STAMPED CONCRETE

Stamped concrete, often called textured or imprinted concrete, replicates stones, such as slate and flagstone, tile, brick and even wood. The wide variety of pattern and color choices make it popular for beautifying patios, pool decks, driveways and more. Additionally, it’s an affordable paving option that requires less maintenance than other materials.

DRIVEWAY PAVING

There are a great variety of driveway finishes and materials available to meet your design tastes, the lifespan you expect to have out of the driveway and how much maintenance you are willing to commit.

Poured Concrete Driveways
Asphalt Paved Driveways
Stamped Concrete Driveways
Interlocking Pavers
Tar and Chip
Exposed Aggregate
and More

WATER FEATURES

Create your water oasis with a custom built water feature for your yard. Create a custom fish pond or a waterfall with exotic flowers to enjoy year round.

KOI PONDS

Koi Ponds can be thought of as "Swimming Pools for Koi" or simply big fish tanks. There are no rocks, gravel, or aquatic plants in the pond that could potentially harm the Koi. The Koi Pond is constructed with straight down sides (no steps) to prevent any predators from walking into the pond and trying to make a meal out of the Koi.

The Koi Pond has a minimum depth of 4', usually 5'-6' deep, but can also be much deeper. It can also feature Bubble-Less™ external aeration technology for clear, unobstructed viewing of the koi.

Koi ponds don't have rocks or gravel in them that could potentially harm the koi.A Koi Pond can have waterfalls, but in most cases, the waterfalls are not part of the filtration system like those found in Water Garden Ponds, Hybrid Ponds™ or CrossOver Ponds™.

A Koi Pond is not a "landscape" item like Water Garden Ponds, Hybrid Ponds™, or CrossOver Ponds™, but more of a pool or big fish tank specifically designed for keeping Koi.

Koi Ponds are biologically and micro filtered with super efficient, Easy to Clean HydroBead Vortex™ filters, along with HydroClean™ pond skimmers, bottom drains, and HydroSieve™ bottom drain pre-filters performing the mechanical filtering duties.

STONE MASONRY

Back in the days when stone buildings were structural as opposed to veneers, stone masons followed basic principles in order to build a structurally sound wall that could withstand the test of time. Although stone veneers are typically no longer structural, the most appealing walls are those which appear to be structural and stonework adheres to the traditional principles. Walls that display a higher level of stone craft are those where each stone has been set as if it were integral to the overall strength of the wall.

RETAINING WALLS

Reducing soil erosion, turning steep slopes into terraced backdrops, creating focal points in the landscape—retaining walls serve many purposes. Indeed, they are some of the most common ways to correct problems caused by hilly areas! Well-built retaining walls transform unworkable inclines into usable outdoor space for the garden.

Despite their simple appearance, though, these walls require a good deal of planning—sometimes professional engineering—to keep their shape. Soil is heavy, especially when soaking wet from a recent rainstorm, so a basic retaining wall (four feet tall and 15 feet long) potentially has to support up to 20 tons of soil pressure. With every additional foot of height, the pressure of the soil increases substantially. Miscalculate your construction plans, and you could end up with a weak wall that risks bulging or, worse, collapsing altogether. For just this reason, retaining walls taller than four feet should be designed and constructed by the pros.

DECOMPOSED GRANITE

Decomposed granite is like gravel, but finer and generally more stable. It’s formed from the natural weathering and erosion of solid granite, a tough, hard, igneous rock. The DG sold as landscaping material is typically composed of fine three-eighths-inch (or smaller) particles; some may be no bigger than a grain of sand. Colors vary, from buff to brown, and include various shades of gray, black, red, and green.

Although there are at least 30 colors and varying degrees of particle sizes, decomposed granite basically comes in three forms: natural, stabilized, and resin-coated.

• Natural DG is used as a mulch material and can be spread around trees and garden beds much like wood mulch. It will continue to weather after it is put in place and provides nutrients to surrounding soil and plants. It lasts longer than most other mulch materials and will not attract pests.
• For a path or patio, DG with stabilizers (which serve as a binder) is the best solution. Stabilized DG is often added on top of another gravel material, tamped down, then left with a thin loose layer on top.
• DG with resin for driveways has a similar surface to asphalt, but has a more natural look and is permeable.

While DG is most commonly used for paths, driveways, garden trails, and as a xeriscape ground cover, it can also be used to create smooth visual transitions between formal garden and wilderness. One of its advantages is that it breaks down, so any DG that migrates into lawn or planting beds does not cause problems the way gravel does. Lining a path or patio with a black metal strip (which will disappear if buried low enough) will help keep it in place. One caveat: Make sure not to install the material too close to the entry of a house or building. It does stick to shoes, and will scratch floors. This can be avoided by separating the DG from the home with a few feet of other surface materials, plus a door mat.

IRONWORKS

A well designed and functioning iron worked hardscape can be a center point to any yard. We create custom ironworks that fits your exterior like a piece of art.

BBQ

Nothing beats a BBQ island when it comes to outdoor cooking and backyard entertaining. A well designed BBQ island draws friends and family to your yard as the hub to your outdoor entertaining.

SPRINKLERS

Lawn irrigation is the practice of supplying water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of channels. Whether residential, commercial or agricultural, water irrigation is an important practice to maintain for a better looking, better-producing lawn or crop

LANDSCAPING LIGHTS

Most landscape lighting today is low voltage, and with good reason. Unlike 120-volt systems, it's safer to work with and less costly to install. And though low-voltage lights receive one-tenth the power, thanks to a step-down transformer, there's no limit to the effects they can achieve, from ethereal moonlight beamed down from a tree canopy to a subtle glow that washes over a low garden wall. More than just picking the right hardware, a pleasing lighting scheme is also about artistry.

GOPHER FREE LAWNS

Gophers, also called pocket gophers, are small rodents that live in tunnels under lawns and gardens. They are a seasonal recurring problem in some areas, but can be a constant problem in others. Gophers seldom venture above ground, so it’s a battle generally fought underground. They target moisture-rich roots of plants and trees and can ruin years of growth in just a matter of hours. Additionally, the holes and dirt mounds that they create can be serious tripping hazards for people and pets, and their tunnels can weaken the ground to the point of causing patios and walkways to collapse.

The size of your yard or garden, the type of plants you have, and the areas surrounding your yard can all affect the rate of success you’ll have with gopher control. The quicker the problem is identified and action is taken, the better. If you’re looking for ways to keep them from destroying your yard or garden, short of blowing them up Caddyshack-style, here are some humane ways to try:

Barriers
Gopher mesh barrier: Create a perimeter or in-ground fence around your garden or lawn with galvanized gopher mesh or chicken wire. The barrier should extend into the ground 1 to 2 feet and above ground as well. They may dig right up to the barrier and you can wage your war there.

Under-lawn barrier: Lay galvanized gopher mesh 4 to 6 inches under the soil when planting a new lawn, laying sod, or in shallow flower beds. It’s a tremendous amount of work for large areas, but if you have a serious problem it can save your lawn for many years to come.

Gopher baskets: If installing an entire foundation or perimeter of mesh isn’t practical, wire mesh baskets can be placed around individual plants that you want to protect. These can be a good solution to protect prized rose bushes, fruit trees, succulents or vegetable gardens. Gopher baskets are available in multiple sizes and are usually made of chicken wire or galvanized mesh, which will last longer.

Plants
Plants gophers won’t eat: Gophers usually won’t eat daffodils (Narcissus) and most allium, onion or garlic plants, so you’re safe planting as many of those as you want.

Plants that repel gophers: Other plants can be used to repel gophers, such as gopher spurge (Euphorbia lathyris), crown imperials, lavender, rosemary, salvia, catmint, oleander and marigolds. Try planting a border around your flower beds or vegetable garden with these. Some of these will also repel unwanted insects like mosquitoes.

YARD CLEAN UP

With busy work schedules and the daily demands of family life, there sometimes just aren’t enough hours in the day to check all the household chores off the list. Too often, particularly in the hottest weeks of the summer, we keep our attention focused on the inside of the home, leaving the yard to fend for itself. However, the truth is that the longer you leave it, the worse it gets. Whether you’re short on time, or just can’t get away from the kids long enough, let PermaGreen beautify your yard.

We perform weed abatement for both residential and commercial properties. All of our abatement is conducted according to county abatement standards and jurisdiction deadlines. Utilizing handwork (weed whacking), tractor work, weed spraying, discing, brush removal, chemical mowing and much more. Annual and quarterly programs are available.

Weed Abatement Services include:

Brush Removal
Bush Removal
Fire Breaks
Handwork & Weed Whacking
Mowing Services
Tractor Work
Weed Spraying

FRENCH DRAINS

Add the word "French" to anything and it sounds elegant. This works even with a boring, vaguely hostile word like "drain," a feature of your hardscape that you generally don't want to think about; let's just hope a drain is doing its job and leave it at that. But a French drain? I want one.

In the mid-1800s, French came up with the idea of leaving a gap between roof tiles to allow water to drain efficiently. Thus was born the French drain. You can read more about it in French's seminal 1859 book, Farm Drainage (does this make him a French author?), in which he discusses at length his ideas for draining land "with stones, wood, plows, and open ditches, and especially with tiles." Or we can move on.

Despite its prosaic American past, the French drain is quite a useful method of diverting water and preventing floods or runoff. A French drain can be installed on a roof, around the foundation of a house, at the base of a retaining wall, around the perimeter of a cellar, or on any slope. The simple idea behind a French drain is this: Dig a trench to channel water downhill and fill the trench with gravel so the water can filter down to the bottom of the trench. At the bottom install a pipe to capture water and encourage it to flow in a direction away from a house.

ARTIFICIAL LAWNS

If you live in a low-water area, or if you’re just tired of constant lawn maintenance, you're in good company.

More homeowners are saving time, water -- and their backs -- by switching from real grass to artificial turf.

Synthetic grass for landscaping and recreation is growing 10% to 15% a year in the U.S.

That means more and more homeowners are using fakes for:

Lawns
Dog runs
Play areas
Pool surrounds
Rooftops
Putting greens
Decorative borders between patio pavers

The best way to take out a tree is to not leave it to amateurs. You might think you can handle a tree-removal job on your own with a chain saw and ladder, but there's more to it than that.

The type of tree also makes a difference in terms of how it bends and how much weight it can handle.

Typically, tree-removal consists of three steps: They take it down, they remove and dispose of the limbs, and they grind the stump into tiny chips.

A stump grinder chews away at the stump wood that’s left after a tree has been cut down. All stump grinders use a powerful, rotating blade that rips into the wood as it turns. The blade’s teeth cut the stump wood into small pieces. The operator guides the blade over the entire stump as the blade reduces the wood to chips, and takes the stump down to well below ground level.

Pruning is an excellent method of preventative maintenance for both young and established plants. A regular pruning schedule protects your plants, family, and property from injury, pests and damage. It's an important part of a long-term maintenance strategy.

What is pruning, anyway? Pruning is the practice of removing specific portions of a tree or shrub (such as roots, buds, or branches) that are dead and dying due to pests, disease, and lack of sunlight or trimming for healthy plant development and aesthetic purposes.

Pruning removes dead and dying branches and stubs, allowing room for new growth and protecting your property and passerby from damage. It also deters pest and animal infestation and promotes the plant’s natural shape and healthy growth.

Regular pruning reduces the risk of storm damage to structures from broken branches. Protect your family and friends from falling branches over walkways, driveways, and children's play areas. This practice also helps control pests, vermin, and snakes by reducing their habitat options.

Pruning, especially for large trees and shrubs, is best left to professionals. It can be dangerous! You could injure the plant or yourself in the process.

There are several different types of pruning.

• Thinning – This procedure removes branches at the base, right alongside the trunk.

• Topping – This is a drastic process that removes most of the branches down to the trunk. Topping is commonly used when training young trees to grow certain ways.

• Raising – This involves the trimming of low-hanging branches to create headroom for pedestrians, parked cars or entryways.

• Reduction – This means trimming back a tree’s volume, typically for safety reasons, such as creating space for power lines.

he mention of tree shaping often leads to the question, what exactly is tree shaping? In fact, tree shaping is a method of growing trees into particular shapes and patterns by encouraging branch growth in a particular way. There are the more elaborate methods of interwoven trees that are pieces of art, but it is also a method of making sure your trees remain aesthetically pleasing, and don’t become a hazard to your property as they grow.

Tree shaping has a vast history and has been practiced for centuries. One of the oldest methods of tree shaping is aeroponic growing. This method was used in ancient times to encourage roots and branches to form bridges. Mixed into the roots were rocks, sticks, and soil that formed sturdy ‘bridges’ out of the trees.

The next method is instant tree shaping which is used with mature trees that are still pliable. In this method, the branches are bent into the desired design and held in place until they begin to form correctly. Bending is often used in this technique, but it’s important to have the right kind of tree and not too much pressure so the branch snaps.

The final method is gradual tree shaping which is used on young trees. This method takes longer since it begins with the seed of the tree, but can also be purposed into more complex shapes since you start when the tree is young. Tree shaping today takes the form of arborsculpture or the modern form of a living piece of art.

The common techniques of tree shaping are framing, grafting, and pruning. Framing uses different structures to encourage the tree’s growth into the design. This includes wire systems, wooden rigs, or using the tree itself.

The next is grafting. Grafting is a technique where branches or pieces of the tree are cut away and are then grafted together. When successful, the branch then melds with the other and a new shape is formed. The final method is pruning which is used alongside other methods as well. This technique balances out the design of the tree to encourage the growth in the correct directions.

Shaping a tree throughout its life can ensure a lasting tree that won't begin to lean or fall as it gets older and therefore ensures the value of your property.

Tree thinning is the process of cutting branches in order to make a tree smaller. In some areas prone to wind damage, thinning is essential for reducing that damage. You may see this process in action when trees need to be cut away from power lines. But how does tree thinning help you, the homeowner? We have an ISA certified arborist who can work with you on this issue. Rhine Landscaping will help you understand how thinning can be beneficial to your residential landscape, so you can decide if it’s right for you.

If you’re concerned that your tree is too small to be thinned, that’s okay. Even small trees, such as citrus trees, are able to be thinned. Mostly, this kind of change would be for the aesthetics of your landscape. If your tree needs to be thinner, or cut into its own shape in order to fit your style, thinning may help. Thinning done properly should never change the size of the tree in any dramatic way, so your tiny tree will stay tiny and continue looking neat.

When there are fewer branches in the crown of a tree, wind is able to pass through without as much restriction. This leads to less storm damage, if you live in an area susceptible to this. Not only are you protected from falling trees, a thinned tree will cause less stress on individual branches and the trunk of the tree. This is especially helpful when you have a professional able to select the specific branches where thinning would be beneficial in order to reduce that mechanical pressure. It helps during the winter, too, when snow and ice form on your branches and cause extra duress.

Gravel is one of our favorite hardscaping elements. It’s low-maintenance, inexpensive, and incredibly durable. In recent years, gravel has become one of the most popular landscape design treatments, even replacing lawns and traditional ground covers.

Gravel landscape works beautifully in many applications—patios, paths, ground cover, and in between pavers—and it adds timeless organic style and an elegant neutral tone to any yard. Gravel comes in many shapes and sizes, ranging from superfine decomposed granite to large stones like river rock.

Interested in using gravel in your landscape design? We include hardscape recommendations in our Full Yard and Partial Yard Packages. Read on to learn more about the different types of gravel.

Effective water use doesn’t mean changing your lifestyle. It means reducing water waste, such as improper irrigation or landscape choices. Xeriscape is a means to achieve highly attractive, comfortable landscapes without excess water use.For most of the country over fifty percent of residential water used is applied to landscape and lawns. Xeriscape can reduce landscape water use by seventy percent or more.

Your landscape is an investment in your comfort and in the value of your property. A good Xeriscape will increase your property value by as much as 15%. You can protect and beautify your landscape investment by drought-proofing it.

The concept of Xeriscape was developed in Denver, Colorado, in response to water shortages.

Xeros" is a Greek word that means "dry."" Xeriscape refers to a landscape that uses little supplemental water. It does not refer to a dry, barren landscape, nor is a Xeriscape a “no maintenance” landscape. Xeriscape helps extend water supplies. When water use is restricted, inefficient water-thirsty landscapes suffer first.

Like traditional landscapes, a Xeriscape may be designed to minimize labor or to require frequent care. Many people appreciate beautiful landscapes, but have limited time to spend tending a garden. By using plants that are well adapted, mulches that suppress weeds and conserve water, and drip irrigation to make the most use of water, these landscapes can have color and fragrance with only monthly or seasonal gardening chores.

Gardeners who like to spend time in the garden can design a xeriscape to be as labor intensive as a highly maintained traditional garden, but use much less water. There is a Xeriscape for every gardener.

With climate change concerns, unpredictable droughts and high energy prices across the country, nearly everyone is looking for ways to conserve resources and cut costs. A simple step to conserve water usage in your landscape is to select drought-tolerant plants. Many of these thrifty plants use less water, but still provide beauty and function in the landscape.

Drought-tolerant plants have built-in features to minimize water loss and maximize water uptake. Plants may have reduced leaf areas and bear small leaves or needles in the case of evergreens. Some drought-tolerant plants with large leaves have deep indentations (sinuses) between lobes in the leaves to reduce their leaf area. Another sign of drought tolerance is leaves covered with a heavy accumulation of wax such as that seen on white fir (Abies concolor). This wax serves to conserve water within a plant. The presence of fine hairs on the leaves of some plants like silver sage (Salvia argentea) is another adaptation that traps moisture at the leaf surface. Drought tolerant plants like false blue indigo (Baptisia austalis) have deep roots that pull in moisture well below the soil surface.