FAQ

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When to plant

We try to make landscaping an easy to understand and enjoyable process for you. As part of this effort, we create landscapes utilizing readily available, low-maintenance plants that are hardy in our climate. As you may know, we guarantee our plants for a year, so it is in all of our best interest as well to choose reliable materials when we look at plant materials. Except for certain situations, we generally select hardy broadleaf evergreen plants with a mix of deciduous materials for seasonal interest. We limit the use of annuals in the landscape, preferring the value and recurring color of perennials. We do encourage annuals in containers and in seasonal color rotation planting.

Horticulturally, FALL is the best time to plant. The season is cooling and existing planted vegetation is more forgiving of rigors of transplant shock. Best of all, we have our annual Fall sale.

WINTER can be a good time to plant as plants are fully dormant and are resistant to transplant shock. Our landscape crews may be more readily available to concentrate on your project during winter as well. In addition, drainage issues are more easily seen and corrected.

SPRING offers the best availability of plants and "feels" like the right season to plant. This time of year is very busy and our crews can book out 90 days or more in advance! While we can always service you in a timely manner, be sure to plan ahead and call us early if you want a Spring installation.

With our cool and temperate climate, SUMMER can also be a great time to plant. Many people worry about watering during the hotter season and this may be an issue for some folks. That noted, the sun will get those roots and new foliage established in time for the cool fall season. We will usually plant using a natural water-retention additive for summer planting. If you water adequately and take generally good care of your landscaping, our one-year warranty may be the assurance you need to complete a successful Summer landscaping project.

Soils

Providing good soils for you means more to us than just bringing out compost. Our local glacial till soils generally lack a great deal of nutrient and may not be the best medium for ornamental shrubs and perennials. In addition, with a new home, you may be looking at fill soils or over-turned soil as a result of recent construction. We can fix that. Rototilling your bed soils is the first key to a healthy planting environment. Liming your soils may also be necessary. Finally tilling in or using a topdress of compost can create the "diggable", nutrient rich environment that your new landscape desires. Keep in mind that it may not always be prudent to create a "nutrient-rich" soil environment. Native plant materials may actually prefer to be planted in un-amended local glacial-till soils. Look further into our landscape handbook for a discussion of other aspects of your outdoor environment such as retaining walls, paths, patios, irrigation, lighting and our award-winning water features.

Cedar Grove compost and 3-way topsoil mix are available at the nursery, as well as medium-fine bark. Compost is $40.00per yard and $45.00 per yard for topsoil and bark. We also offer a full line of bagged soils, bark and other soil amendments.

Retaining Walls, Patios, Decks, and Walks

Wall types

Rock

Rock walls may be constructed from ledgestone or boulders. Boulders are generally measured in “man” size, roughly 1-5 man basalt or granite. Allow an additional foot below grade and drainage behind the wall. Make sure you have good trackhoe access for large rock, at least a clear 8 foot opening. Smaller format “1 to 2 man” stone walls can also be built by hand. Typically, walls are measured by "vertical square foot" or "face footage" (FF). Cost: $10-30 per FF. $30+ FF for ledgestone. If the slope is not too severe, we can also save on the budget by creating an aesthetically pleasing "dry stream" out of softball-sized river cobble mixed with bowling ball sized small basalt boulders. Cut into the slope, this type of retaining can channel water as well as minimize erosion and the cost savings can be put into accent planting. Cost: $10-20 per SF.

Wood

Generally use pressure treated Douglas fir at a minimum 4" (4x4x8) size. Allow for visqueen or waterproofing behind the wall. Perpendicular "deadman" timbers are placed into the slope at regular intervals. Cost $20-30 per FF.

Modular block walls

Precast concrete units. Hand stacked by our skilled crew, this type of construction has the advantage of forming a very uniform geometry of wall and steps and can be built using alternating wall and cap colors. A variety of products are available from inexpensive smaller blocks to more architectural grade "Pisa" type stone. Cost: $20-30 per FF.

Other types of walls

At the high end of the spectrum, you can elect to have a concrete wall built, then finished (typically to complement your homes existing finishes) using stucco, dryvit, brick or any number of "cultured stone" products. Cost: $30-50+ per FF.

Paths & patios

Crushed rock

For the simplest of exterior finished paths, we use a 5/8"(-) basalt crushed rock with an underlying weed barrier and a construction-grade vinyl edge. You can also select a cobbled rock, steel, aluminum or brick/paver edge. This type of path forms a good basis for a perimeter route or path in a natural area. Crushed rock can also serve as a base for a later installation of concrete or a paver. You'll want to avoid pea gravel or drainrock, as this tends to give way underfoot. Cost: $3-9 per SF.

Concrete

Concrete is typically designated as smooth finished, hard finished with a broom or as exposed aggregate. You should have a plan that shows tooled scoring or cut joints at regular, sensible intervals. Try not to allow any clear areas larger than 6x6ft without a score or joint. You can also add color in a variety of ways. Stamped concrete is a unique way to get the look of a paver without going to the expense. In this type of construction, a flexible form is pressed into the concrete and typically two colors are added and hand-finished into the area. Cost $6-10 per SF (concrete), $7-14+ (stamped).

Pavers

A myriad of concrete and stone pavers are available from interlocking units to antique roman cobble. Set in a base of sand or mortared onto a concrete base, this type of paving can create a pleasing effect. Edges can be set in a mortared base or set against a rigid steel or aluminum form. Cut to form a complex geometry in basketweave or herringbone, accented with edge and field colors and mixed and matched, pavers can create limitless patterns. Cost: $9-12 per SF (sandset), $12-20 (mortared).

Flagstone

Flagstone is requested more often than any other walk or patio finish. Complementing any home, a finished flagstone walk or patio is perhaps the most attractive type of walk or patio. Flagstone is available in a wide array of stone types and thickness. Flagstone is sold by the ton and coverage per ton is critical to determining cost. The thicker the stone, the less coverage you'll get. Look for 2"(+) thickness for sandset installations, 2"(-) for mortared work. In addition, look for stone with a regular, uniform flat finish and a dense structure. This will create a comfortable walk surface that will absorb less water and thus not crack as easily during a winter freeze. Cost $18-30 per SF.

Decks

Most local decks are constructed with a pressure treated Douglas fir structure and cedar walk surface. Above 32" height in many municipalities you will need a railing. After completion, you may want to color stain the deck and/or seal the finish to preserve the woods integrity. Although a deck may represent the most cost per square foot, if it is cantilevered over a sloped that otherwise might require retaining; it can actually save in overall costs. Cost: $12-16+ per SF. $16-30+ per SF for recycled or other manufactured lumber. Railing cost: $18+ per lineal foot. Steps: $20-30 per SF.

In addition to our Redmond sample library, good places to review these products are: Trendset Products (Redmond), Marenakos Rock Center (Issaquah), Mutual Materials (Redmond) or Rock Mountain Products (Redmond/Ames Lake area). Keep in mind that minimum costs may apply, both for work that you contract directly and to allow for delivery. For example, a trackhoe operator might charge a minimum price of $800 or so to come out and do any work at your home or a load of stone may cost a minimum of $100 to have delivered.