From Square Lawn to Casual Stroll Garden
helping people plant right, water less and garden more
These homeowners love to garden. As their children and grandchildren are grown, they recognized a useless lawn was eating up prime gardening real estate.
The original backyard was a classic square lawn with a 3 foot border of plants around the edge.
The new garden elimates the lawn completely, and instead is a series of meandering gravel paths. The pathways keep the garden from looking too crowded, and also keep the garden accessible for planting and maintenance.
We chose California gold gravel for the paths as the gold color beautifully sets off the plants, and the angular shape of the gravel means it compacts better. Because we did not want to plant underneath the large existing oak, one of the paths actually terminates at the base of the tree, acting as mulch.
Gravel can be difficult to keep clean if there are a lot of trees, but in this garden that was less of a concern. Decomposed granite is a good alternative if your garden has trees that drop a lot of litter.
In an effort to keep the garden from looking like it was overrun with paths, in wider beds we set a few stepping stones into the mulch to provide gardening access.
Most of the beds have been built up into mounds, both to add visual interest and improve drainage. About 40% of the plants were transplanted from the original yard, and the improved drainage is helping them to thrive. (The gopher cages don't hurt either!)
before
before
Creative exteriors landscape design is a residential design service located in the East Bay in Northern California. Owner Susan Morrison specializes in beautiful, functional residential landscapes that use water responsibly and limit the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
About 40% of the plants were transplanted from the original yard, and the improved drainage is helping them to thrive. (The gopher cages don't hurt either!)
Unless otherwise indicated, ©copyright 2009, creative exteriors landscape design. All Rights Reserved.
> DESIGN
Just getting started? The landscape Design Center has articles and advice on planning your garden, including lawn substitutes and alternatives, low water plant combinations, habitat gardening and more, plus authors' links to landscape design websites and blogs that specialize in sustainable design.
> INSTALL
Ready to turn your ideas into a garden? The Installation Center has information on irrigating your landscape and planting techniques.
> MAINTAIN
Now that the garden is in, how do you keep it looking its best? The Maintenance Center has articles on keeping your garden happy and healthy over time.
East Bay, Northern California, Sunset Zone 14
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A stroll garden like this one is ideal for people who love to garden. Because of the focus on plants, for a design like this, Susan turns to books with inspiring photos of lawn-free gardens or books that give detailed information on plants she's consideringt using.
To see more books on design, plant selection, California natives and more visit our
