There are other signs to look for that indicates that a plant is unhealthy, and most of them have to do with the leaves. For instance, brown leaves that crunchy and brittle are a sign that a plant has not been receiving enough water. Yellow, waxy leaves may suggest that a plant has been receiving too much water. Leaves that look thin and bleached out indicate that a plant has a spider mite problem. If the edges of the leaves are very uneven, insects have been munching away on the plant. Marks and scars on the bottom of the leaves also show that the plant has an insect issue. Brown leaves that are wilted instead of brittle or leaves that have color spots usually mean that the plant has some infection, usually a fungal infection. If lots of the stems are broken off of a plant, it says that the garden center has not been handling the plants very well. If you see lots of plants like this in the garden center, it may be time to start shopping someplace else.
Avoid these warning signs, and you'll bring home a healthy plant, every time.
Lawrence L. Hoyle, author, 57 years in the Landscape Profession.Let's begin with the definition of a retaining wall. A retaining wall can loosely be defined as any outdoor wall that is used to hold the ground in place. One retaining wall may consist of a horizontal layer of brick, stone, or wood used to level earth on a slope to plant veggies or flowers. Another retaining wall might need to retain tons of soil to prevent erosion. When choosing the services of a professional retaining wall builder, there's a lot you need to know.
Planning Your Retaining Wall
How high does your wall need to be? What would be the best materials to use? Is the wall chiefly decorative or does it have a specific purpose? You won't know the answers to these questions until you go outside and take a closer look.
It goes without saying that you have selected a place for the wall. Knowing the shape and approximate length of the retaining wall will tell your installer several important things; it will help him with suggestions of the right materials. A professional installer can help by creating a visual image using a stick, a string line or stakes.
The height of your wall for your property is a very important consideration. Enormous forces (i.e., tons of soil) work against retaining walls. Your wall will need to be able to withstand these forces and have proper drainage to ensure the added weight of water does not cause the wall to collapse.
Once your contractor understands your goals about the look, and the height and length of the proposed wall, he'll know how much material will be needed.
A reputable contractor will have no problem getting the following information to you. If the contractor cannot provide these items, you may need to keep looking.
Business License
Bond (if required by city)
Insurance-a certificate of insurance will be sent directly from the contractor's agent (general liability, workers comp, etc.)
Permit for Project (if needed-depending on code for your city/county)
Engineer Design (if needed-depending on code for your city/county-normally when a wall is over four feet in height)
Location of Utility Services (to ensure the safety of underground utilities-occurs several days before the project begins)
Choosing Retaining Wall Materials
Some of the most popular retaining wall materials include:
Concrete: Always stylish, ask your contractor about concrete block wall systems. Concrete with stone veneer may be another choice to consider.
Concrete with stone veneer: These have the same pros and cons of concrete. They take a bit longer to build; the concrete must be poured and allowed to set prior to the construction of the stone veneer. When completed, your wall will look as if it is through-and-through stone.
Pre-cast stackable block: Stackable concrete block gives the same elegance as pavers with an even look and symmetry of the equal sized and finished blocks. These walls are relatively easy to build and are excellent when curves are required.
Brick: Brick is a good choice, but for best results, hire an experienced bricklayer who has experience building retaining walls.
Stone: Stone can come in many types, colors and can be natural or cut. They offer the same advantages of brick and must be designed correctly to include proper drainage to avoid cracking.
Boulders: A wonderful addition to a mid-century or colonial yardscape. Multi-ton boulders will require the hiring of heavy equipment.
Natural stone: Stone can come in many types, colors and can be natural or cut. It fits beautifully with the architecture of Bergen County homes.
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