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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6 Landscape Lighting Design Tips For Your Northern Virginia Home

Posted On: August 20,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

Imagine a home that is well-lit with strategic uplighting on trees and architectural features, soft landscape lighting that helps direct family and guests into the driveway, path lights that lead to the front door, and backyard lighting that illuminates the patio and its surrounding areas. Now imagine a home that has a few poorly placed spotlights, one of which makes you feel like a deer-in-the-headlights when you pull into the driveway.

Building a Pool on a Slope: Design Tips for Great Falls, VA Yards with Hills

Posted On: August 18,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

Having a swimming pool might be part of your backyard dreams. But if you have a sloped property or a home situated on a hill, you might be wondering if it’s even possible. Can your swimming pool dreams still come true if your yard isn’t completely flat?

We’ll get right to it. Yes, building a pool on a slope is definitely possible, though it can come with some additional challenges.

pergola over patio in Great Falls, VA landscape design

Adding a Pavilion or Pergola to Your Landscape Design: Considerations, Costs, & More for Great Falls, VA

Posted On: August 06,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

Extending your time outdoors and enjoying that time to the fullest comes down to adding features that enhance your backyard.

Whether you envision your outdoor area as a spot for total relaxation, one for fun, recreation, and exercise—or maybe a little bit of all those things, it ultimately comes down to the outdoor living features that you add to support those ideas and plans.

Leesburg, VA Landscape Design Case Study: Family-Friendly Patio with 3 Outdoor Living Rooms

Posted On: August 05,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

With a corner lot and a narrow backyard, this Leesburg, VA family felt like their property wasn’t usable. It felt tight and awkward—and in all honesty, the family had a lot of reservations about what could be achieved, even with a landscape design.

But when the project was complete, the homeowners told us the space felt bigger than ever before. In fact, they said they could hardly believe how much room it felt like they had.

Infinity edge pool and spa with lighting

6 Amazing Add-Ons for Your Swimming Pool in Great Falls, Ashburn, or Leesburg, VA

Posted On: July 14,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

Are you looking for swimming pool ideas that will take your pool from ordinary to extraordinary? There are probably a lot of people that have swimming pools in your neighborhood but you’re looking to make yours one-of-a-kind.

When you’re in the dreaming stage, letting your imagination run wild and thinking of pool ideas that are out of this world is a great way to start deciding what’s important to you—and how you’re going to achieve a pool that’s truly unique.

Factoring in Deck Cost in Your Backyard Landscape Design: Considerations in Ashburn, Aldie, & Leesburg, VA

Posted On: July 09,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

When it comes to making your outdoor space more usable, a deck can be the perfect addition. Decks help to create extended living space right off of your existing home. That means you can spend more time with your friends and family grilling up some food and and dining al fresco, reading a book outside, watching the kids swim in a nearby pool, or just having a place to sit back and relax.

Pool Pictures and Ideas to Inspire Your Ultimate Backyard in Ashburn, Aldie, or Leesburg, VA

Posted On: June 29,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

If you’ve been dreaming about installing a pool, then you’re probably looking for pool ideas to get a sense of what might work best in your backyard. You want to make sure that you’re creating a space that can be enjoyed to the fullest.

That’s why we invite you to take a little tour through the pool picture ideas we’ve gathered after years of designing and building custom swimming pools.

Pools & Lawns: How to Have the Best of Both Worlds at Your Northern VA Home

Posted On: June 15,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

The lawn and landscape around a pool is an important aspect to your overall enjoyment of your backyard. You might be someone that loves having a lawn both for its beauty but also the functional space that it allows you. Being able to play yard games when you and your family (or friends) are not in the pool might be part of your entertainment. Or perhaps you have a pet that needs to use the lawn.

Landscape designed and built by Rock Water Farm

11 Red Flags To Help You Identify a Bad Landscaping Company

Posted On: June 15,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

We know there are a lot of landscaping companies. In fact, you may even feel a bit overwhelmed with so many options that you wind up settling on someone without much research into their background. We want to urge the importance of doing adequate research when it comes to hiring a quality landscape professional. Unfortunately there are a lot of fly-by-night landscapers out there that could leave you high and dry.

12 of the Best Low Maintenance Trees, Shrubs, & Plants for Ashburn, Aldie, & Leesburg, VA

Posted On: June 01,2020 By: Todd Thomasson

Whether you have your property cared for by a professional or not, chances are, you want plants that look great and perform well without a tremendous amount of upkeep. You don’t want to choose plants that need an overwhelming amount of care and that will struggle in your landscape unless perfectly maintained.