Drought Tolerant Front Yard with Mediterranean flavor

This photo was taken justs after completion of the landscaping. We renovated this desolate, weedy front yard by creating terraces with beatiful stone retaining walls. Then we added colorful, drought tolerant plants that grow so well in San Francisco's Mediterranean climate. We installed drip irrigation and concealed it with attractive ginger rock pebble mulch.

First home

Coy Land Techs

Coy Land Techs handled everything from design to construction on this back yard that once an empty lot and is now a backyard retreat.

Cooking Oasis

Arcadian Landscape

Low Water Love

Sweet Smiling Landscapes

Tiered of the looking out at a shabby brown lawn in their front yard and unwilling to use the water to keep it green these homeowners decided to go for something different. The wife in this household worked from home and was motivated to have a better view from her home office. As an enthusiastic bird watcher, I wanted to give her a view that included happy birds fluttering about. The husband was annoyed by the fact that some of the neighbors allowed their dogs to use this corner lot a toilet without having the curtesy of cleaning up after them. My job was to create a low water landscape (also known as xeriscape) that attracted birds, bees and butterflies but kept the dogs off. We started with directing down spouts in to catch basins called infiltration swales. These swales capture water storing it in the soil where it can be accessed by plants months after the rains have stopped. Then we integrated primarily California native plants and succulents into the design. Special attention was payed to the water needs of the plants and the ideal growing conditions for each species so that the combination of earthworks and plant choice and placement this landscape can get by with zero supplemental irrigation after the period of establishment this landscape. By incorporating flowering California native plants, native birds and insects flocked to the site in a neighborhood otherwise dominated by lifeless landscapes. By surrounding the garden with decomposed granite and succulents we created a space that was unpleasant and unappealing for dogs to relive themselves while remaining appealing to more human sensibilities. Today this property sits on the corner in a suburban neighborhood of Goleta, California. Hopefully serving as inspiration to take out lawns and build beautiful gardens that work to integrate the man made landscape with the natural ecosystem in which it is built.

Southwestern Backyard Landscape - Mesa, AZ

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

Close-up view of one of the purple prickly pear cactus. Photo by Ginkgo Leaf Studio

Casa Olivo

Garza Concepts

Landscape lighting is a key factor in every design

Cabbage = Cottage + Cabin

The Wonder Ways

Exterior of home in the evening.

Xeriscape

Babcock Custom Pools & Environments

Babcock Custom Pools, a distinguished company with a stellar reputation in the pool industry, is renowned for its exceptional and imaginative designs. One of the most recent and exhilarating projects undertaken by the company is the XERISCAPE, which marvelously amalgamates the allure of a desert landscape with the practicality of a custom pool. With a staunch commitment to excellence in every aspect of their work, Babcock Custom Pools’ team of highly skilled designers and builders relentlessly toil to create pools that surpass their clients’ expectations. And the XERISCAPE project is an unequivocal manifestation of the team’s unwavering dedication to excellence. The XERISCAPE project is a distinctive desert-style pool that’s designed to be both visually appealing and practical. Boasting a natural stone coping that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, the crystal-clear water in the pool is artistically crafted to complement the natural desert scenery. XERISCAPE is an innovative concept that’s ideal for those living in arid regions, and it’s conceived to be low-maintenance, sustainable, and eco-friendly. This extraordinary pool design aims to craft a space that not only looks spectacular but is also functional, pragmatic, and environmentally friendly. Babcock Custom Pools’ team is zealous about designing innovative concepts that mirror the natural environment, and the XERISCAPE project is a flawless exemplar of that. The pool features a unique design that’s ideal for sweltering summer days and frosty desert nights. The XERISCAPE pool is tailored to be the ultimate oasis amidst a harsh and unforgiving terrain. In conclusion, the XERISCAPE project is an extraordinary paradigm of Babcock Custom Pools’ pledge to excellence. The desert-style pool is impeccably crafted to be both aesthetically stunning and functionally pragmatic, and the team’s assiduous attention to detail is palpable in every element of the project. If you seek a custom pool that’s not only stunning but also sustainable and eco-friendly, then the XERISCAPE project is the ultimate choice for you. Reach out to Babcock Custom Pools today to learn more about this groundbreaking pool design.

Dry colorful garden with a dazzling, amazing look. Rich color and bold textures bring life to the front yard. Lush and vibrant garden that replace the usual lawn. Islands of planting create plenty of space to walk by or sit and enjoy the plants.

After 01

Native Edge Landscape

Backyard Diamonds

Coy Land Techs

The team helped transform an area once filled with spotty grass to a back yard that will look amazing all year. The project included removing existing pavers and reshaping the end of the paver walkway, artificial turf, concrete slab, concrete borders, river rock, succulents, drip irrigation, and running electrical for an outdoor fridge. The space is now low maintenance and ready for entertaining.

Contemporary Cactus Garden

Outside Collective

Euphorbia - Blackbeard

Sonja's Manicured Landscape (SML)

West Springs

Twisted Rock Terrascape & Design, Inc.

Our client had already used Twisted Rock previously for a different project and we were blessed enough to have them utilize our services again!! They wanted another clean-looking, low maintenance yard that was functional with great curb appeal that would not take a bunch of time to maintain. We utilized natural rock, concrete edging, and aggregate as well as created a fire pit patio for cozy family nights under the stars....

Japanische Steinlaterne

Drixler Japanische Häuser

japanische Steinlaterne aus Naturstein mit beleuchtetem Holzkorpus

Sustainable no lawn garden

Groundswell Gardens

Landscape Construction

TCE Hardscape and Design

Moss boulders with cacti and xeriscape design

Xeric Modern

Califia Ecodesign

1.5 years old

Desert Look Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.