You have a big project in mind? Ben’s Creek Nursery does big – and we mean, BIG.
This was new construction by Williams Custom Homes in which we did all the exterior landscaping work. The project involved a massive retaining wall to support an extensive patio/pool/firepit structure overlooking the Lake. Lakeside topography demanded an innovative zig-zag set of steps and landings to meliorate the slope and connect the patio with the boathouse.
Extensive bed preparations and plantings were installed around the entire property, sod was laid on the front, and all was covered with an irrigation system.
On to the photos. We’ve interspersed before and progress photos so you can get a sense of the scope of the work. You can also compare these photos to previous progress posts, here and here.
First, the near-epic engineering of the load-bearing Techo-Bloc segmented retaining walls that hold everything else together on a difficult slope.
The paver patio supported by the retaining wall is 2,200 sf of Techo-Bloc slate finish pavers. The patio includes an inset pool (installed by others), a Techo-Bloc rectangular gas burning firepit, and 256 sf of artificial turf with 7 rectangular stepping stones.
The patio connects to the boathouse via this innovative zig-zag pattern of steps and landings.
The landing areas are Techo-Bloc slate finish paver sidewalks supported by Techo-Bloc segmented block wingwalls, and the steps are 6′ dark grey stone slabs. You can also see elegant Techo-Bloc Raffinato Onyx Black caps throughout the construction.
Let’s take a look at the plant and sod installations.
The front yard is approximately 7,000 sf of Compadre Zoysia sod.
The parking area is crush and run gravel base, top-dressed with 3/8″ gravel and bordered with Techo-Bloc dark grey pavers. The driveway to the street continues with the crush and run and gravel. The walkway from the parking area to the rear patio matches the patio materials – Techo-Bloc slate finish pavers with dark grey borders – and includes dark grey stone slab steps supported by Techo-Bloc segmented block wingwalls.
The foundation plants across the front of the house are set in grey/white river rock mulch, and include Red Pyramidal Hollies, Moonlight Lace Viburnum, and Ligustrum.
Around the side of the house and extending down the side of the patio area we installed property line definition and screenage plants – Cryptomeria, Little Gem Magnolia, and 3 Emerald Arborvitaes – all set in pine needle mulch. As you can see, the slope presented a challenge for our crews. Needless to say, our guys were up to the task.
Stone and medium decorative boulders support the walkway and prevent erosion and washouts.
Patio planting beds are mulched in 8 tons of grey/white washed river rock, and include a Red Japanese Maple, Kaleidoscope Abelia, Dwarf Burgundy Lorepetalum, Miss Huff Lantana, among others.
And one striking specimen, a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar.
The slope down to the Lake is a natural area in which we planted an assortment of trees and shrubs, along with strategic placements of decorative boulders. We first amended with planting soil and finished it all with a copious covering of pine needle mulch.
Kudos to our crews for their outstanding work!
Hunter site.
Do you have a project, epic or otherwise? Contact us!
From Keith Harvey, Ben’s Creek Operations Manager: “Proud of this one. Brock Lilly and I spent many hours on this slope thinking and figuring what to do to make everything work. One of the most challenging projects we’ve been on, but as usual, our guys made it happen. Fun fact: over 300 tons of gravel and dirt was brought in.” – Facebook Post 12/01/2025
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