Landscaping in Congers, NY
Congers is a lake and pond community with a high water table. Drainage here is about where the water can go, not just collecting it. We design outlets that work when the lake is high and build patios and walkways that stay dry.
Working in Congers
Congers is a hamlet of about 3.9 square miles in the Town of Clarkstown, and close to a fifth of that area is water. The hamlet sits within and between Congers Lake, Rockland Lake, Swartwout Lake, and Lake DeForest, the county reservoir created in 1956 by damming the Hackensack River. Many lots back onto a shoreline, a wet edge, or low ground that drains toward one of the lakes.
The USDA soil survey maps most of Congers as Wethersfield gravelly silt loam and Wethersfield urban land complex, mostly on gentle slopes of 2 to 8 percent with steeper banks toward the water. Wethersfield soil forms over dense glacial till, so water passes through the topsoil and then slows when it reaches the till. On a lot close to lake level, there is very little depth left for water to soak into.
For outdoor work, that means every drain needs a real discharge point, patio bases have to sit above the wet layer, and fence posts need stone and concrete to stay plumb. Before we design anything in Congers, we look at where the lot sits relative to the nearest lake and the lowest ground around it.
What we build in Congers
Drainage with a planned discharge point
Many wet Congers yards already have a drain in the ground that has nowhere to empty. We dig a test hole at the estimate to see how high the water sits, then pick the outlet: a swale to lower ground, a pipe to the street where the town permits it, or a shallow dry well only where the test hole stays dry.
Drainage & ExcavationPatio built up above the wet layer
We build Congers patios up instead of digging them deep into wet soil. A thicker compacted stone base lifts the pavers above the saturated layer, a low seating wall holds the edge, and the surrounding grade is pitched away from the house and the patio.
Hardscape & LightingLawn repair after the spring thaw
Low lawns near the lakes come out of spring with bare, compacted patches where water sat for weeks. Once the ground dries, we core aerate, topdress, and seed or sod the worst areas, and we adjust the grade in the spots where water keeps collecting.
Seasonal & SpecialtyFence posts that stay plumb
Posts set in saturated ground lean and heave over a few winters. We dig deeper holes, put crushed stone at the bottom so water drains away from the post, and set each post in concrete. On lakeside lots we often use an open picket or aluminum style that keeps the view.
Fencing & PrivacyFire pit on the high side of a lake lot
Lakeside yards in Congers are where people want a fire pit. We place it on the driest, highest part of the yard, build it in stone or block on a compacted base, and add a seating wall around it. If you want gas, a licensed plumber runs the line.
Outdoor Kitchens & LivingFall cleanup timed to the leaf routes
Yards around the lakes collect leaves blown off the water and the shoreline trees. We clear beds and lawn, cut back perennials, and pile the leaves on the lawn at the curb in time for the Clarkstown crews, keeping them off the road and away from storm drains.
Seasonal & SpecialtyText a few photos of the area or send the form. We come out, walk it with you, and send a written scope and a fixed price.
Before you build in Congers
Permits and rules in Congers
Congers is part of the Town of Clarkstown, and permits go through the Clarkstown Building Department. Clarkstown does not issue fence permits. Its zoning code caps a solid fence or wall at 4 1/2 feet along a lot line and any fence at 6 feet on the line, and a taller fence has to be set back by two thirds of its height. The finished side of the fence can face whichever direction the owner chooses.
Water drives most permit questions in Congers. Clarkstown's zoning code treats ponds, streams, DEC freshwater wetlands, and FEMA special flood hazard areas as land under water, and the town has a separate flood damage prevention chapter. Grading near a lake or stream can need town or DEC review, so we check your lot against those maps before we plan any earthwork.
Tying a drain into the road is regulated too. Any cut into a town road, curb, or sidewalk needs a road opening permit from the Clarkstown Superintendent of Highways, and the town lists storm drainage lines as permit work. We keep every wall at 4 feet or under and file what the job needs before we start.
When to schedule work in Congers
Congers ground stays wet longer in spring than higher parts of Clarkstown. We schedule drainage, grading, and patio bases for late spring through early fall, when our test holes show the lowest water. Lawn repair and seeding go in late summer or early fall, after the heat and before leaf drop.
Clarkstown's curbside yard waste program runs from March through October, and free biodegradable paper bags are available at Town Hall, the Highway Department, and Parks and Recreation. Loose leaf pickup begins in early November and moves route by route, with a second sweep if the weather allows. We book Congers fall cleanups for late October and November so the leaves are ready before the crews reach your road.
All services in Congers
Guides for Congers homeowners
- Hudson Valley seasonal yard checklist. The lower Hudson Valley gets hard winters, wet springs, and a long leaf season, and a yard that is checked at the right times avoids most of the expensive repairs.
- Downspout drainage options: where roof water should go. Most wet basements and soggy foundation beds we look at in Rockland and Bergen start at a downspout that empties within a foot or two of the wall.
- Retaining wall permits and engineering. In most New York and New Jersey towns, a retaining wall over 4 feet needs an engineered design and a permit, and walls under that limit can still need one if they hold up a driveway or a slope.
- Fall cleanup and town leaf pickup in Rockland and Bergen. A fall cleanup clears leaves and debris, puts beds to rest for winter, and sets the lawn up for spring.
Nearby
We also work in Valley Cottage, New City, Nyack, West Nyack, Nanuet, Blauvelt, Monsey, Pomona, and across Rockland County.
Questions
Will a dry well work on my Congers lot?
Only if it sits above the water table. We dig a test hole at the estimate, and if we hit water in the first few feet, we design a surface outlet instead.
Can you regrade a yard that backs onto one of the lakes?
Usually, but it may need review first. Clarkstown's code covers wetlands, streams, and flood hazard areas, and DEC can have jurisdiction near the water, so we check the maps and keep work outside buffers where we can.
Do I need a permit for a fence on my lakeside lot?
No, Clarkstown does not require fence permits. The height limits still apply: 4 1/2 feet for a solid fence and 6 feet for any fence on a lot line.
Can my downspouts or drains go to the street?
Only with the right approval. A cut into a town road or curb needs a road opening permit from the Superintendent of Highways, so we confirm the tie-in before we design around it.
Why do my fence posts keep leaning?
Wet soil freezes and pushes posts up and sideways each winter. Deeper holes with stone at the bottom and concrete around the post hold them in place.
When is the best time to build a patio in Congers?
Late spring through early fall, when the ground is driest. We size the stone base for the water level we find in the test hole.
How does Clarkstown leaf pickup work?
The Highway Department vacuums loose leaves piled on the lawn at the curb, starting in early November by route. Plastic bags are not accepted, only loose leaves or biodegradable paper bags.
Can you build a patio right at lake level?
Yes, but we build it up on a deeper base and drain it to a real outlet. A patio set into saturated ground will heave and hold puddles.
Something to haul away first? See junk removal in Congers.
Have a project in Congers? Tell us about it.
Three quick steps. We call you back to set up a free on-site estimate, usually the same day.
- Call or text(845) 367-4123
- Emailgeneral@landtechenterprise.com
- Based inPomona, NY
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