Of the multitude of ways I have used boulders and rocks in designing and installing landscapes, there are few which rival wall-building for match-up and congruency problems. But making walls is so utterly satisfying for lovers of grade-changing and earth-moving, they are always nearly worth it. There is something totally satisfying in making a severe slope a more tamed edifice.

Walls in a landscape can be used for a variety of purposes.  Naturally, they deal well indeed with changes in grade, offering terracing options which allow plantings to obscure much of their actual composition. In fact, in so many cases, we end up with a great blend of some softening plants cascading down the walls and providing a contrasting “soft” element to the hard surfaces of the walls themselves.

A landscape wall such as the one pictured above we used to provide just such a terrace.  The level of the house foundation is obvious, to the right, and was more than 5 feet higher.  Inasmuch as the property line was along the tree line to the left, and all homes are responsible for containing and driving any water collected on site to the street, we needed a landscaping solution that would allow us to address all these issues.

Below, we have an alternative material – one of many in wall building – in this case railroad ties.  This was another situation where there was a very obvious grade change, much too steep in fact for a mere tightly-planted slope. Fortunately, we were called in early in the game, even before the building’s foundations were set, so we were able to build here with machinery, for the most part.  Believe me when I say we were thankful for that. The fact is, we used over 7,000 ties on this project.  The wall goes for quite a distance, well over a quarter mile.

Another, and an increasingly more popular choice in wall construction are the prefabricated, pre-engineered cement wall blocks.  Their versatility is quite amazing.  And their durability is equally amazing.  These little workmen wall blocks provide some serious stability in some awfully impossible spots.  Their segmented nature allows them to bend a bit, making them arguably superior to poured cement and all the problems implicit in monolithic pieces. And, for my money, they are prettier:

I have always loved working with wall-building.  It is just so earth-moving and earth-changing somehow.  To me, it a hugely satisfying structural element in landscaping.  It also provides marvelous opportunities for all sorts of tricky stuff, from recessing a “grotto” into the earth in the middle of no where, to raising a patch of land to new dimensions, just to say you did.

We get asked many questions, naturally enough. Honestly, the range of queries to us is fairly wide, generally depending on the scope of the specific work. But there are a few pertinent and reliable questions which almost always can be expected. After all, when a place is supposed to go from this:

to this:

Then some questions might well be in order. Seeing the devastation of early-process landscaping can be a jarring experience. It is total and it is sometimes time-consuming.

It can’t be easy watching a once-nice lawn or area be devastated. When we redo work, I always insist on some patience, instilling it early on in any project. It is actually the same with new projects as well. We create havoc and dust and, sometimes, incredibly loud noise. The drone of a Bobcat working every day, all day, can get to someone. I get this and so do all contractors. We are working in someone else’s small, personal space. Add to that the fact that they are seeing dollar signs in every movement in this ballet of financial porn and you have the makings of an occasional meltdown. It happens.

In an effort to provide a homeowner or commercial property owner with some preparation, I would have a potential client educate themselves at least a little by asking these questions, right up front:

1. How much will it cost? If the price is set, then the only worries for a client are potential over-runs owing to unforseen circumstances – which are not all that common, believe it or not. (Most landscape contractors look for a smooth-running project as well because, if they are good, they have clients waiting.) Things which should NOT be over runs are any materials or lines running underneath the property. This should have been ascertained by hooking up with “Locators”, whose work is to locate all these potential problems and to mark them out prior to the job’s commencement. Having a set price relieves everyone, in many ways. In the end, the only issue will be the professionalism of the finished product. If you have someone you really trust, then a lesser-proscribed set of prices can live with a “cost-plus” project, but I would definitely set an upper limit.

2. How long will it take? The best guess is always fairly accurate if the contractor knows his business. In fact, unless something really weird happens, chances are he will finish within days of the target date. Bear in mind also, any principle which penalizes someone financially for being late, must also contain a cause which rewards finishing early. This is the law. Bear in mind as well, once again, the conditions. Weather can play a role and some understanding is required on the contractor’s behalf if foul weather occurs.

3. Workers. It is legitimate to ask who is in the crew. It is also legitimate to insist on good behavior. In fact, it is to be expected. Having said that, on long projects, either the contractor or the client should rent a Porta Potty. This is for obvious reasons. Another thing – yes, they take breaks. Or at least they’d better. Refreshment breaks twice a day of 15 minutes or so are good for a crew’s morale and they keep them fresher. By all means, never hesitate to make them feel welcome, if you should desire. They will not expect it, which, frankly, makes it even nicer. You don’t have to study their life stories, but a client who brings out some ice water when it is 95 degrees outside will simply get a better project than one who does not – it’s just how life operates. Building a rapport is easy and smart. Most contractors are very concerned with crew behavior. It is often a subject of conversation among them. Professionalism is enjoyed by those who practice it as well as those who pay for it. Know this.

4. Payment Schedules. These are done differently by different companies. It also depends on the size of the project. On larger work, I used to insist on one third down, a third at the halfway point and then the rest on completion. Smaller projects, most landscapers ask for one half up front.

A factor to bear in mind which is strictly landscape-oriented are that most of the rentals, the staging of equipment and supplies are done so right at the origins of any project. After that, they earn their money by professionally installing what they have on hand. Landscaping is therefore hugely up-front, in terms of expenses.

On commercial projects we often carry clients for as much as 60 days – a perilous existence, fraught with danger and angst. I hated that. And yes, I once got stiffed for a bundle doing things that way.

5. The Plan. In a way, of course, this probably should have been included first. This is the entire ball of wax, anyway. This is the dream scheme thought up by the contractor in consultation with the client. The most ideal projects are those collaborations that originally hooked everyone up in an exchange of ideas and possibilities – the wish list. Negotiations and what not occur over the extremely detailed items. Everything, in a way, happens up front. The work is nearly easier, frankly, than the acquisition of the contract, from a contractor’s standpoint.

Completion can be elusive simply because landscaping itself is so subjective. It is for this reason I include one more category dealing with Contractor/Client relations: Behavior.

It is more than good asking questions during the construction process. Most contractors worth their salt actually welcome this because it gives them a chance to detail what’s actually occurring on the ground. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions at any point during a project. Sometimes, and I guess I should hate to admit this, a contractor (maybe this is just me  😉 ) can forget about an item or two. Especially those who – like myself – are so hands-on with every item of the business, including the work itself, we can overlook something. I owe some huge debts of gratitude to clients who asked where something which was in the plan was – and I had totally forgotten it. Asking early is also best!

In the end, we are people too.