My name is David Irwin, owner and operator of DCI landscaping. I have been successfully servicing the Harford/Baltimore area and beyond for 30 years. My landscaping company is based on personalized service and customer satisfaction. I will personally meet with you to discuss your landscape projects, problems, and solutions. We handle all phases of job sites from start to finish, including follow-up services as needed. We strive for 100% professionalism and customer satisfaction. You will be proud to recommend our services to your family and friends.

At DCI Landscaping, we prioritize customer satisfaction above all else. Our team has decades of experience and works closely with you from initial consultation to project completion, ensuring clear communication and transparency every step of the way. We’re proud to have built lasting relationships with our clients, who value our reliability, professionalism, and ability to deliver results that exceed expectations.

1. Correct any grade issues

An uneven lawn can cause a variety of issues, including soil erosion and inaccessible areas. A retaining wall can help to minimize soil erosion while also providing a flat surface for plants to grow on. The top or bottom of a steep hill can be made more accessible by adding a footpath or stairs. A patio can help level off a sloping or lumpy lawn.

2. Increase privacy

Your entire yard can be made private with a fence or stone wall. You can also install a gazebo or pergola to create a quiet spot if you enjoy the open flow of your yard into your neighbor's yard.

3. Make more living space

Instead of being confined to your living room when the weather is great, outdoor kitchens, patios, fire pits, and outdoor seating may create spaces for entertaining guests—or just spending time alone—when the weather is nice.

4. Make improvements to your landscaping

Hardscaping adds a variety of textures to your space and contrasts with your plants. You can also use it to create focal points. Hardscape elements do not die in the winter.

5. Make your yard more functional.

Outdoor lighting, fire pits, and patios ensure that your yard is used until the early hours of the morning. With fire pits, you don't have to stop entertaining outside when it gets cold.

6. Control traffic.

Paths and sidewalks direct your visitors where they should walk so that they don't trample the grass you've spent so much time caring for.

7. Lower maintenance costs

Less grass implies more hardscaping. Because stones and concrete don't need to be chopped or watered, you can focus on enjoying your landscape rather than maintaining it.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals' "Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features," outdoor hardscape renovations increase a home's selling value and provide additional enjoyment to homeowners while they are living there (NALP).

Investing in landscaping and hardscaping is a win-win situation, according to the report, whether you plan to stay in your property or sell it.

"This survey confirms that outside remodeling and landscaping improvements are a must for increasing your home's resale value," said NALP vice president of public affairs Missy Henriksen.

"Whether it's upgrading their turf and cultivating a lush lawn, redesigning their entire landscape, or introducing new features like patios or outdoor fireplaces, homeowners working with a landscape professional can be comfortable that they're making a wise, profitable investment."

When preparing a home for sale, real estate experts advise that the initial impression is crucial. Simple modifications like retaining wall units or paving stone edging around gardens increase the value and curb appeal of the property. More ambitious improvements, such as a front paving stone entrance with patio and a seat wall or two, provide significant curb appeal as well as the enjoyment factor that comes with having a lovely, functioning front yard.

The front outdoor living room features a variety of hardscape colors and textures for optimal aesthetic appeal. Hardscapes can also help with basic maintenance, such as establishing a tree ring out of retaining wall units and encircling it with pavers to eliminate the need for trimming after mowing.

Seat walls can provide seclusion and protection from the elements, and energy-efficient landscape lighting can be installed for ambiance and functionality at night along with patios, paver paths, and under retaining wall tops. Landscape professionals may advise on how these and other hardscape features can add value while also providing security and seclusion.

Finally, whether you want to stay in your house for a long time or are selling it, investing in your landscape with hardscapes is a long-term win-win. "Furthermore, that investment is linked to the immediate delight generated by attractive landscaping as well as the long-term enjoyment of outdoor living spaces, which is priceless,"