The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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The 'Dead Zone': Why Your Hedge Turned Brown After Pruning and How to Save It
Did you trim your boxwoods too hard and expose brown sticks? Learn why the 'dead zone' happens, if your plant can recover, and why fertilizer might kill it.
Is My Retaining Wall Tall Enough? The "Freeboard" Rule You Can't Ignore
Building a retaining wall? If your soil is flush with the top, you're inviting a mud bath. Learn why you need 'freeboard' and proper drainage to avoid failure.
The "Digging" Trap: How to Fix a Narrow Side Yard Without Breaking Your Back
First-time homeowner with a messy side yard? Stop digging. Learn the sheet mulching trick, how to fix drainage, and design a path that isn't a bowling alley.
The 'Trifecta of Lawn Death': Why Your Dog Run is a Mud Pit and How to Fix It Forever
Stop throwing sod at a muddy dog run. Learn how to fix drainage, choose the right hardscape (no pea gravel!), and banish muddy paws for good.
The "3 Quotes" Nightmare: How to Fix a Muddy Side Yard Without Buying the Wrong Drain
Confused by conflicting drainage quotes? Learn why surface drains fail in side yards and how to install a dual-pipe system that actually fixes the mud.
Stop! Don't Weave String Lights Into Your Hedges (And What to Do Instead)
Thinking of running string lights along a hedge? Read this first. Learn why weaving cords is a mistake and how to install perimeter lighting or uplights correctly.