Landscaping Services in Cary, NC

Different ground in different parts of town

USDA soil maps for the Cary area include Piedmont soils such as Pacolet and Cecil, which have red clay subsoils and drain reasonably well once water gets into them. In parts of western Cary, the maps show Triassic Basin soils such as Creedmoor and Green Level instead. The U.S. Geological Survey describes Triassic sedimentary rock filling a basin in the western part of Wake County, and the clay soils that formed from it swell when they are wet, shrink as they dry and let water through slowly.

Which kind of ground a property has, and how it drains, varies from lot to lot. Two yards a few miles apart can behave very differently after the same storm, so before we price drainage, a patio or a planting plan, we look at the soil on the property itself.

Irrigation planning

A good irrigation system gives a landscape what it needs and no more. Lawns, shrub beds and new plantings each need different amounts, and the need changes through the year: the most in the heat of summer, much less in spring and fall, and little or none through the winter. We install and repair systems with separate zones for turf and beds, set to water slowly and deeply when the root zone is dry, and use drip lines in beds so the water reaches the plants rather than the walks and drives.

On clay that takes in water slowly, shorter cycles repeated a few minutes apart let the water soak in instead of running off. A rain sensor can keep a system from running during or just after a storm, and a schedule that is adjusted with the seasons uses far less water than one left on its summer setting all year.

Landscape maintenance

Scheduled grounds care for homes and commercial properties: mowing, trimming, edging and blowing on a set schedule, plus shrub pruning, bed care, mulch or pine straw and seasonal color. On heavy clay, compaction often holds lawns back. Aerate compacted or clay soils before seeding, and seed tall fescue September 1 through October 1, only where dependable irrigation is available. What maintenance covers.

Drainage

Where the ground passes water slowly, a wet yard is rarely fixed with a single pipe. The work is regrading so the surface falls away from the house, burying downspout lines, and adding French drains, catch basins or channel drains sized for how much water arrives and how little the soil takes in. Water should leave the property on purpose, not be pushed next door.

Broadleaf is an NDS Professional Drainage Certified Contractor. Our drainage guide explains what actually fixes a wet yard.

Patios, walls and outdoor living

Paver and stone patios, walkways, retaining walls, seating walls, fire features and landscape lighting. On soil that swells and shrinks, the base carries the job: excavation to firm ground, a compacted aggregate layer, and a path for water to get out from under the stone. A retaining wall needs drainage aggregate and a pipe behind it for the same reason. Taller walls can require an engineered design and a permit, which are not included unless separately contracted.

Replacing a builder’s planting is often the first project in a newer Cary neighborhood: layered beds instead of a single row of shrubs, and plants chosen for the light and the clay. More on construction and enhancements.

Frequently asked questions

Should I water my lawn every day?

Usually not. Watering slowly and deeply when the root zone is dry builds deeper roots than a short daily cycle, and a lawn’s needs change with the season. New seed and sod are the exception: keep the seedbed consistently moist until the grass has rooted.

Why does my yard stay wet longer than a friend’s across town?

Often the ground. Triassic Basin clays, found in parts of western Cary, take in water far more slowly than the Piedmont red clays found elsewhere in town, so the same storm can leave one yard soggy and another dry.

Will my HOA need to approve a patio or wall?

Often, yes. Obtaining approval is the property owner’s responsibility. When it is available, we can provide basic scope, layout and material information to include with the application.

Do you look after commercial properties in Cary?

Yes. Scheduled maintenance is available for commercial sites, and Property Policing covers recurring litter removal from beds, curbs, entrances and dumpster areas.

Requesting an estimate

Request a quote·Call (252) 966-8387·Text us a photo

Neighboring communities

Apex lies to the southwest, Holly Springs to the south and Raleigh to the east, each with a page of its own. Every community we serve is on our service area page.