Mid-sized Garden Design Ideas with River Rock

Alpine Dry River/Synthetic Grass
Alpine Dry River/Synthetic Grass
Home Turf Synthetic GrassHome Turf Synthetic Grass
Beautiful dry river bed with synthetic turf.
Poolside Paradise
Poolside Paradise
Xtraordinaire LandscapesXtraordinaire Landscapes
Introducing "Poolside Paradise" Immerse yourself in luxury with our latest landscaping project, Poolside Paradise. This oasis features a stunning pool deck adorned with Barkman Concrete Bridgewood Slabs in a captivating blend of Weathered Grey and Cedar Brown. The rustic charm of these slabs not only enhances the aesthetic but also ensures durability. Poolside Paradise is your invitation to a symphony of colors, textures, and tranquility—a haven where modern design meets timeless allure.
Front yard renovation - River rock beds
Front yard renovation - River rock beds
Outside Dreams Landscape Design and ConstructionOutside Dreams Landscape Design and Construction
Front yard renovation, river rock beds, boulders, mulch beds, edging, plantings
Golf Course
Golf Course
Blooming VistasBlooming Vistas
Gorgeous modern landscape with clean lines and exquisite detail.
Retaining Walls & Planter Boxes
Retaining Walls & Planter Boxes
Aria AlfrescoAria Alfresco
Multiple tiers are created using natural stripstone retaining walls. This allows for practical, level areas that were previously not useful. Multiple levels create areas of interest as the eye travels from tier to tier.
Front Yard Low Maintenance Garden Design
Front Yard Low Maintenance Garden Design
Landscape LogicLandscape Logic
Landscape Logic created a very colorful but drought-tolerant and low-water use garden in the front yard. It has accent landscape lighting to showcase the plants and trees at night.
Wooten Backyard Living
Wooten Backyard Living
Native Edge LandscapeNative Edge Landscape
These homeowners were looking to up their hosting game by modernizing their property to create the ultimate entertainment space. A custom outdoor kitchen was added with a top of the line Delta Heat grill and a special nook for a Big Green Egg. Flagstone was added to create asymmetrical walkways throughout the yard that extended into a ring around the fire pit. Four rectangular trellises were added along the fence and shed, with an all metal pergola located at the back of the pool. This unique structure immediately draws the eye and adds a playful, artistic element to the rest of the space. The use of various sized rocks, gravel, and flagstone give a rough texture that creates a symbiosis with the metalwork. Silver Falls Dichondra creates a beautiful contrast to the rocks and can be found all over the property along with various other grasses, ferns, and agave. A large area of gravel rests on the side of the house, giving the client room to park a recreational vehicle. In front, a privacy fence was added along one of the property lines, leading into a drought resistant, eco-friendly section of yard. This fence, coupled with a giant boulder, doubles as a safety precaution in case drivers miss the turn and run into their lawn. This updated landscaping adds an effortless flow for guests to move from the front yard to the back while creating a very open, welcoming feel to all who enter.
Garden Landscaping in Austin, TX
Garden Landscaping in Austin, TX
YardDocYardDoc
Here is another garden landscape with a different feel and design. It has a very organic feel to it, almost as if Mother Nature created it herself. The low growing plants slightly overhang the pathway, which further enhances the natural tone. The small plants in between the paving stones suggest that this path is very much part of the natural world. This is a very rustic design style and works extremely well when you wish to give parts of your garden less of that man made look.
River Rock garden
River Rock garden
Gorski LandscapingGorski Landscaping
Beautiful rock garden surrounding pool with assorted hosta
Golf Course
Golf Course
Blooming VistasBlooming Vistas
Gorgeous modern landscape with clean lines and exquisite detail.
Colorful and Contemplative
Colorful and Contemplative
Sweet Smiling LandscapesSweet Smiling Landscapes
When I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.” This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat. The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings. Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up. The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation. When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space. Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.
Edible Gardens
Edible Gardens
Botanica Landscape Inc.Botanica Landscape Inc.
Raised beds made of river rock create a beautiful front garden
Tranquil Dry Creek Bed
Tranquil Dry Creek Bed
Conscious Environments Inc.Conscious Environments Inc.
A natural dry creek resides as the center of this Japanese influenced yard.
Low-water drycreek garden
Low-water drycreek garden
Blue Hibiscus GardensBlue Hibiscus Gardens
Rock garden next to new wood-like porcelain tile patio

Mid-sized Garden Design Ideas with River Rock

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