the JOURNAL.

Field notes, design guidance, and practical landscape knowledge from the Edmonds Environmental team.

From the field

Articles covering landscape installation, hardscape, irrigation, planting, and outdoor design written by the Edmonds Environmental team. Practical guidance for Alabama properties, without the filler.

What design-build actually means

Design-Build

Design-build keeps design and construction under one team from first conversation to finished site. Here's what that actually changes.

Before-and-after comparison of a backyard pool and outdoor living project

The landscape starts before the planting does

Irrigation & Drainage

Why grading, drainage, and water movement should be resolved before landscape planting on Alabama properties with clay soil and challenging grades.

Excavator preparing the grade before landscape planting

Types of retaining walls for Alabama properties

Hardscape

How seawalls, terraced hillside walls, shoreline structures, and residential grade walls differ across Alabama properties.

Cart path retaining wall in Northport, Alabama

Low-maintenance plants for Alabama clay soil

Landscape Design

A design guide to plant selections that hold structure, perform in Alabama clay, and do not require constant intervention to look intentional.

Layered native-style planting composition for an Alabama landscape article

Yard erosion and drainage in Alabama clay

Drainage

Water pooling, mulch washing away, bare slopes, and soggy turf. How to read what Alabama clay soil is telling you and what actually fixes it.

Drainage and erosion correction work for an Alabama clay soil article

Retaining walls in Alabama

Hardscape

How to know whether your sloped Alabama yard needs a retaining wall, grading correction, or drainage work.

Retaining wall and grade structure image for a hardscape article

Looking for something specific?

The journal is updated regularly with new articles covering Alabama landscaping, hardscape installation, drainage, and outdoor living. If you have a question about your property that you don't see covered here, reach out directly. Most good articles start with a real question from a real client.