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Landscaping & Design/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Landscaping on top of a leach field | 2/8/2012 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: I own a house in the country that has a septic system. The leach field is in the front yard which is ... A: A good, tough question, Jeff. I cannot put my finger on a study or report of adverse effects of ... | ||
| Live Oak Roots at Surface | 2/6/2012 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: Good Evening. We have a 6 year old Live Oak Tree out our front door. It's trunk is approximate 8 ... A: How big is the tree? From what I've seen, some Live Oaks heave out of the ground over time. Every ... | ||
| privacy decking | 1/26/2012 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: looking to add potted silk palm trees to put on and around deck to give privacy will entertaining. ... A: At one time, I used these for a commercial project (10 years ago), and they were available locally. ... | ||
| raised garden bed | 1/7/2012 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: I have been given a raised modular veggie bed for Xmas and now we are trying to work out where to ... A: I am sorry I had answered and submitted the response to this question but somewhere along the lines ... | ||
| fencing | 12/16/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: I am installing some wrought iron fence. What is the difference between galvanized posts verus zinc ... A: While this is really not my area of expertise I will try and tell you want I know. What is the ... | ||
| drainage | 12/14/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: i am building a patio aprox xx x xx . there is exsisting 25 yrold concrete patio slab that has ... A: Sounds complicated. Putting a new patio over an old could create a very saturated condition ... | ||
| patio-maple tree roots | 11/25/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I'd like to put a small patio into an area that is adjacent to a huge maple. Some of the roots are ... A: Gravel will not make a good patio surface and it is not advisable to cut tree roots. Your options ... | ||
| Walkway woes | 11/6/2011 | Gina Samarotto |
| Q: I just had my side entrance walway done in bluestone, I am stuck on how to design the planting. I'm ... A: You're a neighbor... we're in New York and the majority of our clients are in Connecticut. For your ... | ||
| swampy area | 11/1/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I would like to make my swampy back area a yard again like it used to be. It is very wet during the ... A: I would suggest field drainage (a system of perforated pipes) perhaps combined with interception ... | ||
| front yard/porch | 10/16/2011 | Gina Samarotto |
| Q: I am having a hard time landscaping the front of my home. There is a bay window in place with a tall ... A: Sorry for the delay, I just now received the photo of your front landscape. I would either remove ... | ||
| raised flower bed | 10/11/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: I had two raised flowerbeds against exterior wall without weep holes which the previous owner built. ... A: Are these flower beds built on top of dirt or soil? Is so, you should not need any weep holes unless ... | ||
| Designing around a catch basin | 10/8/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: Our backyard was designed to catch rainwater in order to prevent flooding on the farm behind us. We ... A: You need to see if there is a recorded storm drain or detention pond easement on your plat ... | ||
| Passive Solar, Windbreaks, and so on | 9/21/2011 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: Mark, 1. I would like to know if there are formula to calculate how far deceduous trees need to be ... A: As you have stated, how far to plant a tree for a home depends on the type of tree (deciduous for ... | ||
| Post and board/rail | 9/16/2011 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: Recently had a post & board fence installed. I am not happy with the results, but I am aware that ... A: Your initial " I am not happy with the results" says it all - You are paying for a service and they ... | ||
| Post and board/rail "Horse fence" | 9/16/2011 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: Recently had a post & board fence installed. I am not happy with the results, but I am aware that ... A: I'm surprised in this economy (even for $2,400) you got this level of service. Question #1 - ... | ||
| Garden steps | 9/10/2011 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: I want to build some steps into my grass and was wondering If you could give me some advice on the ... A: Preventing subsidence is all in the foundation preparation. Why not just start with slabs of rock ... | ||
| landscaping | 9/1/2011 | Kevin Goulding |
| Q: I just purchased a brick home and I need some help with the landscaping of the front of it. A: It's difficult to help you with your front yard landscaping without some pictures of the property, ... | ||
| Raised veggie gardens | 8/31/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: Would you know if it is safe to use treated timber to build raised veggie gardens, will the timber ... A: Roy: Great question. I have done a good bit of research on this topic in order to help with two ... | ||
| Retaining Wall in Sand | 8/27/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I am installing a ~6ft tall retaining wall in my backyard. The area where my house was built used ... A: Construct a caisson. This can be done with sheet or wood pilings. Drive the pilings into the sand ... | ||
| driveway drainage | 8/23/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I have drainage from one side of the house running down my 100 foot asphalt driveway that slopes ... A: These are only approximate dimensions. I should have said stone up to 9 inches in dimension but the ... | ||
| Landscape drainage | 8/22/2011 | Mark |
| Q: Recently purchased a home; the house is approximately 2 years old. This is our first summer in the ... A: The rock will not serve to drain water away and may in fact,impede the flow away from the house and ... | ||
| driveway drainage | 8/18/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I have drainage from one side of the house running down my 100 foot asphalt driveway that slopes ... A: A stone structure to control erosion known as "rip rap" can be used. The stones should be a minimum ... | ||
| Sedum | 8/15/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: We have an area in front yard close to the sidewalk where there is a large utility box. We have ... A: Marti: Note being from Colorado and not knowing exactly where you are it would be difficult for me ... | ||
| laying bricks for patio | 8/15/2011 | Kevin Goulding |
| Q: I am not sure this question is in your area but I am giving it a try. I have a section outside that ... A: You are going to have to either modify the bricks by cutting them to fit the area, or modify the ... | ||
| landscaping design | 8/4/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I'm working on my landscaping around my front yard and side. I had a difficulty to choose the ... A: The following flowering perennials will tolerate conditions up to light shade: Rudbeckia (black ... | ||
| Raised Bed against a cyclone fence | 8/1/2011 | Kevin Goulding |
| Q: I plan on building a raised garden bed 2-3' high and 2-3' wide against a chain linked/cyclone fence. ... A: Unfortunately I have rarely dealt with this issue, as I try to steer people away from building "up" ... | ||
| Saga Palm Plants | 7/29/2011 | Marc Chapelle, RLA |
| Q: We live in Northwest Ohio and we have two nice saga palm plants in pots on our patio in direct ... A: Jim - Congratulations. It is a most likely a seed pod for a Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta), IF you have ... | ||
| Regrading and foundation plantings | 7/22/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: We're going to be obtaining some quotes to regrade our home (we've had some drainage issues that ... A: Well I think you already know the answer to the first question. If the top soil is loose the rain ... | ||
| draonage | 7/14/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I have a small area at the end of my property, where I have a large tree, shed and picnic table. I ... A: Replace the weeds with some type of ground cover or grass. Examples of ground cover and grass: ... | ||
| Minor drainage issue | 7/13/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: The outside A/C drainage pipe coming from my house is about 2 inches from the surface of the soil. ... A: Dig a gravel sump or french drain either will work. Perhaps the easiest thing is a 2-3 foot deep ... | ||
| leveling, drainage | 7/3/2011 | Mark |
| Q: Hey Mark, I have a couple of problems with my yard, i am hoping you have information to solve ... A: The best solution would be to regrade. You may need other drainage devices to support the grading. ... | ||
| MULCH | 6/28/2011 | Kevin Goulding |
| Q: My lawn has grass at some places and is bare at other places. A friend suggest to put some mulch on ... A: Your friend was probably referring to a product on the market that is a mix of mulch, grass, seed ... | ||
| Yard Grading and Drainage | 6/27/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: Behind my house they are building a complex. According to the plans the elevation of the complex ... A: D: The effects that a steeper slope could have on your yard are minimal. If anything it would mean ... | ||
| Large Upcoming Patio Project - Upstate, NY | 6/23/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: I am an avid DIYer and with the new house we are currently building in Upstate, NY (Rochester area ... A: Jim: Looks like you have done some homework and have a good set of questions here. On the first ... | ||
| carrotwood tree root invasion of sewer | 6/22/2011 | Gina Samarotto |
| Q: My parents live in Glendale California, and have planted a fast growing tree, Cupaniopsis ... A: Joan, there's really no way for me to be able to tell you why the prior Beeches had rotted. With ... | ||
| PLANT A TREE OVER AN OLD TREE STUMP | 6/21/2011 | Mark |
| Q: I LIVE IN MARYLAND AND HAD A CHERRY TREE REMOVED APPROXIMATE. 1YR AGO. I HAD THE STUMP GRIND DOWN 4" ... A: You should remove the entire stump and plant the crape myrtle in good soil. The stump will impede ... | ||
| eco-friendly paths and driveways | 6/20/2011 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
| Q: I live on a farm/ranch and would like to install some pathways and driveways that are Eco-friendly. ... A: Terry: I have never heard of any significant inhalation dangers associated with inert materials such ... | ||
| parking pad | 6/19/2011 | Kevin Goulding |
| Q: We are finishing off our parking pad. It is made with a clay mix and now we are adding pit run and ... A: between the pit run and the gravel. So long as it is good clean washed gravel anyway. I am thinking ... | ||
| privacy | 6/18/2011 | Gina Samarotto |
| Q: we have a small yard and are looking for privacy, greenery and all on almost NO budget. we have a 6' ... A: Yes, you can grow bamboo in large containers. You can actually use garbage cans - cheap and big ... | ||
| raised garden - made with 4x4x8 cedar | 6/13/2011 | Mark |
| Q: Oh dear, I guess I didn't make my self very clear. 4' high and 4' deep I would be accessing it from ... A: If you want to access a planting area from your deck you should use planting boxes no more than 18 ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
Sean J Murphy, LA
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer almost any question related to design, installation, general pricing of landscaping and hardscaping. I can also answer questions related to pools, water features, ponds, lighting, grading, drainage, walls, patios, decks and much more. However, I am not a horticulturist nor an entomologist, so I usually cannot answer questions on pests or diseases of plants.
Experience
I have been working in landscaping since I was 8 years old when I started mowing lawns for neighbors. My family owned a nursery in Florida when I was a teen and I owned and operated several lawn and landscape companies over the years. I have since completed 6 years of in Landscape Architecture at Purdue University and have a Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture. I am a registered Landscape Architect in Georgia. I have been practicing professionally for 19 years all over the United States (Primarily though in Georgia, Florida, and the Caribbean Islands). I have worked for some of the best and most well know firms and personalities in landscaping and my work has been featured in the press and on TV. I was a featured Landscape Architect on HGTV's Landscaper's Challenge in the episode titled 'Field of Dreams'. My works have won awards including the ULI's inaugural sustainability award and many others. I have worked for the likes of Disney, the 1996 Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, REIT Post Properties(Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, NY, Tampa, Orlando), major builders like Pulte and Ryland Homes as well as many famous people including Georgia's Governor Roy Barnes. I know many of the plants in Georgia and Florida plus surrounding states. I have passed the Georgia Landscape Architects Licensure Exam and can legally call myself a Landscape Architect Lisc. # 001156
I am currently the Director of Design of a local Planning and Landscape Architecture firm and used to own and operate Amenity Architects LLC. You may see more detail at my personal website http://www.seanjmurphy.com. I am also the webmaster and director of content for the well respected landscape blog at http://amenityarchitects.com
Organizations
American Society of Landscape Architects,
International Society of Arborists,
Urban Land Institute,
City of Smyrna Downtown Development Authority,
City of Smyrna Downtown Task Force,
City of Smyrna Urban Design Commission,
City of Smyrna Economic Advisory Committee,
Keep Smyrna Beautiful,
Board Member Smyrna Community Garden
Publications
Landscape Architect and Specifier News,
Atlanta Homes Magazine,
Peach Magazine,
Landscape Architecture Magazine,
Coastal Living, Magazine
Education/Credentials
Pinellas County Center for the Arts 1984 - 1988,
Bachelors Degree in Landscape Architecture - Purdue University, 1994,
Mike Lynn Graphics Workshop 1994,
University of Georgia Wetland Delineation Certification 1995,
Post University Mini MBA 2000,
Edinburgh College of Art - 1 year co-op 1993,
Intern Smallwood Reynolds Stewart and Stewart Architects Atlanta1993,
ISA Certified Arborist 2009
Awards and Honors
ASLA Merit Award 1994 Mined Land Project IN,
ACI 1st Place for Hardscape Design / Installation 1999 Biltmore Atlanta.
Coastal Living Idea House Design 2005/2006.
South Eastern Flower Show People's Choice Award for best garden design,
Town Landscape Architect for Serenbe Community the winner of 2009 Inaugural Sustainability Award.
Several Grand Awards from MALTA for landscape projects
Many more...too many to list.
Past/Present Clients
Disney Imagineers (while employed by others),
Georgia Governor Roy Barnes,
The State of Georgia,
City of Suwanee Ga,
City of Norcross Ga,
City of Powdersprings Ga,
City of Stockbridge GA,
City of Sandy Springs Ga,
Post Properties,
Bayfair Homes,
John Willis Homes,
Pulte Homes,
Serenbe Development,
Mayor of Smyrna-Georgia Max Bacon,
Sottish Rite Children's Hospital
Farmer D Organics
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