The small and dusty back garden of this home was turned into a peaceful low maintenance retreat. A low retaining wall was constructed along the length of the property to create a raised planter bed, for ornamental plantings, herb garden and fruit trees.A concrete block paved patio was constructed to cover almost half of the back garden area and a pergola was constructed over the patio to provide some much-needed shade in the space. Vines were planted to grow up and over the pergola. The remaining area of the garden was planted out with grasses, lavender, gazania ground cover and plants with interesting foliage and form to create small sculptures in the space. The entire area was covered in a layer of mulch to keep the weeds down and reduce the watering Leading from the patio out through the garden and around to the side gate is a crushed red brick path.
Before - A bare site
Crushed Brick Path
After - Patio area
Before - Large concrete pad
San Pedro
Back Yard Entertaining
This project involved transforming a back yard with a very large concrete patio and not much else into a space where one could entertain and enjoy the new shade pergola, the large wall fountain and the mass plantings of grasses and mass flowering plants.
A large portion of the existing concrete patio was cut and removed to bring the patio into scale with the size of the garden area and increase the grass area of the yard. A stained pergola structure was constructed to provide a shaded are for the new patio. The large imposing walls of the garages were softened by installing lattice screens on them and planting them with fast growing climbers. An arch was also constructed in the same style as the pergola to lead you off through the plantings and to the garages.
A feature large wall fountain was placed on the one wall to be a feature of the garden and a focal point as you look out of the house.
Other features of this garden are the raised veggie garden and the mass planting of bird and butterfly attracting plants. All plantings are low maintenance and require little water.
After - More grass and new pergola
Fountain and Arbor Arch
Woodland Hills
ShadeGarden
This project took and unused dog-run area at the side of the home and turned it into a peaceful shade garden walk and seating area.
The existing chain link fence and overgrown plants were removed and the area cleared. A broken concrete stepping stone path with pebble and gravel accents leads through the garden area to a false door. A “broken” fence was installed to surround the garden and tie it into the existing garden style.
The plantings in this garden are all shade tolerant plants with colorful and bold foliage. Existing materials such as rocks and wood stepping stones were place to add features to the space. A small water feature was placed among the plants to provide movement and sound.
