4H ❚ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
HOMESCAPE / ADVERTISING SECTION
Terracing: Choosing
materials and plants
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1H
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLC LANDSCAPE DESIGN
An excavator clears the way and places large stones and steps in this terraced wall
project taking shape. Careful stone placement will hold the soil and manage water flow.
us to provide the client with visuals that
enable them to see a realistic picture of
what the project will look like when it is
finished.”
The visuals also allow the client to make
small adjustments or major changes before
the work begins, thereby saving them both
time and money.
“We always provide our clients with
several options, and then narrow down the
focus to hone in on which ones work best
for them,” adds Jacobsen.
CHOOSE MATERIALS THAT REFLECT
YOUR STYLE AND SETTING
When people think of terracing their
property, they often imagine walls built
from wood, but today wood is seldom used
in terracing.
Cording says that regardless of what
manufacturers might claim, wood walls do
not last. Moreover, they are preserved with
harmful chemicals, which can affect both
people and the environment.
Boulders are among the most common
materials used in creating walls because
they are natural, offer flexibility of place-
ment, and can be economical. The savings
arise from the fact that it requires a smaller
workforce to move a boulder than to build
wall of natural or manufactured stone.
“We use the excavator and dig in the
boulders in a type of random pattern, but
it is really not that random from my per-
spective,” says Cording. “I am looking for
ways to manage water flow, and to stabi-
lize loose areas of soil, as well as creating
aesthetically pleasing environments which
might include pockets for plantings, water
Designed and constructed by CLC Landscape Design, boulders, plantings and stone
steps gradually rise to the rear entrance of this three-story home built on a slope.
features, or living areas.”
Dry laid fieldstone — a technique in
which stone walls are built without the use
of mortar to hold the stones in place — is
also very popular when terracing. Dry laid
fieldstone walls are both functional and
pleasing to the eye, and they blend beauti-
fully into a natural landscape.
Modular stones are another option
when building walls.
“Building with modular stones takes a lot
less skill than building a dry stacked natu-
ral stonewall,” says Jacobsen. “But these
manufactured stones, when used correctly,
create very strong walls. The decision on
which type of stone to use depends on the
budget, the look of the property and the
client’s taste.”
And while not as attractive as natural
stone, Jacobsen notes that the look of
modular stone can be softened by using
some plants at the base, and others that
drape over the wall.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS
“Terraces are restricted areas,” says
Jacobsen. “You have to choose plants
that are not going to get too large and can
be maintained at that certain height. For
example, if you plant a tree, you have to
make sure its roots will not damage the wall
as the tree matures, so you might have to
consider some type of ornamental dwarf
species.”
Other considerations may include whether
the area is sunny or fenced in, for example.
“Let’s say I am working with a sunny,
fenced site with no deer,” says Cording.
“I might use a cluster of colorful Hydrangea
that has been adapted to full sun, and
variegated red twig dogwoods, creating
splashes of color throughout the land-scape
ENHANCE YOUR HOME!
that will soften but not hide the wall.”
When choosing plants, Cording tries
to use cultivars of plants. “Many of these
plants may not be native to our area
but they been adapted to thrive in New
Jersey,” he explains.
If working on a slope and a rock garden,
Cording uses plants that have very aggres-
sive root systems and will spread and stay
low. For example, if you have a sunny area
and lots of room, Miscanthus — a type of
ornamental grass — will help to stabilize the
slope.
“I also like to use carpet roses because
they drape along the ground, have wonder-
ful root systems, and are gorgeous when in
bloom,” adds Cording.
IRRIGATION IS KEY TO
A SUCCESSFUL TERRACED GARDEN
Cording insists that his clients factor
in some type of irrigation system for their
terraced gardens, because with today’s
changing climate, even drought-tolerant
plants can suffer when there is minimal
rain. Moreover, during their initial establish-
ment period, plants need to be watered
every other day.
And along with periods of drought,
the changing weather has brought more
frequent, violent rainstorms that can cause
excessive erosion.
“Being licensed landscape architects,
we create a large number of drainage
designs,” says Cording. “One of the things
that works better than anything else is cre-
ating a very large swale, which is basically a
ditch that we sculpt, line with rock of differ-
ent sizes to catch the water coming down
the slope and redirect it. And if that is not
enough, we will place a French drain in that
slope to carry out the water.”
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