| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| limestone as landscape rock | 7/7/2009 | Mark |
Q: We recently started a project replacing our landscape bark with limestone and was told this will ...
A: I do not think that the small amount of lime that may leach out of the mulch will affect your trees. ...
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| limestone as landscape rock | 7/6/2009 | Mark |
Q: We recently started a project replacing our landscape bark with limestone and was told this will ...
A: Stone mulch absorbs heat and the surrounding soil will get somewhat warmer,but there does not seem ...
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| pavers-bedding sand | 7/6/2009 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I am installing a concrete brick walkway. I have done the excavating and installed 3" of compacted ...
A: Just screed the sand and then set bricks. Then apply some more sand to the top to sweep it in the ...
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| pavers-bedding sand | 7/6/2009 | Mark |
Q: I am installing a concrete brick walkway. I have done the excavating and installed 3" of compacted ...
A: A 4 inch base would be better and you should have at least a 2 inch layer of sand. Use a coarse sand ...
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| pavers-bedding sand | 7/6/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I am installing a concrete brick walkway. I have done the excavating and installed 3" of compacted ...
A: 1" of sand is for allowing you to level the paver area more easily. If the underlaying base is ...
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| covering existing lawn with river rock | 7/4/2009 | Mark |
Q: I have a very large spruce tree in my front yard. Since the grass around this tree is struggling to ...
A: The smaller size rocks will have relatively less space between them than larger rocks and so less ...
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| covering existing lawn with river rock | 7/4/2009 | Mark |
Q: I have a very large spruce tree in my front yard. Since the grass around this tree is struggling to ...
A: There is no need to remove the sod. The sod will retain the soil and prevent erosion. Use a fabric ...
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| water-wise landscaping | 7/1/2009 | Russel Ray |
Q: Live in Poway. Interested to hiring someone to do our front yard. We would consider small fountain, ...
A: Hey, Amy. I used to have a big list because they were my competitors but I haven't done that type ...
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| Drainage Culvert | 7/1/2009 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: There is a 25-foot drainage ditch that runs through my front yard and under my driveway. I have two ...
A: There is only one way to get water out. Re-grade the ditch. But that may not be possible without ...
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| grass won't grow | 6/30/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I have a very large shaded area in my yard that just won't grow grass. I have tried many different ...
A: Jane - Nope. Grass won't grow in heavy shade. Shade gardening is one of the most difficult ...
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| green belt | 6/30/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: i am a superviosr of a green belt project. the length of this project is 44 Km. our planting model ...
A: ----- FOLLOW UP ------- 6/30/09 Hello, Mohammad - I am sure you are very knowledgeable of your ...
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| landscaping slope | 6/30/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: On the north side of our new house next to the foundation is a maybe 45 degree angle. We tiered the ...
A: Dave – The ‘tumbled’ rocks are probably really nice, but they are no match for the power of water ...
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| curly willow arch | 6/29/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: i have 2 curly willows approximately 15 feet away and would like to have them arch together to ...
A: As to letting the willows grow together for a natural "arch", I think you've picked fine plant ...
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| green belt | 6/29/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: i am a superviosr of a green belt project. the length of this project is 44 Km. our planting model ...
A: Mohammad; Iran is a very beautiful AND large country at 1.648 million sq. km. From the lowest ...
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| landscaping | 6/28/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I am looking to landscape my back yard with "pavers" as a walk way and small deck, also with sod. ...
A: You are asking for future erosion trouble paving on a slope, without reinforcing the underlaying ...
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| cedar mulch | 6/28/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I am downsizing my rockery and my weeding. Is it OK to use a layer of cedar sawdust and top it with ...
A: Cedar is non-toxic to people, and some holistic herbalists recommend its oils for personal use, ...
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| plants near from of home | 6/26/2009 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: I recently removed all the mulch in my landscaping due to a fungus that wouldn't go away. I want to ...
A: Hy Maryanne Ok, mulch is used to improve soil conditions and its breaking down into the soil is the ...
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| Trees near a French drain | 6/25/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I recently moved into a house (in central South Carolina) and there is no shade in our back yard. ...
A: Your Ag Extension has provided excellent resourses for So. Carolina. Here is a link to their Tree ...
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| pet area | 6/25/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I used to have a pretty good looking back yard (grass only) until we got a dog. Soon most of the ...
A: Jeff - Any kind of inert material can be used; bark mulch with shrubs, pea gravel, or my favorite, ...
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| Plant Suggestions | 6/24/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I live in central Minnesota. I can really use your help. Can you give me some suggestions of plants ...
A: You are correct, in that a berm & wall are your BEST bet on lowering sound. The wall should be ...
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| standing water in back yard (next to paver patio) | 6/23/2009 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: We have a problem with standing water in back yard, next to where our patio (made w/pavers) was ...
A: Sounds simple. You need to have your yard regraded. Call some one with a bobcat and some fill dirt. ...
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| Patio pavers | 6/22/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I recently removed an above ground swimming pool from my lawn. I now would like to build a paver ...
A: I don't believe so, as the pad has been compacted by the pool sitting on it for so long (I am ...
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| landscaping bricks around foundation | 6/22/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: Mr. Chapelle, First off, thank you so much for this service you provide! My question is pretty ...
A: I took some time think about this question, as I wanted to consider all of the possible ways you ...
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| Retaining walls & trees | 6/22/2009 | Russel Ray |
Q: We are looking at replacing an existing timber retaining wall (made of coppers logs) which is ...
A: Hey, Mick. I've always liked the interlocking bricks because they leave room for me to plan stuff ...
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| japanes fern tree | 6/21/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I'm considering planting a Japanese fern tree about 8 feet away from my shimming pool and I would ...
A: ello, Lilliam ~ Filicium decipiens - Japanese Fern Tree This is a hard-to-find elegant shade tree ...
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| landscape mortar | 6/19/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: The mortar between my landscape bricks is either missing or in bad shape. I think all I need is to ...
A: Mike: Mortar is a mixture of sand, lime, water, and cement. There are different types based on ...
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| Rock around house | 6/17/2009 | Russel Ray |
Q: I have a problem with animals attempting to dig under my house and up against my foundation. Several ...
A: Hey, Teresa. Generally, putting rocks around the foundation shouldn't cause a problem and will ...
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| reclaimed/used clay brick patio - seal or rip out? | 6/17/2009 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I have a newly installed patio and walkways made of reclaimed old clay bricks, and I live in ...
A: well I'ld say what's done is done. Seal the tops and the joints as much as possible, use polymeric ...
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| House in a hay field | 6/17/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: Our home is in zone 5a/6b far western suburbs of Detroit. It is sitting on 5 acres of what used to ...
A: Mark: There are several products on the market, and I have tried none of them...Here are a few ...
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| Mulch | 6/16/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: We recently moved into a house that had an had an above ground pool that we knocked down. Now we are ...
A: Great idea, but don't use plastic sheets or tarps, as they WILL cause a drainage problem. Landscape ...
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| Removing grass | 6/16/2009 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I want to replace large areas of grass with 1" river rock. Do I have to remove all the grass first, ...
A: The easiest way would be with a large machine like a skid steer loader (bobcat) with a 1/2 yard ...
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| Street Noise | 6/16/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I live in the Houston, Texas area and our house backs up to a road. I would like your suggestions on ...
A: Here is a site that discusses the problem: http://www.ehow.com/how_2044848_buy-noise-barriers.html ...
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| Hiding utility box directly in front yard | 6/16/2009 | Russel Ray |
Q: We are in a brand new home-there is a 33"w x 31"L x 28"high green utility box in the middle of the ...
A: Hey, Sue. First thing you need to do is check with the utility company to make sure they don't have ...
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| fruitless mulberry | 6/16/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I live in Albuquerque, and did not water the tree enough (strict water restrictions) can I grind the ...
A: Sounds like the wrong tree in the wrong place. Consider replacing it with something better behaved ...
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| Cleaning English ivy from painted brick wall | 6/16/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I have removed English ivy from painted brick. How do I clean the glue-residue from English ivy ...
A: If the wall was previously painted, use a coat of paint remover. If you paint over them again, it ...
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| drainage | 6/15/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: terminating with a pop-emitter. Any suggestions of a product to use to filter out leaves and seeds ...
A: The most common are the leaf interceptors at the rain gutter: http://gutterworks.com/leaf_guard.html ...
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| Sandy Situation | 6/15/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: Here's my dilemma: I'd like to remove a large amount of grass from a sandy beach area. I've been ...
A: It depends on the grass, but some grass variety's roots area VERY invasive (Bermuda or Zoysia, most ...
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| Monkey Grass Borde | 6/14/2009 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: My Monkey Grass Border has crabgrass(I think) in it. What can I use to get rid of the crabgrass, ...
A: Ok, this is gonna be a long but not particularly hard task to get rid of your crab grass. These ...
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| Green Giant Arborvitae | 6/14/2009 | Russel Ray |
Q: I recently planted 2 green giants in my side yard.. approx 5 feet from the house......Do I need to ...
A: Hey, Lin. I would definitely be concerned if they are only five feet from your house. The green ...
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| kudzu | 6/14/2009 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: The back of our property abuts woods and we are getting invasive kudzu from those woods I'm afraid. ...
A: If I could figure that one out I wouldn't have to buy lottery tickets!! This nasty little plant was ...
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