Top Landscaping Services in Watts Township, PA, 17020 | Compare & Call
Questions and Answers
What permits and qualifications are needed to regrade our yard and add a retaining wall?
Regrading a 0.35-acre lot and installing a structural wall involves significant earth movement. This work requires a permit from the Watts Township Zoning and Planning Department to ensure proper drainage and adherence to setback rules. Furthermore, the contractor must hold appropriate licensing from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for landscape contracting. For walls over a certain height, engineering may be mandated to certify stability and safety.
I see a vine taking over my shrubs. How do I handle invasive plants correctly?
Common invasive species alerts for our area include Japanese Knotweed and Mile-a-Minute Vine. Correct treatment requires positive identification, followed by a targeted method—often careful manual removal or a precise, permitted herbicide application. All chemical treatments must be performed by a professional holding Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture certification to comply with the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Act, ensuring safety and environmental protection.
I want a lower-maintenance, eco-friendly yard. What should I plant?
Transitioning to a climate-adaptive landscape is forward-thinking. We recommend phased replacement of high-input turf with a matrix of USDA Zone 6b natives like Eastern Redbud, Butterfly Milkweed, New England Aster, and Switchgrass. This diverse planting builds biodiversity, requires minimal watering once established, and eliminates weekly mowing and gas-powered blowing, aligning with evolving noise ordinances and electric fleet trends.
How can I keep my lawn green during summer without wasting water?
In our current Normal (Voluntary Conservation) status, efficient water use is critical. A Smart Wi-Fi ET-based irrigation controller is the solution, automatically adjusting runtime based on local evapotranspiration data, rainfall, and soil moisture. This technology delivers precise water amounts, preserving your Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue blend while staying well within municipal guidelines. It eliminates the overwatering that exacerbates our seasonal high water table.
If a storm causes significant tree damage, what is your typical emergency response time?
For an emergency cleanup in Watts Township, we prioritize dispatch from our base near the Watts Township Municipal Building. Using US Route 11/15, our peak storm response time is 20-30 minutes. This allows for rapid assessment and initial safety work to mitigate hazards and secure the property, ensuring compliance with any immediate safety or HOA requirements.
Our Watts Township yard seems tired and compacted. Why is the soil here so challenging to work with?
Your 1978-era lot has 48-year-old landscape soils, a common maturity in Watts Township Proper. Over decades, construction compaction and routine mowing have degraded the original structure of our native acidic silt loam (pH 6.2), reducing its permeability and organic matter. This soil type becomes dense, limiting root growth and water infiltration, which explains poor turf health. Correcting this requires core aeration and incorporating composted organic matter to rebuild soil biology and structure.
Our yard holds water in spring. What's the best way to fix drainage on our lot?
Moderate runoff and a seasonal high water table are common here due to the dense, acidic silt loam. Solutions must address surface and subsurface flow. We recommend installing French drains or dry creek beds to channel water, paired with regrading to direct flow away from foundations. Using permeable Pennsylvania Bluestone for patios or walkways also increases infiltration, helping projects meet Watts Township Zoning and Planning Department runoff standards.
Is Pennsylvania Bluestone a good choice for a new patio compared to composite or wood?
Pennsylvania Bluestone is a superior, permanent choice. It offers exceptional durability and longevity with minimal upkeep, unlike wood which requires regular sealing and is susceptible to rot. For properties in Low to Moderate Fire Wise zones (WUI Zone 2), bluestone provides critical non-combustible defensible space immediately adjacent to the home. Its natural thermal mass also moderates patio temperature effectively.