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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.

Gardens For Grade School Grants: Helping North Potomac Schools Start the Year Fresh

The first day of school comes with a special kind of energy—kids carrying brand new backpacks, parents juggling first-day photos, and teachers ready to welcome their students. At Allentuck Landscaping Co., we believe the outside of a school should reflect that same sense of excitement. That’s exactly why, for the seventh year in a row, we launched our Gardens For Grade School Grants program. This year we partnered with Dufief Elementary School and Travilah Elementary School in North Potomac, MD.

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Caring For Your Outdoor Fire Feature

If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor fire feature, you’re doing something right. But caring for your outdoor fire feature isn’t just about looks—it’s about keeping those flames safe, reliable, and downright inviting. Because when the day cools off, it should be the crackle and glow drawing people in, not worry. Why Caring For Your Outdoor Fire Feature Matters Let’s face it: a fire feature is way more than a decorative element—it’s where memories happen. A well-maintained fire feature

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How Long Should Pressure Treated Timbers Last?

You’ve just invested in a new retaining wall, garden edging, or set of steps. It looks solid. Feels sturdy. And you’re thinking, this should last forever. But here’s the reality: even the best pressure treated timbers have a shelf life. The big question—how long should pressure treated timbers last—comes down to more than just the wood itself. Where you put it, how it’s installed, and how you care for it all make a huge difference. Some timbers can keep going

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Top August Garden Tips: Setting Yourself Up for a Brilliant Fall

Landscaping is a long game, and these top August garden tips are all about playing it smart. What you do now sets the stage for a healthier, better-looking yard this fall—and even next spring. If your landscape’s looking a little tired, we can help bring it back to life. We’ve been doing this for 35+ years and know how to turn late-summer blah into fall brilliance. 1. Refresh Mulch and Cut Back Overgrowth By August, mulch starts to fade, thin

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Vegetable Gardening at ALC HQ: Growing More Than Vegetables

Why the ALC HQ Garden Matters—For Us and Our Clients At Allentuck Landscaping Co., we talk a lot about Improving Lives Through Landscaping. But that doesn’t just happen out in the field or on a client’s property. Sometimes, it happens right here at our own headquarters—through vegetable gardening in the rows of peppers, tomatoes, squash, and greens we’ve got growing behind the shop. Yep, we’ve got a vegetable garden. And it’s not just for show. It’s for our team. And

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Patio Privacy Ideas That Actually Work

Tired of feeling like you’re on display every time you step outside? You’re not alone. Most suburban backyards weren’t exactly designed with privacy in mind. Whether it’s nosey neighbors, second-story windows peering down at you, or just the general lack of separation between homes, it’s hard to fully relax on your patio when you feel like you’re being watched. But good news—privacy doesn’t require a tall, ugly fence or a complete redesign. With a few smart moves, you can transform

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