Our Services
Dirt and Stone Landscaping is committed to delivering professional services that fulfill your lawn and landscaping needs. Our team of experienced professionals takes pride in offering custom designs and sustainable solutions to guarantee your satisfaction with every project.
Landscape Maintenance Services
Lawn Aeration
We typically use core (plug) aerators for lawn aeration. This process enhances the health of the turf by allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate below the soil surface and reach the root zone. Aeration helps reduce soil compaction, especially if your lawn has hard soil or has been subjected to heavy equipment. The loosened soil improves water absorption and decreases irrigation needs. Aeration can be performed in either spring or fall, and it can involve a single pass or multiple passes in different directions, depending on the specific requirements.
Lawn De-Thatching
We offer both Light Dethatching and Heavy Dethatching services.
**Light Dethatching**: In this service, we use a tine rake to manage a healthy layer of thatch in your lawn. It is particularly beneficial for lawns with weak root systems, such as new lawns that are less than two years old or lawns undergoing treatment for diseases or fungus. Light dethatching allows us to remove thatch so that fertilizer or spray can be applied effectively, without disturbing the majority of the turf.
**Heavy Dethatching**: For this service, we use a power rake with flail blades, which is more aggressive and suitable for dense, thick turf with a strong root system that cannot be easily removed by the machine. Heavy dethatching is also effective when a lawn is predominantly covered with weeds; the power rake can eliminate not only the foliage but also dig into the soil to remove the weed roots while preserving rooted patches of turf. This process also helps to smooth out any lumps or bumps in your yard. Please note that reseeding is necessary after heavy dethatching.
Lawn Topdressing
Similar to farmers applying manure to their fields for nutrients, we spread screened leaf compost over your lawn to organically enrich the soil. This method is also ideal for covering grass seed, ensuring excellent seed-to-soil contact.
Topdressing involves spreading a layer of compost over the lawn, which gradually works its way into the soil, adding organic nutrients that improve soil health and promote grass growth. It's advisable to perform lawn aeration and dethatching before topdressing, as this allows the compost to fill the aeration holes instead of covering thatch and other debris.
You can also spread grass seed before topdressing to achieve good seed-to-soil contact. Additionally, topdressing with sand is another option that can help improve drainage in hard clay soils and level out a bumpy lawn.
Lawn Seeding / Sodding / Overseeding
Overseeding an existing lawn is an effective way to thicken and enhance thin lawns, fill in bare patches, and maintain the health and vibrancy of well-established lawns.
Slice and slit seeding are available methods for this process. In slice seeding, a machine creates grooves in the soil, and then grass seed is spread into these grooves. Afterward, loose soil is gently raked back into the grooves to cover the seeds.
When planting new lawns, there are two main options:
1. **Traditional Method**: This involves soil preparation, spreading grass seed, working it into the soil, and then covering it with shredded straw.
2. **Sod Installation**: This process includes soil preparation, unrolling and laying down sod, followed by rolling over the sod to ensure good contact with the soil.
Spring / Fall Cleanups
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Spring and fall cleanups may include the following services:
- Removing fallen sticks and limbs from trees
- Blowing out and collecting leaves from garden beds
- Clearing leaves and other debris from the lawn
- Mowing the lawn for the first or last time of the season
After cleanups, debris can be left on the property, piled at the curb for town pickup, or taken to a yard waste disposal facility. Additional services can also be included in a cleanup, such as shrub trimming, garden bed maintenance, mulching, garden bed edging, aeration, and thatching.
Lawn Mowing
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Weekly and Bi-Weekly lawn mowing schedules.
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Adjustable mowing frequency schedules where some lawns require weekly mowing in the spring and fall, then during the summer switch to a bi-weekly schedule.
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During each mowing visit the lawn is mowed, the lawn edges trimmed and driveways, walkways, and patios get debris blown off at the end of the visit.
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During most of the season the grass clippings will be mulched back into the lawn.
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You can request to have the grass clippings bagged at each visit. (Additional fee).
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In the early fall leaves can be mulched along with the clippings. (No extra fee). Or have the leaves bagged while mowing. (Additional fee).
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Fall mowing- Bagging up the leaves while mowing the lawn, on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Giving you more time to enjoy the fall colors.
Hedge/Shrub Trimming
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**Regular Trimming**: Regular trimming is essential for maintaining the size, shape, and manicured appearance of plants. This practice encourages the plant to sprout new stems close to the old ones, resulting in thick, dense foliage and a healthier overall appearance. It also helps control growth, preventing the plant from becoming too large too quickly. Additionally, strong branch structures are developed, reducing the likelihood of broken branches from high winds, snow, or ice, which can create unsightly holes in the foliage.
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**Size Reduction Trimming**: Size reduction trimming involves cutting back hedges and shrubs to make them easier to maintain or to prevent them from encroaching on buildings, walkways, or driveways. This approach thins out the foliage, but a healthy plant will quickly fill back in and develop a strong branch structure.
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**Light Trimming for Smaller Hedges/Shrubs**: Smaller hedges and shrubs can be lightly trimmed to maintain a manicured look while they grow to the desired size.
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**Shaping for Style and Function**: Trimming plants into specific shapes can be done for aesthetic purposes or to ensure clearance for vehicles or pedestrians, all while maintaining the plant's health and role in the landscape.
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**Note**: Hedges and shrubs that are over 10 feet tall can be trimmed as well, but this process requires more time and specialized equipment to manage the larger size effectively.
Mulching
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Mulch is typically applied at a depth of two inches.
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- You can request a thinner or thicker application to suit your specific needs.
- Bark mulch helps to suppress weed growth in garden beds, adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down, retains moisture from rain and irrigation for better absorption by plants, and helps regulate soil temperatures throughout the year.
- We have access to a variety of mulch suppliers, offering different colors, textures, and wood blends—allowing you to choose single wood mulch or a mix to enhance the beauty of your garden and landscape.
Brush Mowing/Management
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- Cut back encroaching brush and overgrowth along property edges to keep your property looking open and well-maintained.
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- Perform brush mowing to maintain areas of your property, allowing native plants such as meadows and wildflower areas to thrive while preventing trees and invasive plants from taking over.
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- Thin undergrowth in wooded areas to promote the growth of desired sapling trees among mature trees. This practice helps prevent saplings and trees from becoming overcrowded by bushes and vines.
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- Clear and reclaim land from overgrowth to maintain property lines, expand usable yard space, or facilitate building projects.
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- Utilize machines that reduce vegetation to small chips and clippings, which can either be left to biodegrade as mulch or removed for planting or building on bare soil.
Pruning
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Pruning and crown reduction can be applied to most shrubs and ornamental trees to improve branch structure, manage size, and promote plant health.
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- Maintaining your landscape in a balanced and manicured way can create focal points and features, preventing the need to remove overgrown plants.
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- Consider trimming trees to create a shaded walkway through your garden. Prune large shrubs to establish a cozy spot with a bench for relaxation on hot summer days. Additionally, prune weeping trees that extend over walkways, and install landscaping lighting to illuminate the paths underneath, resembling a charming lamp.
Stump Grinding
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We typically grind stumps down to three (3) inches below ground level. If you would like the stump(s) ground deeper, just let us know.
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We can either haul away the wood grindings or leave them for you to use.
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Grinding stumps improves curb appeal, eliminates tripping hazards, and prevents obstacles while mowing the lawn. Additionally, it helps deter pests that are attracted to decaying wood.
Garden Design / Renovation
**Designs: Our primary style of design is Natural Low Maintenance.**
We embrace native plants that bring vibrant color and captivating focal points throughout the seasons, showcasing their beauty in foliage, flowers, shapes, and the rich hues of branches and bark. Our designs harmonize with the natural contours of your property, creating a seamless connection with the landscape.
Whether you seek to make small enhancements or completely revamp your front yard, backyard, or entire space, we are dedicated to crafting a design that reflects your vision, enhances your yard, and complements your home’s architecture. Our approach creates serene retreats where you can relax and rejuvenate.
By incorporating sustainable native plants and shrubs with diverse foliage, textures, and colors, we celebrate the beauty of nature while ensuring minimal maintenance and maximum enjoyment year-round.
We can breathe new life into your existing plants by relocating and dividing them to create an inviting environment. Our designs feature cozy seating areas that transform your outdoor space into a welcoming room, serene water features that infuse tranquility, and landscape lighting that highlights focal points with enchanting colors and angles, all while enhancing safety at night. Additionally, we can weave in fire pits to create warmth and a sense of comfort during the cooler evenings of early spring or fall.
Paver Resetting
Resetting paver walkways or patios that have settled, heaved, or shifted can address several common issues. These include areas that pool water after rainfall, trip hazards, and unsightly wide joint gaps caused by loose pavers.
We can relevel the pavers that have settled or heaved by first checking the base material to ensure that the issue will not recur. After compacting the base, we reset the pavers to align with the height of the surrounding pavers. If the pavers have shifted and created wide joints, we assess the edge restraints to identify the cause of the shifting. In many cases, we remove the old edge restraints along with the affected base material. We then lay down fabric, add new base material to build up or widen the edge area, compact it, reset the pavers, and install new edge restraints. If the edge of a walkway or patio is close to a steep slope, small walls may be necessary for support.
Pavers that are broken, spalled, or discolored can be replaced. For paver joints filled with weeds, we can remove the sand and refill the joints with polymeric sand. If you're looking to refresh your walkway or patio, we can wash the pavers to remove dirt and revive their original colors using manufacturer-approved cleaners and sealers.
Additionally, we can add a border to the edge or inlay new pavers in a pattern to accentuate a seating area or enhance the walkway by incorporating a stepping stone design for a fresh look. We also offer solar-powered pavers that illuminate at night.
Land Grading / Leveling
Do you have a yard with uneven surfaces that make walking or mowing difficult? Are you tripping, stumbling, or rolling your ankle while navigating lumps, humps, and bumps? Perhaps during snowmelt or heavy rains, you notice water pooling or flowing in unwanted areas, leaving you with soft, muddy spots to avoid. If you recently completed a building project and need to backfill, we can help.
Our services include leveling or grading your yard to create a smooth surface and ensure proper drainage. We can utilize soil from your property, moving it from high areas to fill in low spots, or we can bring in additional soil as needed. For smaller projects, like leveling lawns, we use a compost-sand mix. This material provides excellent drainage, vital nutrients, and seamlessly blends with the surrounding soil.
For larger projects, we remove the topsoil down to the subsoil in areas that require filling and then add clean fill soil on top of the subsoil. Finally, we spread the original topsoil back over the area, preventing water from getting trapped underground, which could lead to drainage issues later on.
Do you have a gravel driveway or parking area that needs smoothing, crowning, or pothole repairs? We can assist with that too!