Retaining Walls and New Construction Landscaping

Cincinnati is known for its seven hills, and many new home buyers in our area have to deal with hilly, sloped lots. Luckily, the solution is simple: In new construction landscaping, retaining walls can be life savers.

Landscaping Superheroes

Retaining walls look beautiful, but they are also tough and strong. Holding back literally tons of soil requires brawn and a bit of engineering. For a very steep slope, a single retaining wall might be sufficient. Another option for a steep slope is to build a series of walls to create tiers or terraces. These level areas can be used for flower beds, patios or lawn.

Retaining walls may look simple, but making sure they are stable requires some engineering. Particularly with new construction, builders often need to cut into a slope to ensure a level area for the new house. To keep that disrupted slope from eroding or sliding, a retaining wall or walls will be necessary. Walls over three or four feet should be designed by someone with experience in specifying the appropriate reinforcement and choosing the proper materials.

Anatomy of a Retaining Wall  

Typically, retaining walls, like those found in new construction landscaping, start with a base layer of sand and crushed stone. This layer is tamped down either by hand or machine to be compact and level. If this base layer is not leveled, building a level wall is impossible. The first stones, blocks or other wall materials are stacked on top of the base layer. 

Behind the wall, on the slope side, drainpipe (sometimes called drain tile) is installed to move water away from the wall. Layers of gravel above and below the pipe allow water to filter down to the pipe. The gravel also helps the wall stand up to the pressure of the heavy soil behind it. For walls over 3 feet tall, we use a geogrid mesh that helps stabilize the wall. The geogrid ties all the layers of fill together into one reinforced mass and is installed according to engineering specifications. 

Another way to allow for drainage is to insert small diameter pipes between the first course of the wall’s stones or blocks. This pipe, set perpendicular to the wall, moves water from behind the wall out to the face of the wall and away. 

A properly installed retaining wall will be level, but will angle slightly back toward the hillside. This backward angle toward the slope of the site helps minimize soil pressure on the wall. Finally, the wall may be topped with a larger capstone.

Getting the Look

You’ll find a range of styles for retaining walls in new construction landscaping. Walls can be curved or straight and can vary in height. Your landscape designer can help you choose between brick, stone, blocks or even wood. Wall materials can match or complement the colors of other hardscaping materials used in your new construction landscaping. Topping walls with a flat capstone can create a place to sit or a ledge for flowering containers.

Retaining walls add character, dimension and interest to landscaping. As a final touch, spotlights or uplights can make them stand out at night and call attention to their beautiful texture.

New Construction Landscaping Ideas

Whether you’re building a new home or are looking to refresh your current landscaping, we would be happy to hear your ideas. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Party Central: Outdoor Living Space Project Management

After living in their brand new house for several years, the homeowners had outgrown the small, kidney-shaped patio off the screened porch. Instead, they envisioned a place where they could serve meals, socialize and spend time as a family and with friends. They called on Will Seiler and our team for outdoor living space project management.

Completing the project just in time for a pandemic that would make outdoor living more important than ever turned out to be perfect timing.

The outdoor living area is made up of four distinct spaces: A fire pit area, a grilling island with bar, a dining area and a covered seating area. It’s all just steps away from the home’s screened porch and kitchen.

Low stone walls faced with U-Cara stone block from Unilock define the perimeter of the fire pit and provide extra seating for larger get-togethers.

Topped with black granite, the grilling island and bar includes a built-in grill and refrigerator, sourced from SiteOne Landscape Design. Its location gives the “grill master” a view of the fire pit, sitting area and the deep backyard.

Stone block walls blend seamlessly with the patio’s Beacon Hill pavers from Unilock. Across from the fire pit, the covered seating area offers a comfy spot to unwind, day or night.

A flagstone path leads friends and guests from the side of the house to the twinkling lights and warm welcome of the backyard.

Outdoor Living Space Project Management

At Seiler’s Landscaping, we love working with homeowners to design and install outdoor living spaces that fill all their needs. If you’re imagining what your backyard could look like, tell us about it. We would be honored to discuss your options for expanding your living space to the great outdoors.

Indian Hill Curb Appeal Grows with Landscape Updating

Like all living things, landscaping grows and evolves. Fifteen years ago when this beautiful Indian Hill home was just a sketch on paper, this property was heavily wooded. During construction some of the site was cleared. Over the years, the homeowners have relied on us at Seiler’s Landscaping for landscape updating to keep their house feeling cozy and natural on its site.

Thinking Big

There’s nothing like big trees and mature plant materials to instantly make landscaping look established. The goal is to make an immediate impact and not wait around for Mother Nature to do her work. Working with an organized landscape plan, we chose a variety of trees and shrubs to bring in textures and colors. 

Plant materials are a vital part of a landscape updating, but hardscaping is critical, too. To add multiple levels and depth to the landscape design, our crews built curving walls from rough-cut limestone. These walls define the planting beds and, in some places, create added seating into the landscaping.

One special spot in the landscaping is the pond. Lovely to look at, the pond also provides the relaxing sound of falling water. Its location in the backyard bridges the space between two outdoor living areas and creates an interesting destination and gathering space. 

A whimsical statue of a young girl with a net perches on a rock overlooking the rippled pond. The statue’s beautiful patina adds a bit of color to the area, even in the winter. 

In a planting bed across the yard, another statue of a child feeding the birds is set against a background of boxwoods and opposite an ornamental Japanese maple tree

Stepping down from the main deck, a gurgling creek that leads to the pond follows alongside you as you walk down a stone path. Flagstone walkways throughout the property connect the outdoor spaces in a natural, subtle way.

Curved beds filled with rounded shrubs and blooming annuals create islands in the lush lawn and give the eyes a place to rest.

Just one of the benefits of a thoughtful landscape design is having a delightful mix of colors and textures. Here, shades of yellow-green play off the reddish tones of a Japanese maple.

Ongoing Landscape Updating

Continued work on this landscaping is rewarding for Seiler’s. “We try to walk the property with the homeowners twice a year, looking to stay ahead of property improvements and plan enhancements,” Will Seiler explains. “Regular check-ins allow us to manage growth.” With regular landscape updating, the homeowners will always be able to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings.  

Ready to start a landscape updating project of your own? Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.

Cincinnati Landscaping with Timeless Elegance

After falling in love with an English garden at Lillianfels Resort and Spa in Australia, Debe and Lou Terhar decided to bring it home to Cincinnati, landscaping their West Side home to echo the resort’s garden. (To see “before” photos and the original resort garden, click here.) 

After conferring with Will Seiler and months of landscape design and construction, their home now overlooks a timeless and formal space, just steps away from their pool. Benches and chairs allow them to sit and enjoy the garden. With the project complete, the couple asked Seiler’s to update their front yard landscaping as well. 

Order and Symmetry 

Wrought iron trellises form archways that lead into the garden. The trellises in the Australian garden were covered with white roses. For Cincinnati landscaping, the Terhars will have white clematis twining around their arches. 

A large fountain is the centerpiece of the classically symmetrical garden. The fountain was handcrafted locally by Renaissance Garden Ornament. 

Flagstone paths lead to gravel-lined walkways that meet in a circular pattern around the garden beds filled with boxwoods and ornamental trees.

In the front of the home, a circular bed echoes the English garden in the backyard and complements the Georgian style of the Terhars’ home. 

David Hupman, general manager of Seiler’s Landscaping, worked closely with the Terhars to create the front yard landscaping. In the center of the front bed, gravel paths lead to a planter bowl on a pedestal that contains a shaped topiary. 

As the garden continues to fill in, hydrangeas and other white flowers, Korean lilacs and coral bells all will bloom as a beautiful reminder of a favorite vacation spot.  

Cincinnati Landscaping Dream to Reality

Inspiration for your yard can come from something in your neighborhood or from a place halfway around the world. If you’d like to transform your Cincinnati Landscaping, we would be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation. 

Seiler's Landscaping: New Logo, Same Commitment to You

Now a second-generation family-run business, Seiler’s Landscaping has been serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977. As we move forward in our fifth decade, we’re excited to roll out a new look with an updated logo.  

Based on an original design lovingly created by our founder's sister, Sally Wehrman, the redesigned logo still features an iconic tree. We like to think it symbolizes both new growth and the importance of being strongly rooted in tradition. After all, our clients have always relied on us for superior work, top-quality plants and dedication to customer service. 

 Be on the lookout for our new logo here on the website, on Facebook and other social media. As the year goes on, we’ll roll the new branding out on signs, trucks and our uniforms. 

 Thanks to you, our loyal clients, for our continued partnership. Here’s to the next 43 years!

What's Burning? Three Types of Fire Pits

There’s just something about a backyard fire that brings people together. Many outdoor living space designs now include a fire pit. Here’s a look at the three types of fire pits based on what kind of fuel they burn: wood, ethanol or natural gas/propane.

Wood Is a Classic Choice

Whether it’s a simple, portable bowl or a permanent installation, a wood burning fire pit creates the classic sight, feel, sound and smell of a campfire. If you have easy access to logs and kindling—along with some fire-starting know-how—wood can be a great choice. Built-up stone walls and a mesh screen cover can help reduce flying sparks.

Choose this type of fire pit and you’ll have the added bonus of coals for roasting marshmallows.

Photo courtesy of EcoSmart Fire (www.ecosmartfire.com)

Ethanol for Your Fire Pit

Ethanol is a clean-burning biofuel that can be used to light some types of fire tables, vessels or pits. The benefits to ethanol are that it lights quickly and doesn’t create any smoke, ash or flying embers. Because it’s supplied in tanks or as a gel, no gas line is required, as with natural gas fueled units. Unfortunately, ethanol is not widely available and the flame created tends to be fairly small.

Fire Up with Natural Gas or Propane

If you want the beauty and warmth of fire and ease of use, a natural gas or propane fire pit might be best for you. Ignition is easy: Just push a button and you’ll have dancing flames. Gas-fueled units can take many forms, from vessels to fire tables to more traditional-looking fire pits.

To finish your gas-fueled fire pit, you can choose lava-type rocks, crushed glass or a set of ceramic gas logs. Log sets (like the one shown below) come in a variety of styles and are meant to be viewed from all angles, making them perfect for gathering around.

Photo courtesy of Hargrove (www.hargrovegaslogs.com)

Choosing from Three Types of Fire Pits

Sorting through all the options for a fire pit can feel overwhelming. We’re happy to help you design the perfect spot for you to enjoy evenings outside with friends and family. Just contact us for a consultation.

Protect Your Investment: Remember to Water

All plants, but especially newly installed plantings, need adequate moisture now in order to grow, thrive and survive through the winter. Now is the time to hydrate your plants. Attached to this article is a printable watering reminder. It’s perfect to hang on the fridge or hand to your vacation house-sitter.

Watering is the best way to protect your landscaping investment, and each type of plant has a different watering schedule necessary for the plant’s development. In the PDF below, we sum up the unique watering schedules needed for shade and evergreen trees, flowering shrubs, evergreen shrubs and perennials and grasses.

Once the ground freezes, your plants cannot absorb any more water, so warm months are the best time to give your landscaping good, long drinks.

If you go out of town, ask someone to water your plants. New landscaping is particularly vulnerable to neglect. Be vigilant about watering your new plantings.

Don’t Forget: Print!

Everyone is busy: To help you manage your plant care, we have attached a printable PDF. Landscaping is an investment; watering is the best way to see a great return.

If you have questions about caring for your new landscaping, contact us. We’re happy to help.

Pergolas 101: Designs to Inspire You

With the Cincinnati heat coming down, everyone is looking for shade. The classic style of pergolas is making a comeback, offering shade, protection and an opportunity to add climbing plants or outdoor lighting. Read on to find out why pergolas are a timeless addition and what they can bring to your yard. 

What Is a Pergola?

The definition for pergolas is very broad. A pergola is an outside structure with columns supporting a partially covered roof constructed from beams or rafters. They can be free-standing structures or attached to pre-existing buildings.

Where Can I Put a Pergola?

Because pergolas are often custom built, they are extremely flexible in terms of location. They are effective coverings for paths, patios or courtyards. They can be additions to a home or a focal point for landscaping. The closer a pergola is to a home, the more usage it will get. However, a pergola that’s placed near a pool, fire pit or outdoor kitchen can help cement that location as a “destination” within your yard.

Why Build a Pergola? 

Pergolas have undeniable charm.  They can support climbing plants such as wisteria, clematis, grape vines and rose bushes. Pergolas extend the living space and create a shady area that’s blissfully cool for entertaining. They can define a landscape with eye-catching form and function. 

Pergolas offer shelter and privacy from neighbors. They shade and protect from some of the extreme outdoor elements. Not only do they accomplish all this, but, depending on the materials you choose, pergolas can also be low-maintenance. 

The Age-Old Question: Pergola vs. Gazebo?

Although pergolas are very similar to gazebos, there are distinctions that optimize each for different situations. 

Gazebos are outdoor structures with a closed roof. They tend to have rounded structures, and most are hexagonal or octagonal in shape. Gazebos are a part of the garden but separate from the plants, whereas climbing plants are  typically given free rein to grow on pergolas. Pergolas are commonly rectangular in shape with roofs made of an open lattice of beams.

In reality, as for many profound and important questions, it depends. If you want to define a space in your landscape without interrupting the greenery of your yard, pergolas are the way to go. If you want an enclosed space that offers protection from the sun and a backdrop for singing songs about being almost 17, you may lean towards a gazebo. 

How Much Does a Pergola Cost?

According to research, most Cincinnatians spent between $2,500 for a simple two-post pergola to $5,750 for larger ones. Prices vary based on size, materials, design fees and whether the project entails replacing an existing structure or building a new addition.

What Is a Pergola Made Of?

Pergolas can be made of a variety of materials. For synthetic materials, aluminum, vinyl and fiberglass are popular. Cedar, teak, ipe, redwood and pressure-treated pine are common choices for building wood pergolas. At Seiler’s Landscaping, we like to use Western red cedar, which weathers to a beautiful patina. 

 Cincinnati Pergolas Summed Up

While the summer heats up and the Cincinnati humidity hangs above our heads, pergolas are an attractive option to create shade and add charm to your garden. If you’re considering adding a pergola to your landscape this summer, contact us.

Up, Down and All Around: Exterior Lighting Ideas

Not sure where to start with outdoor lighting? If you want to get the most out of your landscaping, we’d suggest looking up, down and all around for exterior lighting ideas. 

From the Top

Imagine a lively outdoor cafe, where people linger in the warm glow of string lights draped overhead. If this is a look you love, you can add string light installation to your exterior lighting ideas and plan. Commercial grade light strings offer durability, can be hardwired to flip on and off with a switch, and left in place year ‘round. 

Maybe you prefer a more contemporary look. Today’s outdoor hanging fixtures make a statement over a patio dining table, bar or outdoor kitchen. Try grouping two or three together for even bigger impact. 

Exterior wall sconces can shed light on fences or illuminate your doorways, making them even more welcoming and easy to find for friends and visitors. 

Exterior Lighting Ideas Below

Adding light closer to ground level makes your landscaping safer by highlighting paths, walls or steps. Lighting below eye level doesn’t create glare that can be blinding at night. LED strips along stairs, path lights and spotlights on low walls are all exterior lighting ideas that can make your landscaping shine. 

Underwater lighting can transform pools, ponds and fountains into sparkling gems in the yard. Some light fixtures can change colors, allowing you to create different effects. 

Uplights that graze along walls or shine on a special tree or piece of art add drama to the landscape after dark. 

All Around 

Today’s exterior lighting ideas make sprinkling light all around your outdoor living spaces fun and easy. Incorporating light into posts and railings is a sleek look that helps define the structure of your space. Oversized, rechargeable lanterns or globes are becoming popular. They can be moved around the outdoor space depending on where people are gathering. Some even float for a whimsical look. 

Don’t forget task lighting if you’ll be reading, playing games, grilling, tending bar or preparing food outside. This lighting is concentrated on a work surface so you can keep the fun going when the sun goes down.     

Our clients appreciate the comprehensive exterior lighting plans we offer. If you have questions about what type of fixtures to add, where to put them and how exterior lighting can add value to your home, contact us. We’re happy to provide a no-obligation consultation.  

Ready to Talk About Your Cincinnati Landscaping Needs? 

Call our office to have a conversation about your unique dreams and vision. Or contact us online.