Drainage, Arborvitae Privacy Screening & Concrete Sidewalk in Mount Prospect

The drainage portion involves connecting multiple downspouts to a coordinated underground solid PVC drainage system designed to collect roof runoff and direct it toward designated lawn discharge locations. The landscaping work includes installing Green Giant and Emerald Green Arborvitae, relocating existing trees and ornamental grasses, and removing failed or unwanted plant material to improve the property’s overall layout.

The concrete portion involves removing and disposing of the existing material, preparing and framing the area, installing a compacted stone base, and pouring a new concrete sidewalk. Together, these improvements address water management, landscape organization, privacy, and pedestrian access through a coordinated approach to the property’s exterior.

Project Goals

• Connect multiple downspouts to an underground drainage system to help direct roof runoff away from the home’s foundation.
• Relocate and extend an existing drainage discharge point to improve water dispersal away from the structure.
• Install approximately 45 linear feet of solid 4-inch PVC drainage piping.
• Establish a staggered privacy screen using 15 Green Giant Arborvitae at the southeast corner of the property.
• Reorganize the existing hedge along the south property line by removing failed Emerald Green Arborvitae, relocating suitable existing trees, and adding new plantings.
• Relocate the existing Meyer Lilac tree farther from the house.
• Remove junipers near the northwest corner of the garage and relocate ornamental grasses from the west side of the driveway.
• Replace the existing sidewalk with a new concrete walkway installed over a prepared stone base.
• Improve the property’s drainage performance, landscape arrangement, privacy, and pedestrian access.

Underground Drainage Installation

The drainage improvements focus on collecting roof runoff from several sections of the home and conveying it through an underground solid PVC piping system. Downspouts located to the left of the front door, at the southeast corner, and at the southwest corner of the home will be connected to the system to help manage water coming off the roof.

Approximately 45 linear feet of 4-inch solid PVC piping will be installed to carry collected runoff toward designated lawn discharge locations around the property. The work also includes relocating and extending an existing drainage discharge point to improve water dispersal and increase the distance between the discharge location and the home.

By connecting these downspouts into a coordinated drainage system, the project is designed to reduce the amount of roof runoff released directly beside the foundation. Properly routed drainage can help limit localized water accumulation around the structure and improve how runoff is managed across the property.

The system’s routing and installation are based on the specific site conditions and drainage requirements of the home. The detailed drainage design and construction documentation are maintained as part of the project’s professional planning process.

Green Giant Arborvitae Privacy Screen

At the southeast corner of the property, 15 Green Giant Arborvitae will be installed in a staggered arrangement to establish a new privacy screen. These evergreen trees will be approximately 6 feet tall at installation, providing an immediate vertical landscape element while allowing the planting to develop over time.

The staggered layout creates a layered planting arrangement rather than a single straight line of trees. This approach can help create a fuller visual screen and provide a more natural transition along the property.

Green Giant Arborvitae are commonly used in landscape designs for their evergreen foliage, upright growth habit, and suitability for privacy screening. Their placement in this area is intended to strengthen separation along the property edge while adding year-round greenery.

Emerald Green Arborvitae Hedge Improvements

The existing hedge along the south property line will be reorganized to improve the planting arrangement and replace failed trees. The work includes removing failed Emerald Green Arborvitae, relocating and replanting 15 existing Emerald Green Arborvitae, and installing 10 additional Emerald Green Arborvitae approximately 4 feet tall.

The relocated trees will be spaced at approximately 3 feet on center to establish a more consistent hedge arrangement. Combining suitable existing plant material with additional trees allows the planting line to be reorganized while retaining some of the property’s established landscape.

Removing failed trees helps clear areas where the existing hedge is no longer performing as intended. The additional Emerald Green Arborvitae will help fill gaps and create greater continuity along the south property line as the hedge develops.

Relocated trees require appropriate handling and establishment care. Their survival cannot be guaranteed, and the results will depend on the condition of the plants and how they respond after replanting.

Meyer Lilac Tree Relocation

The existing Meyer Lilac tree will be relocated farther away from the house. This adjustment is intended to improve the tree’s placement within the landscape and create more appropriate separation from the structure.

Relocating an established tree requires careful excavation, handling, and replanting to minimize stress to the root system. The new position will allow the tree to remain part of the property’s landscape while adjusting its relationship to the house and surrounding planting areas.

As with all relocated plant material, successful establishment cannot be guaranteed.

Juniper Removal & Ornamental Grass Relocation

Existing junipers at the northwest corner of the garage will be removed to clear the designated landscape area. This work will help simplify the planting arrangement around the garage and provide greater flexibility for the surrounding landscape.

Ornamental grasses currently located along the west side of the driveway will also be relocated. Moving these plants allows the existing landscape material to be retained where possible while adjusting the arrangement around the driveway.

These selective removals and relocations are part of a broader effort to coordinate the property’s plantings with the new privacy screens and other exterior improvements. Rather than treating each planting area independently, the work considers how the different landscape elements relate to the house, garage, driveway, and property lines.

Concrete Sidewalk Removal & Replacement

The concrete portion of the project involves removing and disposing of the existing material before preparing the area for a new sidewalk.

After removal, the designated area will be framed and prepared for the new installation. Approximately 3 to 4 inches of stone will be placed to establish the base, followed by approximately 5 inches of concrete.

The stone base provides a prepared foundation for the concrete, while the framing helps establish the intended shape and boundaries of the new sidewalk. Proper preparation of the installation area is an important part of constructing a durable walkway.

The new concrete sidewalk will provide a renewed walking surface and improve the appearance and function of the designated pedestrian route. Concrete can develop cracking, flaking, or surface popping over time, and these conditions are not guaranteed against.

Coordinating Drainage, Plantings & Hardscape

An important part of this project is coordinating multiple types of exterior work across the same property. The underground drainage system addresses roof runoff, the new evergreen plantings establish privacy along selected property lines, and the tree relocations and removals reorganize existing landscape areas.

The concrete sidewalk replacement adds a separate hardscape improvement, requiring its own removal, preparation, base installation, and concrete placement.

Considering these elements together helps create a more organized approach to the property’s exterior. Drainage routing, planting locations, and pedestrian access each serve different purposes, but their placement must work within the same landscape environment.

The result is a coordinated scope of improvements focused on water management, evergreen screening, plant placement, and a renewed concrete walking surface.

Why Drainage & Landscape Planning Matter

Effective landscape planning involves more than selecting plants or installing new hardscape. Roof runoff must be directed appropriately, evergreen screens need adequate room to develop, existing plants must be evaluated before relocation, and walking surfaces require proper preparation.

In this Mount Prospect project, the drainage system is designed to move roof runoff toward designated lawn discharge locations rather than releasing it directly beside the home’s foundation. The planting work establishes new privacy screening while reorganizing the existing hedge and other landscape elements.

The sidewalk replacement complements these improvements by renewing a pedestrian surface with a prepared stone base and new concrete.

Each component addresses a specific property need, and coordinating the work helps ensure that drainage, planting arrangements, and hardscape improvements are considered as part of the overall exterior layout.

Project Highlights

• Residential drainage and landscape improvement project in Mount Prospect, IL.
• Installation of approximately 45 linear feet of solid 4-inch PVC drainage piping.
• Connection of three designated downspout locations to the underground drainage system.
• Relocation and extension of an existing drainage discharge point.
• Installation of 15 Green Giant Arborvitae, approximately 6 feet tall, in a staggered privacy screen.
• Relocation and replanting of 15 existing Emerald Green Arborvitae along the south property line.
• Installation of 10 additional Emerald Green Arborvitae, approximately 4 feet tall.
• Removal of failed Emerald Green Arborvitae as needed.
• Relocation of an existing Meyer Lilac tree farther from the house.
• Removal of junipers at the northwest corner of the garage.
• Relocation of ornamental grasses from the west side of the driveway.
• Removal and disposal of existing sidewalk material.

Installation of a new concrete sidewalk over approximately 3 to 4 inches of stone base, with approximately 5 inches of concrete.

Coordinated improvements to roof runoff management, privacy screening, planting layout, and pedestrian access.

As you browse through the photos, you can see how this Mount Prospect project brings together several aspects of residential landscape improvement. The drainage work focuses on collecting roof runoff and directing it toward designated discharge areas, while the new and relocated evergreens help organize the planting layout and establish privacy.

The project also includes selective tree and shrub removals, ornamental grass relocation, and replacement of the existing concrete sidewalk. Together, these improvements address the property’s drainage, planting, and hardscape needs through a coordinated approach to exterior construction and landscape planning.

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