About The Author

Todd Thomasson

Todd Thomasson, founder of Rock Water Farm Landscapes & Hardscapes, grew up on his family’s working beef cattle farm in Danville, where he learned the value of hard work from his parents. In 2005, he combined that work ethic with his Landscape & Turf Management degree from Virginia Tech to establish the company, serving as the lead stone mason and landscape designer, creating exceptional outdoor spaces with craftsmanship and attention to detail.

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Pruning Tips For Your Small Ornamental Trees in Haymarket, Gainesville, and Warrenton, VA

Posted On: April 29,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

Pruning ornamental trees and shrubs at your Haymarket, Gainesville, or Warrenton, VA home is one of the best things you can do for these landscape elements. It is these ornamental trees and shrubs on your property that are often showpieces with beautiful blooms and foliage. By performing proper ornamental tree pruning, you’ll ensure that you get the most out of them. That’s because proper pruning promotes thicker foliage and more profuse blooms.

Problems with Pavers: Sand, Longevity, & More Challenges for Great Falls, Leesburg, & Ashburn, VA

Posted On: March 22,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

When it comes to something as important as your patio or other hardscaping space (like a walkway or retaining wall), you want to know that you’re going to get the most value out of your investment.

We’ve talked in previous articles about how strongly we feel about using natural stone for these types of projects. Natural stone, which has been quarried and trucked in, direct from nature, is simply something that cannot be replicated. Although they make pavers that look like natural stone, the truth is, nature can’t ever be fully replicated.

Guide To Shrub And Hedge Trimming: Tips, Best Time To Trim, and Pro Shrub Trimming Services

Posted On: March 18,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

Do you have shrubs or hedges that are getting out of control? Regular shrub and hedge trimming can not only help your landscape to maintain a more tidy appearance, it’s also recommended for optimum health.

Trimming shrubs can help them to grow better in areas where they aren’t as full, aids in better flower and fruit production, decreases some disease issues, and can remove old growth that may become problematic.

Of course, trimming and pruning shrubs and hedges isn’t as simple as just cutting them back. That’s because different plants have different requirements. We’ve rounded up some of our best tips in this shrub trimming guide to help you determine whether trimming your shrubs and hedges is something you want to do on your own, or whether it’s something best left to the professionals.

Spring Irrigation startup service checklist for Ashburn, Aldie, and Leesburg, VA

Your Complete Irrigation Start-up Checklist for Northern Virginia

Posted On: March 15,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

You’ve invested in irrigation at your Northern Virginia home because you value a lush lawn and thriving plants. You know that adequate water is of vital importance in achieving that feat and so it’s important to you that your system is operating properly. You may be worried that your sprinkler system might be damaged, cause leaks, or not work properly for the upcoming year. That’s why you may want to know what’s required in order to get your system up and running properly.

Aerial landscape with pool, pizza oven, fire features and outdoor kitchen

Leesburg, VA Landscape & Pool Design Case Study: Pizza Oven, Fire Features, Outdoor Kitchen, & More

Posted On: March 09,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

When you envision your dream outdoor living space, there’s a good chance you’re not just picturing the elements that make it up, but also how you’ll be spending time there. You imagine watching your kids swim or cooking in your outdoor kitchen so that your family can enjoy a meal outside.

Who to Hire for a Pool Designer? Pool Company or Landscape Designer?

Posted On: March 01,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

If you’re thinking about adding a swimming pool to your backyard, you might be searching for pool designers near me to try and find the perfect one. After all, this is a significant undertaking and you want to ensure that you are happy with the entire process, from start to finish.

10 Fire Pit and Outdoor Fireplace Ideas for Your Home in Northern Virginia

Posted On: March 01,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

If you’re thinking about adding some sort of fire feature to your property then you may be wondering what your options are. You may know that you want something unique (not a boring, typical feature) but you’re not sure exactly what that means for you.

You may have been searching for outdoor fireplace ideas and fire pit ideas in order to come up with something that will work as part of a complete outdoor living space. After all, you likely want your outdoor fire feature to be the “icing on the cake,” that really helps you love (and use) your space to the fullest.

professionaly landscaped lawn in virginia

A Complete Spring Landscape Maintenance Checklist for Northern Virginia Homeowners

Posted On: February 28,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

As spring rolls around each year, you want your landscape to be ready to enjoy as soon as possible. There simply isn’t enough warm weather to waste any of it trying to get your property caught up.

While you may have even hired landscaping services in to handle spring maintenance for you, if you haven’t chosen a proactive company, then you might not be getting the services you really want or need in a timely manner.

In fact, if you’ve hired an order-taking, reactive landscape company who waits until you notice problems to do anything about them, then you might find you aren’t able to truly get the full enjoyment out of your property.

What is a Seat Wall & How to Add Them to Your Patio: Landscape Design Ideas for Great Falls, Ashburn, & Leesburg, VA

Posted On: January 20,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

As you plan the landscape design for your outdoor living area, you’ll find that the so-called “little details” are not so little after all. In fact, every single detail of your project truly matters if you want to have a space that you can use and enjoy to the fullest.

Of those details, seat walls are an important consideration.

A seat wall is a short wall that is purposefully designed so that it can also be used for seating. It can be a great way to double the value of a retaining wall that you already need for erosion purposes. But seat walls can also solely be built for aesthetics and for seating (even if a retaining wall isn’t functionally needed).

Although it might appear like one of those seemingly small details, a seat wall can be an incredibly welcomed addition to your outdoor living area, helping you to use and to enjoy your space more fully.

Here are some important landscape design ideas to keep in mind if you’re considering a seat wall for your Great Falls, Ashburn, Or Leesburg, VA home.

Landscape maintenance team spreading virgin hardwood mulch

6 of the Best Low-Maintenance Landscaping Tips for South Riding, Haymarket, & Ashburn, VA

Posted On: January 19,2021 By: Todd Thomasson

When it comes to your South Riding, Haymarket, or Ashburn, VA property, you likely want a landscape that looks great—but doesn’t require a tremendous amount of upkeep to keep it looking (and performing) that way. In other words, you want to be able to enjoy your landscape when you spend time in it, not constantly having to worry that things look unkempt or that you need to get out there and clean it up.