The GardenOwl Audits

Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.

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Hardscaping

Why Poppies Won't Fix Your Driveway Crack (And What Actually Will)

Thinking of planting flowers in pavement cracks to hide weeds? Here is why that traps water against your foundation and how to seal the gap properly.

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Raised Beds

The "Wet Brick" Trap: Why You Can't Just Pile Dirt Against Your House

Planning a garden bed against your house wall? Read this first. Here is why piling soil against brick destroys foundations and how to build a safe raised bed.

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Curb Appeal

Why Your Modern Farmhouse Looks Like a Chapel (and How to Fix It)

Building a Scandinavian modern home? Learn why steep gables and triangle windows create a 'chapel' vibe and how to fix it with simple design tweaks.

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Drainage Solutions

The Muddy Swale: Why Rotting Timber Fails and How to Build a Dry Creek Instead

Got a muddy swale eating your lawn? Learn why straight timber edging rots and how to fix drainage with a natural rock garden and native ferns.

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Artificial Turf

Can I Lay Artificial Turf Over Rocks? (Stop Digging and Do This Instead)

Installing artificial turf over a rocky yard? Don't just add sand. Learn why sand sinks, how to lock in the sub-base, and the right way to prep for a smooth lawn.

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Drainage

"Buried Siding" and Bad Trees: How to Triage Your Landscape Without Going Broke

Is your siding touching the ground? Learn why high soil grades are a silent house-killer and how to prioritize fixing rot over removing trees.

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