Landscaping Services in Sussex & Kings County

The Kennebecasis River valley that cradles Sussex was shaped by thousands of years of river deposits. The valley floor — where most of the town's heritage residential properties sit — features deep alluvial soils: silty loam to silty clay loam, rich in organic matter from centuries of agricultural activity, moderately well-drained to imperfectly drained depending on proximity to the river. These soils are among the most fertile in New Brunswick — the same quality that made this prime dairy country. But fertility comes with a trade-off: heavy alluvial soils are slow to drain in spring, prone to compaction from foot traffic and equipment, and can become waterlogged during the sustained wet periods that Fundy weather systems deliver. Properties on the uplands surrounding the valley sit on glacial till — the standard unsorted mix of clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposited by retreating glaciers. These soils drain better but are less fertile and may be shallow over bedrock on higher ground.

Drainage: Spring drainage is the defining landscape challenge in Sussex. The Kennebecasis River and its tributaries have a well-documented flood history — significant events in 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2022 — and the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee has identified over 50 restoration sites across the watershed where agricultural activity has compromised natural drainage. Valley-floor residential properties can remain saturated through May, delaying lawn work and stressing plants in poorly-drained garden beds. Foundation drainage is critical on heritage properties with fieldstone foundations — a single season of poor grading can cause significant basement water infiltration. On upland properties, drainage is generally adequate but concentrated runoff from slopes can erode gardens and wash out mulch during heavy rain events.