| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| brick planter | 10/6/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I'm re-using red bricks (8" x 4" x 2")to build small raised planter boxes. I'm using them flat, so ...
A: To your questions: 1. Not really limited to size. Here in Nevada, there is a park (Sparks Marina) ...
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| Red Apple ground cover | 10/5/2008 | mark |
Q: I have been told that if you p0lant red apple ground cover on banks that you can expect it to only ...
A: i am not very familiar with the ice plant species. as a group they are called ice plants but this ...
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| Red Apple ground cover | 10/4/2008 | mark |
Q: I have been told that if you p0lant red apple ground cover on banks that you can expect it to only ...
A: twelve years is a long life span for ground cover and yes,if you want ground cover of this type,you ...
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| Red Apple ground cover | 10/4/2008 | Russel Ray |
Q: I have a HUGE bank in front of my home covered with Red Apple ground cover. Hot, dry area facing ...
A: Hey, Bonnie. Your picture looks like the result of a gopher infestation. Red apple should ...
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| landscape design student | 10/4/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: Hey Mark, I was wondering what the benefits of planting sterile flowers might be? It is alittle ...
A: Shaun; I'm not quite sure what you mean by "sterile flower" plants...I know that plants like ...
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| brick patio installation | 10/4/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I want to install a brick patio. The specs are as follows: size: 12' x 30' level ground 2-sided ...
A: First, Brick is not really 4"x8". That is the "nominal size". It is usually slightly less to account ...
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| brick planter | 10/4/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: I'm re-using red bricks (8" x 4" x 2")to build small raised planter boxes. I'm using them flat, so ...
A: You don't need to use mortar, which some folks are afraid of - You can use construction adhesive ...
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| 2 foot border around in ground pool | 10/3/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: My county requires to have a two foot dirt border around my in ground pool and patio. I am loosing ...
A: Do you mean a 2-foot BERM? - A lump of earth that is supposed to contain a portion of water sloshing ...
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| Need a rather short, narrow drought tolerant privacy hedge | 10/3/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: We are finishing up our patio in our backyard and want to border it with a privacy hedge. Since we ...
A: Soulds like you need a clipped hedge - Boxwood (Buxus), Holly (Illex), or Privet (Foreesteria or ...
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| splashing outside fountain | 10/2/2008 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: Is there a way to slow down the flow of water at the top of the fountain where there is 1/2" tube ...
A: Ok, this isn't the easiest but, depending on how long the fall is, you have a couple options. If ...
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| Exterior slate | 10/1/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: We are building a commercial building in Northern Arizona where the winter temperatures can be quite ...
A: I just saw a video on synthetic or faux slate, that would seem to be better able to handle the ...
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| california live oak | 10/1/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: our house is at the top of a hill. Several CA live oaks on our property, near the bottom of the ...
A: I would recommend you consult an ISA certified local arborist (ISA stands for International Society ...
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| planting around trees | 9/30/2008 | mark |
Q: We have an established willow tree and would like to plant some annuals or perrenials around it. ...
A: willow tree roots go out a long way,so you cant avoid the roots. any drought and shade tolerant ...
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| BLACKTOP | 9/30/2008 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: I don't know if you have knowledge of this situation .we had blacktop put in backyard and a ...
A: I understand your situation and I feel that you have little choice but to use blacktop, especially ...
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| steepness of berm | 9/28/2008 | mark |
Q: We are constructing a concrete retainer wall for a fire pit area in our yard, the walls are 48" tall ...
A: the steepness of the berm should not exceed the angle of repose of the soil. the angle of ...
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| walkway | 9/28/2008 | mark |
Q: I have a blacktop walkway in my yard. I would like to cover it with brick. Could I cover it with a ...
A: if you put the bricks over the walkway you will not have adequate drainage and that will result in ...
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| planting trees for energy conservation | 9/25/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I would like to plant some trees on the west side of my newly constructed home to help block winter ...
A: Christine, sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too. You cant block winds in the winter ...
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| Slope Landscaping | 9/24/2008 | Russel Ray |
Q: I have a big steep and big slope in my back yard. Any idea how to landcape it with low cost? I ...
A: Hey, Cindy. There are many things you can do. I like to terrace them and then create little ...
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| rules for eagle scout project at CMOM | 9/24/2008 | Marc Chapelle, ASLA |
Q: My son is building an aviary outside the children's museum of memphis for his eagle scout project. ...
A: Mrs. Johnson: Congratulations on your son’s advancement to Life Scout (as is my son), and his ...
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| Best questions when searching for landscape designer | 9/23/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I moved from Chicago to Texas and am building in the hill country (just outside of San Antonio). I ...
A: The question/s you have posed require a lot more understanding of your program than you have ...
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| Pruning old Spruce Trees | 9/22/2008 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: We have row of spruce trees growing on an slope Many of these trees have two major off shoot ...
A: I have been mulling over the word 'thinning' in your question. If you mean to remove some of the ...
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| A good partner for Asiatic lilies | 9/22/2008 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: Not sure if this question is in your area of expertise, but I was wondering if you could help me. I ...
A: Dahlias dahlias dahlias that's all I can suggest then maybe Michaelmas daisies, Euphorbia characias ...
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| drainage | 9/22/2008 | Russel Ray |
Q: new house, new lanscape. water does not drain off patio correctly so I have been digging a "little ...
A: Hey, Debi. The rip rap will help keep the rocks in place if you get a significant water flow ...
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| landscaping a hiiside | 9/21/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I want to know if there is a landscaping fabric that will help keep mulch on the hillside. ...
A: Glenn: Landscape fabric is generally made to go over soil and under mulch. Most fabrics will not ...
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| drainage | 9/21/2008 | Russel Ray |
Q: new house, new lanscape. water does not drain off patio correctly so I have been digging a "little ...
A: Hey, Debi. What you're doing is creating a very simple "French drain." The best French drains are ...
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| blacktop | 9/20/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: We had blacktop driveway put in along with a lot of blacktop in back yard so my husband can use his ...
A: Dawn, I am sorry for the trouble you are having. If you feel the contractor is treating you ...
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| patio flooring | 9/20/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I have a small cement patio and would like to tile it with terracotta tiles. My problem is i have 2 ...
A: You need to have a sealed surface. Any tile that is not sealed will absorb moisture. Any grout that ...
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| Used rail road ties | 9/19/2008 | Russel Ray |
Q: I am looking for used railroad ties to build a retaining wall. I know Home Depot and some others ...
A: Hey, BJ. Any large piece of lumber will be "gouged and cracked" after it dries. When the lumber is ...
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| How to design /build a garden from scratch | 9/17/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: We just bought a lot in western New York. Our house will be done at the end of this year, and we ...
A: Qian, We could talk for hours about the principles of design....and I would love every minute of ...
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| decomposed granite pathways for urban cparks | 9/17/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: I am a public artist creating a path for Arizona project i I need a pervious path surface for a ...
A: Pervious concrete is one thought. The issue is ADA compliance. Not many pervious surfaces are also ...
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| DRAINAGE | 9/17/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: I have a small yet very unappealing backyard currently. It consisted of clay dirt, river pebbles, ...
A: Nicholas, Based on what you have said, I would agree that it is likely runoff from your neighbors ...
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| blacktop | 9/16/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: We had blacktop driveway put in along with a lot of blacktop in back yard so my husband can use his ...
A: Dawn, Unfortunetly, I don't know your local pricing. I do know that because it is oil based, it has ...
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| large stream fed pond | 9/16/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: I live in NJ and I have a large stream fed pond. It's approx. 300 ft. long by 75 ft. wide. The water ...
A: Jo Ann, In my experience, a good healthy pond requires 4 or 5 elements: circulation, filtration ...
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| Miscanthus Sinensis 'Huron Sunrise' | 9/15/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: I live in Southern Connecticut, Zone 6a, and would like to use Miscanthus Sinensis 'Huron Sunrise' ...
A: Lisa, Miscanthus is an invasive plant and has become a big problem in North Carolina and western ...
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| Bedding sand type for patio pavers | 9/14/2008 | mark |
Q: We are DIY homeowners installing a paver patio using manufactured stone pavers ranging from 12x12 to ...
A: there is a good chance that the masonry sand you have layed under the pavers will not drain ...
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| design issue | 9/14/2008 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: a small dilemma with the rear of my house. Outside my kitchen door, there is two steps down to an ...
A: I think that a combination of all 3 of your current alternatives would be the wisest alternative. ...
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| Installing PVC fencing in front of hedges | 9/13/2008 | Sean J Murphy, LA |
Q: We will be installing an inground pool in the spring and are having a pvc fence installed this fall ...
A: Most hedge plants can be severely pruned and will come back if done properly and at the right time ...
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| Sloped Lake Lot | 9/12/2008 | mark |
Q: Mark, We live in central Alabama and bought a lake cabin for summer fun. The lot was overgrown ...
A: doesnt sound like a bobcat could be used on a slope that steep. some type of hand held brush ...
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| blacktop | 9/12/2008 | Brandon Cooper |
Q: We had blacktop driveway put in along with a lot of blacktop in back yard so my husband can use his ...
A: Dawn, Understanding the solution to your problem starts with understanding how blacktop (or more ...
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| plants for patio porch | 9/10/2008 | Jonathan Radford |
Q: Can you recommend low maintenance plants for apartment porches? I have a sunny and a shaded side, ...
A: Sorry for the delay but I spilt some liquid on my pc so i was offline for a while- I would ...
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