The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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Why You Should Never Plant Flowers in Your Foundation Rock Strip
Thinking of planting flowers in the gravel strip next to your house? Learn why that rock area is a structural drip edge, not a garden bed.
Why Your Retaining Wall is Leaning (And How to Fix It Properly)
Is your cinder block retaining wall leaning or bowing? Learn why hollow blocks and poor drainage cause catastrophic hydrostatic failure, and how to rebuild it right.
Why Terracing a Sloped Backyard Will Kill Your Mature Trees (And What to Do Instead)
Thinking about leveling a steep backyard? Learn why terracing around mature trees is a fatal mistake, and how to use native mass planting to stabilize the grade.
Why You Should Never Funnel Roof Runoff Into Hanging Plants (And How to Actually Water Them)
Thinking about using a mini gutter to water your patio hanging plants? Learn why roof runoff will drown your baskets and how to install a hidden drip system.
Why Your Landscape Lighting Looks Flat (And How to Fix It)
Stop relying on sagging string lights and single spotlights. Learn how to use cross-lighting, moonlighting, and perimeter washes to add depth to your yard.
The Denuded Grade: How to Stop Your Steep Backyard from Washing Away
A steep, bare-dirt backyard isn't just an eyesore—it's a ticking time bomb for your foundation. Learn how to use soft engineering to stop erosion fast.