Fine Earth Landscape designs a modern haven for outdoor entertaining

Fine Earth Landscape specializes in residential design/build and landscape maintenance. For this project, the company was asked to create an oasis in sleek, modern style, incorporating a pool and spa, fireplace and outdoor kitchen complete with swim-up bar and TV.

What challenges did you face?
Spatial constraints and the clients’ wish list required that we construct retaining walls at the property lines. This was an engineering challenge, as a conventional, seven-foot retaining wall needs significant space behind it for structural support.

How did you meet this challenge?
A tail-in-tail keystone wall was used for the far back line, allowing us to build to the property line, then develop the rest of the rear garden using the maximum space allowed.

Describe plantings and materials.
The pool deck utilizes wet cast stone by CST Products and we installed a Blade natural gas fireplace. Simple plantings, including arborvitae, are utilized for screening.
What lesson can be learned from this project?
This garden shows that a lot of different elements can be designed in a very small space.

FACTS + STATS
Joel Hafner, Sr. is president of Fine Earth, a 40-year-old firm that specializes in residential design/build and landscape-maintenance services in the suburbs of DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Fine Earth Landscape
16815 Budd Road, Poolesville, Maryland 20837
301-972-8810 • fineearth.com