Beautiful drought-tolerant garden in San Marcos
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SUMMARY:
This landscape was transformed from a static space centered on lawn into a living drought tolerant garden that is designed for water conservation and low maintenance and allows room to play, garden, relax and re-energize. |
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BEFORE: This developer-installed landscape was centered on a large lawn, both in back and in front. The lack of any other significant plantings made the residence appear rather boxy and ungainly. This front yard was also very “public” and did not invite the homeowner to spend much time here.
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WANTED: A drought tolerant landscape was an important priority for the homeowners. They also requested a more inviting terrace, shaded from the sun. An existing play structure needed to be integrated, and the clients’ wish list also included a play lawn, walkways and low maintenance plants.
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PROJECT SUMMARY: After sitting down with the homeowners, we opted for lawn-removal in front and kept only a minimum of lawn in the backyard for the children to play on. With this landscape re-do, the homeowners have reclaimed their front yard and created a private “buffer zone” at their front door. The homeowners are passionate gardeners, so we significantly increased their garden space and filled it with exceptional drought resistant plants. |
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We replaced the paving material of the existing terrace with a tumbled paver placed on sand and added a shade structure. Although the terrace was reduced in size, it is comfortable for the many uses of this family, and the large shade cover creates lovely dappled shade in this space. A wrap-around seat wall invites garden visitors to observe the plants and the fish in the small pond placed at the edge of the terrace for close-up viewing. |
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As the trees grow, they will not only cool the entrance and protect shade loving plants, they will also complement the horizontal lines of the architecture, anchor the house to its site and “shrink” the home to a more human scale. |
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To allow more water to penetrate into the subsoil, compacted pervious DG (decomposed granite, a local material) was used to create paths through the garden. These paths lead to benches and arbors and provide a clean, fast-drying surface to walk on or ride a tricycle. |
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Partners: Nature Designs Landscaping, Vista, CA |
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