"Chad does a great job with our landscaping property maintenance. He does just about everything for us. Our lawn, the sprinklers, our pond. He's even taken care our drainage issues as well. Very happy with his service."
"Excellent irrigation specialist timely professional fixed my issue that no one else could. I now employ him as my irrigation service. Highly recommend!"
"Reliable honest company who will get the job done with friendly customer service. Small or large job, I would recommend Chain Oâ Lakes Electric to anyone looking for the best service in the area."
"I was impressed that Jason went out to the building site on Sunday, and then checked the size of the boulders. Not many contractors give up part of a Sunday to determine whether the size of the boulders is appropriate. Early Monday morning he called that he connected with another boulder/stone company who could deliver on Thursday. He and his crew did a beautiful job putting the retaining wall up. I was disappointed that the landscaping around the wall and driveway were not levelled out better before they left. "
The best size rock for your landscaping depends on the design, as different boulders serve different purposes. If you want to group boulders to create a natural-looking cluster, you’ll need a range of sizes. Otherwise, here are some suggestions:
Small boulders (smaller than 12 inches across): Best for landscape edging and fire pits
Medium boulders (12–24 inches): Best for retaining walls and water features
Large boulders (more than 24 inches): Best as standalone landscaping features, steps, or walkways.
Of course, you can mix and match sizes to create a unique display.
Hedges can be trimmed in many other shapes than the standard square shape. They can be cut into spiral, cone, and sphere shapes. However, cutting and maintaining these types of shapes is much more challenging. There are metal frames that you can purchase to place around the hedge to make it much easier.
The soil around your foundation should slope down and away from your home, not toward it. If the grading drops the farther you are from your home, you can enhance the slope by removing more soil. Mark off a few feet from your house and dig up some of this soil. Regrading around your fountain should encourage water to flow away from your home and not collect or “pond.”
When planting, it's best to leave several feet between a house and a juniper bush. Many juniper varieties will become quite bushy and require space to grow. Juniper branches that come into contact with siding can damage the home's exterior over time. Also, some juniper bushes have aggressive roots that can put pressure on a home's foundation or basement walls.
If you don’t like the way your empty drainage ditch looks, reach out to a local landscaping professional to discuss your options. They may be able to liven it up with plants, stones, bushes, or other decorative elements. You can also add your own landscaping, but you should first make sure that it won’t block your ditch or prevent it from operating effectively.
The Charlevoix, MI homeowners’ guide to landscaping services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
A landscape designer can elevate your outdoor space and bring your vision to life. Use this landscape design cost guide to budget for your next project.
A good landscaping website can help you land more sales and build your credibility. Read our list of must-have pages and ideas for your website to help potential clients find you and drive more business for your lawn care company.