Landscape Design/Build

Residential Landscape Installation - Feature Natural Stone

This project was designed and installed utilizing the theme of the natural stone that the home was constructed with for the exterior.

The goal of the project was to create a landscape that looked like it always existed and reflected the lifestyle of the family.

The front entrance driveway involved the normal excavation and installation of aggregate base but also a full access double driveway totaling 4000sq feet that wrapped around the front of the property to give the feeling that the open space at the road was larger than it actually is, allowing the children to play safely.

Natural Stone carried the theme throughout the total project. A 50 foot natural limestone wall was built to create a terraced effect in the front, defining the softscape, turf, and hardscape all as features. Plantings were chosen to bring out and highlight the colors within the natural stone that faces the house and the "peaks" of the Karl Foerster grasses to softly mimic the peaks on the gables of the house instead of using more traditional plantings. Color will always be present on site from the deep burgundy foliage on the Heuchera and Ninebark, variegation of the Lamium and Dappled Willow, red berries of the cotoneaster with it's glossy green foliage contrasting with the steel blue foliage of the blue chip juniper backdropped with Karl Foerster grass and the remaining assortment of flowering shrubs and perennials that will continue to flower throughout the season and show color almost up to snowfall with the autumn joy sedum and stella d'oro daylilies.

The rear access to the property involved building a 75' long by 6' high natural limestone wall, the largest ever installed by our company and perhaps in the local area. Within the wall access was provided to the rear property with natural stone steps, a total elevation change of approximately 9 - 10 feet. Landscape lighting illuminates the pathway, stairway to the lower property in the back yard and is also used to highlight the front & back retaining walls and uplighting in trees.

The largest area of difficulty was dealing with existing drainage issues and following municipal drainage plans. The neighboring properties, before development, always drained onto this site. So cooperation with the neighboring sites existing drainage created some challenges but in the end resulted in, well still a wet area on our project due to barriers of water. The question remains, where is the water coming from? The neighbors. Where is it going? Our clients site! Working with existing municipal drainage plans tends to be somewhat difficult. Phase 2 of this project began this year in the backyard and as it is completed the remaining drainage issues will be resolved.

The schedule of this project lasted approximately 2.5 months from start to finish with delays due to weather and access to the site and to keep communication open with the neighbors… in the end any relationship to be successful needs constant communication. Budgets, as with most projects of this size, were set and change orders were discussed as issues beyond the scope were anticipated.

As mentioned, this project continues into the future as during the initial planning phase plans were made to eventually add their backyard oasis that will include a pool, cabana, green space for their children outside the pool area for safe play, more terraced natural stone walls, and softscape plantings.

This project represents a true masterpiece of the natural stone products and workmanship available within Atlantic Canada.

prev | next



	Landscape Design/Build Residential Landscape Installation - Feature Natural Stone This project was designed and installed utilizing the theme of the natural stone that the home was constructed with for the exterior. The goal of the project was to create a landscape that looked like it always existed and reflected the lifestyle of the family. The front entrance driveway involved the normal excavation and installation of aggregate base but also a full access double driveway totaling 4000sq feet that wrapped around the front of the property to give the feeling that the open space at the road was larger than it actually is, allowing the children to play safely. Natural Stone carried the theme throughout the total project. A 50 foot natural limestone wall was built to create a terraced effect in the front, defining the softscape, turf, and hardscape all as features. Plantings were chosen to bring out and highlight the colors within the natural stone that faces the house and the "peaks" of the Karl Foerster grasses to softly mimic the peaks on the gables of the house instead of using more traditional plantings. Color will always be present on site from the deep burgundy foliage on the Heuchera and Ninebark, variegation of the Lamium and Dappled Willow, red berries of the cotoneaster with it's glossy green foliage contrasting with the steel blue foliage of the blue chip juniper backdropped with Karl Foerster grass and the remaining assortment of flowering shrubs and perennials that will continue to flower throughout the season and show color almost up to snowfall with the autumn joy sedum and stella d'oro daylilies. The rear access to the property involved building a 75' long by 6' high natural limestone wall, the largest ever installed by our company and perhaps in the local area. Within the wall access was provided to the rear property with natural stone steps, a total elevation change of approximately 9 - 10 feet. Landscape lighting illuminates the pathway, stairway to the lower property in the back yard and is also used to highlight the front & back retaining walls and uplighting in trees. The largest area of difficulty was dealing with existing drainage issues and following municipal drainage plans. The neighboring properties, before development, always drained onto this site. So cooperation with the neighboring sites existing drainage created some challenges but in the end resulted in, well still a wet area on our project due to barriers of water. The question remains, where is the water coming from? The neighbors. Where is it going? Our clients site! Working with existing municipal drainage plans tends to be somewhat difficult. Phase 2 of this project began this year in the backyard and as it is completed the remaining drainage issues will be resolved. The schedule of this project lasted approximately 2.5 months from start to finish with delays due to weather and access to the site and to keep communication open with the neighbors… in the end any relationship to be successful needs constant communication. Budgets, as with most projects of this size, were set and change orders were discussed as issues beyond the scope were anticipated. As mentioned, this project continues into the future as during the initial planning phase plans were made to eventually add their backyard oasis that will include a pool, cabana, green space for their children outside the pool area for safe play, more terraced natural stone walls, and softscape plantings. This project represents a true masterpiece of the natural stone products and workmanship available within Atlantic Canada. prev \| next
JOIN THE TEAM Download the Application Form