Expertise: Landscape Design
Chris Demato, owner of Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing

Chris Demato, owner of Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing, and his team of professionals have been in business for more than 35 years, and they can help you create a lush and healthy setting for all of your seasonal outdoor activities. Demato says he is personally involved in every project, and his company's lifelike imaging service, which shows before-and-after photos, can help homeowners in the design process. House & Home spoke with Demato about the importance of using professionals in landscape design and how you can get your yard ready for this season's fun in the sun.

Why hire a professional landscaper when it's easier to go to a home improvement store, pick out and plant everything and potentially save a lot of time and money?
I think there are many advantages in hiring a professional. First, a professional will recommend plants that will thrive and do well, with an understanding of the conditions and other factors such as soil makeup. Secondly, a professional will take the proper precautions when planting and transporting plant material. Plants are often damaged or suffer in the transporting from the location of the purchase to the job site; therefore a homeowner is usually not properly equipped with a truck and the proper coverings to transport plant material. Large chain stores may have nice plants but oftentimes these plants have been sitting out of the ground on hot asphalt and are not properly irrigated as they would be at a garden center, making it very difficult for them to sustain vibrant plants for a period of time.

As a landscaper, what are the most important variables to consider when designing a job for homeowners?
There are many variables that a professional will consider when designing a job. A professional should consult with the customer to find out their immediate and future goals first, then they can steer you in the right direction as to what plant materials will thrive and do well in the areas you are designing. Budget will play an important role in understanding and designing your job as well. Ultimately, a professional should understand your style, taste and budget and combine that with his expertise.

Which plants and flowers attract beneficial insects, like butterflies, bumblebees and lady beetles, and which repel pests, such as mosquitoes, houseflies and aphids?
There can be benefits to selecting certain varieties of plants—for example, butterfly bushes will attract butterflies to the garden, which can be relaxing. There are also many plants that can attract certain insects that will eat other damaging insects to your plants. Coreopsis is a beautiful perennial that offers a mass of flowers in the summer, but will also attract lady beetles. The lady beetle and its larvae will eat many damaging insects, such as aphids and mealybugs. Catnip and
hydrangea will attract soldier beetles, which will feed on aphids and caterpillars. There are also plant varieties that can repel mosquitoes, such as lemongrass and marigolds.

What are some of the best additions to a landscape that will extend its enjoyment?
There has been a rise in outdoor kitchen features. Built-in grills, as well as pizza ovens, have become quite popular. Pizza ovens offer a great and different means of cooking. The oven is not only for pizza, as it can reach much higher temperatures than the traditional oven, and can offer restaurant-quality options for preparing meals. This can also be great fun for parties and entertaining.

Pavilions and pergolas are a beautiful way to bring your living room outside. We can add stone piers to set the pavilion, as well as brick paver flooring which really enhances the simplicity of the structure. Adding electricity will allow you to hang a TV, fans, lighting, stereo, etc. The latest patio furniture has increased in comfort with some of the latest
fabrics being water resistant, and can remain outside. This is just another structural option to bring the indoors out and allow you to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing
Belle Mead, N.J. | (732) 873-6780 | RockBottomLandscaping.net

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 21, Issue 9 (June 2021). 
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