Before and After

An extensive and rotting deck complete with mosquito breeding ground below was what this site had to offer. Eliminating the wood and its upkeep was the big idea for this backyard. A patio of concrete pavers and a rockery of boulders including stone slab steps to the upper lawn area made this backyard accessible and beautiful at the same time. The clients went on a shopping trip with me to select the plants, and they installed the lawn and plantings themselves. Stonework by Mountain Stone, Pavers by Escape Landscaping.

Click on any image below to see a full-sized, Before/After version.

Unused and unloved, this back porch became more useful with a set of steps down to the gravel courtyard, stylish furnishings and lush plantings to soften the scene. Deck built by Homeowner, Stonework by Pete Wilson
With such a small space, the challenge here was to provide an intimate living space where there used to be a mushy lawn even the cat hated to walk on. A stone patio was installed and new steps from the back door deck allow for alternate routes into the garden. Lots of soil work and rain gardens both helped to improve the drainage in winter. Installation by J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Contractor
This corner property offered lots of real estate, but very little living space and no privacy. The new fence was low, so dense plantings were needed both inside and outside to provide separation from the busy street. Blissfully wide parking strips were renovated with a combination of plants for year round interest and included the best of the Roses that historically marked the route to a favorite neighborhood park. Fence designed and built by Homeowner, plantings soil work and irrigation by J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Contractor

Many changes occurred here; a reconfigured deck complete with built-in planters to make the transition to the ground plane seamless. Adding some containerized Bamboo plantings helped de-emphasize the large building next door and keep the eye focused within the space. Installation by Apogee Landscapes
Industrial and uninspired, a change of materials from concrete to a mixture of flagstone and boulders made the space more visually interesting. Removing an unimportant cyclone fence also made the space feel larger. New plantings didn’t hurt either. Installation by Emerald Stone Masonry and J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Contractor
Overgrown and neglected, this homeowner was overwhelmed by the weeds and the amount of space in this sloping front yard. A remodel and facelift for the house was in the plans, so the landscaping budget was limited and the need was great. We created a lower parking area near the street for guests that would also serve the upcoming construction project. From there, a garden entry through a circular gravel patio surrounded by stone retaining walls also serves as seating. Much of the old English Laurel hedge was removed and chipped up to become a weed suppressing mulch around the limited new plantings in this first phase. Trees were planted and others were relocated to better serve the new layout. Installation by Tryon Creek Landscape

A well equipped bird feeding station, a collection of stones, a small concrete patio, a few plants and a lot of lawn. These were the elements we had to work with. The back door of the house was elevated with a deck that looked down on many surrounding neighbors. Using the elements of Naturescaping: layers of native plants suited to the site, managing stormwater with a rain garden, conserving water with drip irrigation to establish plants, promoting organic practices that shun the use of chemicals in the maintenance of the garden all lead to a useful site layout that is welcoming to the birds and to the grandkids that come and play under the sprinkler – the only water the lawn receives in summer. Installation by J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Contractor
This entry garden was awkward in many ways. The retaining walls made it challenging to get out of the car. The existing concrete steps provided no safe transition to the driveway. The lawn was good for playing, but the plantings were old and tired. The new rockery with its scrambling boulder path from the sidewalk to the lawn entertains the kids and neighbors alike. Beautiful flagstone and boulder placement allows lots of room for colorful, low maintenance plants. New steps set back from the driveway create a beautiful and easy experience from car to front door. Installation by Emerald Stone Masonry and J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Contractor
This home sits below the level of the road and was troubled by car headlights, noisy traffic and a cobbled together set of steps and pathways that led from the driveway to the front door. The homeowner wanted a berm to buffer the traffic noises. The great advantage to that idea was an opportunity to create garden views from the many windows that face the street. Consideration to both the view from the street and from the house affected the planting scheme, and included some of the homeowner’s favorite plants. Installation by Homeowner

Planter boxes provide extra seating as well as a way to lift plantings up to viewing level in this small urban courtyard. Spaces were defined with a mixture of hardscape materials. A bubbling pot welcomes the birds as well as creating a sense of tranquility and it is low maintenance too. Installation by J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Contractor
An L-shaped extension of the backyard, this area was the focal point of the new deck and dining area. A solution was found in creating a long narrow bio-swale that treated stormwater from the roof of the garage, and a stepping stone path along side it that provides access to the back gate. The side yard, once boring and underused, has now come alive with texture and movement including native plants that help the many pollinators in this earth friendly garden. Installation by Apogee Landscapes