Demolition, Grading, Drainage

Demolition-Removing large, ugly shrubs

The old adage, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” when you’re remodeling and tearing things apart, is not always true in landscaping.  Often, as the weeds, ivy, blackberries, huge overgrown shrubs, and debris are ripped out and hauled away, your landscape looks better and better.  Rodda and Sons Landscapes has a whole host of small equipment, including a Kubota tractor with backhoe and jackhammer attachments, that make fast work of demolition in smaller back yards with difficult access.  We haul most landscape debris to locations where it is recycled for new uses such as compost or as a base for road beds.

Grading for your landscaping can involve major cutting and filling of soil to create level areas and transitions between levels.  Fine grading delineates planting beds from lawn areas and provides the level surface for a patio or lawn.  Grading is also important for good drainage.

Drainage is an aspect of landscaping that is often overlooked.  Winter rains in the Seattle area often wreak havoc in low areas that flood and on slopes prone to sliding.  Grading soil to slope away from the house and hooking up downspouts to drainlines that carry water away from your foundation help alleviate water problems.  Water flows downhill, so construction or changes to the properties uphill can open up springs that seep out of a slope and can affect the drainage patterns below.  We are experienced contractors in dealing with drainage issues, installing catch basins and drainlines, French drains, rain gardens, and seasonal dry streambeds that collect excess water.