The Challenge: Making Carolina Clay Behave

Homeowners from North Raleigh’s Bayleaf community to Henderson’s historic district share one headache: heavy red‑clay soil. It holds water in winter, bakes rock‑hard by July, and sends runoff racing toward foundations. Add HOA fence rules in Rolesville, sloped lake lots at Lake Gaston, and mixed sun‑shade pockets around Oxford’s mature oaks, and it’s easy to feel stuck. Without a landscaper who understands each micro‑climate, money disappears into re‑sodding and replacement plants instead of long‑term solutions.

Our Solution: Soil‑First Landscaping Built for Every ZIP We Serve

Turfstone Outdoor Works blends local know‑how with modern design tools to craft landscapes that thrive in Franklinton, North Raleigh, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Youngsville, Oxford, Henderson, Kerr Lake, and Lake Gaston. We start with a soil test, loosen clay with compost and sand, and laser‑grade beds for positive drainage—before the first shrub goes in. Native and adaptive plants such as switchgrass, sweetspire, and dwarf yaupon handle drought, humidity, and late‑season storms with minimal fuss. Hidden French drains, river‑rock swales, and retaining walls keep water where it belongs, while fresh hardwood mulch locks in moisture.

• Wander the wildflower meadows at Hill Ridge Farms in Franklinton for proof that native perennials can stay vibrant without daily irrigation.
• Notice the switchgrass borders along the greenway at William B. Umstead State Park west of North Raleigh—our go‑to grass for tough, sunny slopes.
• Stroll the pollinator beds at Joyner Park in Wake Forest and see how coneflower and salvia draw butterflies from spring to fall.
• Check the stone seating walls at Falls Lake State Recreation Area; we use the same durable blocks for retaining walls behind Rolesville and Youngsville homes.
• Visit Kerr Lake State Recreation Area to see natural shoreline plantings that inspire our erosion‑control mixes for waterfront lots.
• Drive across Eaton Ferry Bridge at Lake Gaston and note the hardy junipers stabilizing steep banks—ideal for high‑sun, low‑water spots in Oxford and Henderson, too.