Project Spotlight: Hardscape & Drainage Solutions

landscape design trends

Your Leading Hardscape and Drainage Contractor Met Two Challenges for This Homeowner

As a full-service landscaper, our team at Allentuck Landscaping Company is ready to lend our expertise in improving any outdoor space. We’re the go-to contractor across our complete selection of services, but we’re well known as hardscape and drainage experts. 

For today’s Project Spotlight, we’re sharing two separate projects we completed for a homeowner in North Potomac. We solved a major drainage challenge that was threatening the home, then were called in years later for a unique hardscape design. We were happy to come through for our client both times—so let’s take a look at the work we did!

Background & Client

Our client for this project was a homeowner in North Potomac who happens to live right near our founder, Bruce Allentuck. Their home is located on a slope, and drainage had not been well accounted for in the original construction of the house. 

While the home had gutters and downspouts to direct water away from the home, these downspouts caused water to run across the yard, creating significant ruts. They needed a newly designed drainage system to not only protect the home, but the yard as well.

Resolving the Drainage Issues

As a leading contractor specializing in solving tricky drainage problems, our team at Allentuck got to work on a new strategy that would protect the home’s landscaping. Ultimately, the water needed somewhere to go, and it needed a clear path that would not erode the yard or other landscaping features.

We solved the drainage issues by moving the downspouts underground, then directing them into the woods behind this home. With the drainage issues resolved, our team filled the ruts that had been created. A long-term drainage solution, this system is still in place today.

Later: A Custom Hardscape Design

Bruce kept in contact with this customer for years, and enjoyed a great relationship in that time. Eventually, the homeowner decided it was time to redesign the front entry of his home with new hardscape features. In need of a reliable hardscape contractor, he knew exactly who to call!

For this hardscape project, our client wanted a front stoop built that would be both large enough to be comfortable and properly graded to ensure watershed went away from the home. As we had previously solved drainage issues for this home, that wouldn’t be a problem for our expert team.

a new hardscape entryway completed by a professional Allentuck contractor

The Result: A Stunning New Entryway

Our in-house hardscape contractor team got to work designing and building this entryway. We used Nicolock Stone Ridge pavers to build the front stoop, carefully leveling and planning for effective drainage throughout the installation process.

We also helped to select and install new plantings for the home according to the unique demands of the home’s location. The homeowner needed plantings that would not be vulnerable to deer, would provide shade, and could withstand acidic soil due to the nearby pine tree.

Our team selected a variety of plantings that met these criteria, then incorporated our client’s Japanese concrete lantern into the final design. The result was a lovely front entryway that will drain well and last for years to come.

Allentuck Landscaping Company: Top Hardscape & Drainage Contractor

At Allentuck Landscaping Co, we pride ourselves on our experience and skill across all areas of landscaping. In addition to our expertise with softscapes and plantings, our team’s superior attention to detail means we’re well equipped to plan and solve for drainage, build custom hardscapes, and much more.

If you’re looking to rejuvenate your outdoor space this year, reach out to our team at Allentuck! Complete our online form and get a quote today.

Keep Squirrels From Eating Your Tulip Bulbs: 3 Tips for a Beautiful Spring Garden

There’s nothing more exciting than planting tulip bulbs in the fall and imagining a colorful display of flowers greeting you in the spring. Unfortunately, squirrels often have other plans! These curious little critters love to dig in freshly worked soil, and tulip bulbs can become an easy snack before winter even arrives. If you want to Keep Squirrels From Eating Your Tulip Bulbs, a few simple gardening techniques can help protect your investment and give your spring garden a better

READ MORE »

Why Leaves Change: The Science Behind Fall Leaf Color

Every autumn, as the air turns crisp and the morning light softens, we catch ourselves staring at the trees. There’s something magical about the way green leaves shift into brilliant oranges, reds, and golds. In landscaping terms? That gorgeous transition is all about fall leaf color — and yes, there’s real science behind it. The Green Stage: What’s Behind the Summer Leaves During spring and summer, your trees’ leaves are hard at work. They’re tiny factories, using the green pigment

READ MORE »

8 Fall Landscape Projects That Will Beautify Your Home

Here’s something most homeowners get backwards: fall isn’t the end of the landscaping season. It’s the perfect time to knockout some fall landscape projects that will pay big dividends for your home landscape. Everyone gets the itch in April. The garden centers are packed, crews are booked out for weeks, and plants go in the ground right before July cooks them. Meanwhile October shows up with cool air, warm soil, and steady rain, which is basically everything a new plant

READ MORE »

Native Plants For Maryland Gardens

Native Plants Have Many Benefits Choosing native plants for Maryland offers many benefits for homeowners, landscapes, and local ecosystems. Native plants are species that naturally occur in Maryland and have adapted to the region’s climate, soil, and growing conditions over time. Because they’re well suited to the local environment, native plants can often thrive with less maintenance while providing valuable habitat and food for pollinators and wildlife. Why Use Native Plants One of the biggest advantages of incorporating native plants

READ MORE »

Top October Garden Tips: Preparing for the Coming Cold

October is here, and your garden is ready for its fall transition. 🍁 This month is all about preparation—cleaning up beds, protecting plants from frost, planting bulbs for spring, and giving your lawn the care it needs before winter. Our Top October Garden Tips also include adding seasonal color with mums or pansies to keep your yard looking cheerful as temperatures drop. Taking these steps now not only protects your landscape but also sets you up for a fresh, vibrant

READ MORE »

Natural Gas Fire Pits vs Wood Fire Pits

Nothing transforms a backyard into a warm, inviting oasis quite like a fire pit. Whether it’s for cozy family nights, entertaining friends, or simply relaxing under the stars, fire pits are a must-have for outdoor spaces. But when it comes to choosing one, the debate often boils down to natural gas fire pits vs wood fire pits. Each has its perks and challenges, and picking the right one depends on your lifestyle, preferences, and outdoor goals. Let’s explore the ins

READ MORE »