The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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Side Yard Mud Pit? Stop Trying to Grow Grass in the Dark
Stop wasting money on sod that won't grow in narrow, shady side yards. Here is the landscape architect's guide to building a functional flagstone service path.
The "Gravel Pit" Dilemma: How to Landscape a Drainage Swale Without Breaking It
Have a side yard full of gravel and a French drain? Don't dig. Here is why planting in a drainage zone is a disaster and how to fix the look with containers.
Why Your Irrigation Valve Is a Ticking Time Bomb (And How to Freeze-Proof It)
Exposed irrigation valves are prone to bursting in winter. Learn why UV damage and ice destroy PVC, and how to winterize your backflow preventer.
Why Your Stucco House Still Feels 'Stale' (And How to Fix the Metal Awning Trap)
Fresh paint didn't fix your curb appeal? Learn how to swap flimsy aluminum for heavy timber and cure 'Stylistic Dialect Dissonance' on your Spanish bungalow.
Why Your Lady's Mantle Became Concrete: Fixing the Rhizome Hardpan
Is your Alchemilla mollis impossible to dig out? Learn why perennials turn into woody mats, how to use a mattock to clear them, and what to plant instead.
Don't Seal That Fence: Why Spotted Gum Needs Oil, Not Varnish
Installing a Spotted Gum fence? Avoid the 'clear coat' trap. Learn why dense hardwoods peel if sealed and how to use penetrating oils for lasting color.