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Landscapers in Westford, MA
Granite, orchards, kettle ponds and stone walls along the back roads: Westford's yards come with ledge, slopes and septic systems to plan around. Call (000) 000-0000 or send the form for a free estimate. We'll review your request and help you with the next step.
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Landscaping services in Westford
What are you planning in Westford?
Patios & Walkways
Pavers, bluestone and natural stone, set on a compacted base that survives frost.
Retaining Walls
Block and stone walls that hold a slope, with drainage behind them.
Landscape Design & Plantings
A plan for the whole yard, then beds, shrubs and trees that suit the site.
Yard Drainage
Grading, drains and dry wells for wet lawns and water near the foundation.
Outdoor Living
Fire pits, outdoor kitchens, pergolas and seating walls.
Westford, village by village
Granite, drumlins and kettle ponds
Westford's terrain is rolling and in places rugged, shaped by drumlins and kettle ponds, rising to about 468 feet at Prospect Hill just west of the center. Chelmsford Granite underlies much of the northern third of town and was quarried from the early 1800s. In some soils bedrock sits close to the surface, with outcrops across about a tenth of the ground, while sandy Hinckley soils elsewhere drain fast and dry out. Both change how a patio base or wall footing gets built.
Westford Center
A farming community that became a well-to-do residential center, and one of the town's listed historic districts. Older houses and established yards where stone walls, granite steps and perennial beds suit the setting.
Graniteville
Where Westford's granite was first quarried in 1826–27, on Stony Brook just east of Forge Village. The quarries are small and inactive now, but the granite under this part of town is why ledge can turn up in an excavation.
Forge Village
A compact, well-preserved mill village that grew after the Abbot Worsted company moved there in 1879, next to Forge Pond. Smaller lots near the water, where the town's wetland setbacks often apply.
Nabnasset
A resort area that grew around Nabnasset Lake in the 1920s, with original summer cottages around the shore. Lakeside lots are tight and fall inside the Conservation Commission's setbacks.
Parker Village
A remnant of Westford's farming past, with agricultural land, open views and the restored Parkerville School. Bigger lots with room for whole-yard plans and stone wall work.
Wetlands and septic
Two things to locate before you design
The wetland edge. Westford's Conservation Commission regulations, effective December 2020, set setbacks measured from the edge of the wetland, and no activity is allowed inside them except as the regulations provide:
- Work on lawn, landscaping or other maintained surface of a lot with an existing structure: no work within 30 feet, no building within 55 feet.
- Natural areas, and undeveloped lots: no work within 50 feet, no building within 75 feet.
Work includes grading, filling, vegetation removal and fences; retaining walls are among the listed exceptions. The town's wetlands bylaw also bars storing fertilizer or salt within 100 feet.
The septic system. Homes in Westford rely on on-site septic systems, and the Building Department checks the septic plan before it permits a wall or fence. Patios, walls and the equipment that builds them belong off the leach field, so the septic plan should be on the table at the first site visit.
Permits and local rules
Permits and approvals in Westford
Building permit. The Building Department requires a permit for fences six feet or taller and retaining walls four feet or taller, with a structural plan, plot plan, septic plan check and easement review. Sheds of 120 square feet or less need no permit if they're 10 feet off property lines.
Conservation. The Conservation Commission administers the town wetlands bylaw around Long-Sought-For Pond, Nabnasset Lake, Forge Pond, Keyes Pond, Stony Brook, Beaver Brook and the town's other ponds and brooks.
Scenic roads. Stone walls line many of Westford's rural roads. On the designated scenic roads, altering a wall or removing trees in the public right-of-way needs Planning Board approval after a hearing.
Historic districts. The Historical Commission lists five historic districts: Westford Center, Graniteville, Forge Village, Parker Village and Brookside. If you're in one and planning visible walls or fences, check with the Historical Commission first; a demolition delay bylaw covers historic buildings.
Outdoor watering. The Water Department runs a staged program from May through October: odd/even watering by address, mandatory for sprinklers and irrigation at Stage II, and a ban on non-essential use at Stage III. During restrictions, a new lawn needs the Water Superintendent's written approval.
Licensing. We verify the credentials a job requires before we send a contractor any calls.
New England Landscapers is a referral service. We don't pull permits or do landscaping work. The contractor who does the job handles the permit.
FAQ
Westford questions
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Westford?
Yes, if it's four feet or taller. Westford requires a building permit for retaining walls of four feet or more and fences of six feet or more, with a complete structural plan, a plot plan, a check against the septic plan and a review of easements. Work within 100 feet of wetlands may also need Conservation Commission approval.
Why does my septic system matter for a patio?
Westford homes depend on on-site septic systems, and the town checks the septic plan before issuing a permit for a wall or fence. Patios, walls and heavy equipment should stay off the leach field. Have the septic plan in hand before a design is drawn.
How close to a wetland can I work in Westford?
Under the Conservation Commission's regulations, where the work is on lawn, landscaping or another maintained surface of a lot with an existing structure, the limit of work is 30 feet from the wetland edge and the limit of building is 55 feet. For natural areas and undeveloped lots, it's 50 and 75 feet. Grading, filling, vegetation removal and fences all count as work.
Can I move a stone wall along my road?
On Westford's designated scenic roads, tearing down or altering a stone wall, or removing trees, within the public right-of-way needs Planning Board approval after a public hearing. The scenic roads include Hildreth Street, Old Lowell Road, Vose Road, Chamberlain Road, Hunt Road and Frances Hill Road, among others.
Is there a charge to use New England Landscapers?
No. The call and the referral are free to homeowners. Your estimate and any work are agreed directly between you and the contractor.