Sustainability Spotlight: TimberTech's Manufacturing Process

We’ve already sung the praises of TimberTech composite decking, and those praises bear repeating:

• TimberTech is exceptionally attractive. Thanks to proprietary color-cascading technology, TimberTech boards boast natural color blending and super realistic wood grain patterns. 

• TimberTech dramatically outperforms wood, resisting weathering, bowing, fading, UV or moisture damage, stains, and scratches. Year after year, it stands up to pretty much anything you can throw at it. 

• TimberTech is virtually maintenance free. With natural wood decking, you must apply annual waterproofing treatments, and repair or replace boards damaged by rot or exposure. TImberTech skips all of this - give it a cleaning now and then, otherwise your work is done.

• TimberTech has a better lifetime value than natural wood. WIth minimal maintenance needs and average lifespans ranging from 25-50 years, TimberTech decking avoids the frequent maintenance, repair, and replacement costs of wood. It will save you time, hassle, and money. 

All this is to say: case closed, TimberTech is superior to wood decking. 

And yet, despite these impressive factors, TimberTech’s sustainability may be its most exciting feature. 

DURABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Technical innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability underpin every step of TimberTech’s manufacturing process. 

Every TimberTech board features a cap and a core. That incredible longevity we mentioned? That’s largely thanks to the cap, which utilizes innovative materials and technology to provide both exceptional looks and unparalleled protection from mildew, rot, and other factors that could damage the core. TimberTech’s AZEK and PRO decking features caps that are 100% polymer, free from any wood particles that could degrade and allow moisture to sneak in. 

TimberTech’s manufacturing facilities also use advanced quality control practices like laser dimensional controls and real-time monitoring to ensure that every single board meets their rigorous standards for integrity. 

This emphasis on longevity translates to big sustainability gains - the longer decking lasts, the less often it ends up in landfills.

RECYCLED CONTENT

TimberTech pushes recycling to new levels. They deliberately source hard-to-recycle materials like dark plastics, which traditionally end up in landfills. They built their own state-of-the-art recycling facility to recycle additional plastic types like PVC. They even reclaim scrap decking, not only from their own facilities, but from independent fabricators and contractors - every scrap from the job site that doesn’t get used can get funneled back to TimberTech to be recycled.  

Remember the cap and core? TimberTech decking can be composite, with cores made from wood and plastic, or polymer, with cores made entirely of plastic. 

TimberTech’s composite cores use up to 100% recycled wood and plastic. Factor in the polymer cap, and the entire composite board comprises up to 80% recycled content. 

TimberTech’s polymer boards are no slouch either, using over 50% recycled plastic in their cores, with the majority of that recycled content being hard-to-recycle plastics. 

WASTE DIVERSION AND CONSERVATION

All that recycling means a LOT of waste being kept out of landfills.  

In 2021, TimberTech’s recycling program diverted about 500 million pounds of waste and scrap from landfills, up from 400 million pounds in 2020. By the end of 2026, they aim to use 1 billion pounds of recycled material annually. They’re not just recycling, they’re recycling more expansively every year.

TimberTech also reclaims 99% of internal scrap generated across their manufacturing facilities, and recycles up to 97% of the water used at their largest facilities. They’re downright allergic to waste.

SAVING TREES…AND BIODIVERSITY, AND THE ATMOSPHERE

Of course, using TImberTech also saves trees - over 3 million of them since 2001, to be exact. 

Saving trees is about much more than the trees themselves. Old growth and native forests store carbon for centuries, and provide rich habitat that has become absolutely essential as biodiversity plummets worldwide. 

Typical timber plantations - the source of most wood decking - feature a single tree species and minimal ecological value. Native and old-growth forests are routinely removed and replaced by timber plantations, both legally and illegally operated. This process disturbs soil, pollutes waterways, and destroys critical habitat. The cumulative effect is devastating to biodiversity, and results in massive amounts of greenhouse gasses entering the atmosphere.

By opting for TimberTech, you opt out of unsustainable timber production systems, and throw your support behind a smarter, more sustainable approach to building outdoor spaces.  

Want to learn more about TimberTech? Visit their website, or contact your Yardzen team.

Ranch House Landscaping in 10 Unique Styles

Ranch houses: low, wide, and iconic, they dominate many suburban neighborhoods across the country, particularly in southern, sunnier climes.

While the classic ranch style homes from mid-century planned communities were famously similar to one another, later iterations of the style embraced custom architectural adaptations like split-level floors, vaulted roofs, and oversized modern glazing. Today, many young homeowners are renovating their ranch style houses to emphasize the clean lines and indoor-outdoor aspirations of modernist architecture.

The simplicity and adaptability of ranch homes offers a blank canvas to landscape designers - by and large ranch house landscaping is free to move any direction a homeowner or designer may wish to go. In any style, landscape design has a huge influence on how ranch homes are perceived.

Below, we’ll take a peek at several ranch home landscaping ideas, sharing tips along the way for getting the look, feel, and function you are dreaming of for your ranch house yard.

Traditional farmhouse details like split rail fencing and aggregate paths merge with modern concrete forms and muted, drought-tolerant planting in this ranch home landscape design.

MODERN FARMHOUSE STYLE FOR A RANCH HOME

These young homeowners in California’s Central Valley sought a landscape that put a modern spin on classic farmhouse style.

The fence demonstrates the balance between modern and traditional that Yardzen struck in this design: rectangular concrete bollards frame the front gate, injecting modern lines and materials into an otherwise humble split rail fence design. The central decomposed granite path similarly encapsulates the modern farmhouse look, welcoming visitors with a pleasing rustic crunch underfoot, while leading to a pair of staggered, oversized entryway steps that are overtly modern in style.

Plants are arranged with geometric formality, framing an axial front path and a kids’ play lawn of locally-grown, low-water native sod. This formal layout is countered by a rustic, sun-bleached collection of species, from the pale blue of Festuca glauca to the silvery-green of Little Ollie dwarf olive bushes. The overall look feels right at home in the dry, rural grasslands of the Valley, but also stands out for its confidence and focus.

Large concrete pavers and beachy modern seating contrast with informal drifts of low water, pollinator-friendly planting in this hip but casual front yard ranch house landscape.

DRY MEADOW PLANTING IN RANCHER FRONT YARD

Oversized modern pavers boldly announce the modern intentions of this Los Angeles ranch house design, and playfully contrast with informal drifts of planting. Gaura lindheimeri, California Fuchsia, and Yellow Kniphofia (love those spikes!) provide bold pops of color at staggered heights, creating a layered display that doubles as a pollinator buffet.

Masses of silvery-blue Canyon Prince Wild Rye lace between these accent moments, stitching things together to create a unified, naturalistic planting design.

Tan gravel mulch underlies the scene, casting a warm glow that is inviting and a little rugged, a pleasant counterbalance to the cool blue and clean lines of the concrete path and front porch.

Palms, ferns, and perennials create a relaxing tropical environment to complement a new black pergola and revitalized outdoor living space in a ranch house courtyard.

TROPICAL HIDEAWAY AT A RANCH-STYLE HOUSE

The owners of this Central Florida ranch home had two wishes for their front yard: create a lush, tropical garden, and breathe some much needed life into their bare bones front patio.

Done and done. Starting with nothing but a lawn and a lonely existing palm tree, the design adds densely planted garden beds to line the edges of the path, patio, and front of the house.

Plant selection offers no shortage of eye candy: pink bursts of Gulf Muhly grass, chartreuse sprays of Foxtail Ferns, delicate Fortnight Lily blooms, and elegant Agaves, holding their motionless poses against a backdrop of swaying, strappy perennials. New stands of Paurotis and Sabal Palms give company to the existing tree, and lend a little privacy to the front patio.

A new black pergola and sleek seating in beachy blondes and grays upgrades the front patio from an underused nook to a stylish and functional living space. The color selection complement the house’s black and white scheme while balancing modern style with comfort and approachability.

Existing and new trees help this ranch home celebrate and blend into the native forest landscape.

FOREST RETREAT AT IDAHO RANCH HOME

Yardzen’s assignment: bring the regional forests to this Idaho yard, but in a contemporary way that boosted their curb appeal. The front yard landscaping design responded to this challenge by celebrating trees.

A steady rhythm of tall, slender evergreens reaches above the eaves, accentuating the home’s low, wide design. Taller existing trees tower over each end of the front facade. Deciduous Eastern Redbuds - a hit with local fauna - elegantly frame the view from the street.

A fresh coat of stately midnight blue paint recedes the house even further into the background of the scene, while bright blonde fence boards and delicate white flowers drag the eye to the foreground while nodding to the forested theme.

Cumulatively, the effect is of a house tidily nestled within a forest, more than happy to let the trees do the talking.

A large, airy pergola establishes a densely planted outdoor kitchen and dining area along this ranch house’s rear wall.

LUSH OUTDOOR ROOM IN RANCH BACKYARD

A long white pergola branches off the back of this Texas ranch home, defining a new outdoor room while preserving open edges and free-flowing circulation.

Dense planting clusters beneath one end of the pergola, highlighting a soothing palette of greens, whites, and lavender. By sharing a ceiling with the dining area, the planting projects softness across the entire scene - you get the sense of cooking and eating in a conservatory, minus the glass walls.

The overall design dissolves the boundary between indoor and outdoor areas by creating a transitional space that is functional, comfortable, and attractive. In so doing, it also achieves a complete makeover of the ranch exterior without any remodel of the existing home - pretty neat trick!

This ranch house yard relies on wood, stone, and dense ornamental grasses to establish a stylish but organic atmosphere.

GET WOODSY WITH RANCHER EXTERIOR REMODEL

A New Jersey family wanted to revamp both their yard and their house style - it was time for a fresh look. Lucky for them, design ideas were waiting just over the fence in a tall patch of forest.

The big move: new wood siding for the home’s exterior, which balances a high-end modern look with a cozy cabin vibe. A handsome Japanese soaking tub repeats the warm hue of the siding, while a back deck, branching off the elevated living room of the split-level ranch house, opts for a deep chocolate brown to contrast and highlight the house’s new look.

Garden design within the yard uses soft ornamental grasses to connect the house to the landscape, while crunchy gravel and stepping stones emphasize the organic feel of the space.

Simple materials and fragrant, edible plants create an inviting, space-efficient, and cost effective design for this ranch house side yard.

ORCHARD LOUNGE IN RANCH HOME SIDE YARD

Beach meets orchard in this San Diego ranch house’s side yard.

The design makes the most of limited space and a limited budget, using precast concrete pavers set in smooth pea gravel to create a barefoot-friendly path and seating area. Teak chairs with weather-resistant cushions stand up to the salty air, and offer a peaceful, sweet-smelling retreat thanks to adjacent rosemary, sage, and citrus.

The theme of edible planting continues in pockets along the path, with a focal lemon tree punctuating the path’s end. The pleasant garden walk doubles as a source for herbs to use at the backyard’s outdoor kitchen.

Bold colors, shifting textures, and abundant green give a shot of energy to this traditional front yard landscape design at a ranch home.

FLOWER POWER ADDS COLOR TO RANCHER LANDSCAPING

An outdoor transformation to this Houston ranch house took it from tan and drab to blue and blooming.

The homeowners wanted to hang on to a traditional feel, but needed more color in their lives. Yardzen’s front landscaping responded with flower gardens boasting a balanced blend of lively flowers and rich greenery.

The design enlists Azalea, Camellia, Gaura, Agapanthus, and native all-star Gulf Muhly to cast rich pinks and cool purples across the yard. Rounded Boxwoods, upright Aspidistra, strappy Flax Lily, and large-leafed Caladium balance out the bold colors with a richly-textured, abundantly green backdrop.

The planting area adopts a long, arcing edge, which de-emphasizes the rectangular form of the ranch house while allowing more room for the expansive planting design to do its thing. Tucked among the dense planting, a pedestal stone water feature lends a little southern charm and offers migrating birds a drink and a bath.

This ranch house backyard design balances natural and design-forward elements within an open, free-flowing layout.

RUSTIC & REFINED RANCH-STYLE HOME

These Utah homeowners were all about outdoor living, and wanted low maintenance backyard landscaping to help them spend their outdoor time relaxing rather than working on the yard. Challenge accepted!

First order of business: native plants along the house and fence. Having evolved locally, these species need little help to thrive, minimizing water, fertilizer, and any other maintenance requirements.

Next up: connect the yard to the house.

A TimberTech deck links the elevated split-level ranch home with the lower backyard, eschewing handrails in favor of a broad stair to maximize the sense of connection between spaces.

The fire pit area carefully aligns to the French doors, luring people outside. With gravel groundcover, decorative boulders, a loose ring of deep gray Adirondacks, and a native Serviceberry punctuating the edge, the fire pit zone balances modern cool with the raw materials of the wild Utah landscape.

Foundation planting, focal trees, and graceful curves star in this well-executed, classic ranch house landscape design.

TRADITIONAL CHARM OF RANCH-STYLE HOMES

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This classic brick ranch house embraces the archetypal ranch landscape of lawn, foundation planting, and focal trees to delightful effect.

The house sits deep within a Georgia property blanketed in rain-watered grasses, including a broad existing front lawn prized for family soccer games.

Flower beds extend in either direction from the front door, featuring orderly patterns of green shrubs and traditional favorites like Hydrangeas and Catmint.

A modest stepping stone path cuts a curved line in response to the arcing driveway, both helping to soften the rectangular architecture.

At the path’s end, a peaceful seating area sits tucked beneath a large existing tree’s canopy - perfect for a quiet read or an evening cocktail.

CREATING A LANDSCAPE DESIGN TO COMPLEMENT ANY RANCH-STYLE HOME

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners across the U.S.. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space, style, garden ideas, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design (if you don’t plan on a diy build).

Ready to bring your landscaping ideas to life at your ranch home? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!

Water-Saving Landscaping Rebates by Locality (Updated for 2022)

Go low (water,  that is) and get rewarded. As of last week, ongoing drought in this country is affecting over 54% of the land in the lower 48—quite literally the “Western” half of the United States. Also last week came the announcement of the strictest residential water conservation rules ever imposed in the state of California, which restricts homeowners from watering their lawns more than once per week. Some cities like Las Vegas are even permanently banning the use of “non-functional” grass in landscaping due to the water it takes to maintain.

While these restrictions may cause some homeowners to completely rethink or redesign their landscape, municipalities are offering some help in the transition with water-smart programs and landscaping rebates for things like swapping in water-saving equipment and replacing your lawn with drought-tolerant plants or turf.

Check program guidelines before you jump in: some require a site inspection before you buy anything or make changes, and you must be a resident and a utility customer to qualify for these rebates. Also, some homeowners may be able to double dip—your city, county, or parent water authority may all provide separate programs that you qualify for. This list was compiled based on where many of our clients live and is not by any means exhaustive—if your municipality is not listed here, check with your local utility to see what programs are available to you.

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Table of Contents

ARIZONA

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

KANSAS

MINNESOTA

NEVADA

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

UTAH

WASHINGTON STATE

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ARIZONA LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Tempe, AZ

Water Conservation Rebates for single family residences include:

• Landscape Conversion (Turf Replacement) Rebate - Receive .25 cents per square foot of landscape converted from grass to desert landscape.

• TreeBate - Receive a rebate of 100 percent, up to $75, for the purchase price of desert plants. Qualifying plants include trees, shrubs, cacti, succulents and groundcover.

• High-Efficiency Irrigation Rebate - Upgrade an existing irrigation system with high efficiency spray nozzles, rain sensors and/or smart controllers and receive up to $500.

• Gray Water Recycling Systems Rebate - Receive a rebate of 50 percent, up to $200 per household, for the purchase of gray water system components.

Tuscon, AZ

Residential Water Conservation Rebates include:

• Rainwater Harvesting Rebate - Applicants may apply for both incentive levels below (passive and active), not exceeding $2,000 for the combination per property.

• Rainwater Harvesting Grant (Low-Income Program) - For families with an income equal to or less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will received a grant of up to $750.

• Gray Water Rebate - Tucson Water will reimburse 50% of qualifying costs, up to $1,000, when a permanent gray water irrigation system is installed at your home after January 1, 2013.

Chandler, AZ

Water Conservation Rebates include:

• Initial (new) xeriscape landscape installation - Landscape installed at a newly constructed residence may be eligible for a $200 rebate.

• Grass removal (landscape conversion) - Rebates are calculated based upon the amount of turf removed and landscape installed, and is limited to no more than $3,000 per property. 

• “Smart” Irrigation Controller Rebate Program - Rebates of up to $250 are available to Chandler utility customers that install Smart Irrigation Controllers. 

Glendale, AZ

Residential landscape rebates include:

• Existing Home Conversions - Receive as much as $750 for converting grass to low-water-use landscape.

• Landscape Rebate for New Homes - Receive a $200 landscape rebate for new homes. Install a low-water-use xeriscape landscape and receive a $200 rebate from the City of Glendale Water Conservation Rebate Program.

CALIFORNIA LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Chino Hills, CA

Residential water rebates include: 

• Turf Removal Rebate - rebate of up to $3 per square foot for removing turf on your property

Contra Costa County, CA

Water conservation rebates and programs include: 

• Flume Smart Home Water Monitor Rebate - Get an instant rebate when you purchase a Flume Smart Home Water Monitor 

• Lawn to Garden Rebate - Get up to $1,000 by replacing your water-thirsty front lawn with a water-wise landscape.

• Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate - Spruce up your sprinkler system with some help from us.

• Laundry to Landscape Greywater Rebate - Get up to $50 for equipment and installation on a qualifying system.

• Pool Cover Rebate - Get up to $50 back on a qualifying pool cover.

• Mulch Coupons - Water less when you add mulch to your landscape. 

Cucamonga Valley Water District

This water district serves Rancho Cucamonga, portions of Fontana, Ontario, Upland and some unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. Residential rebates and programs include: 

• Landscape Transformation Program - $3 / Sq Ft for turf removal.

• Rotating Sprinkler Nozzles - Rebate: $5/nozzle.

• Weather Based Irrigation Controllers -  Rebate: $160/controller.

• Soil Moisture Sensor Systems - Rebate: $160

• Rain Barrels - Rebate: $35

• Cisterns - Rebate: $250 - $350

• Flow Monitor Device (Flume/Other) - Rebate:$100

• Hose Bib Controller - Rebate: $35

• Small Site Controller Upgrade Program -  (Eligible for customers with .24 acre property or less):  This program provides an opportunity to replace your old sprinkler timer with a new, water efficient device, installed by a landscape professional. To participate, you MUST attend a mandatory workshop to receive training on your new controller.

• Large Landscape Retrofit Program (Eligible for customers with .25 acre property or more): This program provides customers with larger properties an outdoor water use evaluation and free installation of a new weather-based irrigation controller and high efficiency sprinkler nozzles. No workshop required.

East Bay Municipal Utility District

EBMUD's water system serves approximately 1.4 million people in a 332-square-mile area extending from Crockett on the north, southward to San Lorenzo (encompassing the major cities of Oakland and Berkeley), eastward from San Francisco to Walnut Creek, and south through the San Ramon Valley. 

Residential programs and rebates include:

• Lawn Conversion - Rebates are calculated based on square feet of lawn converted and is up to $1.50/sq. Ft. with maximum rebate amount of $2000 for a 2 year period

• Flowmeter Rebate - EBMUD offers a rebate of up to 50% of the price of the flowmeter (excluding taxes and installation). If applicable, up to two years of prepaid service may be included in calculating the rebate amount. The maximum rebate is $200 per device.

• Mulch and Compost Coupons - EBMUD and Contra Costa Water District have partnered with local nurseries, garden centers, and soil companies to offer discounts on organic mulch and compost.

• Efficient Irrigation Upgrades - The maximum rebate is $2,000 for residential

• Graywater Rebate - up to $50 for a graywater system 3-way diverter valve that redirects water from your clothes washer to your landscape.

Eastern Municipal Water District

This water district serves western Riverside County: Canyon Lake, Hemet, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris, San Jacinto, Temecula, and unincorporated communities of French Valley, Good Hope, Homeland, Lakeview, Mead Valley, Murrieta Hot Springs, Nuevo, Romoland, Valle Vista and Winchester. Residential programs and rebates include: 

• FREE Deep Drip Watering Stakes - EMWD will supply two 24” Deep Drip Watering Stakes per EMWD account to be used on one tree.

• FREE Conservation Packet - EMWD offers a FREE Conservation Packet to all customers who request one. This informative packet is loaded with water-saving ideas, tips and techniques.

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District 

Water Efficiency Rebates and incentives include: 

• Residential Turf Replacement Rebate -  Turf Replacement rebates are $2.25 per square foot for up to 5,000 square feet and are available on a first-come, first serve basis.

• Drip Conversion Rebate - EVMWD offers up to $0.25 per square foot for a maximum of 2,000 square feet for converting existing sprinkler systems to drip irrigation systems.

Fontana, CA

Water Conservation programs include: 

• FREE Sprinkler Timer and Nozzle Retrofit Program - If you have a working irrigation system with a controller and at least 25 sprinkler nozzles (not brass) you are eligible

Fresno, CA

Water rebates include:

• Lawn to Garden Rebate - A $1.00 per square foot rebate is available for the removal of existing lawns when replaced with water-efficient landscapes, up to a maximum of 1,500 square feet.

• Micro (Drip) Irrigation Rebate - A $0.50 per square foot rebate is available for the replacement of existing overhead spray sprinklers with micro (drip) irrigation. 

• High-Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzle Rebate - A rebate of up to $4.00 per qualified sprinkler nozzle is available for the new installation or replacement of existing traditional overhead spray sprinklers with qualified high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles.  Rebate requires a minimum of 6 nozzles.  The maximum rebate is $100.

• Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate - A rebate of up to $100 is available for the purchase and installation of a qualifying new WaterSense certified Smart Irrigation Controller.  

• Rain Sensor Rebate - A rebate of up to $50 is available for the purchase and installation of a qualifying new rain sensor.  

• Swimming Pool Cover Rebate - A rebate of up to $100 is available for the purchase and installation of a qualifying new swimming pool cover. 

Rain BarrelRebate - A rebate of up to $50 is available for the purchase and installation of up to two (2) qualifying rain barrels

Glendora, CA

Rebate Programs include:

• Water Saving Devices - $100 for weather based irrigation controller, $50 for a rain barrel, and $50 for a pool cover

Long Beach, CA

Residential water-saving programs include:

• Lawn-to-garden:  incentive of $3.00 per square foot of lawn removed in the front yard and/or $2.00 per square foot in the backyard, for a total of up to 5,000 square feet. A design reimbursement of up to $1,500 for the cost of a professional landscape design is also available.

Los Angeles, CA

Water conservation rebates and programs include:

• Weather-based irrigation controller - Up to $200 per unit for less than an acre

• Soil Moisture Sensor System - Up to $200 per unit for less than an acre

• Rotating Nozzles - Up to $6 per nozzle

• Smart Hose Bib Irrigation Controllers - Up to $35

• Turf Replacement Program - receive a rebate for turf replacement of $3.00 per square foot for 5,000 square feet (Sq. Ft.) maximum.

• Rain Barrel - Up to $50

• Cistern - Up to $500

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

This organization is a “consortium of 26 cities and water districts” serving around 19 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Residents of this water district may also qualify for programs in their city and can apply for both. Residential rebates available through the Metropolitan Water District include:

• Weather-based Irrigation Controllers (WBICs) - Rebates Start At $80/Controller & $35/Station

• Rotating Sprinkler Nozzles - Rebates Start at $2/Nozzle, Minimum Quantity Is 15 Nozzles

• Rain Barrels and Cisterns - Rebates Start at $35 per Barrel or $250 per Cistern

• Soil Moisture Sensor System - Rebates Start At $80/Controller & $35/Station

• Turf Replacement Program - Metropolitan Water District is offering a rebate of $2.00 per square foot up to 5,000 square feet of converted yard per year. 

Orange County, CA

Residential outdoor water conservation rebates include:

• Turf removal program - Rebates start at $3 per square foot of turf removed. Program participants are also eligible to apply for a free landscape design.

• Smart Sprinkler Timers - $180, or more in select areas for properties less than one acre-or- $35 per station for properties greater than one acre.

• Sprinkler Nozzles - $2 (or more) per nozzle, with a 30 nozzle minimum.

• Drip irrigation - Rebates start at $0.50 per square foot.

• Soil Moisture Sensor - Up to $80, or more in select areas, for properties less than one acre; OR $35 per station for properties at least one acre or greater.

Rain Barrels and Cisterns - Rebates start at $35 per rain barrel and $250 per cistern.

Roseville, CA

Residential water rebates include:

• Cash for Grass -  The City of Roseville will rebate customer $1.00 per square foot of turf grass removed and replaced with water efficient landscape up to $1000 per address.

Sacramento, CA

Residential Water Wise Rebates include:

• Turf Conversion Rebates - Residents can receive up to $1.50 per square foot of replaced turf (up to $3,000).   

• Irrigation Upgrade Rebates - Maximum rebate amount is $800 for irrigation materials used to upgrade or convert to water efficient systems. Labor costs by a licensed General Contractor or landscaping contractor (C-27) of up to $150 may be included as a reimbursement expense. 

• Rain Barrel Rebates - Receive a rebate of up to $150 ($0.75 per gallon captured, up to 200 gallons) to install rain barrels.

• Laundry-to-Landscape Rebates - A rebate of up to $100 is available for the materials needed to install a gray water system that diverts gently-used water from your washing machine and routes it to mulch basins around your trees or bushes. 

San Bernardino, CA

Outdoor rebates and incentives include:

• Artificial Turf Rebate - Replace irrigated grass turf with artificial turf and receive $2 per square foot (up to $400).

• Drip Irrigation System Rebate - Customers purchasing and installing a drip system in their landscaping or garden may qualify for a 50% rebate, up to $150.

• Drought Tolerant Plant Rebate - Incorporate drought-tolerant trees, plants, and shrubs into your landscaping and receive a 50% rebate (up to $300)

• Garden Hose Shut-Off Nozzle Rebate - Purchase an automatic shut-off nozzle for your garden hose and receive a rebate of up to $10. Limit 2 per residence.

• High-Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzle Rebate - Customers can also qualify for a 50% rebate, up to $200, for installing High-Efficiency sprinkler heads

• Irrigation Controller Rebate - Customers can get up to a $250 rebate for installing a weather-based controller or $100 for a standard controller.

• Pool Cover Rebate - Purchase a cover for your pool and receive a rebate of up to $75.

• Turf Removal Rebate - Replace grass turf with approved materials and receive a rebate of $2 per square foot (up to $2,000)

• Turf Replacement Material Rebate - Replace grass turf with mulch or gravel and receive a 50% rebate (up to $300).

• Free Water-Smart Landscape Workshops - To help our customers reduce their water use without sacrificing the outdoor beauty of their home, the city hosts free Landscaping Classes every Spring and Fall!

San Diego County, CA 

Residential rebates include:

• Discounted Rain Barrels - Solana Center for Environmental Innovation offers discounted rain barrels that are eligible for rebates at Rainwater – Catch It San Diego! 

• Waterscape Rebate Program - financial incentives to:

  • Replace high-water use turf with watersmart, native plants 

  • Install weather-based irrigation controllers 

  • Install a rain barrel, rain cistern, rain garden, or other rain-saving feature 

  • Install rain gutters

  • Upgrade old driveways and parking lots with pavers or porous pavement 

  • Pump your septic tank and prevent costly repairs

San Diego City rebates

• Graywater Systems - Using graywater is an excellent way to recycle and conserve water.

• Rain Barrels are used to capture rainwater from hard surfaces such as rooftops to help prevent pollution in our storm drain system as well as conserve water for irrigation. 

• Rain Gutters capture rainwater from roof tops and divert it to rain barrels or pervious landscape which naturally filters runoff, helping to decrease the amount of pollutants in our bays, ocean and waterways.

• Downspout Redirects are devices that redirect rainwater from our storm drains to a pervious landscaped area that naturally filters runoff, helping to decrease the amount of pollutants in our bays, ocean and waterways.

• Free Mulch from Miramar Greenery - Mulch is a reliable, cost-effective product for water retention, erosion control and weed suppression. Free mulch is available to San Diego residents with proof of residency. Wood chips and compost are also available for a fee.

San Juan Water District

Water efficiency rebates include:

• Weather Based Irrigation (or "Smart") Controller - Purchase and install a qualified controller and San Juan will reimburse 50% of the cost of the controller up to $500 for residential and $1,500 for non-residential improvements.

Santa Clara Valley Water District

Total rebates can add up to $3,000 for residential sites for converting approved high water use landscape, such as lawns and pools, to low water use landscape and retrofit existing irrigation equipment with approved high-efficiency irrigation equipment.

• Landscape Conversion Rebate - 2/square foot to approved high-water use lawns and pools to low-water use landscapes

• In-Line Drip Irrigation Conversion Rebate - Valley Water will pay you to convert overhead sprinklers to in-line drip tubing in existing shrubs, perennial, or annual planting beds.

• Irrigation Equipment Upgrades Rebate - To qualify for a rebate, applicants must purchase eligible hardware that totals a minimum rebate of $75.

• Cistern and Rain Barrel Rebates

• Rain Garden Rebate - Rebate will be calculated based on the square footage of the roof area contributing to the redirected rainwater.

Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency

Residential conservation rebates include: 

• Lawn Replacement - offers a $3 per square foot incentive and adds more flexibility to mix, match and stack additional incentives and rebates to enhance your project including a native plant bonus incentive and drip irrigation incentive at $.50 and $.75 per square foot, respectively. Additional rebates are available as pilot programs for water retention features, sheet mulching, bee hotel and owl boxes, and rain barrels.

• Irrigation Control & Efficiency - Up to $150 for one smart irrigation controller and up to $150 for one soil moisture sensor

Efficiency Product Rebates - $.75 per sq. ft. for drip irrigation, 100% for high-efficiency nozzle, 75% of the purchase price for master pressure regulation, 75% of the purchase price for pressure regulating valve, Up to $10 each for pressure regulating bodies with check valve, up to $75 each for up to two rain barrels, up to $200 for one pool cover.

Santa Monica, CA

Residential water rebates include: 

• Cash for Grass - $3.50/sq.ft. up to $6,000 for a single-family home for replacing turf grass with appropriate plants and mulch.

• Spray to Drip Rebate Program - $2.00/sq.ft. up to $4,000 maximum for a single-family home to replace your operational sprinklers in planter beds and hedges with highly efficient drip irrigation that delivers water directly to the plants

Santa Rosa, CA

Residential rebates include: 

• Cash for Grass - $1.50/sq ft of lawn removed

• NEW Pool Removal Rebate - Santa Rosa Water can help offset removal costs with a rebate up to $750.

• NEW Pool Cover Rebate - Purchase and install a new qualifying pool cover and Santa Rosa may be able to provide you a one-time credit on your next water bill. 

Solano County, CA

Residential water rebates include: 

• Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program - Applicants may be eligible for a rebate of $1.00 per square foot (sq. ft.) when converting their lawn to a sustainable watershed appropriate landscape. The maximum rebate is $1,000 per eligible residential water service site

• Smart Irrigation Controller Rebates - Install a qualifying smart controller to irrigate your existing landscape and you could receive up to $300, $700, or $1000 depending on the number of stations.

• Flume Smart Home Water Monitor discount - Purchase a Flume Smart Home Water Monitor for just $24 (plus tax and shipping)! 

Ventura, CA

Rebates and Incentives include:

• Drip Irrigation Retrofit Program - Ventura Water customers can apply to have a professional installer convert existing pop-up sprinkler stations to drip irrigation for improved water savings

• High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzles - Apply for free high efficiency sprinkler nozzles and professional installation. 

• Smart Irrigation Controller - free smart irrigation controller and professional installation/training

• Water Wise Incentive Program - Ventura Water offers $2 a square foot rebates on projects that replace lawn with water wise landscape. 

• Rain Barrel Voucher - Print and redeem a 50% off Rain Barrel Voucher

Walnut Valley Water District

Residential rebates include: 

• Pool Cover Rebate - $50 rebate for purchase of qualifying pool cover

• Discounted Flume Smart Home - $49 Flume after $100 rebate 

Windsor, CA

The Water Efficient Landscapes Rebate Program includes:

• Up to $500 in rebates for residential properties for ​​the removal of lawn or for the purchase of sprinkler equipment that improves efficiency

• Free WaterSmart Checkup -free opportunity to receive site-specific water-saving recommendations 

Marin Municipal Water District

Rebates and programs include:

• Graywater: Laundry-to-Landscape - They’ve partnered with the Urban Farmer Store to offer free laundry-to-landscape graywater webinars and a $125 discount on your purchase of a graywater kit.

• Flume Smart Home Water Monitors - Marin Water is offering Flume Smart Home Water Monitors for just $49, after installation (and shipping and handling) to single-family residential customers.

• Pool and Spa Covers: rebate of up to $100 for customers that purchase and install pool or spa covers

• Rachio Smart Irrigation Controllers - Marin Water partnered with Rachio and the California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) to offer Marin Water's customers a significant discount, up to 70%, on Rachio 3 controllers.

• WaterSense Smart Irrigation Controllers - Install a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller and receive a rebate up to $100. Note: Customers may apply for only one controller incentive, not both. 

• Rain Barrel and Cistern Rebate Program - Marin Water offers up to 50 cents per gallon of storage, not to exceed actual cost. Total rebates for rain barrels and cisterns may not exceed $1,000 per site.

• Cash for Grass - Marin Water is currently offering customers a limited time offer of a $3 per square foot cash rebate in return for replacing grass in their landscapes. 

COLORADO LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Colorado residents should check out Resource Central to easily find water conservation rebates available to them through their water provider. This Boulder-based non-profit has an easy-to-use Water Eligibility tool that allows you to select your city or water authority and a list of programs and incentives available to you.

Arvada, CO

Water saving programs include:

• Garden-in-a-Box: Each spring City of Arvada water customers can save $25 on Garden In A Box kits, while supplies last. These are water saving gardens that retail between $104 and $149.

• Waterwise Yard Seminars - Learn how to water less in these free Waterwise Yard Seminars taught by Colorado low-water landscape pros.

• Lawn Replacement - City of Arvada water customers are eligible for up to $500 off Resource Central’s Lawn Replacement Program to put towards a Lawn Removal Service discount, free low-water Garden In A Box kits, or both (application is closed for 2022 - check back next year).

• Smart Controller Program - Orbit B-Hyve smart controllers and installation (a $200 value) will be offered at the reduced rate of $84 for Arvada residents!

Aurora, CO

Residential water rebates include:

• Water-wise Landscape Rebate - Aurora Water incentivizes the conversion of water-guzzling turf lawns to water-wise landscapes with a max residential rebate of $3,000.

• Residential Irrigation Rebates - $200 for smart controller, $15 - 50 for rain sensors, $100 each for up to two soil moisture sensors, $12 each for gear-driven rotor sprinklers, $9 each for pop-ip sprinkler bodies, $6 each for high-efficiency nozzles, and $75 for up to three zones for spray-to-drip conversion.

Colorado Springs Utilities

Residential rebates and incentives include: 

• Irrigation Equipment Rebates - up to $50 for smart irrigation controllers, Up to $50 for wireless & $25 for wired rain sensors, up to $5 each for sprinkler heads with check valves, up to $4 each for rotating matched precipitation nozzles.

Louisville, CO

Residential rebates and incentives include: 

• Free Slow the Flow Sprinkler Inspections - 75-minute evaluation identifying problem areas affecting efficiency of landscape watering.

• Discounted DIY Xeriscape “Garden in a Box” - $25 discount on your Garden In A Box designed to improve beauty and water efficiency of your landscape.

• Grass to Garden Lawn Replacement Program - Discounts on the cost of removing lawn (pay as little as $1 per square foot).

• Smart Controller Discount - Rachio smart controllers and installations are offered at no cost to Louisville residents.

Denver, CO

Residential rebates include: 

•  Rotary/high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles - up to $3 rebate per sprinkler head.

•  WaterSense-labeled smart irrigation controller - up to a $75 rebate.

Thornton, CO

Residential rebates and programs include: 

• Water-Wise Landscape Rebate - Transform a section of your yard, either grass or a problem area, into a water-wise garden with low-water plants and get $2 per sq. ft. in return.

• Irrigation Controller Rebate - Get up to $200 back for the installation of an EPA WaterSense certified smart weather-based controller.

• Rain Sensor Rebate - Get a $25 rebate for a residential rain sensor connected to a sprinkler system.

• Discounted Garden-in-a-box - Thornton Water customers are eligible for a $25 discount on a professionally designed Garden In A Box, while supplies last.

• Lawn Removal Service - There is a limited number of appointments available to Thornton water customers at a cost of $1 per sq. ft. of lawn removed. All projects must be at least 200 sq. ft.

• Sprinkler Consultation - The city works together with Resource Central to provide a series of tests on an underground lawn irrigation system that determines how efficient a system is. Sprinkler consultations are available June through August.

Woodmoor, CO

Residential outdoor rebates include:

• Irrigation Controller - $35 rebate to purchase an irrigation control (clock) that sets multiple days and time limits to conserve water.

• Rain sensor - $25 rebate to purchase a rain sensor that overrides an irrigation system when detecting rainfall.

KANSAS LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Witchita, KS

Water Conservation Rebate Programs include:

• Rain Barrel Rebate - $75.00 for purchased and installed 45 gallons or larger rain barrel.

• Rain Sensor-Shutoff Rebate - $100.00 for a new and installed rain sensor-shutoff that interrupts an automated irrigation system operation after ¼-inch of rain has been received.

• Smart Irrigation Controller - $100.00 for a new and installed stand-alone or add-on irrigation controller that waters a landscape using Wichita, KS evapotranspiration (ET) values, & replaces a conventional irrigation clock (New Construction isn’t eligible).

MINNESOTA LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Eden Prairie, MN

Water Conservation Rebate Programs include: 

• Landscaping for Water Quality Rebates - 80% of pretax cost up to a maximum of $2,000 for installing a native plant landscape.

• Irrigation/Water Reuse System Rebates - 100% up to $175 for smart irrigation controller, 100% up to $100 for spray sprinkler body purchase.

NEVADA LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Southern Nevada Water Authority

This water authority is made up of seven member agencies including Big Bend Water District, Boulder City, Clark County Water Reclamation, Henderson, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Valley Water District, and North Las Vegas. Residential water rebates include: 

• Water Smart Landscapes Rebate - Whether you do it yourself or hire a contractor, the Southern Nevada Water Authority will rebate residential properties, businesses, HOAs and multifamily properties $3 per square foot of grass removed and replaced with desert landscaping.

• Smart irrigation controller rebate coupon - 50 percent off the purchase price or up to $100, whichever is less.

• Smart leak detector rebate coupon -  rebate of 50 percent off the purchase price or $200, whichever is less.
  

NEW MEXICO LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

Residential rebates include:

• Efficient Irrigation Rebates - 25% up to $100 for each WaterSense Smart Irrigation Controllers, smart flow sensors, and smart pressure regulators. $4 for each WaterSense Pressure Spray Sprinkler Body, $2 per head for Smart High Efficiency rotating sprinkler nozzle. 

• Desert Friendly Xeriscape Conversion Rebate - Residential Customers qualifying landscapes will receive a maximum of $2.00 for every square foot of high-water use turf grass that is converted.

• Treebates - 25% up to $100 for professional tree care or for the purchase of new low and medium water use trees.

• Rainwater Harvesting rebates  - Up to $150 rebate based on total amount of rain that can be stored in a rain barrel or cistern.

TEXAS LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Austin, TX

Residential landscaping rebates include: 

• Cartridge Pool Filter - up to $250 to replace sand or DE pool filter with cartridge pool filter

• Irrigation Upgrade - up to $1,000 to improve irrigation efficiency

• Landscape Survival Tools - up to $120 for compost, mulch, and core aeration service 

• Laundry to Landscape - up to $150 to reuse laundry graywater to water landscape

• Pool Cover - up to $200 for new pool cover

• Pressure Regulating Valve - up to $150 for pressure regulating valve

• Rainwater Harvesting up to $5,000 for equipment to capture rainwater 

• Watering Timer - up to $40 for hose timers

• WaterWise Landscape - up to $1,750 to convert turf grass to native beds

• WaterWise Rainscape - up to $500 for landscape features to retain rainwater

UTAH LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Utah residents should visit https://utahwatersavers.com/ to see programs and rebates they’re eligible for depending on their location.

Central Utah Water Conservancy District

Residential water rebates include: 

• Smart Controller - rebate for up to $75 when you purchase an eligible WaterSense-labeled smart controller.

• Flip Your Strip -  rebates of up to $1.25/sq ft to homeowners who convert their current lawn filled park strip to a water efficient design.

• Localscapes Rewards - Localscapes is an approach to landscaping designed specifically for Utah. You could qualify for cash rewards and a free review of your Localscapes landscape plan.

Weber Basin Water Conservancy District

Residential water rebates include: 

• Flip Your Strip -  rebate is $1.25 per square foot of turf removed and replaced with water-wise landscaping

• Smart Irrigation Controllers  - Smart controller rebates are 50% of the cost of a smart controller up to a maximum of $150.00.

WASHINGTON LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING REBATES

Saving Water Partnership

This organization is composed of partner utilities that provide water to over 300,-000 customers in King and Snohomish Counties. Residential rebates include:

• Sprinkler timer replacement rebate - Get up to $100 ($10 for each functioning zone on your timer) when you replace an old sprinkler timer with a new WaterSense timer.

Cascade Water Alliance

Cascade is a municipal corporation comprised of seven municipalities (five cities and two water and sewer districts) in the Puget Sound region that joined together to provide safe, clean, reliable water supply to its 380,000 residents. Programs available include:

• Cascade Gardener - free gardening classes to help you have beautiful, healthy landscapes while using water efficiently.

GET STARTED WITH YOUR LOW-WATER LANDSCAPE DESIGN BY YARDZEN

Yardzen's award-winning online landscape design is tailored to clients in all fifty states in the US. Through the American Rewilding Project, we are committed to creating designs with climate-adapted plants and water saving landscaping in drought-prone regions unless homeowners specifically opt out.

Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to level up your curb appeal and sustainability with low-water landscaping ideas? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

Landscaping Budgeting: Where to Spend, Where to Save, and How to Finance

This Yardzen yard makes use of several budget-smart landscaping decisions, including a prefab pergola, a painted fence, targeted visual appeal with the firepit, and low-maintenance, long-lasting turf.

Like any home renovation, landscape and exterior design projects require some investment. To realize your vision without breaking the bank, it pays to know where to spend, where to save, how to design for maximum value, and how to finance with SoFi x Yardzen.

Below, we’ll walk through a few key strategies for determining your landscaping budget and getting the most from your renovation dollars.

Ready to get started? Explore Yardzen’s budget-friendly landscaping packages.

Leverage Financing

Landscaping is one of the highest ROI home renovations you can make with an estimated 200% return, not to mention the endless enjoyment of a new yard and the sustainability impact you will have on the planet (our sustainability commitment).

Yardzen’s partnership with SoFi help homeowners create the yard of their dreams by making financing available for the construction of your new yard.

Explore financing options with Yardzen x SoFi

Prioritize your Wishlist

Prioritization is your friend. Narrowing down to the most important features tells your design and build teams where to allocate budget. Yardzen’s YardBuilder in our onboarding will help with this too!

Spend first and foremost on the items of greatest value. “Greatest value” could mean areas of high use, critical structural repairs, or features that are particularly important for any old reason - ultimately, it’s your call what matters most. 

A look at Yardzen’s YardBuilder exercise, which helps clients make design decisions based on budget.

Know your budget’s limits. If you have a laundry list of features you hope to include, separate them into must-haves and nice-to-haves. You’re better off doing justice to a shortlist of key features than skimping across the board to accommodate a few extra bells and whistles.

An old fence painted black gives this Yardzen yard a whole new lease on life

Keep What Works

Not everything needs to be new. More often than not, the most sustainable thing you can do - from a financial and ecological perspective - is to leave existing elements where they are. Before you start designing, take stock of what is working and what needs to go. 

Structural items like existing fences or pergolas may only need a coat of paint to look refreshed. Hanging on to mature trees, privacy hedges, or specimen plants can save you dollars and years of waiting on growth.

A statement firepit makes a huge visual impact

Targeted Visual Impact

Every project has a few key moments where design choices set an impression that resonates across the yard - that extra nice entry courtyard, a statement-making firepit, that grand tree at the end of an axis. 

It could be a run of cable railing, regional stone paving, or a specimen tree purchased at a mature 24” box size. Limited but targeted investment in features with outsized impact can elevate the feel of the entire yard. 

Nail these hot spots, and you’ll create leeway for simpler treatments elsewhere without diminishing the overall sense of design quality. 

Buy Small Plants

Bigger plant, bigger price tag. Buying plants at a smaller 1 gallon size will cut your installation costs, especially in heavily-planted designs.

When installed properly, smaller plants tend to grow more quickly than larger ones. They also  are more likely to develop robust root systems, improving their overall chances at success.

One caveat: remembering the advice to spend where it matters, we do advise going big on specimen trees or other focal plants when possible. These key plants manage the aesthetic heavy lifting while your smaller plants grow in.

1-quart plants, like the lavender here, are an excellent option for cost savings

Plan Ahead

Maybe you can’t do everything at once, but you can include the nice-to-haves down the road. True, phasing may increase overall project expenditure by repeating set up and clean up expenses for each phase. Nonetheless, it can be a smart strategy when budget is limited but wishlists are not.

If this describes your situation, work with your designer to develop a plan that accommodates phased construction. Pay attention to layout when designing hardscape - you want to avoid ripping up fresh paving to accommodate new features in later phases of installation. 

Instead of paving, use planting, gravel, or other simple treatments in the first build phase to placehold spaces for future items like sport courts or hot tubs.

TimberTech composite decking is made for longevity and is incredibly cost-effective in the long-term.

Longevity

Investing in durable materials saves money down the road by avoiding maintenance or replacement costs. This applies to paint, paving, decking (we suggest composite), and virtually any other building material, particularly items exposed to heavy wind, rain, or sun. Buy the good stuff once, not the less-good stuff twice.

New paint, siding, and styling choices make such a huge impact on this outdoor space

Exterior Design Upgrades

Making exterior upgrades, including new paint and decor, like house numbers and mailboxes, is one way to give your outdoor space a fresh, thoughtful new look.

Explore our exterior design packages!

Paving Alternatives

Speaking of simpler treatments, consider aggregates like gravel, beach pebbles, or decomposed granite as paving alternatives. 

Gravel in particular is affordable, permeable, and versatile - if you don’t like it in one place, scoop it up and move it elsewhere. Aggregates run the gamut in color, size, and texture, and are style agnostic, adaptable to both modern and traditional designs. 

If gravel or DG look a bit rough for your taste, use edging to give these materials a crisp frame. Edging could be a strip of metal, a bordering path, or a row of adjacent planting. An orderly frame makes loose materials look great.

Pro tip: ask suppliers for locally sourced materials. You’re apt to get a better deal, and the material will evoke your regional geology.

And, check out our Guide to Gravel and Guide to Paving for more ideas.

Low-cost landscaping choices, including gravel and pre-fab pavers, and an exterior renovation create a huge impact in this Yardzen yard.

Prefab 

Prefabricated products are almost always more affordable than custom built features. This goes for seating, plant containers, and pergolas, among other items.

Prefab planters and furniture also offer fabulous versatility. Where built-in benches or planters effectively function as barriers in a layout, prefab furniture and plant containers can be shifted to adapt to different uses, and tend to leave sight lines and circulation routes more open and capacious.

Irish Moss Groundcover

Utilize Groundcover Plants

Groundcover plants are low, fast-spreading species, running the gamut from low succulents, to shin-height grasses, to rangey shrubs and perennials. Purchased cheaply and planted fairly far apart, they can fill open spaces in relatively short order. Groundcover planting achieves a lot. 

Aesthetically, it can fill open spaces between ornamental plants to convey a full look without the expense of purchasing loads of larger ornamental plants. It can also be kept crisp and low, adapting to minimal styles as readily as it does to more natural, full aesthetics.

It establishes a base tier of foliage upon which a layered planting design can be developed. Height layers lend depth and structure to a design. A low groundcover layer facilitates a three- or four-tier design that still remains below waist height (planting below waist height, as opposed to a looming 5’ shrub, is generally more comfortable to walk or spend time by).

Groundcover plants can be used in lieu of mulch, and thereby eschew the work and expense of annual mulch replacement. It builds soil health, improves drainage and groundwater recharge, and makes more water available to plants’ roots, reducing the need for irrigation. It slows surface runoff, reducing erosion (and the time and expense of dealing with it). And, native groundcover species in particular require minimal maintenance to thrive, and provide crucial habitat to boot, particularly when planted beneath trees.  Need we go on? 

Invest in soil

The saying goes, “Buy a $5 plant and dig a $50 hole.” If you want happy plants, it pays to provide the right soil. Soil has a huge impact on plant health, equal to that of water or light inputs. 

Understand your plants’ soil needs, and invest to address them. Allocating budget to provide the right soil up front will help you avoid paying to rehab or replace struggling plants down the road.

Pro tip: Having evolved locally, native plant species are most likely to thrive in local soil conditions, including the soil already in your yard. To keep soil amendment to a minimum, go native. 

Low-maintenance landscaping for this Yardzen yard includes low-water plants, concrete pavers, and black mulch

Design with Maintenance in Mind

Less maintenance equates to lower lifetime expenses for a landscape design. Think of designing for low maintenance as future cost evasion. We’ve already discussed a few strategies for minimizing or outright avoiding maintenance (use durable materials, provide appropriate soil, plant groundcover plants). 

To this list, add:

• Choose plants that will thrive in your site’s climate with little to no irrigation, fertilizer, or pesticides (more often than not, this means going with native plants)

• Avoid annuals, trimmed hedges, topiaries, or any particularly thirsty or fussy plants (these plants require more labor, water, and/or fertilizer to maintain)

• Skip decorative lawns, and limit functional lawns to minimum viable sizes (lawns are as high maintenance as it comes)

In a nutshell, a design sets you up for a low maintenance future when it opts for plants that will thrive on your site with little to no help, and materials that will stand up to whatever your site throws at them. It may mean a little extra research and expense up front, but the long-run savings on cost, and hassle, will be worth it.

CREATING A LANDSCAPE DESIGN TAILORED TO YOUR BUDGET

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners with both large and small yards in all fifty states in the U.S. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space, style, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design (if you don’t plan on a diy build). SoFi, a Yardzen partner, can help finance the cost of your landscape installation—but you’re also free to negotiate your estimate, payment and phasing directly with your contractor (and with support from the Yardzen team like progress check-ins, bid reviews, and design adjustments, if needed).

Ready to bring your dream yard to life? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!

Creating a Pocket Garden

Just as the long-held love of the turf lawn is changing, so is the definition of a garden. Urban dwellers routinely request a garden design for pollinator-loving and edible plants using pots and raised beds due to the constraints of small spaces and a desire for versatility and impermanence. We call these spaces “pocket” gardens— planting zones that aid local foodways and support pollinators. Did you know? 60% of Yardzen small yard owners have a “pocket” garden!

Here’s how to achieve the look, feel, and function of a pocket garden in your landscape design.

An easy to maintain small edible garden in Yardzen backyard design

→ SKIP BUILT-IN PLANTERS
Custom built-in planters are great in certain situations, but by-and-large we advise passing on them. Built-in planters are essentially walls, and being so they introduce barriers into designs that constrict circulation and make spaces feel smaller. They also cost a bundle. Opting for individual plant containers allows you to achieve the same planted feel while leaving spaces broad and unimpeded.

→ GO PREFAB
With thousands of prefab plant containers on the market, it’s easy to find one with the price, size, and style you need. While there are gorgeous premium containers out there, there are also plenty of attractive options available at affordable prices. The variety and attainability of prefab containers rewards us with design freedom - you can experiment to your heart’s content with different looks, sizes, and placement without breaking the bank.

Edible pocket garden in a side yard landscape design

→ COMPOSE YOUR PLANTS
Another perk of larger containers: you can fit multiple species in them. Allowing groundcover species like Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ to cascade over the lip lends a sense of permanence to plant containers, and can visually link them to planting areas elsewhere in the yard.

→ CONSIDER SCALE
Both pots and plants must meet the scale of their setting. Large spaces and tall walls demand larger containers and taller plants, while smaller spaces require containers with smaller visual and physical footprints.

→ DEFINE AND PUNCTUATE
Container plants are an ally in the effort to keep yards open and free-flowing. Placing them at the corners of a space defines a distinct zone while skipping space-constraining barriers. You can also use containers to punctuate key thresholds, like path entrances, or to lend intentionality to awkward nooks, like recessed corners in a home’s facade. A steady rhythm of large plant containers can subdivide and humanize large hardscaped areas or spaces with pavers.

You can even imply outdoor rooms by positioning small trees like redbuds, olives, serviceberries, or desert willows along the edge of outdoor seating areas. Place those trees along the south or west edges, and you add pleasant dappled shade into the bargain.

A small brightly colored prefab raised herb garden in a San Francisco, California backyard design

CREATING A SMALL GARDEN DESIGN TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners with both large and small yards in all fifty states in the U.S. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space, style, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design (if you don’t plan on a diy build).

Ready to bring the pocket garden of your dreams to life? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!

Grass Alternatives for an Eco-Friendly Yard

This Yardzen yard makes use of several grass alternatives, like turf (artificial grass), gravel, ornamental grasses, and mulch, creating a wonderfully climate-adapted and ecosystem-supporting yard.

Every year, lawn care consumes trillions of gallons of water, millions of gallons of gas, and millions of pounds of pesticides. Traditional turfgrass provides little to no habitat for pollinators and other animals and plants that make up a healthy, diverse ecosystem. At Yardzen, we’re on a mission to improve green spaces and encourage dynamic habitats through our American Rewilding Project. So, we tapped our Head of Horticulture, Zolene Quindoy, and our Design Director, Kevin Lenhart, to weigh in on all things grass and grass alternatives for homeowners looking to make the switch from traditional lawns to eco-friendly options.

Grass-Alternative Plantings to Replace a Lawn

Yardzen’s Head of Horticulture, Zolene Quindoy , on grass alternatives:

Lawns can be a good option for places with enough summer rain to help keep it naturally irrigated, but for drought-prone areas (like much of the American West), lawn alternatives that are drought-tolerant or use native plants are much more eco-friendly, and in many cases, more economical. Keeping a traditional lawn healthy and green all year long is anything but low-maintenance and usually requires supplemental irrigation, fertilizer, and often herbicides/pesticides to address weeds, pests, and disease issues. Factor in the fossil fuels used if you have a gas-powered lawnmower, and the environmental costs quickly add up!

For small areas, non-grass species can be a great fit. Low-growing perennial ground covers can be used to create a soft natural carpet or fill in between pavers and stepping stones. Many species are durable enough to tolerate occasional foot traffic and there are species suitable to both sunny and shady areas. Check out your local nursery for ideas on what will work best in your area. Species will vary regionally, but some options include:

Silver Carpet (Dymondia margaratae)

• Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Hardiness Zones: 9-11

Image courtesy of gardenia.net

Image courtesy of gardeningknowhow.com

Creeping Thyme or Woolly Thyme (Thymus spp.)

• Full Sun

• Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Kurapia / Frogfruit (Lippia nodiflora)

• Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Hardiness Zones: 8-10

Image courtesy of wildflower.org

Image courtesy of wildflower.org

Silver Ponyfoot (Dichondra argentea)

• Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Hardiness Zones: 8-11

Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

• Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Image courtesy of gardeningknowhow.com

Image courtesy of greatgardenplants.com

Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)

• Full Sun to Part Sun

• Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Corsican Mint (Mentha requenii)

• Full Sun to Partial Shade

• Hardiness Zones: 7-11

Image courtesy of thespruce.com

Image courtesy of almanac.com

Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)

• Full Sun

• Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Baby's Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)

• Part Sun to Shade

• Hardiness Zones: 9-11

Image courtesy of miniaturegardenshoppe.com

In general, planted lawn alternatives work best in areas where there will not be frequent foot traffic. Unless you plan to actively use your lawn - for example, for sports or for young kids’ play areas - consider replacing your time (and resource)-intensive ornamental lawn with an alternative material. 

If you do need to maintain a lawn area, minimizing the square footage or using a no-mow or meadow grass can be a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. If you’re looking for some alternative plantings to traditional lawn, consider the below:

“No-Mow” Lawn: Image via Sunset

"No-Mow" Lawn Alternatives

• Usually a blend of creeping and clumping Fescue varieties. Does actually require occasional mowing and raking out old material to keep it healthy and looking tidy.

• You can select low-water no-mow varieties that require much less water and fertilizer than a traditional lawn, and the little maintenance required also reduces the carbon footprint compared to mowing with a gas-powered mower.

Meadow Grasses and WIldflowers: Image via Pacific Horticultural Society

Meadow Grasses

• These are usually not true "grass" species, but a closely related plant called sedge (Carex sp.). Species used will vary regionally, but some common varieties are Carex praegracilis, C. pansa, and C. texensis.

• Great for stabilizing slopes

Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides)

• North American native grass that comprised the short grass prairies that American Buffalo once roamed.

• Requires ~75% less water than a traditional lawn and is considered drought-resistant. May be mowed to more closely resemble a traditional lawn, or left to grow out to its full height of 8-10".

• Turns buff/golden-brown in winter, but quickly greens up in spring

A Yardzen yard full of grass alternatives, like bark mulch, climate-adapted plants, and permeable pavers.

Material Grass Alternatives in Landscape Design

If you’re ready to give up grass altogether, Yardzen’s Design Director and Landscape Architect, Kevin Lenhart, has a few favorite options:

In addition to planting alternatives, landscape designers can also use materials like gravel, decomposed granite, or bark mulch as part of a lawn-replacement design. Because lawns often cover large areas, the best approach to replacing is often a balance of several elements: a gravel seating area, a meandering DG path, and expanded planting areas with bark mulch interspersed between plants. You’ll want to take care to blend these elements harmoniously, but each can be a reliable tool to call upon when working to replace a large lawn area.

Gravel underfoot in a Yardzen yard!

Gravel as a Grass Lawn Replacement

Gravel is inexpensive, looks attractive in a number of different landscape styles, and is easy to install. It comes in a broad range of colors, shapes and sizes, and can easily be repeated elsewhere in a design to build a cohesive aesthetic. Gravel also allows water to quickly drain through it, and slows the flow of overland water, leading to improved drainage and reduced flooding risk relative to solid paved surfaces. The trick is don’t go overboard - tasteful application here and there is lovely, but large expanses of gravel can be expensive and a little bleak in the wrong context.

The environmentally-minded consumer will want to ask their local supplier where their gravel is sourced from - best to avoid gravel mined from river beds, and to favor gravel sourced from nearby quarries. Gravel is a mined material, so limited application, in general, is a safer bet for minimizing the environmental impact of your design choices.

Decomposed Granite as a Grass Lawn Replacement

Decomposed granite is crushed rock tamped into place to provide a more stable walking surface that does not give underfoot like gravel. Because it is compacted, it does not drain as quickly as gravel, though it is permeable. Decomposed granite is also a handsome material, and looks particularly attractive in desert or Mediterranean landscapes. Pro tip: don’t run DG right up to your door - it sticks to shoes and can scratch wood floors. As long as you get a few footsteps in on another material before walking inside, you should be ok.

A Yardzen yard with a xeriscape front yard, featuring bark mulch.

Bark Mulch as a Grass Lawn Replacement

Unlike gravel and DG, bark mulch is not a particularly nice material to walk on. It is, however, a wonderful, and necessary, addition to any planting area, and can be an important part of any lawn replacement design. Here’s a winning strategy: create a few carefully orchestrated compositions of ornamental plants, and intersperse them with open areas of bark mulch and patches of low groundcover plants.

Turf in this Yardzen yard creates the perfect place to lay out a picnic blank and enjoy a glass of wine.

What About Artificial Turf?

Adam Messner, Yardzen Co-Founder and COO, on turf:

When I consider all of the resources required (i.e., water, fertilizer, time, gas and emissions) to maintain a green lawn I don't think it pencils out. I'm from Michigan and I love the smell and feel of cut grass, but our family decision to install synthetic grass here in California 10 years ago was one of the best exterior upgrades we've made.

It still looks great, has held up well and as California enters a brutal drought year, water conservation will be more important than ever before. Synthetic grass manufacturing has gotten better, many manufacturers are US-based and the aesthetics have improved too. In my opinion, there’s never been a better time to install synthetic grass, especially in the Western states.

GET STARTED WITH YOUR LAWN-FREE (OR LOW-WATER) LANDSCAPE DESIGN BY YARDZEN

Yardzen's award-winning online landscape design is tailored to clients in all fifty states in the US. Through the American Rewilding Project, we are committed to creating designs with climate-adapted plants and water saving landscaping in drought-prone regions unless homeowners specifically opt out.

Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to level up your curb appeal and sustainability with low-water landscaping ideas? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

The Best Outdoor Sofas for 2022 (Chosen by Yardzen Clients)

Neighbor The Sofa couch on backyard deck

These days, building out an outdoor living space feels nearly as essential as its indoor counterpart. For one, outdoor furniture allows us to entertain guests safely. Second, it can tack extra square footage onto an indoor living space.

Like any living room, indoors or out, a sofa is central to design and function. As the leading landscape design firm, we’ve been able to crowdsource (via our clients) a list of the most popular outdoor sofas.

Out of over 42 sofas available from our retail partners, the following 10 are the most-loved in our clients’ landscape designs so far in 2022. These sofas are all popular because they are beautiful, durable, and easy to design around.

10 Outdoor Sofas Most-Loved by Our Clients

1. RH Outdoor Balmain Teak Sofa: Most Versatile Sofa

2. West Elm Portside Outdoor Sofa: Best Modern Farmhouse Style Sofa

3. RH Outdoor Aviara Teak Sofa: Best Modern Teak Sofa

4. Neighbor The Sofa: Best Overall

5. Crate and Barrel Breton Metal Outdoor Sofa: Best Metal-Framed Sofa

6. Rejuvenation Jasper Teak Sofa: Best Mixed-Material Wood and Metal Sofa

7. RH Outdoor Capri Teak Sofa: Best Deep-Seat Sofa

8. RH Outdoor Balmain Aluminum Sofa: Best Minimal Modern Style Sofa

9. Crate and Barrel Abaco Outdoor Sofa: Best Wicker Sofa

10. Crate and Barrel Walker Metal Sofa:  Best Boxy Sofa

Staff Picks:

• Neighbor The Sofa: Best Overall

• Serena & Lily Capistrano Sofa: Best Rattan Modern Bohemian Style Sofa

• Terrain Meadowbrook Teak Base Wicker Sofa: Best Four-Seater Sofa

• Yardbird Langdon Outdoor Sofa: Best Recycled-Material Sofa

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01 Balmain Teak Sofa by RH Outdoor

Used in over 51 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 68”

Price: $3,295

The Balmain Teak Sofa by RH Outdoor is our most popular outdoor couch. It works well in modern style landscapes, especially “moditerranean”—which our clients still request often. We also love that it’s responsibly-sourced teak. Teak is water and rot-resistant and beautiful, but can be problematic for the environment if not sourced properly. 

The Balmain Teak Sofa is available in weathered or natural teak and comes in longer lengths of 94” and 108”. This sofa is the shortest in our list of client favorites at 68”, but that means it can just seat 3 people comfortably, but could also be used in lieu of an outdoor loveseat in smaller spaces. Cushions are purchased separately as either Water-Repellent or Quick-Dry fill. RH Outdoor also sells furniture covers for all of their pieces to help ensure they last a lifetime.   

Our client in Antelope, CA opted to add the ottoman and lounge chair from the Balmain collection to create a cozy conversation set on their paved patio.

This landscape design for a small backyard in Lake Worth, FL mixed more informal lounge chairs with a Balmain outdoor sofa in Natural teak to create a modern bohemian landscape design on a large concrete slab patio.

02 Portside Outdoor Sofa in Weathered Gray by West Elm

Used in over 41 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 75”

Price: $1,699

The Portside sofa is our second most-loved outdoor sofa and is another modern-style staple (we’re sensing a trend). The weathered gray wood is especially popular with Yardzen clients and is the perfect look to complement modern farmhouse or moditerranean landscapes.

This collection is made with FSC®-certified wood (solid mahogany and eucalyptus) from responsibly managed forests, covered in a water-based finish for durability—the armrests and back of the sofa are perfect for placing drinks and won’t damage the wood!

Cushions are included with this sofa and are yarn-dyed and weather-resistant. Outdoor covers are available separately to ensure longevity of the patio furniture. West Elm’s Portside collection also includes a coffee table and lounge chair.

This backyard design for our client in Marshfield, MA includes a poolside Portside Outdoor Sofa and two lounge chairs from the same collection around a modern fire pit.

The weathered Gray Portside sofa really does look great poolside—here’s another backyard design for a client in Elkmont, AL using two Portside sofas between a pool and outdoor fireplace.

OK—the weathered gray version is most popular with our clients, but how beautiful is the driftwood set on this balcony design for a Santa Ana, CA homeowner?

Here is the driftwood set in a finished Yardzen yard.

03 Aviara Teak Sofa by RH Outdoor

Used in over 41 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 72”

Price: $3,115 (Final Sale)

Our third most-loved outdoor sofa is yet another modern-style beauty made of legally-harvested teak from RH. This sofa also comes in 99” and 126” lengths, but the 72” is most popular with our landscape design clients. This sofa has a deep seat for outdoor furniture—30” compared to 21” or 27” of the first two sofas in our list. Cushions are sold separately in either luxury performance Limonta®, Perennials® or Sunbrella® fabrics.

The Alviara collection also includes a matching teak ottoman, coffee table, and dining armchair.

Our client in Kensington, CA loved her paved patio and outdoor living space designed with the entire Alviara teak patio furniture set on a patterned outdoor rug.

This small backyard design in San Jose, CA uses the Aviara collection around a square modern fire pit for an informal style gathering space on decomposed gravel.

This design for a Yardzen client in Austin, TX uses the Aviara sofa, ottoman, lounge chair, and coffee table with a neutral-colored deck, rug, home exterior, and plant containers for a relaxing modern minimalist-style backyard. 

04 The Sofa by Neighbor in Sunbrella Canvas

Used in over 36 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 93”

Price: $2,500

With its modern teak frame (hello rounded legs!) and durable, mildew resistant Sunbrella cushions (the best of the best outdoor fabric) in canvas or coal-colored seat cushions, it’s easy to love this sofa for any outdoor space. It should come as no surprise that our clients in 2022 so far are loving the warm white canvas color over the coal, but we think they are both gorgeous.

The spacious teak frame is finished with a beautiful hand-stretched weather-resistant polyester rope back and stainless metal hardware. This sofa is a top choice amongst our staff as well, and is featured below in Yardzen’s Growth Director’s backyard. In her words: “A beautiful, functional, and incredibly well-made sofa that stands up to the elements. I want one for my interior too!”

The Sofa is long enough to be a 4-seater and is also available as a lounge chair, patio loveseat, or patio sectional—the coolest thing about Neighbor’s outdoor seating collection is that your piece can be customized to the number of seats you need!

A functional front yard design for a Yardzen client in Oceanside, CA uses The Sofa and Neighbor’s outdoor chairs to create a beautiful social outdoor space.

The Sofa and two chairs from Neighbor create an outdoor lounge in this sunny Oceanside, CA landscape design.

This ranch home in Concord, CA was transformed into a modern farmhouse complete with outdoor patio sofa, dining area, and lounge perfect for evening entertaining.

05 Breton Black Metal Outdoor Sofa by CB2

Used in over 29 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 83”

Price: $959.20 (Sale Price)

We love the juxtaposition of this hi-gloss black frame paired with the simple, natural cushions of this 1960s inspired sofa. The metal, powder-coated graphic lines make it feel suited to modern and coastal settings and is very popular in our moditerranean style designs. Wherever it lands, the seat is spacious enough to share with a few people or, perhaps, the perfect lounge for one. The cushions also come with ties, so they won’t slip around as people come and go. 

The Breton sofa is available as an outdoor furniture set with matching lounge or dining chairs. CB2 also sells a water resistant sofa cover separately to protect your piece for a lifetime.

This backyard design for a client in Oakland, CA uses the Breton sofa and black pergola to create a stunning contrast with lighter hardscaping and natural tones from the vertical slat fence and decking.

Two Breton sofas create a simple but stunning fire pit seating area for a landscape design in Edinburg, TX.

The Breton sofa and two matching chairs from the same CB2 collection look great on a front porch design in Raleigh, NC.

The Breton looks at home with patio chairs and pops of color from throw pillows in a courtyard between two units in Austin, TX.

06 Jasper Teak Sofa by Rejuvenation

Used in over 29 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 94”

Price: $2,789 (Sale Price)

Crafted from the highest quality FSC-certified teak, which naturally repels water and will develop a natural gray patina with age, this statement-making outdoor sofa is an heirloom-quality piece for your outdoor living space. We also love the lounge-worthy plush cushions and 30” deep seat, featuring Sunbrella® upholstery fabric, and the modern silhouette forged by the black metal frame.

A Japandi-style hardscaped patio and outdoor living room designed with the Jasper sofa set including matching chairs and coffee table in Hurst, TX.

The best thing about the Jasper is that the view of the back of the sofa is almost as beautiful as the view from the sofa. Our client in Lantana, TX will enjoy both with this backyard design.

The Jasper sofa, matching chairs, and side table create a stylish scene in this Aptos, CA design with concrete stepper patio.

07 Capri Teak Sofa by RH Outdoor

Used in over 22 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 72”, 90”, or 108”

Price: $3,595

This contemporary-style sofa from RH Outdoor is visually striking and incredibly functional. It has the deepest seats on our list at 32” and has a frame constructed with teak and a weatherproof cord that resists fading, sagging, and cracking. The design is inspired by Japanese sudare screens and plays with texture, direction, and light in a beautiful way.

The Capri collection includes not only a sofa, but round or square side tables, dining table, dining armchair, coffee table, chaise, ottoman, lounge chair, and swivel lounge chair.

The Capri sofa and lounge chairs are perfect on a sunny back deck in this Redondo Beach, CA backyard design.

The Capri teak sofa comes in 141 special order fabrics, but clients love how whites, taupes, and other muted neutrals go with any outdoor decor, like this patio design for a client in Whittier, CA.

The Capri isn’t just popular with our west coast clients! This poolside back patio design for our client in Lexington, SC has breezy coastal vibes.

08 Balmain Aluminum Sofa - 94” by RH Outdoor

Used in over 16 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 94”

Price: $2,295

The Balmain aluminum sofa by RH Outdoor has the same cool curved silhouette of the super popular teak version, but in a dark powder-coated aluminum finish perfect for modern minimal style landscapes.

This San Jose backyard design uses the black aluminum finish of Balmian outdoor furniture to complement black details on the pergola.

A Balmain outdoor living room and dining room set in a side yard design in Tacoma, WA is traditional and modern at the same time.

09 Abaco Outdoor Sofa with Graphite Cushions by Crate and Barrel

Used in over 16 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 83.5”

Price: $1,999

Crate and Barrel’s Abaco Outdoor Sofa looks right at home in traditional and modern bohemian designs. The outdoor wicker is weather-resistant and is handwoven with a “chunky, textural weave”, making it look much cooler than your grandparents’ wicker patio sofa.

Cushions are included, but sofa covers are sold separately and should be used in inclement weather to keep this piece lasting long and looking its best.

The Abaco collection also includes an ottoman, lounge chair, chaise, round dining table, and dining chair.

The Abaco sofa and four chairs in a roomy outdoor living room in a Los Altos Hills, CA design.

A lakeside view is easier to enjoy with three Abaco sofas from Crate and Barrel in this  Plainfield, IL landscape design.

There’s something about a waterfront outdoor lounge that makes the Abaco sofa look so inviting. This design for a Yardzen client in Sausalito, CA is picture perfect.

Proof that the Abaco works just as well in bohemian landscapes (especially with the White Sand cushions). This backyard design for a client in Atlanta, GA is modern boho at its best.

10 Walker Metal 3-Seat Sofa with Graphite Cushions by Crate and Barrel

Used in over 14 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 90.25”

Price: $2,299

The Walker sofa by Crate and Barrel is a boxy contemporary favorite and also comes with Sapphire cushions, but our clients love this sofa in Graphite. The metal frame is aluminum with a powdercoat finish, and the included plump cushions are solution-dyed Sunbrella ® acrylic.

The Walker collection also includes a variety of outdoor sectional sofas, a loveseat, lounge chair, and ottoman.

A poolside Walker sofa and lounge chair with throw pillows make great use of space alongside a pool and outdoor umbrella in this Austin, TX landscape design.

A San Diego, CA front yard is made modern with a metal Walker sofa and chairs.

A Yardzen client in Chapel Hill, NC paired a Graphite Walker sofa with two Sapphire Walker lounge chairs for pops of color around an outdoor fire pit.

A mod poolside patio contains two distinct outdoor living spaces in Los Angeles, CA—a dining room and living room with a Walker sofa and matching lounge chairs.

A sunny rectangular backyard in Las Vegas, NV is reimagined with a bocce court, raised herb garden, and multiple outdoor seating areas using the Walker metal outdoor furniture collection in this Yardzen design.

Yardzen Staff’s Favorite Outdoor Sofas

Capistrano Sofa in Light Dune by Serena & Lily

Used in over 10 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 80”

Price: $2,898 (On Sale)

This wicker rattan beauty is not for everyone, but if you love modern bohemian style and want an outdoor sofa that will get noticed, this one is perfect. The frame is made from hand-wrapped resin over an aluminum frame and included cushions come with removable covers for easy cleaning. The Capistrano collection also features fun pieces including a hanging chair, daybed, and lounge chair.

Meadowbrook Teak Base Wicker Sofa by Terrain

Used in over 8 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 111.4”

Price: $4,298

Wicker is not dead! This sofa by Terrain mixes the traditional look of wicker with a teak frame—elevating this classic look for 2022. If you’re looking for a four-seater, the 111” width is perfect for four people to sit very comfortably, and is hard to find.

Langdon Outdoor Sofa in Silver by Yardbird

Used in over 8 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Length: 93”

Price: $1,970

This sofa by Yardbird is not only another beautiful and versatile classic traditional outdoor sofa—the wicker is made using 50% intercepted ocean plastics. Yardbird is one of our favorite partners because of their commitment to sustainability. They’ve spent years collecting plastics “on beaches, waterways, and highly susceptible locations in the Philippines”—and use it to manufacture their furniture. 

CREATING A SHOPPABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN TAILORED TO YOUR STYLE

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners across the U.S.. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space and style—and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, and will be outfitted with materials and elements from our retail partners that you or your contractor can actually purchase.

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design.

Ready to bring your dream yard to life? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!  

HOA Landscaping Guide for Homeowners

We get a LOT of questions about HOAs from our landscape design clients. What are they? What do they do? How do you best work with them?

Below, we’ll dive into all you need to know about working with HOAs, answering the most common questions we get about designing and building landscapes within HOA communities.

Outdoor transformation for Georgia homeowner

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Table of Contents

A Primer on HOAs

Landscape Design in HOA Communities

Construction, Approval, and Revisions

Working with Yardzen for an HOA Landscape Design

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Courtyard landscape design for New York City ground floor apartment

Let’s begin with some basic info about HOAs.

A Primer on HOAs

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What are HOAs?

Homeowners associations, or HOAs, set and enforce rules related to the design and use of properties. HOAs have authority over a defined community, typically planned communities, subdivisions, or condominium developments. All residents in an HOA community must pay HOA membership fees, and the rules of HOAs are legally enforceable.

HOAs are run by a board of directors that sets HOA rules, administers governing documents, and develops an HOA budget, funded by membership fees.

Why do HOAs exist?

The primary reason HOAs exist is to maintain standards within neighborhoods. These standards relate to the design, maintenance, and use of people’s home and yards.

HOA regulations intend to strengthen property values in the neighborhood by maintaining a cohesive, attractive look and discouraging undesirable activity, from late-night parties to unsanctioned business operations.

Outdoor fire pit and lounge area outside Brooklyn apartment complex

What are typical HOA landscape regulations?

HOA regulations vary from one community to the next, but tend to emphasize front yards, trees, fences, and architectural features that are visible from the street, as such elements impact the overall appearance of the community. For the same reason, HOA regulations commonly dictate landscape maintenance standards.

When it comes to landscape design, HOAs often require plants to be chosen from approved plant lists to ensure a consistent look across the community. Increasingly, HOA plant lists are also used to enforce low-water or fire-resistant planting, though this is not true to all HOAs.

HOAs commonly define standards for the appearance of planting, mulch, driveways and other hardscape features, and frequently limit the use of front yard furnishings and vegetable gardens.

Traditionally, HOAs favor landscapes with lawns, and many continue to require homeowners to maintain front yard lawns of a certain size and standard. Lawn care and lawn maintenance regulations pertaining to mowing, fertilization, and irrigation systems are common as well.

As drought and climate change increasingly challenge water supplies and biodiversity, some HOAs - especially in the West - are replacing lawn requirements with more sustainable and ecologically-minded design recommendations, such as native plant requirements. We applaud such changes!

Rooftop garden design for Manhattan residential building

Now that we know a bit about HOAs, let’s take a look at how the landscape design process works within an HOA community.

Landscape Design in HOA Communities

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Who is responsible for what during an HOA landscape design and build project?

Individual homeowners, designers, and contractors, as well as HOA committees, community associations, property managers, and management companies could all have some role in the development and execution of a landscape project within an HOA community.

As with standards, the process for project approval is likely to vary from one HOA to the next.

Typically, clients work with landscape professionals - either designers or design and build contractors - to develop a design. They then connect with a contractor to install their design.

HOAs or their representatives will review designs at set points in the process, typically prior to installation and upon completion of installation.

Rooftop outdoor living space for San Francisco apartment complex

How do I get the landscape I want while following HOA regulations?

Clients often purchase within HOA communities because they appreciate the style defined by community regulations. That said, sometimes homeowners want to add a little personal flair to their yards.

The stringency of an HOA’s regulations and the distance between your desired style and the regulated look of the community dictate whether it will be simple or more challenging to achieve your particular landscape goals. This is especially true for front yard landscaping, though HOA regulations do apply to backyards as well.

Hiring a landscape designer is the best way to achieve personal design goals while navigating HOA requirements. It also pays for homeowners to educate themselves on the landscaping rules that apply to their properties, so they can be engaged partners with their designer throughout the design process.

How do I stay within a budget during an HOA landscaping project?

In most cases, HOA regulations do not have a significant impact on the budget of a project. The same budget-saving strategies that you would apply to any landscape project - prioritizing the most important features, cutting out unnecessary hardscaping, leaning on planting to achieve design goals - all apply equally to HOA projects.

Side yard landscape design for apartment unit in Santa Barbara, CA

My HOA community is new, and my home is still under construction. Is now a good time to get started on a landscape design project?

When a home is incomplete, landscape designers rely on architectural drawings, site plans, surveys, and similar documentation to get a complete understanding of the site. Progress photos of the house, when available, are also useful, though not required. This documentation, along with the inspiration images, site video, and written feedback from clients is more than enough for one of our designers to develop a landscape design at the same level of quality as projects with completed homes.

After working with a landscape designer to complete your new design, you’ll be ready to submit it to your HOA for approval. Typically, an HOA approves a design for installation, then inspects it again upon the completion of construction.

Below, we’ll look at the most common questions about this phase of construction, approval, and design revisions.

Front yard botanical design for unit in Austin, TX planned community

Construction, Approval, and Revisions

What does my HOA need for approval?

In general, HOAs require design documentation indicating plant species, quantity, and placement, and the size, material, and design of paving, structures, and other hardscape features. HOAs may also request documents describing irrigation, lighting, drainage, or other aspects of a landscape design. There are no set standards - every HOA has its own unique landscape design documentation requirements.

Depending on the features involved in a design, HOAs may require construction drawings signed by an engineer or other qualified professional. Signed drawings are most commonly required when walls, decks, custom pergolas, or other large structures are a part of a landscape design.

Upon completion of installations, HOAs will usually do a site walk to ensure that all features were installed as described in approved design documentation.

Curb appeal landscape design for Las Vegas, NV homeowner

How can I ensure that my HOA approves the design?

The best way to ensure HOA approval is to closely follow HOA regulations.

Respectful and active dialogue between the client, the designer, and, as needed, the HOA, also paves the way for successful project outcomes. A clear, shared understanding of what can be done within HOA regulations allows designers to develop designs with the highest likelihood of earning HOA approval.

If designs are not initially approved, they can always be altered. Quite often, HOAs only require slight adjustments to take designs from non-compliance to compliance.

Yardzen has a field-tested, efficient and effective method for working with HOAs. Below, we’ll explain the basics, and how to get the most from your Yardzen design experience when seeking a new landscape in an HOA community.

Outdoor space redesign for San Francisco apartment owner

Working with Yardzen for an HOA Landscape Design

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Does Yardzen work with HOAs often?

Roughly 30% of Yardzen clients live in a community with an HOA, and we have designed and installed many HOA-compliant designs.

Yardzen designers are very comfortable and experienced working with HOA regulations, and we are ready to design to whatever HOA regulations a client needs to follow.

What does Yardzen need from me and my HOA?

HOA projects are most successful when homeowners have a clear understanding of the rules that apply to their property before beginning the design process.

Yardzen clients set their designers up for success by providing them with a succinct summary of the HOA regulations that apply to the specific scope of their landscape design project (e.g. no fences within 10’ of the sidewalk, minimum 200 sq ft of permeable planted area, etc). Typically, clients share HOA regulation summaries through written feedback during the project onboarding process, or by emailing their design team.

Clients can also provide HOA-approved plant lists, materials palettes, or other succinct documentation for designers to reference during the design process. Long-form HOA documents can introduce inefficiency and delays into the design process, and are best reviewed and summarized by the client to maintain an efficient and successful design process.

Will Yardzen submit work directly to my HOA?

Yardzen will make sure your design follows whatever HOA regulations you instruct your designer to follow, and will document your HOA-compliant design in our standard deliverables: full color 3D renderings; 2D plan drawings showing plants, materials, dimensions, and lighting; and lists of plants, building materials, and design elements selected by your designer. Clients or their contractors can then submit these deliverables to the HOA for approval.

Pergola, outdoor fire pit and lounge area for Redondo Beach, CA apartment courtyard and roof design

If my HOA requires architectural, engineering, lighting, drainage or irrigation plans, who provides those?

Sometimes HOAs require documentation for things that require the expertise of architects or engineers, which fall outside the scope of landscape designers.

When Yardzen clients work with a contractor from Yardzen’s Pro Network, their contractor will help them to connect with the necessary professional to produce additional drawings any time they may be required for HOA approval. Many times, the contractor can produce those drawings themselves.

If you need assistance navigating HOA documentation requirements, your Yardzen team is ready and able to work with you and your contractor to make sure you can get what you need to get HOA approval.

What if my HOA declines approvals for my design, will Yardzen revise my designs and plans complimentary?

Yardzen exists to help our clients reimagine their yards so they can spend more time enjoying life outside. We want your project to get built, and will work with you to make sure that happens.

When HOAs do not approve initial design submittals, we are happy to revise your plan drawings free of charge as often as is needed to achieve approval. Your contractor will often develop the necessary design adjustments themselves, but if assistance from your Yardzen designer is needed to resolve a design compliance issue, your designer and design team are happy to help.

If more extensive changes are required, let your Yardzen team know, and we’ll work with you and your contractor to develop the most efficient and effective solution to get you the design you need and keep your project moving forward.

Front yard landscape design for Chicago townhouse

My HOA has preferred contractors. Would they be able to use Yardzen’s plans to implement the design?

All Yardzen clients can take advantage of Yardzen’s Pro Matching service. Just let us know when you’re ready, and we’ll connect you with a licensed and vetted landscape contractor from our network of landscape professionals. All the contractors in Yardzen’s Pro Network consistently receive top ratings for customer service and professional excellence, and your project team will make sure we find the very best contractor to handle your particular project.

Because contractors in Yardzen’s Pro Network are accustomed to working on Yardzen projects, we recommend that our clients use them to install their Yardzen landscape designs. That said, if you prefer to use a different contractor, they should have no problem using the renders, plan drawings, and plant, element, and material lists that you receive with your Yardzen design to guide their installation work.

If any questions do arise during the installation of your design, you or your contractor may reach out to Yardzen and we’ll be happy to help you, be it reviewing a cost estimate, adjusting a design to deal with unforeseen site conditions, or any other issue that may arise.

Side yard design for home in Austin, TX planned community

CREATING AN HOA-COMPLIANT LANDSCAPE DESIGN TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners across the U.S.. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space, style, garden ideas, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design (if you don’t plan on a diy build or using an HOA-required contractor).

Ready to bring your dream yard to life? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!

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Want Yardzen to speak to your community? We’d be delighted to!

Have your HOA representative reach out to us to set up an information session + Q and A, where we’ll walk through the Yardzen process and packages, discuss how we’ve been able to work so successfully with HOAs, and answer any questions you may have for us.

Garden Path Ideas from our Landscape Design Team

Pathways are a fundamental building block of landscape designs, right up there with functional spaces and planted areas.

When you design a pathway, you choreograph an experience for someone moving through the landscape. You also define the edges of adjacent spaces, influencing their size, shape, and sense of connection to other parts of the yard.

Below, we’ll dive into the nitty gritty of garden pathway design, taking a look at style, material, size, form, planting, lighting, and other factors that influence the look, feel, and function of paths. We’ll also share some pathway ideas along the way for inspiration!

GARDEN PATH FORMS

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Straight Paths

Straight paths are the default in modern designs, especially when arranged in parallel and perpendicular segments. You’ll also see straight paths in formal traditional designs, often as a central axis (more on this below).

Modern scandinavian-style home and landscape design with a straight path to the front patio for a Yardzen client in Austin, TX

Straight paths provide fast, direct routes, and create rectangular spaces along their edges - this is part of their appeal in modern landscapes.

Straight paths are used throughout the entire yard for this formal traditional yard in Leesburg, VA design

Curving Paths

Curving paths are the default for traditional designs, particularly traditional informal or “cottage garden” styles.

By taking a more meandering route, curving paths offer a slower, more contemplative experience than straight paths. They also lend themselves to concealing and revealing key views in a landscape.

Curving paths create organically-shaped spaces along their edges, and are well-suited to designs that seek a naturalistic look.

Pro Tip → Err on the side of long, graceful curves. Tight, wavy curves are awkward to walk along, and tend to look less attractive both as paths and spatial boundaries.

GARDEN PATH SIZES

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WIDE Paths

A typical path is 3’ to 4’ wide. Above this width, paths feel increasingly grand, and command more attention. In general, wide paths should be primary paths with plenty of foot traffic and visibility.

Added width also comes in handy on humbler working paths, where vehicles, large wheelbarrows, or other equipment must be accommodated.

Paths leading to front doors are perfect candidates for extra width, lending grandeur and organization to front yard designs - just make sure the front entry lives up to the drama of the path pointing at it.

Pro Tip → 5’ or 6’ is typically wide enough to feel special. Paths wider than 6’ can start to feel like a two-lane experience - picture broad gravel thoroughfares in estate or botanical gardens.

narrow Paths

3’ is a comfortable width. Below that, things get tight. It’s fine to provide a path surface as narrow as 2’, but maintain at least 3’ of clear space in the area above the path, where people’s bodies will pass.

Narrow gravel paths connect farther-flung outdoor spaces to more frequently used walkways in this back yard design for a Yardzen client in Richmond Hill, GA

Narrow widths are appropriate for secondary paths - routes with less visibility and less frequent use. Forested or densely planted areas, peripheral zones, and narrow spaces are classic candidates for secondary paths.

Pro Tip → Organic materials like natural stone, pea gravel, or even wood chips and mulch look at home as narrow path surfaces. Conversely, narrow bands of solid paving often seem incomplete, as if a third of their width was never installed.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION

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Tracing Paths

Tracing paths wind around the edges of different zones in a landscape - it’s as if the lounge areas, fire pits, and outdoor dining spaces were created first, and the paths had to make due weaving around in the spaces that remained.

Tracing path in back yard design for Yardzen client in Westerville, OH

Tracing paths make for visually complex and experientially pleasing designs. The twists and turns hide and reveal views, create pockets for focal planting, and help designs feel less formulaic.

At the same time, they can make for inefficient circulation, and result in underutilized remnant spaces. Careful design can navigate these challenges!

Slicing Paths

When paths slice through spaces, they split them into smaller, separate zones. Some paths try to minimize this impact by sticking to the edges of spaces. Others cut right through the middle, establishing strong central axes to anchor adjacent spaces.

Slicing path in a front yard design for a Leesburg, VA homeowner

Pro Tip → Keep paths as far to the edge of play fields as possible. This maintains a continuous, safe play surface, uninterrupted by paving or other path materials.

Implied Paths

Implied paths indicate a route without using a distinct pathway material or defining clear pathway edges.

You can imply a path simply by leaving an area clear to pass unobstructed across a space - a strip on a paved patio uninterrupted by any furnishings, for example.

The paths between entrances to the home and separate outdoor living areas is implied without any explicit boundaries in this Rancho Santa Fe, CA landscape design

You can also imply a path by positioning two path segments across from each other on either side of a dividing area. Rather than have a path cross a sports field, have it stop at one edge and resume directly across on the opposite edge.

GARDEN PATH MATERIALS

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Concrete Slab

Concrete slab is the most cost effective and adaptable hard paving material. Its practicality makes it immensely popular as a hardscape material, including as a path surface.

This concrete slab path in a Bozeman, MT landscape design has a textural treatment and is paired with informal, colorful plantings softening its appearance

Concrete looks at home in virtually any style, though it is most celebrated in modern designs, which proudly showcase it at every opportunity.

Pro Tip → Concrete is great, but large expanses of it feel uninviting. Try score joint patterns or textural treatments to subdivide slabs into more human-scaled units.

Steppers

Steppers are large, square or rectangular concrete pavers interspersed with evenly spaced gaps of groundcover planting, stone, gravel, decomposed granite, or even synthetic grass. They’re essentially a modern take on stepping stones, and make for beautiful garden paths.

Steppers photograph well (a big reason why they’ve been trending for years) and they’re often used for visual impact. A clean stepper path slicing through a front garden makes shaggy ornamental planting look stylish and intentional, and boosts curb appeal.

Pro Tip → The gaps in stepper paths are poorly suited for wheels, and can pose a trip hazard to people with mobility challenges. Consider who is using the path and what they’re using it for before committing to a stepper surface.

Precast Pavers

Precast concrete pavers balance cost-effectiveness with looks, function, and durability. Many pavers can be installed to be permeable, as well, helping to reduce flooding and water pollution while recharging groundwater supplies.

There are more options for paver size, shape, and appearance than you could count. This translates to abundant opportunity for designers to develop a look that perfectly suits your unique style, be it old world cobblestones, sleek linear pavers, or something in between.

Pro Tip → Select solid-toned pavers in three slightly different colors, distributed randomly throughout a pattern. This introduces subtle contrast and pleasing visual interest to paved spaces.

Natural Stone

Few scenes conjure a fairy tale feel better than a stone pathway winding its way through lush planting.

Allow groundcover planting like Corsican mint or creeping thyme to lace between large, natural-shaped flagstones in your stone path, or sub in pea gravel or larger, smooth decorative stones like Mexican pebbles for a low maintenance approach.

Space the stones to accommodate a 2’-3’ stride - this will comfortably facilitate a leisurely pace of travel down your stone walkway.

Pro Tip → Use fewer, larger stones. This cuts down on seams and makes for a nicer walking experience.

Wood Boardwalk

Boardwalks evoke fond memories of beach days, and have a softness to them that pairs perfectly with windblown grasses and feathery perennials.

For a more modern take, install wood paths flush with the surrounding ground - this contributes to a stronger sense of connection between paths and their surrounding spaces. Be warned, though: in-ground installation can double construction costs.

If that’s a reach, design your boardwalk to be a single step up. This maintains strong ties with surrounding spaces, but also offers a fun, elevated perspective to view the yard from.

Brick

Dark red brick pathways have an overtly traditional feel. Slap a coat of white paint or semi-transparent whitewash on them, and they become more adaptable, sliding effortlessly into contemporary design styles.

When in doubt, use herringbone for brick paths - it’s a classic pattern for a reason.

We prefer orienting herringbone patterns at 45 degrees, to point in the direction of travel, but opting for a parallel/perpendicular layout will reduce costs by eschewing paving cuts along the path edges.

Decomposed Granite

Typical DG offers a slightly loose, slightly crunchy, firmly compacted surface that is pleasant to walk on and won’t give way under (most) high heels.

Large decomposed granite walkways in a yard design for an Austin, Texas homeowner

Tan colored DG perfectly complements landscapes in dry climates, while the cool gray of “blue” DG feels most at home in colder northern regions.

Pro Tip → DG will stick to your shoes. Be sure to provide a mat or different surface to knock particles off your feet before walking indoors from a DG path.

Gravel

Humble gravel is one of the most versatile and effective materials you can use in a landscape design, path designs included.

Gravel paths are cost effective, permeable, simple to install (they’re about as easy as DIY garden path installation gets), and look good in virtually any style. They’re also delightfully crunchy underfoot.

Gravel paths present an opportunity to evoke the regional landscape in your outdoor spaces. Locally-sourced stone brings the look of regional rock to your yard, and cuts down on the vehicle emissions needed to get the stone from its source to your yard.

Pro Tip → Gravel is easy to walk on, but larger decorative stones are not. Keep stone sizes under an inch for a safe and comfortable walking surface.

Mulch

Mulch is the least formal material you could select for a path surface, best suited to secondary paths in designs with verdant, woodsy vibes.

As with gravel, keep mulch particles smaller to provide a more comfortable, even walking surface. Also like gravel, mulch paths are one of the easiest DIY projects around.

GARDEN PATH LIGHTING

Path lighting should provide even, glare-free illumination. Choose fixtures that direct light downwards - that’ll handle the glare issue.

Placing lights roughly 15’ apart usually achieves even illumination, though it’s wise to check the recommended spacing for any particular fixture you use.

Path lighting in Denver, Colorado backyard landscape design

Unless your path is quite wide, you only need to place fixtures along one side, either alternating sides or carving a straight line as you proceed down the path. Be sure to place lights at each end of the path for wayfinding ease and visual punctuation.

When placing fixtures, tuck them into softscape just adjacent to paths, with low planting at their base to knit them into the scene.

Pro Tip → People often go overkill on lights. Use enough to achieve safe illumination, but no more. Opt for simple fixtures that don’t hog the spotlight.

PLANTING AROUND PATHS

Planting dramatically affects the feel of paths. Tall planting blocks views and restricts space around the body, making paths feel smaller and more separated from their surroundings.

At the same time, tall planting also makes paths feel more private and enclosed. Plant-shrouded paths can create dramatic moments when they open onto wider areas.

Low planting (thigh height max, typically closer to knee height and below) allows for long views across the yard and plenty of space around the body. This makes paths feel open, roomy, and more connected to surrounding areas.

This sense of connection can be emphasized by leaving gaps in planting along garden walkway edges. Unbroken rows of planting barricade paths from their surroundings. By introducing some gaps in edge planting, paths and adjacent spaces can share edges, encouraging more free-flowing circulation. This is a popular approach in modern designs, and helps small yards of any style feel a little bigger.

Allow plants to get a little messy along path edges. Foliage overlapping path surfaces expresses a casual feel and creates a compelling contrast between clean hardscape and looser planting.

Choose soft, spine-less species for path edging, like ornamental grasses or perennial groundcovers. Work your way from low to tall plant heights as you move away from the path edges.

GARDEN PATH EDGING

As fans of free-flowing circulation, we prefer edging that remains relatively flush with the surrounding surfaces. This eliminates trip hazards, and encourages people to roam in whatever direction they wish to go. Thin strips of wood or inconspicuous plastic edging typically do the trick for this approach.

If you want to elevate the look a bit, strips of metal edging, particularly rust-colored corten steel edging, will give your modern vibes a big boost.

Path edging should go unnoticed unless it’s an intentional design element, like in this West Lafayette, IN back yard design

On the opposite end of the style spectrum, a row of small stones or bricks laid end-to-end will hem travelers in while expressing a distinctly traditional garden style.

Pro Tip → As with lighting and other objects inserted into landscape designs, we generally advise a low-profile approach. Let the landscape do the talking, not the edging.

SLOPED GARDEN PATHS

Safety is the top concern with paths on sloped landscapes. Anytime slopes climb above 8% - picture the steepness of a wheelchair ramp - you’ll want to add steps. If using a loose material like gravel or DG, you should use steps with even gentler slopes. Include handrails when steps climb more than 30”, or if the homeowners have personal mobility challenges.

Paths traversing slopes should avoid pronounced cross-slopes. This often requires low retaining walls along both sides of a path, though routing your path through existing flat spots will minimize the extents of your wall work.

The long, gentle slope in this back yard design allows the use of a loose path material

Pro Tip → Because slopes are so visible, paths on slopes should be capitalized upon as visual resources. Use the path to establish a route not only to walk on, but for people’s eyes to follow as they gaze uphill. Wind paths between trees, hide and reveal turns in the path with planting, link focal moments with the defined line of the path.

CREATING A LANDSCAPE DESIGN TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners across the U.S.. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space, style, garden ideas, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design (if you don’t plan on a diy build).

Ready to bring your landscaping ideas to life? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!