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Maryland Native Grasses | Extension Picks
09
Aug

Maryland Native Grasses | Extension Picks

If you want the short answer: match the plant to the site. In this roundup, I’d use switchgrass for sunny slopes with some moisture, little bluestem for hot dry banks, indiangrass for large sunny embankments, bottlebrush grass for shaded slopes, and Pennsylvania sedge for dry shade under trees. Here’s the part that matters most: roots
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French Drain Slope Guide for Maryland Yards
08
Aug

French Drain Slope Guide for Maryland Yards

If a French drain doesn’t slope downhill the whole way, it can fail even when the pipe and gravel are installed right. In most Maryland yards, I’d aim for 1% to 2% slope on the drain pipe, with 2% often working better in clay-heavy soil or on runs that may settle over time. Here’s the
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Construction Phasing Plan: BMP Setup Order
08
Aug

Construction Phasing Plan: BMP Setup Order

If I disturb soil before BMPs are in place, I’m already late. On a Maryland residential job, the setup order is simple: site access first, perimeter controls next, then sediment traps and inlet protection, then upkeep, then final stabilization, and only after that do temporary BMPs come out. Here’s the short version I’d want in
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Maryland Rain Barrel Care: Study and Local Rules
08
Aug

Maryland Rain Barrel Care: Study and Local Rules

If I own a rain barrel in Maryland, I need to do three things: empty it often, shut it down before freezing weather, and check county and HOA rules before I install or change anything. Here’s the short version: Drain stored water every 5 to 7 days during the warmer months. Empty the barrel before
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Maryland Plant Control Methods: Hand Pull or Spray
08
Aug

Maryland Plant Control Methods: Hand Pull or Spray

If I want the short answer: pull small weeds, dig deep roots, cut woody vines, smother big patches, and spot spray only when hand work stops making sense. In Maryland beds, the best choice usually comes down to 5 things: Root depth Plant type Patch size Slope Distance from plants I want to keep I’d
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Maryland Stormwater Design Standards: Model Basics
08
Aug

Maryland Stormwater Design Standards: Model Basics

If a Maryland residential stormwater model misses runoff area, storage, or overflow routing, the plan can fail review. I’d boil this article down to one point: the model has to show where water comes from, how much must be stored, and where it goes during small and large storms. If you own, design, or review
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Walkway Drainage Solutions | Howard County, MD
07
Aug

Walkway Drainage Solutions | Howard County, MD

In Howard County, where annual rainfall is about 44–45 inches, walkway drainage needs to do four jobs: move water away from the house, keep the base dry, stop edge washout, and keep steps and entries less slick. If I were choosing a fix, I’d keep it simple: Check where water sits after a storm Tell
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How Geogrid Supports Retaining Walls on Steep Slopes
07
Aug

How Geogrid Supports Retaining Walls on Steep Slopes

If a retaining wall sits on a steep slope, geogrid is often what keeps it from pushing out, tipping, or sliding with the soil behind it. I’d boil the whole topic down like this: geogrid ties the wall face to the compacted soil behind it, which helps the wall handle height, slope pressure, water-related stress,
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DIY Rain Garden for Sump Pump Runoff
07
Aug

DIY Rain Garden for Sump Pump Runoff

A sump pump can dump a lot of water in one short burst, and if that water lands too close to your house, it can end up right back at the basement wall. If I’m building a rain garden for sump pump runoff, I need to do four things first: place it 10–15 feet from
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Maryland Native Plant Guide for Wet Areas
07
Aug

Maryland Native Plant Guide for Wet Areas

If water in your yard drains within 24–48 hours, many Maryland native plants can work. If it sits for more than 48–72 hours or moves toward your house, you may need drainage work first. I’d sum up this guide like this: check how long the area stays wet, track where runoff comes from, note sun
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