All American Landscaping

04/05/2019

Water in your basement? This is not one of the things that I envisioned us doing when we started 20 plus years ago, but I hate seeing people get water in their homes. Before people start sending sarcastic comments, no i cannot waterproof homes that were or are going to flood. So many of the homes, we have worked on, have had their waterproofing along their foundation installed wrong! (I am going to attach a detail of waterproofing a foundation wall below.). Water does not flow through concrete unless you have a crack or a cold joint. (Cold joint is where you stop pouring concrete, let it cure, and then add onto the same area.). So let’s just say you are getting enough water that you have to use 10 towels to mop it up. That’s a lot of water and you have a issue.
First check your downspouts and gutters to make sure they are flowing freely. Make sure they are running out in the yard at least 3-5’ past your foundation. If you have your downspouts tiled out, is anything obstructing the outlet?
Next look at the grade around your house. Is there any place that water can stand? Did something settle around the foundation over the winter? Are my window wells higher than my surrounding grade? Can I see at least 2-3” of my foundation around my house. This is a big one. Do not pile dirt against your siding to get proper runoff. The materials behind your siding will rot and cause you major problems down the road. You may have to cut the sod out and regrade your slope to get proper water runoff.
Now look at what water your taking into your yard in the surrounding area. This is the old saying p**p rolls down hill. Do I have the proper swale cut into my yard to keep the water from reaching my house. The project I will post pics of below had nearly a half block running at his home. That’s a lot of H2O. You better have the proper runoff system in place or you get in trouble.
Last look for a change. Did you have a new utility put in? Was there a change in elevation in my yard? A new development? Should I be feeding this ground squirrel, that’s burrowing around my house, because it’s cute? Again did something settle?
There are several solutions to fix most the problems listed. Remember that water chooses the path of least resistance. Just because your getting water in one corner doesn’t mean that’s where it’s coming from. The home in the pics had the water coming in the home nearly 40’ away. It used the carpet tack strip as a dam to run along until it found a spot it could get by. Don’t panic. Take a beep breath and just look at the things I listed. Most of the time the solution is very simple.
If anyone has questions ask. I will try to help or refer you to someone that hopefully can.
Thank you and happy planting.

In this pic notice the drain tile around the foundation is below the floor of the home. I see so many sitting on top of the foundation the area that says “earth fill” in the detail. This is not the correct way. That would put it above the cold joint where your foundation wall meets the footing.

04/05/2019

Spring is finally here. We are making our rounds trying to get stuff cut back and get leaky homes fixed. (The Nebraska side). I am getting conflicting news (fake news hehe) about when Hwy 2 will be open. If it is going to be a long ways out we will make a couple trips just to get plants cut back for the customers that need us to do it. We will not mulch or install until the Hwy is back open. Hopefully that will be soon, and the cleanup will get started. For everyone that lost their homes, jobs, and things that cannot be replaced, I am deeply sorry. My home town is in the middle of that mess, and it makes me very sad.
Thoughts and prayers to you all.

10/03/2018

New fire pit and sod.

07/03/2018

We have been in business now 22 years. The reason that we have is because I have always had great employees that work their tail off. That being said I am very sorry for those of you that are waiting for me to get your design/bid done. It is not an easy process. I spend, on average, around 8 hours on a bid.(Commercial closer to 20) I also am up installing from 6:30 am - 4:30 or dark, 5-6 days a week. With the heat its been tough to come home and sit at a computer to work on designs or paperwork. I am trying to get to everyone as quick as I can, but there are only so many hours in the day. It kinda hit home when I called my grandparents, whom I am close with, to tell them Chris and his family will be fishing at the cabin. Only to find out that they have been fishing in Wisconsin the last three weeks. I am not complaining I love love love my job. I just want to give a little perspective on what we do that most people don't see. We could raise our prices and stay just as busy but we would loose the clients that we love working for the most. Seeing an idea come to life that you and your costumer created is worth more than anything, other than my religious beliefs and family. I always dare anyone to find a customer that would not use us again. Some may chuckle a little at the humor we bring to work, but that's how we make it through the day. My year in/out costumers will tell you the worst thing is the wait. I always try to joke about it, but I know its frustrating. I promise that if you wait it will be worth it, and if you don't I will never be offended. Now that we have Chris back things will start going a little quicker. Yahoo! If you havn"t heard back from me shoot me another text or e mail (402-510-0215 [email protected] [email protected]) Remember to include your name because more than likely I don't have your number saved. I had a person from Lincoln call me today that I needed to call back. Within an hour I had so many other calls that it took me three tries before I got the right number (I was driving so I couldn't write it down). So to all my present and past customers thank you so much. Its been a privilege.
I would like to wish everyone a fun and safe Fourth Of July.

Ryan Sjulin

We are a design/install company that specializes in landscaping, patios, walls, living spaces, water features, water runoff problems, and troubleshooting.

07/01/2018

Having trouble with Japanese Beetle? They look like a green June Bug that do a lot of damage. They won’t kill your tree; just eat all the foliage. Now plants/trees eat through photosynthesis; so if this happens year after year, it can damage the plant. They eat fast so the problem with killing them with a systemic is they do the damage before the chemical kills the bug. You need a “right now” kill like a pyrethrin. The only problem with that, is that it kills the ones it makes contact with (most have a residual but it’s the same outcome as a systemic) but what about tomorrow? Best solutions from nurseries I’ve talked to are traps, (I’ll attach a photo) and keeping your lawn treated for bugs/grubs. A Japanese beetle is similar to that of a June bug / grub worm. (Grub worms turn into June bugs). It’s in your best interest to tell your neighbors to treat also. They really like to eat Linden and Birch trees. If bad enough they can defoliate a mature tree in a couple days. The biggest thing is, don’t cut down the tree because you think it’s dying. I remember twenty years ago when the green army worms hit the grass yards. This is a Very similar bug, only this one goes after trees and shrubs. Hopefully it goes away just as quickly as they did.

I hope everyone has a great/safe Fourth of July. We need to remember that without the sacrifices of Americans in nearly every family in the United States we would not be able to live like we do. Thank you so much to everyone who has served, or anyone who has lost someone that has served.
Happy Fourth of July.
Ryan

07/01/2018

06/23/2018

Installed this pond in 2009 or 2010. It was installed in tarkio Missouri so we didn’t do the maintenance. The home was sold and the new homeowners asked us if we could fix it because the waterfall was leaking.

It took us a couple months to get there but when we did it was a quick 4 hour job for 2 of us. Still the original pump. Rebuilt Entire waterfall area to make sure there were no rodent holes.

If your water feature is leaking chances are that it will be by the pump housing or the top waterfall. Unplug your pump and if the water level still goes down it’s in the pond or reservoir. If not it’s in the waterfall. Always put mouse traps or poison around the waterfall in the winter, and never drain the pond all winter long.

06/12/2018

Before

06/12/2018

After

05/17/2018

This was installed in 1997 or 1998. Still looking good.

04/30/2018

Finally got the Lied Center walls tore down and rebuilt. Now just need the sprinklers to quit springing leaks.