Transform your yard into a beautiful, eco-friendly, low-maintenance space.
Everyone wants to grow vegetables these days, but many are reluctant to do so in their front yard, even when it's the most desirable spot.
It’s true that you can have a wonderful, lawn-free landscape BUT it also requires careful design in order to ensure you don’t end up with a cluttered, hot mess! Why is designing a lawnless landscape so challenging? Well, to understand that we must first understand why lawns are so appealing in the first place- beyond the obvious recreational reasons. In the above space which I designed for a client a few years back, the dry river bed serves as the key visual element in the design. While I generally like a little more plant coverage and would like to ‘shrub up’ the edges of the river bed, I still think it looks pretty good thanks to the careful care and attention of the homeowners. Whether we realize it or not, lawns fulfill a key element in any design- the negative space. In magazines and newspapers they call it the ‘white space’. The biggest design error I’ve seen in waterwise landscapes if failure to recognize and plan for ‘white space’ in a design. Traditionally, lawn fills that need. It is a consistent green color with a uniform texture that rests the eye in between more interesting plantings. Of course, if the …
Foregoing a lawn was not a rash decision, or a political or environmental statement. Learn how we created a lawnless front yard.
See how to ditch thirsty turf grass in favor of beautiful, easy-care gardens
Would you rather be mowing your lawn or enjoying the outdoors on a summer afternoon? Our no-grass backyard ideas will keep yard work to a minimum!
Disclaimer: This blog post contains “potty talk”… We were asked by a neighbor, “if the dogs will be alright with losing their lawn?” Which is actually a legitimate que…
A water-efficient lawn in Seattle
Everyone wants to grow vegetables these days, but many are reluctant to do so in their front yard, even when it's the most desirable spot.
Have the itch to ditch your high-maintenance lawn? These grass replacement ideas can help you save water, money, and endless hours on yard upkeep.
Go coastal with these breathtaking gardens that embrace their waterside surroundings.
Leaf Magazine celebrates summer design outside
Have the itch to ditch your high-maintenance lawn? These grass replacement ideas can help you save water, money, and endless hours on yard upkeep.
Most everyone (including me) who has a yard to take care of knows that they have to cut and trim the grass to keep things looking at least halfway decent
dreamy landscapes with a blush of pink… photos from houzz
June 18, 2011 I just returned from a vacation in North Carolina with my kids. We drove out to visit my dad and stepmother at their Pittsboro home, near Chapel Hill, which has a lovely courtyard garden out front in … Read More
When you need to ditch the lawn due to low-water conditions, opt for native plantings
This Albuquerque backyard is a vacation in itself—complete with road trips. See 5 things that make it work
Congratulations 2019 Winners! Please take a moment to scroll through the following gardens that are winners of our 2019 California Friendly Garden Contest. Often, it is the nearly invisible parts of a California Friendly garden that go unnoticed. If you are considering changes to your own garden we hope these great gardens, right here in …
Last summer, the Timberglen Branch of the Dallas Public Library asked me to give a talk about my garden. I guess I was pretty good (or maybe they are desperate for a speaker?) because they asked me to do it again. I did not have time to create a new presentation, so I dusted off and updated the one from last year. I call it Lawn Free - Landscape with Purpose. Library staff wanted me to discuss why and how I removed my lawn and created a garden of native Texas plants. The "why" part of the presentation (my native plant sales pitch) probably ran a little long last time so I am working on reducing that part of the presentation. This will allow more time to discuss the "how" and answer any questions. I think anyone that shows up is probably already interested in making a change and they are more interested in knowing how to do it. I will discuss what worked for me and what didn't. So, if you want to know how my front yard went from this look in April 2004 when I bought the house... and you don't want to read five years worth of blog posts to find out why and how I removed the lawn to create the garden that grows today... then join me this Saturday, April 26, at 3:00 at the Timberglen Branch Library. The address is 18505 Midway Road in north Dallas. It is near the Dallas North Tollway and the President George Bush Turnpike. After I do my thing, you may even want to stay for the knitting and crochet talk that follows.
Right up front I'll admit to blatant self promotion with me in the picture. This is my front yard in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. All plants on the c...
Garden borders are an easy way to beautify any yard. See how to use foliage and flowers to soften a wall, accent a lawn, or fringe a path.
Have the itch to ditch your high-maintenance lawn? These grass replacement ideas can help you save water, money, and endless hours on yard upkeep.
There are plenty of reasons to get excited.
New to landscaping? Try our easy landscaping ideas to get maximum impact in your garden. We'll help you plan for color, texture, contrast, and more.
"The exciting idea behind landscape design and what sets it apart from any other field of design, is that you're working with organic material which, when put into the ground, can be totally unpredictable. A garden is in constant flux from inception through its different stages of maturity, as well as the seasonal changes. That makes it more challenging because sometimes it means you have to do a little experimenting. As Southern California residents, we are becoming "smarter", adapting our gardens to the changing drier climate. "Smart" design incorporates more than just being water-wise. Other important factors are addressing how a space is going to be used. This is usually the first thing I ask the client. So a person's lifestyle plays a big part of garden design. Lastly, a garden is the collaboration between the designer and the person(s) cultivating it. Maintenance of the garden is one of the largest components influencing design and plant selection that many forget to take under consideration. Perhaps the most gratifying part of my role as a garden designer is to see the potential of a space and then be involved in its transformation into something real and tangible. Once the garden is initially planted, then its all about watching it grow and of course, maintaining it. That's the fun part."
