At Full Circle Land Design, we combine thoughtful, detailed design with practical construction knowledge to create outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and built to last. Our process focuses on understanding your goals, solving site challenges, and delivering a clear plan that turns vision into reality with confidence.

From design through installation, we prioritize communication, craftsmanship, and results that enhance both lifestyle and property value.

For more information about or mission and philosophy, click here.

All construction and workmanship are covered by a one-year limited warranty, with materials guaranteed to be as specified and work completed to standard practices, while manufacturer warranties may also apply.

Plants and sod are guaranteed to be healthy at installation, but require proper watering and care by the homeowner, and are only covered for limited replacement periods (one year for trees and shrubs with irrigation, 14 days for sod).

The warranty excludes damage from neglect, weather, pests, or other conditions beyond our control, and is limited to replacement or refund of the original purchase price where applicable.

For more, visit our Warranty page here.

To start, give us a call or fill out our contact form (click here) so we can schedule an on-site visit with you. We will meet with you at your home or business to discuss your vision, review your goals and needs, and identify any possible issues on the property.

To learn more about the design process, check out our Design page here.

Retaining walls can be installed to level sections of your yard creating usable flat space for patios, seating areas, or landscaping.

For more information on retaining walls, click here.

A yard becomes more functional when it is designed with purpose-driven spaces like patios for gathering, defined pathways for movement, and areas for specific uses such as play, dining, or relaxation. Adding elements like proper drainage, lighting, and smart plant placement also helps the space work better and be easier to use year-round.

Drainage should always be the first priority because it protects everything else you build—patios, landscaping, and even your home—from water damage and long-term failure. Once water is properly controlled through grading and drainage solutions, you can confidently install hardscaping like patios, followed by landscaping to finish the space. Building in that order ensures the entire outdoor space is stable, functional, and built to last.

Our landscape designs include a 2D layout plan clearly marking plants and their quantity, mulch beds, grass, property lines, and all other pertinent details. If required, we can also include recommended sizes for the plants to be installed.

For more information, check out our Design page here.

We begin with an on-site consultation to understand your goals and create a customized landscape design tailored to your property and lifestyle. Once your design is complete, we'll provide an installation proposal, and your design fee is credited back when you hire Full Circle Land Design for the installation.

For more information, check out our Design page here.

Our design fee covers on-site consultation, site analysis, research, and custom landscape design with minor revisions, and is due prior to design work unless an installation deposit has been received. The fee is credited toward your installation when Full Circle Land Design completes the project, provided the proposal is accepted within six months and the fee is 10% or less of the contract.

For more information, check out our Design page here.

Yes, professional landscape and outdoor living design can increase property value, often by improving curb appeal and expanding usable living space. Well-designed outdoor features can add roughly 5%–15% to a home’s value, especially when they include patios, outdoor living areas, and mature landscaping.

Beyond value, these improvements also help homes sell faster and stand out in the market.

Landscape installation is more than aesthetics—it’s a thoughtful process that solves outdoor problems like drainage, erosion, and unwanted views while improving function and beauty. It can increase curb appeal, boost property value, and create outdoor living spaces that feel like an extension of the home. Sustainable design choices, such as native plants and strategic tree placement, also improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance, and support long-term environmental health.

For more information, go to our Landscaping page here.

In Chattanooga, the best time to install plants is typically fall and early spring. Fall (September through November) is ideal because soil is still warm, allowing roots to establish before winter while cooler air reduces stress on the plants. Early spring is also a great window as plants begin active growth and can settle in before summer heat arrives.

Summer installations can be done, but they require more watering and maintenance due to heat stress, while winter planting is usually limited to mild stretches when the ground isn’t frozen.

Yes, it is highly recommended to install your irrigation infrastructure before laying sod, building garden beds, or planting. Laying pipes first eliminates the need to dig trenches through established, fragile turf and preserves the root systems of your new plants.

Yes, landscaping can help solve drainage issues by improving water flow and reduce pooling when combined with grading and/or drainage systems. Common solutions include swales, french drains, rain gardens, downspout extensions, and dry creek beds. Check out the Drainage Solutions page here for more useful information.

This is probably the most common question that comes up, especially after we finish the installation. New sod should be kept consistently moist—like a damp sponge—until roots establish, which typically takes 2–3 weeks in warm weather. Water early in the morning with deep, infrequent soakings (about 1–1.5 inches per week), adjusting for rain and temperature, and avoid both overwatering and underwatering. Once rooted, gradually reduce watering frequency while ensuring the soil stays moist but not saturated, especially during the first growing season.

New plants need frequent, deep watering—daily or every other day for the first two weeks—to establish roots. Afterward, taper off to 2–3 times a week, providing about 1 inch of water per week. Adjust this frequency based on the weather, soil type, and the plant's specific needs. It can be difficult to tell whether plants are being overwatered or underwatered because the symptoms often look similar, especially in Chattanooga’s clay soils where water can easily pool around roots. A good approach is to start slightly on the drier side, water at the base of the plant, and adjust based on soil moisture and plant response, checking that the top few inches of soil are dry before watering again. Over time, plants should be watered deeply but less frequently, with adjustments made for weather, season, and plant type.

Check out the Landscape Care Guide page here for a more in-depth look.

Plants still need occasional watering in winter, especially newly planted trees and shrubs, since dry soil and cold winds can cause dehydration and winter damage. Water lightly once or twice a month on mild afternoons when temperatures are above freezing, focusing around the root zone, and avoid overwatering or wet foliage near freezing temperatures. Protect plants during hard freezes by using mulch, breathable coverings, and bringing potted plants indoors when possible.

For more details, read our Landscape Care Guide here.

Customized outdoor living spaces offer a wide range of benefits, including improved physical and mental health, reduced stress, and more time spent outdoors in a natural environment. These spaces also encourage family interaction by creating safe, comfortable areas where children can play and be easily supervised, promoting healthier lifestyles away from screens.

In addition, well-designed outdoor living areas can significantly increase property value by expanding usable living space more affordably than traditional home additions while enhancing overall curb appeal.

Common services include outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and fire pits, water features, paver patios, low-voltage lighting, and complete landscape installation.

For more information, go to our Outdoor Living page by clicking here.

Outdoor living includes the design and construction of functional exterior spaces that extend your home, such as patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, seating areas, and covered structures like pergolas. It often also includes features like lighting, landscaping, and walkways to create a comfortable and usable environment. The goal is to make your outdoor space feel like an additional living area for relaxing, entertaining, and everyday use.

For more information about outdoor living, go to https://www.fullcirclelanddesign.com/outdoor-living.

Hardscaping refers to the non-living elements of an outdoor living space, such as patios, walkways, retaining walls, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens. It provides structure, function, and usable space that supports how you live and move through your landscape.

For more information on outdoor living, go to our Outdoor Living page here.

Yes, building your dream outdoor space in phases over time is highly recommended and a practical way to manage your budget without sacrificing your long-term vision. Spreading out the work allows you to use earlier phases immediately while accommodating future updates.

The most popular choice for patios is Beglard concrete pavers, which are available in an array of colors, sizes, and textures. Other popular options are travertine (great for pool deckings), porcelain, concrete, flagstone, or pea gravel.

Ultimately, your budget and style will be the deciding factor on which material should be used.

For more info, click here.

While several factors can influence the final cost of a paver patio installation, our standard rate is typically $22 per square foot. This includes excavation, gravel, paver installation, edge restraints, and joint sand. The cost for the pavers themselves generally ranges between $4 and $8 per square foot, depending on your selection.

While Belgard concrete pavers are our most popular option, we also work with travertine, flagstone, porcelain, and clay brick.

For more information, please visit our Patios page here.

The area where the patio will go needs to be leveled or regraded, often using a combination of excavation and retaining walls.

While it is technically optional, sealing creates a protective barrier that repels stains (like oil and food), prevents UV fading, deters weed and ant growth, and hardens joint sand. It is highly recommended for high-traffic areas, driveways, and freeze-thaw climates.

With that being said, most people like the look and feel of the pavers without the sealer. Keep in mind that sealers are not a permanent fix. They typically need to be stripped and reapplied every 2 to 4 years, and failing to do so can create uneven wear patterns

The white haze on your pavers is most likely efflorescence, which is a harmless but unsightly buildup of salt crystals. This occurs naturally when moisture pushes dissolved salts to the surface and evaporates. Alternatively, it could be a dusty film left by polymeric sand.

The good news is that this should disappear on its own over time. If necessary, a cleaner can be used to remove it more quickly.

While patios are low maintenance, they do need routine maintenance to keep them safe, attractive, and structurally sound, since weather, weeds, shifting ground, and normal wear can all cause deterioration over time.

Paver patios require occasional joint sand replenishment, cleaning, and sealing to maintain stability and prevent weed growth. Flagstone needs re-leveling, joint repair, and debris removal to keep surfaces even and secure. Pea gravel patios often needs weeds pulled or sprayed and require periodic raking and replenishment to maintain coverage and shape. Travertine patios should be cleaned regularly, sealed to protect against staining, and inspected for cracks or shifting to preserve their finish and durability.

Retaining walls hold back soil, prevent erosion, manage slopes, and create level, usable outdoor space. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. For more information on the benefits of retaining walls, go to our Retaining Walls page here.

There are variety of materials we use for retaining walls, depending on a number of factors. The most common types of walls we build include timber, stone veneer, stucco, segmental blocks, and natural rocks and boulders. For more details on the different types of retaining walls, click here.

Yes, retaining walls are one of the most effective solutions for stopping soil erosion and stabilizing landscape areas in your yard.

Yes, retaining walls must have proper drainage because trapped water creates hydrostatic pressure that can cause cracking, bulging, or even collapse. A proper system includes a perforated drain pipe, clean gravel backfill, and filter fabric to move water away and prevent soil buildup behind the wall.

Taller walls (over 4 feet) especially require engineered drainage and reinforcement to ensure long-term stability and safety.

In Tennessee, retaining walls over 4 feet tall (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) require a building permit and engineered structural drawings signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer. We prefer to build walls that don’t involve extra engineering. In some cases, we can install a series of terraced walls instead of one large one.

Yes—you can absolutely combine a patio with an existing retaining wall, and it’s actually a very common and effective design approach. Retaining walls can help create level usable space, define the patio edge, and even be integrated as seating or landscape features. The key is making sure the wall is structurally sound and properly drained before tying the patio design into it.

Drainage solutions like French drains, grading improvements, or retaining walls can redirect water and prevent pooling.

For more details, go to our Drainage Solutions page here.

Common signs include standing water, muddy areas, erosion, water flowing toward the house, or water damage in the basement or crawl space. If you have standing water in the yard but away from the house, it should dry out within a couple of days. If it doesn’t, we can take a look and give you ideas on how to fix it.

Yes! In fact, permeable pavers are a great solution to creating a usable sitting area while also solving drainage issues in your yard.

Common ways to help with improper drainage include permeable pavers, retaining walls, rain gardens, French drains, catch basins, regrading, and dry creek beds.

For more info, click here.

Grading is the shaping and leveling of the land itself to control how water flows across your property, usually by adjusting slopes so water moves away from structures and problem areas. It’s the first line of defense because it naturally directs water away from your home and problem areas without relying on infrastructure or invasive installations.

Drainage solutions are the systems installed to collect, redirect, or remove excess water—such as drains, pipes, dry creek beds, or French drains. These are needed when grading alone is not enough, such as in flat yards, heavy clay soils, or areas with excessive runoff, to actively collect and move water.

In short, grading guides the water, while drainage systems move it where it needs to go.