy there,” she says. “You feel like you’ve escaped to a secret wilderness in the city, and everybody you encounter seems so glad to be there, enjoying nature.”
Plentiful positive feedback to the trail helped Jane land her next big Homewood transformation project. “I love it when your client demands the best and wants to do something really creative and break some eggs,” she says. “And we broke some eggs on Homewood Central Park.” A straight-line channeled creek with concrete block walls and chain link fence divided the park into two awkward pieces, and during peak storms, the rushing water caused flooding issues. “People with houses that backed up to the creek downstream used to have to sandbag their homes,” says Jane. “We dechannelized and undulated it through the park, allowing it to flood the banks in storms and become slow-moving water, an environmentally sustainable thing to do.” That in turn opened a huge new lawn space, perfect for festivals and movie nights.
Melissa Mohon Francis grew up playing in the park in its “before” days. Twelve years ago, she and her husband moved from Chicago to a house a block from the space, after its transformation. “The park was one of the big reasons we bought the house. My children play there all the time,” she says, “and now we’re renovating for more room, because I can’t leave. The park is a part of my life,” says Francis, who walks her dog and roller skates with a friend there a few days a week. “After the improvements, you felt like you were going somewhere instead of just playing in the dirt pile. That creek used to be kind of gross, but when they put the bridge over it, it felt like the waterway was a beautiful flowing thing. It changed Homewood.”
When it comes to the most dramatic change of a public landscape, Jane says Birmingham’s Rotary Trail, completed in 2016, wins in her book. “It was such a blighted area. And dangerous. The concrete was falling in,” she says of the former abandoned railroad bed that’s now a four-block linear park, dappled with river birches and ornamental grasses, benches and smartphone charging stations.
“There are people who think Birmingham is just evolving right now, but this renaissance that we’re experiencing didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a lot of people working hard for over 30 years,” says Jane, who is serving as state president of the American Society of Landscape Architects for the second time, her first 20 years ago. “I took the leadership on again because I believe it’s an important time in promoting public green space and sustainability. It’s key to our quality of life to reduce temperatures with green space and proper storm water management. The flooding in Houston is a perfect example of what happens with too much paving.”
Jane is also a firm believer in uplifting and energizing people through greater connection to the natural world. “The Japanese do what’s called ‘forest bathing,’ absorbing oxygen from the trees,” she says. “And that improves well-being.” She gets particular energy from the tulip poplar. An avid landscape watercolor painter, she’s been painting tulip poplars all her life. “I really do think we absorb energy from plants. That’s why walking in nature is so important. Being able to create spaces where people can enjoy the outdoors is enriching beyond words. It’s a fun ride.”
Jane’s Landscaping 411
The Secret to Having a Green Thumb: Manure. I grew up gardening with my dad, who grew up gardening on the farm, and he taught me early that manure is key to organic components in the soil. The best fertilizer you can get.
Favorite Ground Cover: Asiatic jasmine. It grows in sun or shade, so when you have a yard with both conditions, you can do a continuous swath for a big green carpet statement. You need to edge it; it will grow into the street.
Biggest Mistake Home Gardeners Make: Placing a plant in the wrong spot, such as a tall tree under a power line or a large shrub in front of a window, which will require constant pruning.
Top Low-Maintenance Plant: Oak leaf hydrangea is one of my favorites, a gorgeous plant that’s native to our area. Good in shade and part sun.
Advice for Starting a Landscape Renovation: Look at how you live and what’s important to you. Usually when I work on a residence, I try to provide a flow of indoor/outdoor spaces. Our den and kitchen open onto our patio and courtyard, so we have good flow. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere without that.
An Outdoor ‘Room’ is Incomplete Without: Comfortable seating. A place for everyone to gather around a table. The sound of trickling water in a fountain. And either a view from beyond or a natural buffer creating your view in the foreground. That might be the fountain and a multi-trunk serviceberry, or a lawn, or a bed of ferns under a holly tree.
Favorite Shade Tree: An overcup oak grows fast for a hardwood, maintains a great shape, and best of all, is native to our area. It’s important to our landscape to use native trees for a healthy canopy. Homewood Environmental Commission has been partnered with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in a tree planting program started by Henry Hughes, also from Homewood, called Green Skies. For four years, we’ve planted 300 seedlings started from local trees each fall.
Great Border: Korean boxwood, but it’s high maintenance. I prefer a low maintenance landscape with a natural look where you don’t have a border, such as undulating massing of oakleaf hydrangea, shield fern, beautyberry, pink muhly grass and black-eyed Susan.
Best Natural Privacy Wall: I like an informal, undulating evergreen buffer using different types of hollies and magnolias.


Tory big beast Michael Heseltine was always a man of action in politics. And the same, it seems, has been true at home.
Within a couple of days of moving into their elegant 18th-century country pile, Thenford House, in the famously hot summer of 1976, he’d set about the garden. ‘Michael was attacking the ivy growing up a tree while I was sunbathing in my bikini,’ his wife Anne recalls with a smile.
‘As he was doing so, the local rector arrived and wryly observed, “I think there are going to be some changes around here.”’
He wasn’t wrong. That day marked the start of a 40-year odyssey which has seen Lord Heseltine, whose mane of blond hair and swashbuckling style earnt him the nickname ‘Tarzan’ in the 1970s, transform the 70 acres of land surrounding the Northamptonshire mansion from an overgrown jungle of weeds and silted-up ponds – ‘the grounds had been neglected for most of the 20th century’ says the former deputy prime minister – into a series of distinctive landscaped gardens, each with its own particular character.
Lord and Lady Michael and Anne Heseltine in their gardens at home in Thenford. The gardens now boast more than 3,000 different types of tree and shrubs
Michael Heseltine and his wife Anne have turned their garden into an arboretum. The former British politician, 89, has spent 40 years working on Thenford House (pictured)
Thenford Arboretum and Gardens now boasts a collection of more than 3,000 different types of tree and shrub, as well as extensive herbaceous borders, water gardens, an alpine trough garden, a sculpture garden, a rose garden and a rill. And hundreds of visitors a year now flock to see them on the annual open days.
‘It’s been a labour of love,’ admits Lord Heseltine, 89, who enjoyed a long career in front line politics. ‘But the gardens have brought Anne and I enormous solace over the years, particularly during the lockdowns.
‘I very much hope that one of the lessons we as a nation will learn from the last couple of years is the therapeutic effects of gardens and greenery.’
Thenford House is an Italianate mansion, but it’s the grounds that have been the main focus of Michael’s energy away from politics over the last four decades. ‘I reign in the house,’ laughs Anne.
‘But Michael is king in the garden because his knowledge of plants has always been so much better than mine.’ Although Michael diplomatically adds, ‘It’s extraordinary how often our tastes coincided when it came to creating the gardens.’
Anne and Michael take me on a tour in one of their ‘his and hers’ golf buggies, which they use to visit the four corners of the gardens most evenings. ‘These are our workhorses,’ says Michael.
‘They’re a vital part of life here. At our age, 70 acres would be quite a challenge to walk around!’
The idea behind Thenford was ‘to create a set of gardens that are like different rooms’, says Michael. The beauty of having spring and rose gardens, as well as woodland walks and water gardens, is that ‘every day is different, each bit of the garden has its moment’, observes Anne.
Politics or the arboretum and garden? There’s no question, I’ll be remembered for my trees!
‘So there’s that wonderful moment when there are primroses, snowdrops and forgetmenots altogether in the spring garden, and it’s suddenly a sea of bloom.’ Our first stop is the Sculpture Garden with its interconnected series of ‘rooms’ enclosed by yew and beech hedges.
This is very much Anne’s domain, and she chose the artworks. Among the mainly modern British sculptures on show are Elisabeth Frink’s naked Standing Man (‘he’s the husband of an acquaintance of mine’, she comments) and Philip Jackson’s Reading Chaucer (a young woman in a medieval gown and pointed hat seated on a bench with a book).
Although the monumental Lenin head that once stood atop the KGB building in Latvia steals the show for me.
As we zip down scattered paths and avenues among the trees and shrubs in the adjoining gardens, Michael points out features of interest. Highlights include the Walled Garden with its two champion trees (the tallest and fattest of their kind) nearby, Quercus semecarpifolia and Abies vejarii, two bridges (one Japanese-style, the other inspired by Monet), reflecting pools and domed pavilions, and beyond that the Herbaceous Borders, which are a blaze of colour.
‘We’re constantly improving and planting – herbaceous borders are the subject of endless fiddling about,’ says Michael.
Thenford also boasts a stunning rill (pictured). A rill is a formal channel used to bring a bit of water into our gardens
One of the gardens he’s proudest of is the Trough Garden, created out of a series of sheep and cattle drinking vessels, with its wisteria, rhododendrons and rare species including Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Monstrosa’, a dwarf horse chestnut, Quercus durata (leather oak) and Cypripedium reginae (showy lady’s slipper orchid). Although my favourite garden is the cascading rill, a stunning water feature comprising nine interconnected pools.
Now the Heseltines want more people to enjoy the peace, tranquillity and beauty of Thenford so they’ve extended the number of opening days this year. As Michael drives me to Banbury train station in his Jaguar, I ask him if he thinks he’s more likely to be remembered for his achievements in politics or his arboretum and garden.
‘There’s no question,’ he chuckles. ‘I’ll be remembered for my trees!’
- Thenford Arboretum and Gardens is open on selected dates until 21 October, £16. For details, visit thenfordarboretum.com.


SALT are temporarily at Festningsallmenningen.
The contruction of Operaallmenningen in front of the new public library startes in 2018 and will be open to the public in 2020.
The northern part of Akerselvallmenningen opened in 2014.
The work in Bispekilen has started, and will open to the public after 2020.
Kongsbakken will become a large common for recreation.
Public spaces are important in a well-functioning city. One of the most important plans for Bjørvika are the seven commons and the continuous harbor promenade. The public areas extend as open connections from todays inner city, Grønland and Gamlebyen, through the new urban development areas in Bjørvika and down to the fjord and the harbor promenade.
Bjørvika covers a total of 820 000 m2. 40% of this will be turned into parks, commons (known as “allmenning” in Norwegian) and a 3 kilometer long waterfront promenade.
Some of the commons are organized for high activity, culture, art, shopping and restaurants. Others are meant for recreation, sports, quiet contemplation and experiencing closeness to nature and the fjord.
The northern part of Akerselvalmenningen and Stasjonsallmenningen are completed, and the rest is finished in parallel to the construction of surrounding buildings. The park and swimming area at the tip of Sørenga opened in 2015. At Loallmenningen, Losæter has been established prior to the detailed regulation, as a place where art and urban agriculture meet. The large common in front of the new public library between the Opera and Central station opera common will be completed at the same time as the New Deichman Library in 2020. It will have a water mirror in the summer and a ice skating rink in wintertime. The work with Bispekilen and Kongsbakken will start up in the next few years.
Bjørvika Utvikling AS has the overall responsibility for all public space construction in Bjørvika. The district’s public spaces are being completed apace with the rest of the property development in the neighbourhood.
Once the public spaces have been fully developed, they will be handed over to the City of Oslo free of charge. The Office for Real Estate and Urban Renewal handles property management, while the Agency for Urban Environment is responsible for maintenance.


Stanway is an outstandingly beautiful example of a Jacobean manor house, owned by Tewkesbury Abbey for 800 years then for 500 years by the Tracy family and their descendants, the Earls of Wemyss who still live there. The house, its fascinating furniture, the jewel-like Gatehouse, the church and 14th-century Tithe Barn, the 18th-century water-garden, the specimen trees and avenues, the surrounding villages, farms, parkland and woodland all subtly combine to create an enclave of very English and almost magical harmony. Thanks to its location, at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment, Stanway has been protected from many changes of the 20th century. Recently it has seen the gradual restoration of the 18th century watergarden, probably designed by the greatest of British landscape gardeners, Charles Bridgeman. The formal Canal, on a terrace above the house, the striking Pyramid and several ponds have been reinstated, and a single-jet fountain, at 300 feet the highest fountain in Britain and the highest gravity fountain in the world, has been added.


The colourful Brewer Memorial Garden was removed last year to allow a realignment of the driveways and new paved areas for St Mary’s Court. Finally this week colour returned to a newly formed Brewer Memorial Garden.
Dr Jacky Bowring has designed the landscaping for the Cathedral precinct and this has included creating an outdoor ‘room’ for the Brewer Memorial Garden, with five corten planters and curved Tōtara hedging. The curve of the hedge being “an echo of the distinctive circular form of the original Brewer Memorial Garden”. The hedge runs parallel to the axis of St Mary’s and continues along the Parnell Road frontage. It will be grown to the same height as the Labyrinth hedge. The street side of the hedge has been planted with Star Jasmine, a highly fragrant ground cover.
The 2mx2mx900mm corten planters have been fabricated by Auckland artist David McCracken. Over the coming weeks and months they will rust to a beautiful burnt orange colour.
The plant selections for the planters were designed by Bev McConnell of Ayrlies Garden in Whitford, Auckland. Bev and her wonderful team have been propagating the plants over the last few months, including some unique plants specially for Holy Trinity Cathedral. They arrived early Wednesday morning to do the planting.
Ben and Luke from Ayrlies Garden commence the planting
Bev McConnell (on the right) with her planting team – (from left) Tony, Ben, Jaque, Luke, Judy and Anne
An irrigation system has been installed to ensure longevity of all the planting. Today the lawn is being rolled out and next week will see the plaque reinstated to complete the redevelopment of the Brewer Memorial Garden.
Additional features include new retractable bollards that have been installed to control vehicular traffic, greatly improving the safe use of the area as a pedestrian precinct, and lighting poles which are providing great night time illumination of the carpark, the Cathedral and St Mary’s.
Thank you to all the many people who have worked hard to make St Mary’s Court a very special area for contemplation and much appreciation to Bev for her input and guidance, which she has so consistently given over the years since the wonderful Trinity Garden tours of the 1990s.
On the first Sunday in Advent, 29 November 2015, as part of our 10am Choral Eucharist, we will dedicate the newly formed Brewer Memorial Garden. All welcome!


Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by Kyle Whitley
Regardless of what your house looks like, landscaping affects the attractiveness of the whole property. The key to a successful and beautiful landscape is careful planning and design. Let’s look at the garden design and landscaping cost to take your landscape to the next level.
Table of Contents
- 1 Landscaping Costs – New Construction
- 2 Landscaping Costs by Location on Your Property
- 3 What are the different types of Landscaping?
- 4 Landscaping Costs- By the Hour or By the square foot?
- 5 Cost for Some Typical Landscape Projects
- 6 Garden Design and Landscaping Cost: Summing it Up
Landscaping Costs – New Construction
On new construction, the average cost to landscape is around $10,000.
While that seems like a lot of money, it includes many different aspects of landscape design. It includes the actual professional landscape design, new topsoil if required, grading, seeding, or sodding the lawn, plants, a patio or deck, and possibly a walkway.
If you look at the cost broken down by all those smaller individual projects, it makes more sense and takes away some sticker shock.
One thing to keep in mind is the average cost. Costs could be lower, around $3000 for grass seeding, adding topsoil, and planting shrubs in the front of your home.
It could also be much much higher in the $20,000 range if you go all out with more decorative plantings, retaining walls if required, and possibly a gazebo. Really the sky is the limit.
Landscaping Cost – New Construction
- National average cost $10,000
- Average range $8,000-$15,000
- Average Minimum cost $3,000
- Average Maximum cost $20,000 +
One variable that plays a large part in cost is where you are doing the landscaping on your property.
You should spend 10% of your home’s value on landscaping. It is appropriate for a landscaping budget of $40,000 to be used for a $400,000 house.
Landscaping Costs by Location on Your Property
The area you landscape can have an effect on your costs. Front yards are less expensive to landscape due to their smaller size and lack of elaborate features. A full garden usually costs more than typical landscaping in a front or backyard because it involves more features and planning.
Frontyard – $4,000 – $6,000
While the price of landscaping your front yard may be lower than other areas of your property, this area tends to have the most impact. This does affect your curb appeal and could affect your home’s value.
Since this area is smaller generally hand doesn’t have major structures, costs could be less expensive.
Some of the items you might want to landscape in your front yard include walkways, trees, shrubs, and your lawn.
Backyard – $8,000 – $10,000
The backyard is about having fun and enjoying your home. While any projects you do in the backyard will add some value to your home, the design doesn’t have to go along with the front yard landscaping or tie directly into the home’s overall look.
Homeowners tend to spend most of their money in the backyard for decks, patios, gazebos, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and water features.
There are more elaborate garden features, including walkways, sitting places, water features, and focal points. The overall costs are higher if the garden is more elaborate. Gardens that focus on plants, shrubs, and trees have lower costs than gardens with more hard landscaping.
Variables in Landscape Design Costs
There are many variables in the cost to landscape.
- Your property’s size.
- The elements you want to include in the design include a patio, water feature, fire pit, arbor, outdoor kitchen, landscape lighting, etc.
- Fees are charged by landscape architects or landscape designer.
- The space and features that already exist in your landscape
- Your physical location
- The topography or your landscape
- Landscape design plan and details.
All of these variables can add to the cost of the final project.
What are the different types of Landscaping?
Landscaping Costs By Type
The three main types of landscaping are hardscape, soft scape, and xeriscaping. Costs for each type of landscaping can differ; here are some examples:
Hardscaping generally refers to nonorganic items in the landscape, like paths, decks, walls, fire pits, and pergolas.
Hardscape elements in your landscape could cost between $2000 and $45000. These items are generally made of stone, wood, concrete, and metal, which drives the cost up tremendously in some cases.
You might be able to avoid some costs with hardscapes by purchasing prefabricated items instead of having them custom built.
Softscaping is the organic part of your landscape. This would include your plants, flowers, trees, grass, shrubs, and flower beds.
Softscapes prices come in around $10 per square foot. You can save some money by buying younger plants and trees, which cost a good deal less than mature plants and trees.
The landscaping is tailored for arid climates. It focuses on working with plants that occur naturally in an arid climate type with minimal water needs.
Xeriscaping costs similar to soft scaping, at around $10 a square foot.
Landscaping Costs- By the Hour or By the square foot?
Landscaping Costs Per Hour
The hourly rate for a professional landscape contractor ranges anywhere from $50 to $100 an hour. The price depends on experience level, skill set, and location. A skilled gardener/landscaper with years of experience may command higher rates.
Landscaping Cost Per Square Foot
Cost for Some Typical Landscape Projects
For professional installation, mulching costs between $200 and $500 per application. If you’re having a hard time growing grass or just want to make the flowerbeds look better, you need mulch.
The mulch keeps your landscape at an ideal temperature and feeds the soil. It helps keep the soil moist and prevents weeds from taking over.
Mulch can be purchased for $2 to $5 per bag at your local hardware store. It’s recommended you install this yourself if you don’t already have a landscaper doing other work for you.
Depending on the rock type selected, the cost of landscaping rocks can range from $3 to $6 a square foot. Crushed granite and stone rock costs between $1 and $3 per square foot, while dry stack stone costs between $6 and $15 per square foot.
Garden Design and Landscaping Cost: Summing it Up
In short, many factors go into determining how much your garden or landscape design will cost. Your budget, what kind of design you’d prefer, and even whether you hire a pro or do it yourself. All of these factors matter when choosing the best design for your garden or landscape at your home.


Location: Missoula, Montana
Project: Higgins Avenue Cantilever Sidewalk
Product: Cantilever Sidewalk
Overview: This 55-year-old connector bridge for downtown Missoula experiences heavy vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. During bridge rehabilitation, a 14-foot wide sidewalk was added to create a friendly, shared-use path. The 448-foot long sidewalk has an integral cross-slope, curbs and drainage scuppers to control water runoff. Railings are attached to the curbs. A highly durable, aluminum oxide polymer overlay provides a non-slip walking surface that can withstand steel plows clearing the Montana snow.