Field Notes · Norwalk, CT
What we’ve learned building stone and gardens in Connecticut weather.
Plain answers from the crew on patio materials, walls, drainage, planting, lighting and seasonal care for homes across Norwalk and Fairfield County.
Six articles
Latest from the yard
Newest first. Each one is written for Connecticut soil, frost and salt.
Hardscape
Salt air, freeze-thaw and shade moss all change the answer. Here's how we choose patio material for Norwalk properties — and where each one disappoints.
Read the article — Bluestone vs. Pavers: What Actually Holds Up in Coastal CTMasonry
Nine out of ten failed walls we rebuild had no drainage stone, no filter fabric and no weep outlet. A look behind the face of a wall that lasts.
Read the article — Why Retaining Walls Fail (It's Almost Never the Stone)Planting
Deer-resistant, salt-tolerant and forgiving of clay. Our go-to list for beds that still look intentional in February.
Read the article — 12 Plants That Thrive in Fairfield County Front YardsDrainage
Before you install a drain, find out where the water comes from. A simple three-step diagnosis you can do with a hose and a level.
Read the article — Standing Water After Every Storm? Start HereLighting
Even spacing, cool white bulbs and lights aimed at nothing. What to do instead so the stonework carries the night.
Read the article — Landscape Lighting Mistakes That Make a Yard Look CheapSeasonal
Ten minutes of inspection in April prevents a rebuild in October. What to look for after a Connecticut winter.
Read the article — Spring Checklist for Your Patio, Walls and BedsBook a site walk
Skip the research — have a Norwalk foreman look at it in person, free.
