Landscape Design When a landscape is designed by a professional, the plan becomes a direct reflection of the clients style.
Whether you are a homeowner looking for a landscape plan to implement yourself, or a contractor looking to
out source your design work, you can feel confident that a landscape plan that is crafted by DJB Landscaping will incorporate all of your ideas in a creative and unique way. All landscape plans
are drawn to scale, clearly labeled and can be supported with construction details as needed.

Landscaping Installation A landscape installation on your property is much like adding an addition to your home - only on the outside. Landscape installations are designed to accent the exterior of the home much like paint or other decorative elements such a brick or siding. Many benefits arise from a landscape installation such as increasing the value of your home (by as much as 20%), improving your home’s curb appeal, and preventing foundational soil erosion. Most landscape installations involve adding or creating new landscape plantings around the foundation of the home or other areas of the landscape.

Brick Paving Designs The great thing about brick pavers is there are basic paving designs to choose from to compliment the outdoor theme, the characteristics and the decor. There are no limits to designs as you can be as creative as you want and as artistic as you want. Think of it as a piece of artwork. Although there are still some landscape designers and home owners who prefer basic designs, the popularity in incorporating several brick paving patterns and colors has become a favorable option.

A Variety of Brick Pavers Patterns The following are some of the more common brick paver designs that can be achieved with rectangular pavers, square pavers and octagon paver shapes.

Running bond
Stack bond
Stretcher
Basket weave
Herringbone
Spin wheel

Brick Paver Installations A good and successful paving project must have good planning starting from pre-preparation to final touches. The following are some basic tips and basic steps to install brick pavers after you have selected the pavers and order the required amount. Don't forget to also order other materials such as sand, crushed stone and other relevant materials.

1. Draw A Plan

Draw a plan of the area that you want to pave and include any other structural features

2. Outline the Area

With a string or a can of spray paint, make markings of the area that is to be paved

3. Excavate

Excavating for brick pavers installationFollow the markings and excavate the area according to the slop scope. The depth of the excavation will depend on the type of application requirements. E.g. driveways need to be deeper as they require more base materials and the brick pavers are also thicker. Check for the depth of excavation requirements with a professional.

4. Lay The Base

Make sure after excavation, the base is level and remove any debris, dirt or stones. Once this has been done, it's a good idea to compact the ground which makes the ground level. The sand base is usually a mixture of core sand and small crushed aggregates. Apply 2 inches of sand base mixture and make sure it's evenly spread out. Repeat this process until you have the correct depth required.

5. Install Edge Restraints

Edge restraints are what basically hold the brick paver shape in place. Place edge restraint to the outer perimeter of the area and make sure they are firmly in place. Make sure you cut the restraints to suit the shape of the project.

6. Apply Layer Of Sand

Apply 1.5 inches of coarse sand and screed the sand through the entire area. Make sure all gaps are filled and the sand levels are smooth and even.

7. Install Brick Pavers

Installing Brick PaversStart at the top end of the area, or if the area abuts to the house structure or other building structures start there and work your way down. To install brick pavers will depend on the chosen paving pattern you selected. Place them in the sand and hold down firmly, then tap the paver with a rubber mallet. Place the next one next to it but leaving a gap of 1/16 inches.

Periodically check and make sure the pavers are level. Continue with this process and follow the paving design until entire area is paved. Go over with a compactor once you install them.

8. Sand Fill Paver Gaps

Sand Filling Paver JointsOnce you are satisfied with the brick pavers' installation, the gaps must be filled with sand. Apply sand covering the entire paved area, then with a broom, sweep sand into gaps. Make sure all of the gaps are filled with sand to the top. Sweep off any excess with a broom.

9. Apply Sealer

Apply Sealer after paver installationWait a few days after the installation process is completed, so the pavers can settle. A sealer is vital as what a sealing product does is it protects the brick pavers' surface from various natural and non natural elements. Apply a sealer with a brush or soft broom, covering the entire paved area. Wait until the first coat of sealer is dry and apply a second coat. Do not allow foot or vehicular traffic for at least 48 hours.

Natural Stone Outcroppings Decorative Rock

Rock gardens and dry riverbeds give new visual interest and natural beauty to what could be otherwise barren areas. Rock gardens are used in areas of your landscape where many plantings would not be able to grow as well due to lack of fertile soil or proper sunlight. Rock gardens are also very useful in areas of landscape where the goal is to provide a very low maintenance area.

A dry riverbed of rock is a beautiful landscaping approach used in sloping areas to help control erosion. No matter what the original purpose, rocks are a naturally beautiful way to add color, texture, natural sculpture, and visual interest to your landscape. It is just one method our designers use to make your landscape beautiful and functional.

Natural Stone Outcroppings

Boulders can be a great addition to your landscape. However, if they are used without proper planning and installation they can take away from the rest of your landscape. When you are installing boulders in your garden/landscape -- remember to be sensitive to the way they are settled into the ground. They must be buried so that each boulder looks like it has been there for a long time rather than just dropped randomly.

Our landscape design experts can determine the best way to group and install each stone. When the installation is complete, the boulders should relate to each other as well as the landscape as a whole. Our designs use stones that are available locally, so they "fit" into the natural landscape.

Driveway Paver Installation The main purpose of grading or sloping your driveway is to direct rainwater away from the house or building structure toward the yard area or into a drainage pit. Have a look at the site to see if it is too flat. If so, it will need to be graded to prevent rainwater pounding or pooling on the landscaped lawn area.

Dig out some soil and move it to another area of the yard or garden; place a simple catch basin and drain at the lowest spot in the driveway. This drain connects to an underground pipe that will empty into the street when it rains.

Aesthetics & Design of Driveway Installation

Driveway PaversDue to the large amount of yard space that is taken up by the driveway area, it is of high priority to install not only a functional driveway, but also one with a well-conceived decorative element that compliments the property's aesthetic theme.

Therefore, when planning a new or upgraded driveway, also consider how walkways, porches and patios in these materials can unify the property and give your home even more curb appeal. This is also a chance to create outdoor spaces that will help you and your guests enjoy the yard and garden.

Driveway PaversThe design opportunities are limitless when it comes to your driveway. You can start off by choosing amongst so many different materials, such as natural stone pavers, rubber pavers, brick, poured concrete and precast concrete pavers, to name a few. There are many varieties of natural stone pavers, such as; limestone, bluestone, sandstone, granite, slate and flagstone.

Deciding the Right Pavers Designs for the Installation

When considering a concrete driveway you can choose from stenciled, stamped and color stained concrete. Gone are the days of the plain gray concrete driveways.

Driveway PaversOnce you have chosen your material, you can then start to decide on the color, shape, design, patterns and sizes. Again the possibilities are endless. You can choose any color you could dream of to match the rest of your property. Whether you're using stone pavers or concrete, you can achieve so many patterns, such as: herringbone, running bond, basket weave and cobble design. There are many decisions to be made but what makes it so much easier is the abundance of choices available to help you create an appealing driveway.

When deciding on the width of the driveway, be sure to allow a minimum of twelve feet wide at the vehicle parking areas so that it will be a sufficient space to move around the vehicles exterior and avoid stepping on any lawn nearby. As for the length, it should be at least 18 feet in length per vehicle.

Brick Paver Patios Bick paver patios are attractive to anyone designing an outdoor living space for many reasons: they offer attractive design options, are relatively inexpensive, and will last for years if installed correctly. With many options available for brick paver patio designs, you'll have plenty of opportunities to find the style that's right for you.
The first decision to make when considering a brick paver patio is location. Identify and mark off the area of your outdoor living space you'll be working with—you can mark it off with landscape flags, landscape marking paint or measuring tape. The latter will be especially helpful in determining the amount of brick pavers you'll ultimately need for your patio.

Once you have a general idea of the space you'll be working with, you need to decide which kind of brick pavers are right for your design. You'll have lots of styles from which to choose, including non-tumbled (or smooth), tumbled (weathered), embossed/dimpled, tumbled and embossed/dimpled, or an approximation of slate or flagstone.

Next up, you'll need to decide on color for your brick pavers. Earth tones are popular, but you may want to look first to the tones of your house, particularly the roof color and trim, and try to stay in the same family as these. You can also consider a contrasting color palette or a bold, vibrant statement color like red.

Finally, you'll need to decide how your brick pavers are laid on the patio. There are many options, ranging from straightforward staggered rectangular patterns to intricate geometric shapes that take on an almost modern art twist. Some popular styles you may hear mentioned are Random I, Random Ashlar, Runner and Herringbone.

One of the most popular design trends for patio landscaping is to emphasize visual diversity. So for example, if your patio pavers are a uniform geometric shape, you may want to consider curvy, flowing designs for your furniture or other patio installations, to add some eye-catching contrast. You might also think about using an array of planters for flowers or plants, as opposed to trying to match all of your patio landscaping.

Finally, let nature in. Consider planting shrubs or arranging potted flowers or plants directly adjacent to your patio, so the natural landscape feels like it's always within reach of your outdoor living space.

Outdoor Lighting & More Define the Purpose for Landscape Lighting

Before you invest in any landscape lighting, ask yourself what your purposes are for wanting illumination in your backyard. Perhaps you want to set a soft, romantic mood during the evening hours. Maybe you have a bench or a shadowy garden corner you need to illuminate for security reasons. A path leading through the garden may require landscape lighting to mark its boundaries. You might want to highlight some features of your backyard like a water fountain or pond.

Make a Sketch of Your Yard

After you have defined your reasons for wanting to add landscape lighting, sketch your yard. Include in the sketch existing lights, buildings, benches, trees and shrubs, as well as the vegetation and decorations in the garden. Each of these items will reflect light or absorb it. Estimate the height of each of the objects, especially the foliage.

Decide Where Landscape Lighting Should Go

Match the reason for lighting to specific locations in your backyard. You may want to illuminate a bench along the path with a pole-type lamp placed behind it. A soft mood can be achieved by hiding landscape lighting under shrubs. A path may require a series of short stake lights along its border on one side or on both sides (Image 1). A water fountain can be enhanced with a spotlight (Image 2), and a pond can have soft lighting around its perimeter.

Landscape lighting is an important safety element for any outdoor space. In this garden, a series of path lights illuminates the meandering walkway that leads to the destination terrace.
Resembling a Corinthian capital, this ornately carved stone water fountain is lit from below.
Determine How Much Effort You Want to Expend

The landscape lighting that requires the greatest effort to install is 120-volt lighting. Wiring for these types of garden lights must be buried at a depth of 18 inches or encased in conduit to protect it from water. A licensed electrician has to install the electrical components.

Low-voltage landscape lighting for the backyard needs only an outdoor receptacle and a transformer. The transformer converts the 120 volts coming from the household line to a usable 12 volts to operate the lights.

The easiest landscape lighting to place in the backyard is solar lighting (below). This type of lighting has no cords to be hidden. It should be positioned in such a way that the photovoltaic cell in the lighting fixture receives enough light during the day to allow it to shine at night.