IN PITTSBURGH LANDSCAPES
For Problem Areas
Solutions
9
Problem areas. Almost every landscape has at least one. These could be a rocky spot, a slope, drought stricken area, consistently flooded spots, or heavily shaded sections that great limit your plant selections. Fortunately, you have several landscaping allies that present themselves as landscape solutions for dealing with these and other problem areas.
ROCKY LAND
1
If a rocky slope is your problem area, then a rock garden design presents itself naturally enough as a landscape solution. Why not use the terrain's rockiness to your advantage and plant some drought-tolerant foliage to form a xeriscape?
2
HILLY OR ERODING
If a rockless incline is your problem area, consider the possibility of importing rock to build a rock garden? There is also the more popular erosion-busting option of choosing to build retaining walls.
TOO SUNNY
If rock gardening is not your cup of tea, there are many attractive perennials to choose from that hold up to dry conditions. You can save yourself time and money by planting low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennials, in addition to grouping plants with similar irrigation needs together in your yard.
3
4
DRAINAGE PROBLEMS
Some of you may be flooded with excess water runoff. If water puddles in an area of your yard, making it unusable, installing a French drain may be the answer for you. If you are looking to try finding some compatible plants for the area, there are a variety of wetland plants to chose from. Yet another option is a decorative "drain" of sorts, like a dry creek bed.
TOO SHADY
If you have a shady spot, don't fight it: fill it with shade-loving plants, such as shrubs that grow in shade.
5
6
LACK OF PRIVACY
The landscaping solution to this problem is to install some type of privacy screening. Aside from a typical fence, your options can also include growing "living walls" that consist of trees or shrubs. Something of a compromise between fencing and plant screens is a lattice privacy screen which vines can be planted to create beautiful coverage
PEST INFESTATION
Perhaps your problem isn't prying eyes, but voracious appetites. Don't like to use poisons? No problem: there are organic landscaping solutions, too. Don't want to remove the pests entirely from your property, preferring instead merely to fence them out? Again, no problem. Just browse pest control resources and you're bound to find a landscaping solution that suits your needs and tastes.
7
8
WEEDS PROBLEMS
Mulch is one of the unsung heroes of landscape design. It's highly portable, malleable and, for certain types of mulch, you can even make your own! Even areas shaded by large trees can be transformed overnight from eyesores to eye-openers by applying an attractive mulch. There are as many types of landscaping mulch as there are landscape challenges.
TOO HIGH-MAINTENANCE
One way to beat problem areas is by employing hardscape elements. Hardscape projects are initially labor-intensive, but once completed, they can provide visual interest on your landscape, require little maintenance, and stand the test of time.
9
American Gardens can help you with your landscaping needs. Your landscape is a collaborative, creative process that begins by discussing the central goals of your project. We assess and address the challenges and opportunities your property presents and use our team of architects, designers and horticulturalists to create a design that reflects your tastes and your lifestyle.