Project Highlight: Orchard Pruning In Exeter

November 17, 2016 by service@rilawncare.com Leave a Comment

This past month we were able to spend some time at a client’s house in Exeter, RI pruning the fruit trees in their orchard. Among the types of trees were apple trees, pear trees, peach trees, plum trees, and another kind of tree that we don’t get to see often: a pawpaw tree. A pawpaw tree is a small tropical looking tree that almost never grows to be more than 25 feet tall (at the most) and is actually native to North America. The fruit from the pawpaw tree is similar in look to a mango or even a shorter, fatter version of a banana with rich, creamy, sweet flavors somewhat reminiscent of banana cream pie.

Pawpaw tree from a client's house in Exeter, Rhode Island. — Pawpaw tree from a client’s house in Exeter, Rhode Island.

While we did just post a huge blog about the benefits of pruning during late February and early March, pruning can certainly be done at other points in the year depending on the goals you are trying to achieve. Since the leaves are currently off the trees and they are dormant, many of the same benefits apply. Reasons for pruning during this time of year include providing shape and structure to the trees, helping more vigorous fruit grown to occur in the spring and summer, and to prevent any disease from occurring.

Deer can be very harmful to trees during mating season.

Another reason to prune right now is to help protect the trees from deer. During mating season (right now) male deer will tend scrape their antlers against trees in order to polish them, mark their territory to drive away other males, or even attract females. This can result in broken branches and ripped tree bark which can be very harmful, especially to younger trees. Pruning any lower branches on your trees will keep the deer from chewing on them, which will in turn help to keep them away all together.

If you’d like to find out more about our pruning services, please contact us at 855-RILawns.

Project Highlight: New Walkway With Paver Edging

July 15, 2016 by service@rilawncare.com Leave a Comment

We recently completed hardscape construction project that we are very proud of and would like to take this opportunity to highlight another successful job by our team.

Our client came to us with a failing walkway that she wanted replaced in order to help her with the sale of her house in Bonnet Shores, Narragansett. The walkway was actually failing in multiple ways. There was soil and grass coming up through the bottom of the walkway, and the sand dollar concrete steppers were all crumbling. We also needed to replace the border to not only prevent the migration of stones out of the walkway, but also prevent the migration of mulch from the surrounding flower beds into the walkway.

Our team decided to go with a Holland Stone paver for the border. Holland Stone always adds a touch of elegance to any project and is very versatile and beautiful addition to any walkway, driveway, or patio. Our client loved the original stone look of the walkway and actually wanted more stones added, so this was perfect. She also wanted to add an apron that we tied into the walkway using natural curves on either side. Adding curves to a walkway like this rather than leaving it straight can give it a more organic and inviting look and feel. Making sure that the curves match exactly on either side of the walkway tends to be the most difficult part of a hardscaping job like this, but we were able to overcome this challenge with relative ease. With a new, more durable and aesthetically pleasing stone walkway installed, our client will surely have an easier time accomplishing her goal of selling the house.

If you have any hardscaping ideas you’ve been considering, now is the time to give us a call. Any hardscape construction project completed before the end of July will receive a discount of 10%! This can include patios, walkways, driveways, retaining walls, and more. Visit our hardscaping page for more information, and contact us today so we can help bring your ideas to life.

Shell Driveway Install- Jamestown

September 2, 2015 by service@rilawncare.com Leave a Comment

We are becoming known for our shell driveway installs- No wonder as they do really improve the appearance of your home.

The most recent project was a shell driveway install in Jamestown RI. The homeowner had a property with a driveway that was pretty much non-existent as it had been overgrown with grass.

Before work commences; marking off the area

The outline of the property was laid out using string markers. The plan was to:

1) Create a 17 by 12 foot shell driveway

2) Create an 11 by 50 foot driveway “pull”- an extension on the straight driveway

3) Create a 3.5 by 11 foot walkway from the driveway to the concrete path

4) Install an apron made from cobblestones in the driveway.

The first step was excavating the area the driveway would be installed. We needed to excavate to 6″ to ensure there was a solid base underneath the shell to prevent sinking in the future.

Excavating the base for the driveway and walkway

Once the area was excavated with the Bobcat, we brought in processed gravel (pictured above) to create the base. The base was compacted each 2 inches to ensure it was tightly packed.

After the base was laid, 2 inches of crushed seashells were installed.

Once the shells were put down, the edges were excavated for the cobblestones. The cobblestones take a lot of precise labor to install them evenly.

Finally, the shell was spread for the pull and the project was complete. Another beautiful shell driveway by A Cut Above!

Hardscape Walkway from Driveway to Concrete Path(11′ x 3.5′):
– Excavate at 6 inches for walkway extension
– Dig trench for cobble edging
– Lay stone in edging. Cement blocks in trench
– Spread and compact 4 inches of processed gravel across driveway at 2 inch intervals
– Lay weed fabric
– Spread and compact 2 inches of crushed seashells

Another Driveaway!

September 25, 2014 by service@rilawncare.com Leave a Comment

Wonder what we’ve being working on over at Broad Rock Road?

The plan:

We have been working on another sea shell driveway in South Kingstown. Off of a busy road, a circular driveway would allow easier & safer entry and exit to the house. There was only one break in the stone wall, so a tractor was brought in to move the rocks to create two entries.

Once this was done, the entire front lawn was regraded for better drainage.

The downspouts were run underground so the water would not run over the new driveway.

The existing asphalt driveway was removed.

After this, processed gravel was delivered and spread as a base for the driveway so the top layer of shell would not sink into the ground.

This base layer was wet down and compacted every two inches.

Crushed shell was delivered from Highland Farm in Wakefield and spread along the driveway.

Once the shell was spread and compacted, the front walkway was created with crushed shell as well, with cobble stone edge (to be continued along the rest of the driveway at a later date), and bluestone steppers.

The job is still in progress, but the next steps are to bring in some top soil to seed the excavated areas, and shrubs will be planted inside the center of the driveway. The cobble stone edging will continue around the perimeter of the driveway.