Owners of Eichler-style home requested sustainable and easy-care landscaping in front and back. In particular, backyard had become overgrown and uninviting.
Highlights: Replaced old front turf with California native strawberry 'lawn' that blooms and provides berries under existing Pastiche trees. Cost of new plants and 'smart' irrigation controller nearly covered by local water district rebate that supports water saving efforts. Created dry creek bed adjacent to new curved front walkway, redirecting rain flow back into landscape, benefitting soil and plants. Existing juniper bushes kept and complemented with drought tolerant plantings. Homeowners now enjoy mornings in backyard's sunny corner and afternoons in shaded garden 'room' in another corner. Permeable contrasting gravel pathways amble between both areas. Oft-visited birdbath in shaded secret garden can be viewed from master bedroom. Drainage issues with backyard's heavy clay soil mitigated by directing rainwater into planting beds away from house foundation.
Irrigation: Subsurface drip.
Native plants of interest: Mock Orange, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Pacific Rosebay.
Landscape Contractor (installation and maintenance): Harris Landscaping, Inc.
Title: Gallery 15
Project Details:
Owners of Eichler-style home requested sustainable and easy-care landscaping in front and back. In particular, backyard had become overgrown and uninviting.
Highlights: Replaced old front turf with California native strawberry 'lawn' that blooms and provides berries under existing Pastiche trees. Cost of new plants and 'smart' irrigation controller nearly covered by local water district rebate that supports water saving efforts. Created dry creek bed adjacent to new curved front walkway, redirecting rain flow back into landscape, benefitting soil and plants. Existing juniper bushes kept and complemented with drought tolerant plantings. Homeowners now enjoy mornings in backyard's sunny corner and afternoons in shaded garden 'room' in another corner. Permeable contrasting gravel pathways amble between both areas. Oft-visited birdbath in shaded secret garden can be viewed from master bedroom. Drainage issues with backyard's heavy clay soil mitigated by directing rainwater into planting beds away from house foundation.
Irrigation: Subsurface drip.
Native plants of interest: Mock Orange, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Pacific Rosebay.
Landscape Contractor (installation and maintenance): Harris Landscaping, Inc.