While the Southern California drought is keeping homeowners water usage to a minimum, there are an abundance of plants that thrive on minimal water. A combination of drip irrigation systems and drought tolerant plants can keep your exterior spaces green and beautiful as well as water efficient. This image features our design a few months down the road. With the addition of a few spring flowers, this front yard is officially ready for the Spring and Summer season.

Retaining Walls

Twin Oaks Lawn and Landscape, Inc.

Pepperwood Craftsman

The Ardent Gardener Landscape Design

Stone Walls & Stonework

Creative Masonry & Landscape of Cape Cod

Natural Stone Edging

Harvell Landscaping

Adam Harvell

Stone Work

Angela Rose Gardens LLC

Landscape, retaining wall, steps and driveway

Manzer's Landscape Design & Development

Retaining Walls

Creative Fences & Decks

Lichen Oaks Ranch - Viewing Terrace

Equine Facility Design

This 80 acre ranch in the coastal foothills has a beautifully rich environment with great diversity of vegetation, two creeks and a pond set amongst large old oak trees. The design for this site, an old dairy farm, has included master planning for the site, layout of pastures, paddocks, and fencing, layout of roads and building sites, development of a 90' x 200' outdoor riding arena design with terraced, shaded viewing area, and a round pen. This office has been responsible for site planning, grading, drainage and construction details for site work, and building design for the ten stall barn and separate 70' x 160' covered arena with attached viewing room.

Backyard Transformation

EXECUTIVE CARE LANDSCAPE

Cherry Blossoms behind retaining wall. Stamped concrete patio leading around the house to the front.

Murdock Residence

Open Envelope Studio

Driveway and front yard with retaining wall, Texas basalt and native plants

retaining walls/walks

AquaFX

keeping our clients walkway entrance safe and helps visitors access the front with ease

Abiquiu Courtyard

radicle

Stepping stone pathway.

Retaining Walls

Denver Landscapes

Turn a sloped front yard into a leveled one with a natural stone retaining wall.

Cornog Residence

Finishing Touches Landscaping

Tiered Retaining Walls

Topeka Landscape, Inc.

Tiered retaining walls constructed with 3-piece mosaic block.

Enhancing a Classic Charm

Braen Supply

Enhancing the Classic Charm The experts at Braen Supply were tasked with finding materials that would enhance the character and charm of this house, which was built in 1960. The homeowner was looking to give the older, existing walkway, driveway and patio a face lift that would bring it into the twenty first century. In addition to redoing those areas, the homeowner added a large fire pit in the backyard, which is surrounded by pea gravel, where friends and family can sit and enjoy the fire on a cool night. Boulders were added to the landscaping bringing depth and texture to the flowerbeds. The changes that were made to the home made a huge difference in the overall appearance of the house. It now has a modern look while still maintaining that classic charm feeling.

Somis Residence

CJ Paone AIA | Archipelago Workshop

Detail of cast-in-place, board formed retaining wall behind concrete mounted LED landscape light fixture, all flanked by agave blue glow | Kurt Jordan Photography

Rock Garden retaining walls

Matthew Giampietro Garden Design

Rock garden Wall in the retaining the front yard driveway in Manalapan, Florida by Waterfalls Fountains & Gardens Inc. Planting design Akiko Iwata

Shoreline Retaining Walls

Landscapes by Tom LLC

shoreline boulder retaining wall with granite steps into water

Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall and with Waterfall

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.